How to save a web page to a desktop in a Xiaomi Redmi phone: 5 ways with instructions

Saving a web page to the desktop of a Xiaomi Redmi smartphone is a convenient way to quickly access your favorite sites, online services or important materials without having to open your browser and enter an address every time. However, not everyone knows that on Android smartphones (including the Redmi Note, Redmi and POCO line), this feature is not as obvious as on the iPhone. Depending on the phone model, the MIUI version and the browser used, the process may differ.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways, from standard Google Chrome tools and Mi Browser to workarounds with screenshots and third-party apps. We’ll focus on the nuances for different versions of firmware (e.g. MIUI 12/13/14), and explain why sometimes a shortcut on the desktop opens a page, but the browser itself. If you’re looking for the fastest or most versatile method, use the table of contents below.

1. Save via Google Chrome (standard way)

Google Chrome is pre-installed on most Xiaomi Redmi smartphones and supports the creation of web page shortcuts on the desktop.This method works on all versions of MIUI, but may require additional actions depending on the system settings.

To save the page:

• 📱 Open Google Chrome and go to the right web page.
• 🔧 Click on three vertical dots in the upper right corner (browser menu).
• 📌 Select Add to the main screen (in some versions – Set a shortcut).
• ✏️ If necessary, edit the name of the label and confirm the addition.

After that, an icon will appear on the desktop, when you click on which the page will open in Chrome without the address bar (in "web application" mode). On smartphones with MIUI 14 and later, the shortcut can open the full version of the browser - this is a feature of system optimization that can be bypassed through settings (see section 3).

⚠️ Note: If Add to the Home Screen is not on the menu, upgrade Google Chrome to the latest version via the Play Store. on some Redmi models (e.g. Redmi) 9A) This function can be blocked by the manufacturer.

Update your browser to the latest version

Open the right page in Chrome

Make sure there is a free space on the desktop.

Check Chrome permissions in the settings MIUI-->

2.Using Mi Browser (branded Xiaomi browser)

The proprietary Mi Browser (or Browser in newer versions of MIUI) also allows you to save web pages to the desktop, but with some limitations. For example, on the Redmi Note 10 Pro with MIUI 13, the shortcut will open the page in the browser itself, rather than as a separate window.

Instructions for Mi Browser:

• 🌐 Open the page you want to save.
• 📍 Click on the icon. ⋮ (three dots) at the bottom of the screen.
• 📎 Select Add to the main screen (in some versions – Create a shortcut).
• 🔄 If you do not have an option, try to hold your finger on the address bar – a context menu with the desired item will appear.

The main difference from Chrome is that shortcuts from Mi Browser always open in the browser itself, not in the “web app” mode. This can be inconvenient if you want the page to look like a separate application, in which case we recommend using alternative methods (see sections 4 and 5).

3.Why does the shortcut open a browser and not a page?

Many Xiaomi Redmi users face a problem: when you add a shortcut to the desktop, you click on the page that you have saved, and the browser itself with an empty tab, which is due to MIUI optimizations that “reset” the state of web applications when you close.

How to fix it:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Google Chrome (or another browser) and open its settings.
3. Select Permissions → Additional → Display on top of other windows and enable this option.
4. Return to your browser settings and select Battery → Without restrictions.

If the problem persists, try an alternative method:

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi) A1+) because of productivity constraints MIUI can block the background work of web applications, in this case, only resetting the browser settings or using third-party solutions (section 5) will help).

4.Save through screenshot and widget "Notes"

If you want to save a visual copy of the page (such as a schedule, recipe, or instruction), you can use a combination of a screenshot and a standard Notes app from Xiaomi, which works on all Redmi models, including budget ones (Redmi 9C, Redmi 10A).

Step-by-step:

• 📸 Take a screenshot of the page (at the same time click the Power button). + Turning down the volume).
• 🖼️ In the notification bar, click on the screenshot thumbnail and select Edit.
• ✂️ Cut off unnecessary parts (address bar, ad) and save the image.
• 📝 Open the Notes app, create a new note and paste a screenshot.
• 📍 Press your finger on the note in the list and select Secure on the home screen.

The advantage of this method is that the note with the image will be available even without the Internet. The disadvantage is that you can not interact with the elements of the page (links, buttons). For interactive pages (for example, the web version of Telegram or Google Docs), it is better to use methods from sections 1–2.

Shortcut through Chrome

Screenshot + notes

Third-party annexes

I don't save it, I use bookmarks.

Another option-->

5. Third-party applications for creating labels

If standard methods don't work (for example, on Redmi with custom firmware or an outdated version of MIUI), you can use third-party utilities.

• 🛠️ Hermit Lite creates lightweight web applications without ads, supports tracker blocking and traffic savings.
• 🌐 Kiwi Browser – Chrome-based browser with advanced features, including forced shortcut creation.
• 📱 Shortcut Maker – allows you to manually create shortcuts for any web page, even if the browser does not support this feature.

Example of settings via Hermit Lite:

1. Install the app from the Play Store.
2. Open Hermit and enter the address of the desired page.
3. Click Add to the main screen in the app menu.
4. Choose the icon and name for the label.

These apps are especially useful for Redmi users with MIUI 12 and below, where standard browsers often don’t support shortcut creation. However, note that some utilities (such as Shortcut Maker) require permission to access Special Features in Android settings.

💡

If the shortcut stopped working after the MIUI update, try re-create it through Hermit Lite – this application bypasses the system’s limitations due to its own page rendering engine.

6. Alternative methods: bookmarks and PWAs

If desktop saving is not available for some reason, consider alternative options:

• 🔖 Bookmarks in the browser: Add the page to bookmarks (⋮ → Star in Chrome), then secure the bookmark folder on the home screen through the browser widget.
• 📱 PWA (Progressive Web Apps: Some sites (e.g. Twitter, Spotify Web) support installation as apps. Chrome does this through a mobile app. ⋮ → Install the application.
• 📋 Quick notes: Copy URL pages in the Notes app or Google Keep, then pin the note on your desktop.

For sites that support PWA (Progressive Web Applications), the shortcut will behave like a full-fledged app: with notifications, offline mode and a separate icon in the app menu. To check if the site supports PWA, open it in Chrome and see if there is an Install App option on the menu.

💡

PWAs are the best way to save interactive web services (like Google Docs or Trello) to your desktop, which are more stable than standard shortcuts and support notifications.

7. Solving Shortcut Problems on Xiaomi Redmi

If the shortcut you created doesn’t work, disappears after a reboot, or opens the wrong page, use these tips:

For Redmi users with non-standard launchers (such as POCO Launcher), changing the shell to Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher can help – they work better with web shortcuts. Also check if the browser’s power saving mode is enabled in the Battery settings and performance.

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi) 8A s MIUI 11) because of an outdated version of Android Go, shortcuts can be blocked, in which case the only way out is to update the firmware or use screenshots.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)