Did you accidentally delete your favorite app icon from your Xiaomi desktop and now you can't find it? Or did you lose all the shortcuts after the MIUI update? This problem is familiar to many owners of Redmi, POCO or Mi smartphones - especially those who actively customize the home screen. Unlike deleting the program completely, missing the shortcut does not mean losing data, but can seriously complicate access to frequently used services.
In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven ways to bring the icon back to the screen, from basic steps in launcher settings to advanced methods using ADB. You’ll learn how to distinguish a remote shortcut from an uninstalled app, why icons disappear after resetting, and what to do if standard methods don’t work. All instructions are relevant for MIUI 12–14 and newer versions, including shells based on Android 13/14.
Why are app icons on Xiaomi missing?
Before you restore the label, it's important to understand why it's gone, and 80 percent of the time, it's not because you delete the program, it's because of launcher settings or system glitches.
- 🧹 Desktop cleaning: Many users accidentally tap “Delete” when dragging an icon in the “Clean” menu (Long click) → Clean up).
- 🔄 Resetting launcher settings: after the update MIUI or reset to factory launcher settings (POCO Launcher, MIUI Launcher) resets shortcut location.
- 📱 Hiding applications: in MIUI There is a function of hiding icons through Settings → Annexes → Hidden applications.
- 🐞 System Bugs: After Updating to MIUI 14 Some users complain about the spontaneous disappearance of shortcuts (especially relevant for Redmi Note). 11/12).
- 🚫 Parental Control Limitations: If Family Sharing is configured on your device, some apps may be blocked.
If the icon is missing after a system update, first check the All Apps folder (swipe up from the dockboard). Often shortcuts are not removed, but simply moved to the general list. Also, look at Settings → Desktop → Application icons - there may be a disabled display of certain categories (for example, system utilities).
⚠️ Note: If you have removed the app itself (not the shortcut) and not the icon, you can only restore it via Google Play or backup. → Annexes → Application management – if the program is not listed, you will have to reinstall it.
Method 1: Recovery through the All Apps menu
The easiest method is to return the icon from the general list of installed programs, which works if the shortcut has been removed from the desktop, but the application itself remains in the system.
- Open the All Apps menu (swipe up from the bottom panel or tap on the dot/square icon in the dock).
- Find the app you want in the alphabetical list (use the search at the top if the list is long).
- Press the app icon and drag it to the desktop or folder.
- If the icon is not drag and drop, check if the screen editing mode is enabled (double tap on the free space on the desktop).
On some models (POCO X5, Redmi K50), after drag and drop, a pop-up may appear with the choice of action: “Create a shortcut” or “Delete.” Choose the first option. If the application is not in the All Apps menu, then it has been uninstalled, go to Method 5.
Find the app in the All Apps menu | Try dragging the icon to the desktop | Check if the app is hidden in the settings | Make sure the launcher is not reset-->
Method 2: Resetting the settings of the MIUI launcher
If icons are missing en masse (for example, after an update or crash), resetting the standard launcher will help.This procedure will return the standard shortcut location, but remove all user folders and widgets.
Instructions for MIUI Launcher and POCO Launcher:
- Click on the empty space on your desktop and select Desktop Settings (or Screen Settings).
- Scroll down and find Reset (in some versions, Restore Default Settings).
- Confirm action. The system will restart the launcher, and in 10 to 20 seconds, the shortcuts will appear as they were originally.
After reset, check the Other Apps folder (usually created automatically) to see if the rarely used icons can move there. If the reset didn't work, try switching to another launcher (like Nova Launcher) to see if the bug is connected to the MIUI shell.
⚠️ Attention: On some firmware (MIUI 13 for Redmi Note 10) a launcher reset could cause weather widgets and clocks to disappear. → Add it to the screen.
Standard MIUI Launcher|POCO Launcher|Nova Launcher|Other (write in the comments)|I don't know what it-->
Method 3: Enabling Hidden Applications
MIUI has a Hidden App feature that removes their icons from the desktop and All Apps menu.If you suspect that a shortcut has been hidden (for example, by mistake or through parental controls), follow these steps:
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Slip on the three dots in the top right corner and select Hidden Apps.
