Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face a situation where, after updating the system, random actions or changing the privacy settings, important icons disappear from the desktop, which causes panic, especially if access to banking applications or instant messengers is lost. However, in most cases, programs are not deleted anywhere, but only hidden by the system or transferred to special isolated spaces.
In this article, we will take a look at all possible shortcut scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions for returning them. You will learn how the built-in security features MIUI and HyperOS work, how the "Second Space" mode differs from conventional concealment, and how to forcefully restore the visibility of system components. In 90% of cases, the problem is solved by changing one setting in the "Security" menu, not by reinstalling the system.
Before you get to the complex methods, you need to exclude trivial reasons, such as accidentally moving to folders or activating the Do Not Disturb mode for specific applications. Understanding the logic of the shell will help you not only return the missing, but also competently organize the screen space in the future.
Checking standard folders and desktop
The most obvious but often overlooked reason is the accidental drag and drop of an icon to another folder or to another desktop page. MIUI-based Android allows you to create an unlimited number of pages, and with fast scrolling, you can easily lose sight of an important shortcut. Carefully examine all available screens, swiping left and right.
It’s also worth checking the default Tools folder, which users often automatically put system utilities in order to clean up, and then forget their location. If you’re using a third-party launcher, check its application hideout settings, as they can override Xiaomi’s system settings.
In some cases, simple desktop sorting helps, and you need to pinch it with two fingers across the screen (scaling it down) to see all the pages at once, and check if you have a lost icon, and if you find one, just drag it to the usual place.
- 📱 Make a swipe with two fingers to view all pages of the desktop.
- 📂 Check the Tools folder and other directories you have created.
- 🔄 Reset the location of the icons through the desktop editing menu.
- 🔍 Make sure that you do not activate the "text only" mode or change the font size that binds icons.
⚠️ Note: If you use a third-party theme, it can force the system icons to be unrecognizable or change their appearance beyond recognition. Try temporarily switching to a standard Classic or Default theme to see if the topic is the one you are talking about.
Hiding Apps Settings in MIUI and HyperOS
In the shells from Xiaomi, there is a native application hiding feature that does not require the installation of additional software. If this feature was activated earlier, then access to hidden programs is through a special gesture or code in the Security application. To return the application to the public, you need to log into this hidden mode.
To enter hidden app mode, open the standard Security app (a shield and lightning icon). Find Hidden apps. Older versions of MIUI required you to enter a password or fingerprint. Newer versions of HyperOS may have slightly different paths, but the logic remains the same: login through the security center.
Once you enter mode, you will see a list of all the programs that are currently hidden from prying eyes. To return them, just click on the switch opposite the application name or select the option "Remove from hidden." After that, the icon will instantly appear in the general menu or on the desktop.
☑️ Return algorithm through security
There is also a quick way to log into hidden mode through a set of special code in the "caller" if it was configured by the user, but most often it is the security menu that is used. If you do not remember the password from hidden applications, you will need to reset through the Mi Account account or completely reset security settings, which can lead to loss of data inside hidden programs.
Second Space Mode and Its Impact on Visibility
One of the most confusing features for beginners is Second Space, which is a fully-fledged, isolated environment that works like a second phone inside your device, and the applications installed in Second Space are completely invisible in the main profile, and vice versa.
If you accidentally switched to Second Space (usually through a special shortcut in the notification curtain or through password settings), you will only see the apps that are installed there.
Check the space-switching settings. Users often forget that they have activated this feature. To manage, go to Settings → Special Options → Second Space. Here you can see if it is active and switch between profiles.
| Parameter | Main space | Second space |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility of data | Only the main files are visible. | Complete isolation, no data visible |
| Installed annexes | Only the main profile | Only the second profile. |
| Accounts. | The basic Mi Account | Maybe another Mi Account. |
| Notifications | Come from the main applications | Only come with an active second profile |
How do you remove the second space?
Restore System Applications After Deletion
Sometimes users delete system applications, believing them useless, and then regret it. In MIUI and HyperOS, many components can not only be hidden, but also uninstall updates or remove completely through ADB. If the application was removed by regular means, it can be returned through the GetApps store or Google Play.
If the application was removed through system commands or was a non-removable component, an easy way to keep it from returning would require a computer and an ADB (Android Debug Bridge) utility, a powerful tool for interacting with the smartphone operating system at a deep level.
To restore, you need to enable USB debugging in the Developer menu. Then connect your phone to your PC and type a command to re-install the package. You need to know the name of the package beforehand, such as com.miui.calculator for the calculator.
adb shell cmd package install-existing com.miui.calculatorThis command compels the system to re-register and “install” an application that is listed in the system partition but hidden or disabled to the user, a secure method that does not require root rights.
⚠️ Warning: Be extremely careful when removing system applications, removing critical components such as Security, Framework Services, or System UI", It can lead to a cyclic restart (bootloop) or complete inoperability of the smartphone.
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