How to return a remote application to the Xiaomi screen: step-by-step instructions

Why Apps Are Disappearing From Xiaomi’s Screen and How to Fix It

Have you noticed that a frequently used app suddenly disappeared from Xiaomi’s desktop?This is a common problem among users of MIUI-based smartphones, and the reasons can range from accidental removal to launcher failures. Unlike Android in its pure form, Xiaomi’s shell has its own app management features that aren’t always obvious.

It is important to understand that the disappearance of the icon does not always mean the removal of the program. Most often, the application is simply hidden or moved to the All Apps folder. In rare cases, the problem is associated with launcher cache errors or conflicts after the MIUI update. In this article, we will analyze all possible scenarios and give clear instructions for returning the application to the screen, from basic methods to advanced solutions for power users.

If you're using the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 or any other model on MIUI 14/15, the following methods will be relevant. The main thing is not to panic and consistently check each option.

Method 1: Search for the application in the menu "All applications"

The most common reason for an icon to disappear is because it's accidentally moved to a shared list, and MIUI has a default mode that doesn't automatically add new apps to the desktop, so here's how to bring it back:

1. Swipe your finger up from the bottom of the screen to open the All Apps menu.
2. At the top of the screen, find the search bar (the magnifier icon) and enter the name of the missing app.
3. When the app appears in the results, press its icon and drag it to the desktop.

If the app doesn't show up in the list, it may have been hidden or disabled. Go to the next way.

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In MIUI 14+, you can set up automatic addition of new applications to the desktop. To do this, go to Settings → Desktop → Add new applications to the desktop and turn on the option.

Method 2: Checking hidden and disabled applications

MIUI has an app hiding feature that can be triggered by accident, such as clicking the wrong button in the context menu, to return a hidden application:

• 🔍 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 📱 Go to the Hidden Applications tab (in some versions) MIUI This section is called “Hidden Ones").
• 🔄 Find the desired application in the list and click on it. Select "Show".

If the app is not hidden, check the disabled:

• 🔧 In the same section, select the "Disabled" tab".
• 🔄 Find the application and click "Enable".
• 📲 After turning on, return to the desktop and add an icon from the All Apps menu".

Method 3: Reset the launcher settings (without data loss)

The MIUI launcher (the program responsible for displaying the desktop) sometimes crashes, causing applications to disappear from the screen, resetting its settings will return the standard configuration without deleting your data:

• ⚙️ Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 In the search bar, enter "Luncher" (or "MIUI Launcher for the English version).
• 🗑️ Click on "Storage", then "Clear Data" (not to be confused with "Clear Cache"!).
• 🔄 Once the launcher is restarted, all icons will return to their original state.

Take a screenshot of the current location of the icons|Remember the names of folders on the desktop|Make sure that important widgets are not lost.|Check that you have a backup copy of the wallpaper.-->

⚠️ Warning: Launcher reset will delete all your desktop settings, including folders, widgets and icon order. However, application data and files will remain intact.

If the application never appeared after the reset, the problem could be deeper, such as corrupting system files, in which case the following method will help.

Method 4: Recovery through ADB (for power users)

If standard methods don’t work, you can try to return the application using ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which is suitable for system applications that can not be enabled through the settings menu.

• 💻 Computer with installed ADB Tools.
• 🔌 USB-smartphone-wire.
• 🔧 Included debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press to unlock the developer mode, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).

Instructions for remediation:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command prompt (or Terminal on Mac/Linux) in the adb folder.
2. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices should appear the name of your device.
3. Find out the exact package name of the missing application. For this, type: adb shell pm list packages | grep "part name" For example, for Google Chrome, use grep "chrome".
4. Enable the application by the command (replace package.name with real name): adb shell cmd package install-existing package.name

Once you have completed the command, restart your phone. The app should appear in the All Apps menu. If not, check if it has been removed completely (see Method 5).

Search for “All applications"|Checking Hidden Applications|Launcher reset|ADB-team|Another way.-->

Method 5: Reinstall the Remote Application

If previous methods didn't work, it's possible that the application was removed (not just hidden), in which case it needs to be reinstalled, depending on the type of application:

Important: If you removed a system application (like a Camera or Phone) via ADB or root, the standard reinstallation may not work, in which case you will need to firmware the phone via Fastboot.

Additional advice and prevention of problems

To avoid missing apps from Xiaomi’s screen in the future, follow these guidelines:

• 🔒 Turn off automatic cleaning in Settings → Annexes → Cleanup → Autoclean if it removes the right programs.
• 📁 Backup your desktop with applications like Nova Launcher (if you use a third-party launcher).
• 🔄 Update regularly MIUI — In new versions, bugs with icons are corrected.
• 🚫 Do not use “memory optimizers” from third-party developers – they often delete the launcher cache, which leads to crashes.

If the problem occurs frequently, consider installing a third-party launcher (like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher) that offers more flexible settings and less crashes compared to a standard MIUI launcher.

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Before any manipulation of system applications (deleting, disabling), back up through Settings → System and Device → Backup. This will quickly restore the phone to work if errors occur.

Frequent questions about missing apps on Xiaomi