Xiaomi smartphones based on the shell MIUI Sometimes users are confused: an application suddenly disappeared from the desktop, does not start after an update, or is blocked by the system, and the reasons can be different from accidental hiding of an icon to restrictions on energy saving or even viral activity. In this article, we will analyze all possible scenarios when the application is not turned on or displayed, and give universal solutions for the application. MIUI 14/15 Android 13/14.
It is important to understand that by “enable” an application on Xiaomi can mean:
- 🔍 Recovering a Hidden Icon on the Desktop
- 🔧 Unlocking after restrictions MIUI (energy saving, background activity)
- 🛠️ Running system services disabled by the user or update
- 🚫 Bypassing blocking for applications banned in your region
We're not going to look at the trivial cases of "reboot the phone" -- we're going to focus on the non-obvious solutions that work even when standard methods don't work, and we're going to start with the most common one: the app is installed, but it's not on the screen.
1.The application is installed, but the icons are not on the desktop
Situation: You downloaded the app from Google Play or installed it APK, But it's not on the menu or on the desktop, and it's in Settings. → It's displayed as installed:
- 📱 Icon accidentally hidden in launcher settings
- 🔄 Application installed for another user (if multi-user mode is enabled)
- 🗑️ Launcher MIUI Reset the settings after the update
- 🛡️ The application is marked as malicious security system
To return the icon, follow these steps:
- Open the Settings. → Desktop.
- Select Hidden Apps and check if your app is not there. If you have, uncheck the box.
- If the icons are not hidden, go to Settings → Annexes → Manage applications, find what you need and click Display on the desktop.
- For Redmi Note 12 and later: Keep your finger in the free desktop space → Desktop settings → Application icons → Show it all.
☑️ What to do if the icon is missing
If the icon never came up, the problem could be the launcher's cache.
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Find the MIUI Launcher (or POCO Launcher for POCO devices).
- Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.
- Reset the device.
⚠️ Note: Some models (Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Mix Fold 3) may reset the order of the icons after cleaning the launcher cache.
2. Application does not start: errors and decisions
The app is on the screen, but when you click, you get errors like "App is not responding," "Stop," or just a black screen back to the desktop.
| Mistake. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| App stopped | Conflict with MIUI Optimization or lack of rights | Turn off optimization in Settings → Special opportunities → MIUI Optimization (Hide the System Warning) |
| Black screen at launch | Problems with graphic rendering (often games) | Turn on the settings. → Additionally. → 60Hz resolution and turn off Hardware acceleration in the app settings |
| Failed to open the file | Damaged. APK lack of storage | Reinstall the application by pre-clearing Settings → Warehouse → Clean (minimum 1 GB of free space) |
| Application not supported | Blocking by region or Android version | Use it. VPN Download or install an older version APK |
To diagnose a specific error:
- Hold the app icon → Information on the annex → Warehouse → Clear the data.
- If it doesn’t help, check the settings. → Annexes → Permissions and grant all necessary rights (especially Warehouse, Camera, Microphone).
- For Xiaomi with HyperOS (2026): Go to Settings → Confidentiality → Permit manager → Special access and enable display over other windows.
If the app starts and closes immediately, the problem may be in Google Play Services.
- Open Google Play → Find Google Play Services → refresh.
- If the update is not available, download the latest version. APK from the APKMirror website (choose the option for the arm64-v8a).
3. Unlock applications that are limited MIUI
MIUI aggressively optimizes background activity, causing some apps (messengers, health trackers) to stop working after a few minutes in the background:
Method 1: Disabling Battery Optimization
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Select the desired application → Battery limitations.
- Set it up without limits.
Method 2: Auto-start permission (for MIUI 14+)
- Open Settings → Applications → Permissions → Autostart.
- Find the app in the list and turn on the switch.
- For POCO F5 redmi K60: additionally enable Lock in memory (hold the application icon) → Lock down).
Method 3: Add to the exceptions (for HyperOS)
- 🔋 Go to Settings. → Battery → Battery settings → High-consumption applications.
- 🛡️ Find the app and add it to the optimization exceptions.
- 🔄 For Xiaomi 14: Turn on the Adaptive Battery → Disable for problem applications.