- Enter your password (if it has been set) or confirm with your fingerprint.
- Find the desired application in the list and uncheck it or click Show.
After that, the icon will appear in the All Apps menu and you can return it to your desktop (see Method 1).If the list of hidden apps is empty but the shortcut is still missing, check the security settings:
- 🔒 Settings → Password and security → Confidentiality → Special access – there may be restrictions on the display of certain applications.
- 👤 Settings → Accounts and synchronization → Family Sharing – If the device is linked to a child’s account, some programs may be blocked.
What to do if you do not remember the password from hidden applications?
Method 4: Recovery through ADB (for power users)
If standard methods have failed and the app is installed on the system (checked through Settings → Applications), you can try to restore the shortcut using Android Debug Bridge (ADB).
You'll need:
- 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB Tools.
- 📱 Included debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Tap 7 times, then return to the additional → For developers → Debugging by USB).
- 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).
Instructions:
- Connect your smartphone to your PC and confirm the debugging permission on your phone screen.
- Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with adb.exe.
- Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
- Run a shortcut recovery command (replace com.example.app with your application's batch name, such as com.whatsapp): adb shell cmd shortcut create-home --package com.example.app --activity com.example.app.MainActivity
- Reboot your smartphone. The badge should appear on your desktop.
To find out the batch name of the application, use the command:
adb shell pm list packages | grep "appendix name"For example, for Telegram, it will be org.telegram.messenger.
⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB Do not execute commands unless you are sure of their purpose. For Xiaomi models with a locked bootloader (Redmi) 9A, POCO M3) some ADB-Teams may not work without unlocking.
💡
If you don't know the batch name of the app, install App Inspector on your PC (available on Google Play for Android) or use online databases like this one. It shows the technical details of all the programs installed.
Method 5: Reinstall the application (if the shortcut is removed with the program)
If you have removed not only the icon, but also the application itself, you can only restore it through re-installation.
| Source of installation | How to repair | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Google Play | Open Play Store → Library → Previously Installed → Find the app and click “Install”. | If the app was purchased, it will be restored without repayment. |
| MI App Store | Start GetApps → Management → My Applications → Remote. | Not all apps are saved in history – if they aren’t, search manually. |
| APK-file | Download the APK again from a verified source (e.g. APKCombo) and install it manually. | Before installation, enable Settings → Applications → Special Access → Install Unknown Applications. |
| System application | Use ADB (see Method 4) or restore through Settings → Apps → Show all system processes. | Removing system applications can disrupt the stability of MIUI. |
Once reinstalled, the icon will appear in the All Apps menu.If it doesn't show up on the desktop, reboot the device - sometimes MIUI doesn't update the launcher's cache immediately after installation.
If the application was removed with the MIUI update (for example, after switching from MIUI 12 to MIUI 14), it may not be in the Play Store, in which case, download APK only from official sources or through the APKMirror service to avoid viruses.
Additional advice and prevention
To avoid the icons disappearing again, follow these guidelines:
- 📌 Set up important annexes: in MIUI You can lock the icons on your desktop so they don't disappear when you clean them. → Secure.
- 🔄 Update regularly MIUI: In new versions, bugs with missing shortcuts are fixed (especially relevant for Redmi Note). 11/12).
- 📁 Use backup: in Settings → Additionally. → Backup can be saved by the location of the icons.
- 🛠️ Check for bugs: If icons disappear often, try changing the shell to Nova Launcher or Hyperion Launcher.
If the problem occurs after each MIUI update, it may be related to a theme conflict.
- Open the settings → Desktop → Theme.
- Choose a standard theme (MIUI Default or Classic).
- Reset the device.
💡
If the icons disappear after the reboot, the problem may be in the damaged launcher cache. → Annexes → Application management → MIUI Launcher → Warehouse → Clear the cache.