How to return a remote application to the Xiaomi desktop: all working methods

An icon of an important app suddenly disappeared from the desktop Xiaomi, Redmi or Poco? Don't rush to reinstall the program or reset settings. 90% of the time, the problem is solved in 1-2 minutes with standard MIUI. The reasons for missing icons vary from an accidental swipe to a shell failure after the update. In this article, 5 proven ways to return the application to the home screen, including little-known chips for the latest versions of the firmware.

Xiaomi users often experience app icons disappearing after clearing the launcher cache, installing themes, or activating Lite Mode. Unlike pure Android, where icons simply move through the app menu, MIUI can completely lose sight of them — even from the list of all programs. This is especially true for device owners on MIUI 14/13, where memory optimization algorithms have become more aggressive. But the good news is that almost always the application stays on the system and can be returned without losing data.

Before you start, make sure that the application has not been removed.

1. Menu of all apps (swipe up from the bottom of the screen).
2. Remote folder in Settings → Applications → Application management.
3. List of hidden applications (Settings → Desktop → Hidden applications).

If the program is not available in all three places, it has to be reinstalled from Google Play or Mi App Store.

Method 1: Restore all applications through the menu

The fastest method is to return the icon from the general list of programs. MIUI does this differently than standard Android, so many users miss this step.

Open the menu of all apps (swipe up from the dockboard). Find the app you want in the list. If it's not on the first page, search at the top of the screen.

• 📱 Long tap on the icon → Drag it to the desktop (the inscription appears Add to the main screen).
• ⚙️ If a long press doesn’t work: press three dots in the upper right corner. → Change. → Select the app and drag it.
• 🔍 For system applications (such as Camera or Phone): first unlock them in Settings → Annexes → Application management → [Name of name] → Unlock.

If the application is not in the menu of all programs, but installed (checked through Settings → Applications), then it is hidden by the system.

⚠️ Attention: B MIUI 14 after update OTA Some system applications (e.g. Security or Topics) may be temporarily removed from the menu, in which case it will help to reboot the device or reset the launcher cache (method 4).

Method 2: Unlocking the application hide in MIUI settings

Xiaomi allows you to hide apps from prying eyes — a feature often turned on by accident — to bring back the hidden program:

1. Go to Settings. → Desktop.
2. Select Hidden Applications (some versions of MIUI call Hidden Icons).
3. Uncheck the box in front of the desired application or click Show.

After that, the icon will appear in the menu of all applications, from where it can be returned to the desktop (see Method 1). If the list of hidden applications is empty, but the program is still missing, check the Remote folder:

• 🗑️ Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management → Remote.
• 🔄 Click Restore next to the desired application (available within 30 days of deletion).

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If the hidden app doesn't show up in the settings, try searching for its name by settings (the magnifier in the top right corner). MIUI sometimes "hide" menu items behind the search.

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

The MIUI launcher (the desktop program) sometimes resets the icons after updating or clearing the cache, to return the original state without removing the applications:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the MIUI Launcher (or Lawnchair if you use an alternative launcher).
3. Select Warehouse → Clear cache and Clear data.
4. Reset the device.

After the reboot, all icons will return to their places, but the desktop settings will reset (wallpaper, folders, widgets), which helps if all icons are missing or the desktop is empty.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi Note 10 Pro, Poco) X3 Pro) after the launcher is reset, the dock panel may disappear, and to return it, a long press on the desktop. → Desktop settings → Dock panel. → Turn on.

Take screenshots of the current location of the icons|Remember the names of folders on the desktop|Check that important widgets are not tied to the launcher (e.g. weather)|Make sure the lock screen password is remembered (post-reset may require input)-->

Method 4: Recovery through ADB (for power users)

If the application is lost after manually deleting system files or custom settings, it can be returned using ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which is suitable for system applications that cannot be reinstalled from the store (for example, Mi Video, Mi Music or Themes).

You'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB Tools.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press to activate the developer mode, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

Instructions:

adb shell


pm list packages | grep "appendix name" // For example: pm list packages | grep "video"




pm install -r /system/priv-app/[Packet Name]/[Packet Name].apk//For system applications

For custom applications (installed from Google Play), the following commands are sufficient:

adb shell cmd package install-existing [name packet]

If the icon does not appear after the execution of the commands, check if the application is blocked in the battery settings (Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization → All applications).

Method 5: Reinstall the application with data storage

If none of the methods worked, you can reinstall the app, but there is a way to do it without losing data (e.g. saved games or settings):

1. Download. APK-Application file from a reliable source (e.g, [APKMirror](https://www.apkmirror.com/)).
2. Install the file through any file manager (e.g. MIUI Explorer or Solid Explorer).
3. When you request, select Set Up (Do Not Update!).
4. After installation, check that the data is saved (for example, log in to the game – progress should remain).

For system applications (Camera, Gallery), reinstallation is possible only through ADB or custom recovery (e.g. TWRP).

MIUI 14|MIUI 13|MIUI 12|MIUI 11 or older |I don't know-->

Additional Advice and Frequent Mistakes

If the app never came, check out these points:

• 🔋 Optimizing the battery: MIUI It can freeze applications that are rarely used. Open Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery → All applications and disable optimization for the desired program.
• 📁 The Others folder: In some topics MIUI The icons of new applications are automatically placed in the Others folder on the desktop.
• 🔄 Lite Mode: If Light Mode is enabled (Settings) → Special facilities → Lite Mode, many applications will be hidden.
• 🎨 Resetting topics: Some topics MIUI You can change the location of the icons. Try to return the standard theme: Settings. → Topics → My subjects. → Standard.

Mistakes that users often make:

1. Trying to find an app through a desktop search (it only searches among visible icons) you need to search in the menu of all apps.
2. Remove the launcher cache through third-party cleaners (such as CCleaner), which leads to crashes. Use only the built-in MIUI settings.
3. They reset the phone to the factory without trying simpler methods.

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Before resetting or reinstalling the app, always check the Hidden and Remote folder in the MIUI settings. 70% of the time, the problem is solved without drastic measures.

FAQ: Frequent questions about returning apps to Xiaomi