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If after unlocking the application still does not work in the background, try to install it on the external SD-card (if supported). MIUI less often optimizes applications installed on a removable drive.
4. Recovery of Remote or System Applications
Sometimes users accidentally delete standard applications (Camera, Gallery, Phone) or they disappear after resetting settings.
Method 1: Through Settings → Annexes → Remote.
- 📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management → Remote.
- 🔍 Find the desired application in the list and click Restore.
- 🔄 After recovery, restart the device.
Method 2: Installation APK manually MIUI 13-15)
- Download the original APK Xiaomi Firmware Updater (Share Apps).
- Install. APK via any file manager (pre-allow installation from unknown sources in Settings) → Confidentiality).
- For apps like Mi Video or Mi Music, you may need to disable updates to Google Play so that the system doesn’t replace them with lighter versions.
Method 3: Reset via Fastboot (advanced)
If the system application is critical for the phone to work (for example, Settings or Launcher), you can restore it through the firmware:
fastboot flash system system.img
fastboot reboot⚠️ Note: This method requires an unlocked bootloader and can cause data loss. Use only if the first two methods fail.
How to check if the bootloader is unlocked?
5. bypassing regional restrictions for blocked applications
Some apps (e.g. Google Pay, Netflix) 4K Fortnite can be blocked at the level MIUI for certain regions. To include them:
Method 1: Change the region in the settings
- Go to Settings. → Additionally. → Region.
- Select the country where the app is available (e.g., the U.S. for Google Pay).
- Restart the device and try to install the app again.
Method 2: Use of the VPN pre-set
- 🌍 Install. VPN (For example, ProtonVPN or Windscribe).
- 📱 Connect to a server in a country where the app is allowed (e.g. Germany for Netflix).
- 🔄 Remove the Google Play cache (Settings) → Annexes → Google Play → Warehouse → Clear the cache).
- 📥 Install the app through Play Market.
Method 3: Installation through APK circumvention
For apps like Google Pay that check your device’s certification:
- Download the modified APK site XDA Developers (Look for themes with a tagline) [No Root]).
- Before installing, turn off the Internet and remove the original application (if any).
- Install. APK Do not update it through the Play Market.
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For Xiaomi with HyperOS (2026)+) If changing your region doesn't help, try creating a new Mi Account with a new account. VPN, region-bound.
6.The application is on, but does not work correctly
Sometimes an application starts up, but it doesn't behave as if it's crashing, it doesn't save settings, it doesn't sync data.
| Problem. | Decision |
|---|---|
| The application does not store data | Check the Warehouse Resolution and Disable Optimization MIUI for this application |
| Slow work or lags | Turn off window animation in Settings → Special opportunities → Developer settings |
| Notifications are not working | Enable Show Notifications in the App Settings and Add It to Priority Notifications |
| The app doesn't see files | Use it. MIUI File Manager to provide folder access or install an alternative explorer (Solid Explorer) |
For Xiaomi with Android 14 (2026), new restrictions on background activity have been added to get around them:
- Go to Settings. → Confidentiality → Permit manager → Additionally. → Access to notifications.
- Find the app and turn on Show notifications without sound (this bypasses some restrictions) MIUI).
- For instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) additionally turn on Show on the lock screen.
7. Launch issues after update MIUI
After major updates (e.g., with the MIUI 13 on MIUI 14 or switching to HyperOS) some apps may stop working:
- 🔄 Incompatible with the new version of Android
- 🔒 Changes in security policy MIUI
- 🗃️ Resetting permissions for third-party applications
What to do:
- Update rollback (if the problem appears immediately after the update):
- Manual setting of permits:
Google Play Services
- 🗑️ Settings → Annexes → Google Play Services → Warehouse → Clear the data.
- 🔄 Restart your device and update Play Services via Google Play.
Method 2: Use of an alternative launcher
- 📱 Install a launcher from a third-party developer (Nova Launcher, Lawnchair).
- 🔍 In the new launcher settings, find the Hidden Applications section and check if your application is hidden.
- 🔄 Alternative launchers often feature icons that MIUI Launcher is hiding.