How to add a site shortcut to Xiaomi desktop: 5 proven ways

Creating a site shortcut on Xiaomi’s desktop is a convenient way to quickly access your favorite web resources without having to open your browser and enter your address manually every time. Despite its apparent simplicity, many users face difficulties: If you don't have a "Add to the home screen" button, you don't have a shortcut, you don't have a full-fledged site, you have a miniature browser window, and in this article, we're going to look at all the current ways to create web shortcuts on Xiaomi, Redmi and other smartphones. POCO steerable MIUI 12/13/14, including bypassing system constraints and solving typical problems.

Feature of firmware MIUI It often modifies Android’s standard behavior, so the instructions for pure Android may not work here. We tested all the methods on Xiaomi 13 Pro, Redmi Note 12 and other devices. POCO X5 with the latest updates from 2026. MIUI (12th), some points may differ - note the alternative solutions at the end of the article.

Before you start, make sure that your device has one of the supported browsers: Google Chrome, Mi Browser (built-in in the browser). MIUI) The way you add shortcuts to each one is different, and we'll go through each option in detail.

1. The method through Google Chrome (recommended)

Google Chrome browser remains the most reliable tool for creating web shortcuts on Xiaomi, since its functionality is weakly dependent on modifications. MIUI. Here's the step-by-step instruction:

1. Open the site in Chrome that you want to anchor to your desktop. Make sure the page is fully loaded.
2. Press three vertical dots (⋮) In the upper right corner of the screen to open the menu.
3. Select Add to the main screen (if not, see the Problem Solving section below).
4. In the window that appears, you can change the shortcut name (the default is the page title).
5. The shortcut will appear on your desktop. The first click can open a Chrome mini window, which is normal. Click on three dots in this window and select Open in Chrome so that the site opens in full screen.

If the shortcut opens the site in a lightweight form (without some elements), this means that Chrome uses the site. PWA-Progressive Web App to return the full version of the site:

• 🔹 Open the shortcut and click on the three dots in the upper right corner of the mini window.
• 🔹 Choose Open in Chrome → Always.
• 🔹 Restart the device to make the changes effective.

The right website is open (not the main page)|Page is fully loaded (no rotating icon)|Browser Updated to the latest version|There is free space on the desktop for a label-->

2.The method through the built-in Mi Browser

The built-in Mi Browser browser has limited functionality compared to Chrome, but also allows you to create shortcuts. However, there is a nuance: shortcuts may disappear after the update. MIUI Or a launcher drop:

1. Open the site in Mi Browser and wait for the full page to load.
2. Press three points (⋮) at the bottom of the screen (in Mi Browser, the menu is located at the bottom).
3. Select Other Tools → Add to the main screen.
4. Confirm the action. The shortcut will appear on the desktop, but it can look like a Mi Browser icon with a thumbnail of the site.

Important: shortcuts created through Mi Browser often open sites in a “cut-down” form (without some scripts), this is due to Xiaomi’s optimizations to save traffic.

• 🔹 Click it on the desktop and select Application Information.
• 🔹 In the window that opens, click Open by default. → Chrome (if installed).

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If the shortcut from Mi Browser does not work after the update MIUI, Try to delete it and recreate it. Sometimes it helps to reset the launcher settings: pinch the empty space on the desktop. → Screen settings → Reset the settings.

3. Alternative method: through "Widgets" in MIUI

If the standard methods do not work (for example, the browser does not have the option “Add to the home screen”), you can use the shortcut widget built into the browser. MIUI. This method is universal, but requires more action:

1. Click the empty space on the desktop and select Widgets.
2. Scroll through the list to the Tools section and find the shortcut widget (a sign in the form of an arrow).
3. Drag the widget to the desktop, and you'll see a menu that will show you the choices.
4. Choose Open. URL Enter the website address (for example, https://vk.com).
5. Name a shortcut (for example, “Vkontakte”) and click Ready.

The advantage of this method is that the shortcut will open the site in the browser you choose by default, but there are also disadvantages:

• 🔸 The widget takes up more screen space than the standard shortcut.
• 🔸 Not all sites are properly opened through this method (for example, authorization or dynamic content may not work).

4. Use of third-party applications

If embedded tools MIUI You don't like it, you can use third-party apps from Google Play:

• 📌 Shortcut Maker – allows you to create shortcuts for any URL, and hidden Android features.
• 📌 QuickShortcutMaker is an advanced shortcut tool, including system.
• 📌 Hermit Lite Apps – creates “lightweight” versions of websites, saving traffic and battery.

Let’s look at the shortcut maker:

1. Install the app from Google Play and open it.
2. Choose Activity → Browser (or Chrome if installed).
3. In the field URL Enter the website address (for example, https://youtube.com).
4. Name a shortcut (e.g., “YouTube”) and click Create.
5. The shortcut will appear on the desktop. When you first start, you may need to select the default browser.

⚠️ Warning: Third-party shortcut applications often request permission to access your browser data, install them only from official sources (Google Play) and check reviews. Some apps (such as Hermit) may block ads on websites, which violates the rules of some resources.

5. Solving typical problems

Even after successfully creating a shortcut, Xiaomi users face challenges, and we will discuss the most common ways to eliminate them:

Problem 1: Add to Home Screen button is not available in Chrome

It's because of:

• 🔧 Outdated Chrome (update your browser to Google Play).
• 🔧 Restrictions MIUI for some regions (for example, in Chinese firmware).
• 🔧 Site settings (some resources block the creation of a website) PWA-labels).

Decisions:

• 🛠 Check if Chrome has Settings enabled. → Site parameters → Notifications → Permission.
• 🛠 Try opening your website in incognito mode (sometimes it works).
• 🛠 Install Chrome Beta – New features are often available in test versions.

Problem 2: The shortcut disappeared after a reboot or update

It's a typical feature» MIUI, Especially after major updates, to get the label back:

• 🔄 Re-create it again (see the above methods).
• 🔄 Check the Remote folder on your desktop (click on the empty space) → Remote).
• 🔄 Reset the launcher settings: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Launcher → Warehouse → Clear the data.

Problem 3: A shortcut opens a website in a mini window, not a full screen

It's because of this. PWA-The Progressive Web App that Chrome uses to save resources:

1. Open the shortcut and wait for the site to load in the mini window.
2. Press three points (⋮) top-right corner of the window.
3. Choose Open in Chrome → Always.
4. Reset the device.

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If the site still opens in a mini window, try creating a shortcut through the shortcut widget (see Method 3) or use a third-party app like Shortcut Maker.

6. Creating shortcuts for frequently used website features

In addition to shortcuts to the home page, you can create direct links to specific features of the web, such as:

• 📹 Direct link to uploading videos to YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/upload).
• 📧 Quick access to writing a letter in Gmail (https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox?compose=new).
• 🛒 Link to the basket in the online store (https://www.wildberries.ru/lk/basket).

To create this label:

1. Copy the right one. URL (For example, writing a letter in Gmail).
2. Follow the instructions in Method 1 (Chrome) or Method 3 (Widget).
3. Assign a label to an understandable name (for example, “New Letter”).

For some sites (such as VKontakte or Telegram Web), you can create shortcuts for specific dialogues or groups.

• 💬 Label for dialogue: https://vk.com/im?sel=-123456789 (replace the numbers ID conversation).
• 👥 Label for the group: https://vk.com/club123456789 (replace the numbers ID community).

7. Desktop Optimization: Folders and Shortcut Organization

If you create a lot of shortcuts, the desktop fills up quickly. MIUI You can organize them into folders or use special launchers:

Creating folders on the desktop

1. Drag one label to another and hold on for a few seconds.
2. Let go, and you'll see a folder with two shortcuts, and you'll call it (like "Social Media").
3. Add other tags to the folder by dragging.

Use of alternative launchers

Standard launcher MIUI It has limited customization options. If you need more flexibility, install one of the popular launchers:

• 📱 Nova Launcher – supports folders, gestures, desktop backup.
• 📱 Apex Launcher – lightweight launcher with support for themes and icons.
• 📱 Microsoft Launcher – Integration with Windows, synchronization with PC.

After installing an alternative launcher:

1. Press the Home button and select the new launcher as the main one.
2. Add site shortcuts through widgets or standard launcher facilities.
3. Customize the appearance (themes, icons, animations) in the launcher settings.

⚠️ Note: When using third-party launchers, shortcuts created through Mi Browser may not work. In this case, recreate them through Chrome or the shortcut widget».

8 Security: How to Avoid Fraudulent Labels

Site labels can be used by attackers to phish or distribute malware. Follow these rules to protect yourself:

• 🔒 Create shortcuts only for verified sites (e.g. vk.com, google.com).
• 🔒 Do not set labels from unknown sources (e.g., obtained by SMS or messenger).
• 🔒 Before creating a label, check it out. URL site for typos (for example, g00gle.com instead of google.com).
• 🔒 Use two-factor authentication on the sites for which you create shortcuts (social networks, banks, mail).

If you suspect that the label leads to a fraudulent website:

1. Remove it from the desktop (clip it). → Delete).
2. Check your browser history for suspicious visits.
3. Rinse the browser cache: Settings → Annexes → browser → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
4. Check your device for viruses using Google Play Protect or Malwarebytes.

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Never enter usernames and passwords on sites opened through suspicious labels. Fraudsters often create copies of popular resources (such as fake VK) to steal user data.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions