Creating a website shortcut on Xiaomi’s desktop is a task that seems simple only at first glance. Users of Redmi, POCO and the Mi line often find that standard Android methods do not work due to the features of the MIUI shell. In some versions of the firmware, the option of adding a shortcut is completely absent from the browser menu, and in others, an uncomfortable “bookmark” is created, rather than a full-fledged icon.
In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven ways, including hidden MIUI features, workarounds through third-party apps, and even manual shortcuts through ADB. We’ll focus on the nuances for different shell versions (MIUI 12-15) and popular browsers. You’ll learn why sometimes a shortcut opens a site in a browser instead of a self-window, and how to fix it.
🔹 Important: Instructions are relevant for Xiaomi smartphones based on Android 11-14 with a shell MIUI 12-15. on older versions (e.g., on older versions, MIUI (11) some methods may not work due to system limitations.
🔹 If you use POCO Launcher or third-party launchers (for example, Nova Launcher), the process of creating shortcuts may be different – we will also talk about this in a separate section.
1. The standard way through the Chrome browser (does not work on all Xiaomi)
The most obvious method is to add a shortcut directly from Google Chrome, but in MIUI, this feature is often hidden or incorrect.
1. Open the site in Chrome and click on the three dots in the top right corner.
2. In the menu, select "Add to the main screen" (if there is no item, see the section on workarounds).
3. If necessary, edit the name of the shortcut and click "Add".
⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi smartphones (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro with a MIUI 13) instead of a shortcut, a bookmark is created in the "Chrome" folder. To avoid this, open Chrome Settings before adding it. → Site parameters → Notifications and Allow Notifications for Domain.
Open a website in Chrome|Push. ⋮ → "Add to the main screen"|Check the permissions for the site|Restart the browser if the option is inactive-->
If the "Add to the main screen" option is missing, it means that MIUI has blocked the function, in which case move on to the next method.
2. Alternative method via the "Favorites" menu in MIUI
The MIUI shell has its own system of favorite bookmarks, which sometimes duplicates the shortcut function, which works even if the browser does not offer to create an icon:
1. Open the site in any browser (Chrome, Firefox, Mi Browser).
2. Click on the asterisk icon (or "Favorites") in the address bar.
3. In the window that appears, select "Add to the main screen."
🔹 Na Nuances MIUI 14/15 This method can create a bookmark widget instead of a shortcut, and to get a full icon, you can press it on your desktop and select "Delete from the widget" and the shortcut will remain as a separate item.
⚠️ Attention: On smartphones POCO s POCO Launcher this method often works only for sites with PWA-Support (progressive web applications, such as Twitter or Telegram Web) for normal pages use methods 3-5.
| MIUI version | Does the standard method work? | Does the method work through the "Favorites" | Best alternative method |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI 12 | ❌ No (lockdown) | ✅ Yes (with limitations) | Method 3 (Shortcut Maker) |
| MIUI 13 | ⚠️ Partially (depending on the model) | ✅ Yes. | Method 4 (Firefox) |
| MIUI 14/15 | ✅ Yeah, but creates a widget) | ✅ Yes. | Method 5 (ADB) |
3.Using a third-party application Shortcut Maker
If the built-in methods don't work, Shortcut Maker (available on Google Play) will come to the rescue, allowing you to create shortcuts for any activity, including opening web pages:
1. Install Shortcut Maker from Play Market.
2. Open the application and select "Activity".
3. In the list, find your browser (e.g. com.android.chrome for Chrome).
4. Select an activity called “Open a new incognito tab” or “Open a URL.”
5. Enter the site address in the URL field (e.g. https://vk.com).
6. Click on Create and confirm the addition of a shortcut to the home screen.
🔹 Advantage: The shortcut will open the site in a separate window (as an app) rather than in a new browser tab. This is especially convenient for social networks or web versions of instant messengers.
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If Shortcut Maker does not find the desired activity, try manually entering the path com.android.chrome/com.google.android.apps.chrome.Main in the application search box.
⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi) 9A) MIUI It can block shortcut creation through third-party apps, in which case it will help to disable battery optimization for Shortcut Maker in the phone settings.
4. Creating a shortcut through Firefox (the most reliable way)
Mozilla Firefox offers more flexible settings for shortcuts than Chrome, which works even on MIUI 12, where other methods fail:
1. Install Firefox from the Play Market and open the desired site.
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → "Add to the main screen."
3. Confirm shortcut creation. Unlike Chrome, Firefox always creates a full icon, not a widget.
🔹 Bonus: Shortcuts created through Firefox open sites in a separate window without an address bar, mimicking a native app.This is perfect for web versions of Telegram, WhatsApp Web or YouTube Music.
📌 Example:
If you add a shortcut to web.telegram.org, it will look like a separate Telegram app, but with full functionality of the web version.
Google Chrome|Mozilla Firefox|Mi Browser|Microsoft Edge|Other-->
5. Manual shortcut creation via ADB (for advanced users)
If none of the above methods work, the most reliable but difficult method is to create a shortcut through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires connecting the phone to a computer, but guarantees results on any version of MIUI.
🔹 What's the matter:
- 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB Tools.
- 📱 Included debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press to unlock the developer mode, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
- 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
📝 Instructions:
- Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.
- Open the command prompt (cmd) in the folder with adb.exe.
- Enter the command to create a shortcut (replace). URL and NAME The following is the following: adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.CREATE_SHORTCUT \ -n com.android.chrome/com.google.android.apps.chrome.Main \ --es url "https://example.com" \ --es name "Name of label"
- On the screen of the phone will appear a window with a suggestion to add a shortcut – confirm the action.
This method is the only way to create a shortcut to MIUI 12 for smartphones that block standard features (e.g. Redmi 8A or Mi A3).
What if the ADB can’t see the device?
6. Features for POCO Launcher and Third Party Launchers
If you use a POCO Launcher or alternative shells (e.g., Nova Launcher, Hyperion Launcher), the shortcut creation process may be different.
🔹 For POCO Launcher:
- 📱 Shortcuts created through the browser automatically receive an icon. POCO-style (round with trim).
- 🔄 If the shortcut does not appear, reboot the launcher: pinch the empty space on the desktop → «Settings» → «Reset».
- 🎨 To change the shortcut icon, use apps like Icon Changer.
🔹 For Nova Launcher:
- 🖼️ When you add a shortcut through Chrome or Firefox, you can choose any icon from the icon packs.
- 🔧 To open the site in a separate window, in the Nova settings, enable “Open Links in the Application” (Nova Settings). → Annexes and labels → Open links).
⚠️ Note: On some versions POCO Launcher (for example, in firmware for POCO F3) Site shortcuts may disappear after the launcher update. To avoid this, back up your settings in Settings POCO Launcher → Backup.
Frequent problems and their solutions
Even after successfully creating a shortcut, Xiaomi users are faced with common mistakes.
🔧 Problem 1: A shortcut opens a website in a browser, not in a separate window
- 🛠️ Solution: Use Firefox or Shortcut Maker (methods 3-4). Chrome cannot fix this due to limitations. MIUI.
🔧 Problem 2: The shortcut disappears after the phone restarts
- 🛠️ Solution: It's a bug MIUI 13–14. To return the shortcut, go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → Chrome/Firefox → Memory. → Clean the cache, then create the shortcut again.
🔧 Problem 3: You can’t change the label icon
- 🛠️ Solution: Install Nova Launcher or use Icon Changer (rights required) ADB certain functions).
🔧 Problem 4: A shortcut opens the homepage of a website, not the right one URL
- 🛠️ Solution: Remove the shortcut and create it again, making sure that the browser address bar is accurate. URL (for example, https://m.vk.com/feed, not vk.com).
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If neither method works, check to see if your Xiaomi has Second Space or Private Mode on, and they create labels separately and don’t show up on the main desktop.