Have you removed the app shortcut from Xiaomi's desktop and now you can't find a way to get it back? Or did the program icon suddenly disappear after the MIUI update? This problem is familiar to many owners of Redmi, POCO or Mi smartphones -- the MIUI interface sometimes hides apps in unexpected ways. Unlike iOS or "pure" Android, shortcuts are managed through multiple layers of settings, and their recovery requires knowledge of nuances.
In this article, we’ll break down 5 proven methods for returning an icon to your desktop, from basic (for beginners) to advanced (if the application is hidden by the system). You’ll learn how to restore the shortcut through Settings → Apps, why the standard add-on through the app menu sometimes doesn’t work, and what to do if the icon disappears after resetting to factory settings. All instructions are relevant for MIUI 14/13/12 and models from Redmi Note 10 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra.
Before you start, check two things: if the application is completely removed (go to Settings → Applications → Application Management) and if it is hidden in the folder (fly all desktop screens to the left).
1. Standard method: Adding a shortcut through the application menu
The most obvious method is to return the icon through the system menu, which works 80% of the time if the application is not hidden by the device administrator or is not system (for example, "Security").
- Touch the empty space on your desktop and hold your finger for 1-2 seconds until the menu appears.
- Select "Widgets" (not to be confused with "Wallpaper and Style").
- Scroll down to the "Application Shortcuts" section (on some firmware it's simply called "Applications").
- Find the desired application in the list and drag it to the desktop.
If the application is not on this list, it is either disabled (see section 3) or hidden (section 4). Also check if you have a third-party launcher (Nova Launcher, POCO Launcher, etc.) - in this case, the algorithm may differ.
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On some models (POCO X3, Redmi 9), the Widgets menu opens with a swipe up from the bottom panel, rather than a long tap. Try both.
2.Recovery through MIUI settings (if the shortcut is missing after the update)
After updating MIUI (especially from 12 to 13 or 14), the system sometimes resets the user's desktop settings, in which case the shortcuts are not deleted, but simply moved to the Others folder or hidden to return them:
Open Settings → Desktop and do the following:
- 🔍 Check the Hidden Apps section – there may be icons that MIUI considered "advertising" or rarely used.
- 📁 Go to App Folders and expand the Others (or Unused) folder – often shortcuts are moved there automatically.
- 🔄 Click "Reset layout" (bottom page) if the shortcuts are gone completely, this will return the standard location of the icons without deleting the data.
If the layout reset didn't work, try rebooting your smartphone -- sometimes MIUI restores shortcuts after the reboot. Also check if Easy Mode (in special feature settings) is on, which simplifies the interface and hides some applications.
Why does MIUI hide shortcuts after the update?
3. If the application is disabled: how to turn on and return the shortcut
MIUI allows you to disable pre-installed applications (e.g. Mi Video, Mi Music) so that they don't take up space in memory, and their shortcuts disappear from the desktop, to return the icon:
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select "Show all apps."
- Find the app you want in the list (use search if the list is long).
- If there is an "Enable" button opposite the name, click it, and then you can add the shortcut to the desktop in the standard way (see Section 1).
Please note that some system applications (such as Security or Themes) cannot be turned off completely – they can only be hidden (more on this in the next section), and once the application is turned on, you may need to update it via Google Play if it has been disabled for a long time.
Make sure the application is not a virus (check in "Security")
Check the date of the last update (if long ago – update).
Check the permissions of the application (in settings → Applications → Permissions)
Backup your data (if the application is important)-->
4. Hidden applications: how to find and return to the desktop
MIUI allows you to hide applications from prying eyes — a feature that is useful for privacy, but sometimes leads users to forget which programs they have hidden. If the shortcut is missing for no apparent reason, check the list of hidden apps:
Instructions for MIUI 14/13:
- Open Settings → Applications → Hidden Applications.
- Enter your password (if you have set it) or confirm it with your fingerprint.
- Find the desired application in the list and uncheck it.
- Return to the desktop and add the shortcut in the standard way (Section 1).
If you don’t remember the password from hidden apps, it can be reset via Settings → Xiaomi Account → Security → Password Reset. However, this will delete all hidden data, including files in Safe Folder.
⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, POCO Launcher) hidden apps don't appear in the main menu, but remain in the list of all programs. To see them, open the app menu and swipe down - a search bar will appear where you can enter the name of the hidden application.
5. Restore through backup (if the label is missing after reset)
If you have reset to factory settings or reflashed your smartphone and the label of an important app has disappeared, try restoring it from a backup. MIUI automatically creates backups of the desktop layout if synchronization with your Xiaomi account is enabled.
How to restore:
- 📱 Make sure you’re logged in to the same Xiaomi account you used before the reset.
- 🔄 Go to Settings. → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Data recovery.
- 📄 Select the last backup (look at the date – it should be until the label is gone).
- ✅ Check "Desktop" and click "Restore".
If there is no backup or recovery has not helped, you can manually transfer shortcuts from another Xiaomi device through the Transfer Data feature (available in the Mi Cloud settings).
| Method of recovery | When to apply | Is the Internet required? | Implementation time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Addition via the application menu | Label accidentally deleted | No. | 1 minute |
| Enabling the application disabled | Application disabled in settings | No. | 2-3 minutes |
| Searching in Hidden Apps | The label is hidden through the MIUI settings | No. | 3 minutes. |
| Recovery from the Mi Cloud backup | Label missing after dumping | Yes. | 5-10 minutes |
| Resetting the desktop layout | Labels disappear after MIUI update | No. | 1 minute |
6. Advanced Methods: ADB and Third Party Launchers
If none of the above methods worked, there are two radical methods: ADB-commands (for experienced users) or installing a third-party launcher.
Method 1: ADB-commands (requires PC and enabled debugging on the USB):
adb shell pm list packages -f | grep 'app' name
adb shell pm enable com.example.appReplace com.example.app with a real app package (you can find out through the App Inspector in Google Play), which will turn the app off and then add a shortcut to the desktop.
Method 2: Third-party launcher (e.g. Nova Launcher):
- 📥 Install a launcher from Google Play.
- 🔧 In the launcher settings, select “Hidden Apps” and check if yours is displayed there.
- 🔄 If the shortcut appears, export its settings and return to the standard launcher. MIUI.
⚠️ Attention: Use ADB This can lead to loss of warranty if you modify system files. Do not execute commands unless you are sure of their purpose. MIUI (For example, with Second Space or Dual Applications).
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If the shortcut is gone after the MIUI update, try resetting the desktop layout first – this is the safest and fastest way to return icons without losing data.