How to Return the Shortcut Cleanup on Xiaomi: The Complete Guide

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face a situation where, after updating the operating system or accidental action, the system icon of the Cleanup application disappears from the desktop. This is the standard system utility Security, which is responsible not only for garbage removal, but also for managing permissions, battery and antivirus protection, and its absence can be disorienting to the user who is accustomed to quick access through a widget or shortcut.

Fortunately, the application is not removed from the device memory, it is only hidden from the launcher interface. There are several ways to return the ability to quickly clean the memory, from simple configuration of the display of system applications to more complex manipulation of access rights through the computer. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to restore functionality for current versions of the MIUI and HyperOS shells.

Before you start to take complex actions, it is worth making sure that the application was not removed by the user forcefully or hidden in the "Second Space" mode. In most cases, the problem is solved in a couple of minutes through the standard settings menu, without requiring root rights or data reset.

Search for hidden app in the settings menu

The first and most logical step is to check the status of the system application in the deep settings of the phone. Often users accidentally turn off the display of system processes or transfer them to a hidden folder. First, you need to go to Settings → Applications → All applications. This shows the full list of installed software.

You'll need to find an application on the list that might be called "Security," "Security," or "Cleanup." If you find it, but it's "Disabled," you'll need to click on it and select "Enable." After that, the icon should appear on the desktop or in the app menu.

⚠️ Note: If the Security app is not listed or cannot be enabled (button grey), this may indicate damage to system files or conflicts with installed third-party launchers.

Sometimes the shortcut goes missing because of a launcher cache failure, and in this case, cleaning the Desktop application itself helps. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Desktop (or Launcher), select Clear and then Clear Everything. Don't worry, your personal files and photos won't get hurt, but the icons will reset.

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Before resetting the launcher settings, take a screenshot of the current location of the widgets, then quickly restore the convenient structure of the desktop.

Configuring the display of system applications

Newer versions of the HyperOS shell and newer MIUI builds have the ability to hide system applications to simplify the interface. If you've recently updated, it may have been hidden automatically or manually. To check this, open the app menu and click on the menu button (three dots or bars), then select Hidden Apps.

In the list that opens, find Security or Security and switch the slider to active position. After that, the icon will return to the general menu. It is also worth checking the Tools or System Apps folder, where Xiaomi often groups standard utilities by default.

If you can't find the hidden element with standard tools, you can search by settings. Click on the magnifying glass at the top of the settings screen and type "Clean up" or "Security." The system will tell you the way to manage this component.

Using Global Search to Launch

An alternative and often ignored way to start cleaning is to use a built-in search engine. Even if the icon is not on the screen, the binary file of the application is still there. On any screen of the main menu, swipe from top to bottom or click on the search bar. Google/Yandex.

Enter the "Clean" or "Cleaner" search result, and the system app should appear with the appropriate icon, and clicking on it will start the scan. To consolidate the success, after you run the application, click the "Menu" button (three dots) in the corner of the screen and select "Add to the home screen".

This method is especially effective when the standard settings menu is not working properly or the launcher is “glutching” after the update.

Creating a shortcut through ADB Command Prompt

For advanced users who haven’t been helped by standard methods, there’s a way to force a shortcut through USB debugging.This method requires connecting a smartphone to a computer and having an ADB driver installed. It allows you to interact with the system at a deep level.

First, activate the developer mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on MIUI 7 times. Then, in the advanced settings, turn on "Debugging on USB." Connect the phone to your PC and start the command prompt.

adb shell pm grant com.miui.securitycenter android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE

Executing this command will reset some permissions, which can trigger the system to re-display the widgets. However, it is more effective to directly start the shortcut creation activity.

adb shell am start -n com.miui.securitycenter/com.miui.securityscan.MainActivity

If the command is successful, a shortcut request may appear on the phone screen or an app will immediately open, after which the icon can be fixed manually, which works on most Redmi Note and Xiaomi Mi models.

Table: Location of cleaning components in different versions of MIUI

Menu structure and item names may vary depending on the operating system version and firmware region (Global, China, EEA). Below is a table to help you navigate where to look for the desired functionality in different versions of the shell.

Note that in Chinese versions of firmware (China ROM), the app may be called characters, so focus on the green shield icon, and if you refashion the phone from the Chinese version to the global version without reset, there may be packet naming conflicts.

Solving problems with cleaning widgets

Often, users don't need the app icon itself, but rather the "Clean Up" widget on the desktop for quick access. If the widget is gone or stopped working, you can add it again. Click your finger on the empty desktop space and select "Widgets" or "Add widgets."

In the list, find the "Security" or "Security" section. There should be access to the "Memory Cleanup" or "Acceleration" widget. Drag it to the screen. If the widget displays an error or doesn't update, try removing it and adding it again, pre-rebooting the device.

⚠️ Warning: Widgets may not work properly on live (animated) wallpaper or when power saving mode is on. Turn off energy savings for the Security app in the battery settings.

If the widget is added but shows "0 B" or doesn't respond to clicks, it may be that the app has revoked the rights to display over other windows. Check this in Settings → Apps → All Apps → Security → Other Rights. Make sure all necessary permissions are enabled.

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Widgets consume more battery life than app icons. If autonomy is critical, use the icon and remove the widget from the home screen.

Resetting the launcher settings as a last resort

If none of the above methods helped to return the label, the problem may be a deep failure of the system launcher configuration, in which case a complete reset of its settings will help, remember that this will return the location of all icons to the factory state.

Go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find the "Desktop" (or System Launcher) list. Click "Clean" and select "Clean it all." The phone may blink for a second and you'll be on a standard lock screen.

Once turned on, the system will reassemble the application grid. The Cleanup label should appear automatically, as it is a system component that cannot be removed without special utilities. If there is no icon after that, it is recommended to check for system updates in the About Phone menu.