The app menu on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones is not just a list of installed programs, but a powerful tool for organizing the workspace. MIUI It hides dozens of customizations that completely transform the look and feel of the application, from simple alphabetical sorting to creating hidden folders to quick access to frequently used programs, the possibilities are limited only by your imagination.
In this article, we will analyze all available ways to customize the application menu on Redmi (relevant for models from Redmi Note). 10 redmi 13 You will learn how to change the style of displaying icons, adjust gestures for quick launch, hide system applications without root rights, and take advantage of hidden functions. MIUI 14/15, And we're going to focus on performance optimization, because the right menu design can reduce the time you have to run apps on the Internet. 20-30%.
Standard ways to set up the application menu
Let’s start with the basic features that are available out of the box on any Xiaomi Redmi shell. MIUI. These features do not require additional programs to be installed and work on all firmware versions, starting with the MIUI 12.
The main app menu opens by swiping up from the bottom of the screen (if you have gesture navigation mode enabled) or by clicking on the All Apps icon in the dock panel.
- 📌 Frequently used apps on the home screen (hold the icon and drag it up)
- 🔍 Search by app name (useful if you have 100 installed)+ programme)
- 📂 Sorting by alphabet, installation date or frequency of use (Settings) → Main screen screen → Sorting applications)
- 🖼️ Change the size of the icons (available in Settings) → Screen. → Size of elements)
Notice the hidden feature: if you hold your finger in a free place in the application menu, you will see a context menu with options for "Home Screen Settings" and "Widgets", through which you can quickly switch between display styles (list/grid) and adjust the transparency of the background.
Hidden MIUI features for advanced users
Shell MIUI It's known for its Easter eggs, which are hidden settings that aren't documented in official manuals, and here are the most useful ones for working with the app menu:
1. "Laboratory" mode (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — You can tap it 7 times:
- 🔄 Animation of transition between applications (option "Window animation")
- 📱 Horizontal scrolling in the app menu (useful for larger screens)
- 🔍 Smart search with prediction of frequently used applications
2. Hidden gestures:
Double tapping the app icon in the menu opens it in split mode (does not work on all models)
- Swipe left on the icon shows a context menu with options "Information", "Delete" and "Stamp"
Holding the icon and then dragging it up creates a shortcut on the home screen
How to return the old app menu to the MIUI 15?
Optimizing Performance Through the App Menu
What many people don't know is that organizing the app menus correctly can make a smartphone work faster, and here are the key tricks:
Background activity shutdown:
Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management
- Select an unnecessary application → "Limit background activity"
- This will reduce the consumption of RAM on 15-20%
Sorting by frequency of use:
- Enable in Settings → Main screen screen → Sorting applications → "Frequently used"
The system will automatically raise the menu of those applications that you use most often.
3. Cleaning the cache directly from the menu:
- Hold the app icon → "Information on the annex" → "Clear the cache"
Regular cleaning of the cache (every 2 weeks) prevents the interface from hanging.
| Action. | Saving RAM | Acceleration of launch |
|---|---|---|
| Background activity shutdown | 15-20% | +10% |
| Cleaning up the app cache | 5-10% | +15% |
| Sorting by frequency of use | 2-5% | +25% |
| Use of a light launcher | 25-30% | +30% |
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The most effective way to accelerate is to combine background activity + Sorting by frequency of use, this gives you up to 40 percent performance gains on Redmi's budget models.
How to hide system and unnecessary applications
One of the most popular features is the ability to hide preinstalled system applications that cannot be removed by standard means. MIUI There are a number of ways to do this:
Method 1. Through the launcher settings:
1. Hold your finger in the free seat of the main screen
2. Select "Home screen settings"
3. Go to Hide Apps.
4. Check the boxes for unnecessary programs
Important: This method hides apps from the menu, but does not remove them completely from the device
Method 2. ADB (power-user):
1. Connect the phone to the PC and activate debugging by USB
2. execute the command:
adb shell pm hide com.miui.weather2(Replace com.miui.weather2 with the batch name of the desired application)
3. Reset the device
Make sure there is a backup copy|Check the batch name of the application|Activate debugging by USB|Have developer rights|Know the risks of disabling system components-->
⚠️ Warning: Disabling critical system applications (e.g. com.miui.home) may make it impossible to boot the system. → Additionally. → Backup and reset.
Alternative launchers for Redmi
If standard facilities MIUI You don't like it, you can install a third-party launcher:
1. Nova Launcher (paid version):
- Complete customization of icons and animations
- Ability to create gestures for any action
Optimized for performance (consumes 30% less RAM than a standard launcher)
2. Apex Launcher:
- Support for design themes
- Scrolling the dock panel.
- Built-in ad blocker for app icons
3. Microsoft Launcher:
- Integration with Windows 10/11 (notification synchronization)
Built-in calendar and weather on the home screen
- Minimalist design.
To install an alternative launcher:
1. Download. APK from the official website (for example, Nova Launcher)
2. Go to Settings → Annexes → By default. → Launcher
3. Select the installed launcher
💡
Before installing a third-party launcher, take screenshots of the current icon layout. Most alternative launchers reset the app layout when they first launch.
Creating folders and categories in the application menu
Organizing applications into folders and categories is one of the most effective ways to structure a workspace. MIUI This can be done in several ways:
Method 1: Standard folders:
1. Hold the app icon and drag it to another icon.
2. Release your finger - a folder will be created
3. Name the folder (e.g., "Social Networks" or "Work")
4.Add other apps by drag and drop
Method 2: Automatic categories (MIUI 14+):
1. Go to Settings. → Main screen screen → Categories of applications
2. Enable the option "Automatic sorting"
The system will automatically break applications into categories: “Games”, “Social Networks”, “Tools”, etc.
Method 3: Color tags (requires Nova Launcher):
1.Install Nova Launcher
2. Hold the folder. → "Edit"
3. Select the label color for visual category separation
- 📁 Examples of effective categories:
- 🎮 Games (all gaming applications)
- 📱 Social media (VK, Telegram, Instagram)
- 💼 Work (mail, calendar, CRM)
- 🎵 Multimedia (music, video, photo)
- 🛠️ Utilities (lantern, calculator, screen recording)
Solving Typical Application Menu Problems
Even in a simple function like the app menu, there are sometimes problems, and let's look at the most common ones and how to solve them:
Problem 1: App icons are missing:
- Reason: Launcher cache failure
- Solution: Go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → Launcher and press "Clear Cache"
Problem 2: The app menu is delayed:
Reason: Animation overload or little free memory
- Decision:
1. Turn off animations in Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (7 taps → "Window animation" → switch off)
2. Clear memory through Settings → Memory. → Clean up
Problem 3: Menu gestures are not working.
Cause: Conflict with installed gesture apps
- Solution: Disable overlay rights for third-party applications in Settings → Special facilities → Annexes with special rights
Issue 4: Recently installed applications are not displayed:
Cause: Launcher synchronization failure
Solution: Reboot your device or upgrade your launcher via Google Play (if you use a third-party)
⚠️ Note: If after the update MIUI So, all the app icons are gone, don't panic. This is a known bug in some firmware versions. → Annexes → Application management → Launcher → Storage and click "Clear Data." All icons will come back, but the layout will have to be reconfigured.