How to turn on the app on the Xiaomi phone: 5 proven methods

Have you downloaded a new app to your Xiaomi but don't know how to run it? Or did your favorite program disappear from your desktop after the MIUI update? This situation is familiar to many users of Redmi, POCO or Mi smartphones. Unlike pure Android, MIUI firmware has its own application management features, from hidden folders to background restrictions.

In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to include applications on Xiaomi – from basic (through menus and shortcuts) to advanced (teams). ADB We'll focus on the typical problems of why the application doesn't open after installation, how to return the deleted shortcut, and what to do if the program is blocked by security. MIUI 14/15 model 2020–2026 year-end.

1. Basic method: Launch through the application menu

The most obvious method is to find the program in the general list of installed software.

  1. Tap the All Apps icon (usually at the bottom of the screen or via swipe up from the dock panel).
  2. Scroll down the list or use the search bar at the top.
  3. Click on the desired icon to open the application.

If the app doesn’t appear in the list, check:

  • 📱 Hidden Apps folder: swipe left in the app menu → "Hidden. MIUI Automatically hides underused programs.
  • 🔍 Search by system: scroll down the desktop and type the name of the application in the search bar.
  • 🗑️ Cart: You may have accidentally deleted the label. → "Settings" → "Basket".

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On Xiaomi with MIUI 14+, you can pin frequently used apps to the dock panel (bottom line of the screen). To do this, hold the program icon and drag it down.

If the app is found but not opened, try:

  1. Reboot your phone (hold the power button → “Reboot”).
  2. Clear the cache: Settings → Annexes → Application management → [programme] → Clear the cache.
  3. Update the program through Google Play or Mi App Store.

2. Creating a shortcut on the desktop

To avoid searching for the app every time you go on the menu, add it to the main screen:

  1. Open the menu of all applications (swipe up from the dock panel).
  2. Find the program and hold its icon for 1-2 seconds.
  3. Drag it to a free desktop space or folder.

If the shortcut has disappeared after the MIUI update, restore it:

  • 🔄 Go to Settings. → Desktop → Screen settings → Restore the layout (not available on all models).
  • 📲 Use the app shortcut widget: keep the blank space on the screen → "Widgets" → Find a widget with icons.
  • 🛠️ System applications (such as Camera or Phone) may need to reset launcher settings: → Annexes → Launcher → Warehouse → Clear the data.
Why do shortcuts disappear after MIUI update?
After major firmware updates, Xiaomi resets the launcher settings (desktop shell).This is due to a change in the storage structure of the icon location. If the shortcuts are missing, try: 1. Reboot the phone in Safe Mode (hold the power button → Reboot Safe Mode) - if the shortcuts appear, the problem is in the third-party launcher. 2. Install an alternative launcher (for example, Nova Launcher), which saves the layout when updates.

On the POCO F5 and Redmi Note 12 models with MIUI 15, shortcuts may be hidden because of the Smart Organization feature. To turn it off, go to Settings → Desktop → Smart Organization → Off.

3. Launching through voice assistant

If you have Google Assistant enabled or XiaoAI (the built-in Xiaomi assistant), you can open apps with your voice:

  • 🎤 For Google Assistant: Say "OK, Google" or hold the Home button. Say the command: "Open [app name]".

XiaoAI

  1. Hold the power button or say "XiaoAI".
  2. Say in Chinese or English, "Open [app name]."

If the voice assistant does not recognize the application:

  • Check that the program has a Russian name (some apps in the Mi App Store are displayed only in English).
  • Update the Assistant Language: Settings → Additional → Language and Input → Voice Input.
  • Retrain the voice model: In the XiaoAI settings, select "Voice Learning."

If the application is hidden by the system (for example, after using the "Second Space" function), return it:

  • 🔓 Go to Settings. → Second space → Application management and find the program in the list.
  • 👁️ For hidden system applications (e.g. EngineerMode), use the code ##4636## → "Phone information" → "Select an application".

If the program is running in safe mode, the problem is conflict with other software.

Can I run an app without a shortcut?
Yes, there are several ways: via Settings: Settings → Applications → Application Management → [name] → Open. Through Search: swipe down the desktop and type in the name. Through ADB (for system applications): adb shell am -n start-com.package.name/.MainActivity Through the Shortcuts widget: add a quick-access widget to your desktop.