Did you install an app on your Xiaomi Redmi, POCO or Mi, but its label suddenly disappeared from your desktop? Or did some programs “disappear” without a trace after the MIUI update? This problem is familiar to many Xiaomi smartphone owners — especially after resetting settings, cleaning the system or automatically hiding “unnecessary” labels with the shell. In 90% of cases, the application is not removed, but simply hidden in one of the system menus.
In this article, you will find 5 working ways to return access to the application - from basic (search in the menu) to advanced (unlock through the app). ADB). We will also discuss why icons disappear on their own, how to prevent this in the future, and what to do if the application is actually removed. MIUI 12–15, including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11 and older devices.
Before you go to the complex methods, check the obvious: maybe the shortcut just moved to another screen or folder. Flick the desktops left/right and look into the Other Apps folder (if any). If you don't find anything, read on.
1. Search through the All Apps menu
The fastest way to find a “lost” application is to open a full list of installed software. MIUI It's done this way:
- Swipe your finger up from the bottom of the screen (an app menu gesture). On older versions of MIUI, you may need to click on the All Apps icon (six dots at the bottom of the screen).
- At the top of the screen will appear search bar – enter the name of the program (for example, “Telegram” or “Public Services”).
- If the app is found, hold your finger on its icon and drag it to your desktop.
If the list does not contain the desired application, this may mean:
- 🔍 App hidden in settings MIUI (see section 3).
- 🗑️ Application removed (check in Settings) → Annexes → Remotely).
- 🔄 It is system-based and does not appear in the general list (e.g., “Security” or “Subjects»).
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If the search bar doesn’t appear, try swiping down the app menu screen – sometimes it’s hidden behind the top bar.
2. Check hidden applications in MIUI settings
The MIUI shell automatically hides some of the apps it considers "rarely used" to bring them back:
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Slip on the three dots in the top right corner and select "Show all apps."
- In the list, find the desired application, open its settings and turn on the “Show on the desktop” switch.
If the app is not on this list, check Settings → Apps → Hidden Apps. Here, MIUI places programs that the user has hidden manually (for example, through long-term clicks on the icon → Hide) To return the shortcut:
- 📱 Find the app in the list of hidden.
- 🔄 Slip it and select "Cancel concealment».
- 🖼️ Return to the desktop and add the shortcut manually (see Section 1).
Why does MIUI hide apps automatically?
3.Use of built-in search by system
If the app doesn’t appear in the menu but is installed, it can be found through MIUI’s global search:
- Swipe your finger down the center of the desktop (search call gesture).
- Type the name of the app into a line. If it's found, tap it to open it.
- To pin a shortcut on your desktop, hold the icon in the search results and drag it to the right place.
If the search does not give results, try:
- 🔤 Enter the name in English (for example, "Chrome" instead of "Chrome»).
- 🔍 Use part of the title (e.g., "Inst" for Instagram).
- 📁 Check the Apps tab in search results (sometimes hidden under “More»).
Every week | Once a month |Rarely but aptly |Never lost |I don't know what it-->
4. Restore the shortcut through desktop settings
Sometimes the label goes missing because of a failure in the desktop settings to get it back:
- Hold your finger on an empty desktop space → select Desktop Settings.
- Go to icon settings (or icon management on older versions of MIUI).
- Check if the icons for specific applications are turned off. If so, turn on the switch.
If that doesn’t help, try resetting your desktop settings:
- Open the settings → Desktop → More.
- Select “Reset settings” (or “Restore by default”).
- Confirm action. Attention: this will remove all folders and shortcut locations, but it won't affect the apps themselves.
Take screenshots of the current location of labels|Remember which folders were created|Make sure important apps aren’t hidden|Check for backup in Mi Cloud-->
5. Advanced methods: ADB and system settings
If an application is not found in any of the above ways, but you are sure it is installed, then there are still some "heavy" methods, which require a PC connection or knowledge of system commands.
Method 1: Checking with ADB
With Android Debug Bridge (ADB), you can see all the packages installed, including hidden ones:
adb shell pm list packagesTo find a specific application (such as Telegram), use:
adb shell pm list packages | grep telegramIf a packet is found but the label is missing, try resetting its cache:
adb shell pm clear com.android.telegramMethod 2: Unlocking System Applications
Some applications (e.g., Security or Topics) are system-based and do not appear in the shared list.
- Install a file manager with access to root folders (such as MiXplorer or Root Explorer).
- Go to /system/app or /system/priv-app.
- Find a folder with the name of the application (for example, MiuiSecurityCenter) and check if it is disabled.
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Use ADB and system commands only if you are confident in your actions. Wrong commands can disrupt MIUI.
⚠️ Attention: Working with ADB System files require the developer mode enabled (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — If you're not sure, you can use the wrong commands 7 times.
6.What to do if the application is removed
If you are convinced that the application is not just hidden, but removed, you can restore it in the following ways:
| Method | How do you do it? | Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| Recovery from the basket | Open Settings → Applications → Remote and restore the program. | It only works if the deletion occurred less than 30 days ago. |
| Reinstallation from Google Play | Find the app in the Play Market and install it again. | Not suitable for system applications (e.g. Camera or Gallery). |
| Recovery from backup | Use Mi Cloud or local copy (Settings → Additional → Backup). | Preliminary backup is required. |
| Installing APK manually | Download APK from the official site (for example, APKMirror) and install. | The risk of installing malware, only for trusted sources! |
For system applications (such as Camera or Calls), the only reliable way to recover is through Fastboot or the MIUI update.
⚠️ Note: If you have any errors in your phone after you delete your system application (such as Mi Video or Mi Music), do not try to restore it through the system. APK — This may make the problem worse.
7.How to prevent labels from disappearing in the future
To ensure that the application shortcuts do not disappear spontaneously:
- 🔧 Turn off automatic concealment: Settings → Desktop → Desktop settings → Automatic concealment of applications.
- 📁 Create folders for important applications – their MIUI less.
- 🔄 Open rarely used programs regularly (at least once every 2 weeks) so that the system does not consider them “unnecessary».
- 🔒 Use app fixing (hold the icon) → «Secure»).
It is also helpful to periodically check the list of hidden applications (Settings → Applications → Hidden Applications) and clear it of unnecessary programs.
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Even if the label is gone, the app itself stays in the system until you manually delete it, and 99 percent of the time, the problem is solved without flashing it.