How to return the system application to the Xiaomi desktop: from simple to radical methods

Have you accidentally removed a system app from the Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO desktop — and now you can't find it on the menu? Or have standard utilities like Calendar, Notes or Radio disappeared after the MIUI update? This problem is familiar to many Xiaomi smartphone users, where the MIUI interface often hides system applications instead of completely removing them. In 90% of cases, they can be restored without complex manipulations, the main thing is to know where to look.

In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to return the system application to the desktop – from basic (via launcher settings) to advanced (using ADB and hidden MIUI menus). All methods are tested on Xiaomi 13 Pro (MIUI 14), Redmi Note 12 (MIUI 13) and POCO F5 (MIUI 14 for POCO), but will also work for other models based on Android 11-14. If you are not sure about your actions, start with the first method and move on to the next only if you fail.

1. Check the All Apps folder and hidden system folders

Most often, the remote system application is actually hidden from desktop display, but it stays on the general list, and this is a feature of the MIUI launcher, which automatically sorts out rarely used programs.

• 📱 Swipe your finger up on the desktop to open the All Apps menu».
• 🔍 In the search bar (upper right corner) enter the name of the application, such as the Camera or FM-radio.
• 📁 Check folders with Google Services, Tools or MIUI — There are often hidden system utilities.
• 🔄 If the application is found, hold its icon and drag it to the desktop.

If the app doesn’t show up even in the general list, it may be disabled in the system settings. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management and manually enable it (more on this in the next section).

⚠️ Note: On some models POCO (for example, POCO X5 Pro) system applications can be hidden in a folder MIUI If it's not there, try changing the launcher theme to Settings. → Standard topics.

2. Enabling disabled system applications through settings

System applications in MIUI can't be removed completely without root rights, but they can be disabled, and then they disappear from the menu and stop working.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Press three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Show all applications.
3. In the list, find the desired application (for example, Mi-wallet or Security) and tap it.
4. If the Enable button is active, press it. If there is no button but there is a Disable button, then the application is already active.

Once turned on, the app should appear in the All Apps menu. If this does not happen, try restarting your smartphone or clearing the launcher cache:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → Launcher (or “Desktop”) → Storage → Clear cache

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If you can’t find the app in the list, try sorting it alphabetically (button) ⋮ → System utilities often start with com.xiaomi. or com.miui.

3.Resetting launcher settings (without data loss)

Sometimes the problem lies in the failure of the MIUI launcher, the standard interface that is responsible for displaying icons, you can reset its settings without losing personal data:

• 🛠️ Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 Find the Launcher app (or Desktop, MIUI Launcher).
• 🗑️ Press Warehouse. → Clear the data (not cache!).
• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone.

Once reset, all desktop icons will return to factory location, and hidden system applications will be visible again, an important caveat: this method will not restore applications that have been manually disabled (see Method 2) or removed via ADB.

⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI Global for Redmi Note 10, a launcher reset could cause widgets to disappear.

4.Recovery via the hidden Special Opportunities menu (for MIUI 12-14)

MIUI 12 and later has a hidden menu that allows you to control the display of system applications, which works even for utilities that do not appear in the standard settings.

1. Open the Settings. → Special facilities.
2. Scroll down and find the System Settings section (on some models it is hidden – tap 5 times on the Special Opportunities Notice to unlock it).
3. Select Launcher Settings → Hidden Applications.
4. Uncheck the boxes from the applications you want to return to the desktop.
5. Save the changes and restart the smartphone.

This method is particularly useful for restoring applications such as:

• 📡 FM-radio (often hidden on models for the European market).
• 💳 Mi Pay – can be disabled due to regional restrictions.
• 🔧 Security or Optimization – sometimes disappears after updates.

5. Radical methods: ADB and firmware reinstallation

If none of the previous methods worked, it is possible that the system application was removed at the firmware level.

• 🔧 Unofficial updates via Fastboot or Recovery.
• 🧹 Cleaning up the section /system assisted TWRP.
• 📦 Removal through teams ADB (for example, pm uninstall -k --user 0).

In such cases, there are two options:

Method A: Recovery through ADB (without root)

If the app was removed by the ADB team, it can be returned by uninstallation. Connect your smartphone to your PC, enable Debugging via USB (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times tap on version, then go back to Settings → Additional → Developers → Debugging via USB) and do:

adb shell cmd package install-existing application package

For example, to restore the Calendar (com.android.calendar):

adb shell cmd package install-existing com.android.calendar

⚠️ Note: Not all system applications can be restored this way.If the team returns a Failure error [NOT_FOUND], This means the application is physically removed and you will need to flash it.

Method B: Reinstall the firmware via Fastboot

If the application is critical (for example, Settings or Phone), and other methods did not help, you need to reflash the smartphone with data storage.

1. Download the official firmware for your model from the MIUI Download website (choose the Fastboot version).
2. Unpack the archive in a folder on your PC and launch the script flash_all.bat (Windows or flash_all.sh (Linux/Mac).
3. Connect your smartphone in Fastboot mode (clip Volume down + Power when the phone is off).
4. Wait until the process is over (don’t turn off USB!).

After flashing, all system applications will be restored, but third-party programs and data will remain intact (unless you have chosen the clean all option).

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Fastboot flashing is an extreme method. Before you start, check that you downloaded the firmware for your model (for example, the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G is not compatible with the firmware for the Redmi Note 11 Pro 4G).

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When trying to return a system application, users often face typical problems, and here's how to prevent them:

• 🚫 Error: "The app is not found in the All Apps menu." Solution: Check if a third-party launcher (like Nova Launcher) is installed. MIUI In Settings → Default applications → Launcher.
• 🔄 Error: After the launcher is reset, all the icons are missing.Solution: Reboot your smartphone and wait for the layout to automatically recover (may take up to 5 minutes).
• 📵 Mistake: Teams ADB Solution: Install the latest Xiaomi drivers from the Xiaomi Flash Tool site and check the connection USB (Try another cable or port).

If you’re using a POCO Launcher or MIUI Launcher with custom themes, some system applications may be hidden due to the conflict of topics. Try changing the theme to a standard one in Settings → Themes → My Themes → Standard.

Backup your data via Mi Cloud or PC

Check the battery charge (minimum 50%)

Make sure that the smartphone model is compatible with the selected firmware

Disable the bootloader lock (if you plan to unlock)

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FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions