Xiaomi's desktop is not just a background with icons, but a real smartphone control center. But what if the right application suddenly disappeared from the home screen and there is no All apps in the menu? Or how to return the program icon that was accidentally deleted? In this article, we will discuss all possible methods of adding shortcuts to the desktop, from basic to hidden MIUI functions, which are not discussed even in the official documentation.
Many Redmi, POCO and Xiaomi users are faced with the fact that after the system update, the standard methods stop working. For example, MIUI 14 disappeared the “Add to the home screen” button in the context menu of applications. In some firmwares for Android 13/14, shortcuts are blocked altogether due to security policy. We tested all methods on current versions of the software (data as of May 2026) and identified those that are guaranteed to work.
Important: the instructions below are suitable for all Xiaomi models based on MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS (including Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T, etc.). If you have custom firmware (for example, LineageOS), some features may be missing.
1. Classic method: Drag from the app menu
The most obvious method is to move the app icon right from the All Apps screen, which works on most devices, but recent versions of MIUI have nuances.
Open the app menu by swiping up from the bottom of the screen, find the app and pinch the icon for 1-2 seconds, and you'll see a context menu with options. Older versions of MIUI (up to 12.5) immediately opened drag and drop mode, but now the algorithm has changed:
- 📱 Nana MIUI 13/14: After you hold it, you'll see a menu that says "Information," "Access" and "Delete." Select "Access" and the label will appear on your desktop.
⚠️ Note: on some models (e.g. Redmi) A2 With lightweight firmware, this method may not work due to performance limitations, in which case use alternative methods from the following sections.
If the app is not in the All Apps menu but installed (check Settings → Apps), it is hidden.
2. Addition via context menu (hidden MIUI function)
Few people know, but MIUI has an alternative way of adding shortcuts through long-clicking on the free desktop space, a method that is especially useful if standard drag and drop doesn't work.
Instructions:
- Scroll down to the App Shortcuts section (on MIUI 14 it may be called Quick Actions).
💡 Why does it work? The thing is, MIUI It treats application shortcuts as a kind of widget, and it bypasses the limitations that can block standard drag and drop.
If the Application Shortcuts section is missing, then the Lawnchair function is disabled on your device to return it:
Make sure you use a standard launcher (not a Nova/POCO Launcher)
Update Google Play Services Manually
Reboot your smartphone
Reset the launcher settings (Settings) → Annexes → Launcher → Warehouse → Reset)-->
3.Use the Favorites folder for quick access
If you need to access the app quickly, but you don’t want to load your desktop with unnecessary icons, use the Favorites folder. This is a built-in MIUI feature that works as a hot zone for frequently used programs.
How to add an app to your favorites:
- Open the All Apps menu (swipe up from the bottom of the screen).
- Find the right application and swipe right on its icon.
- The icon will appear in the Favorites folder (usually located in the dock panel at the bottom of the screen).
🔹 Advantages of the method:
- ⚡ Quick access without cluttering the desktop.
- 🔄 Automatic sync with Xiaomi cloud (if backup is enabled).
- 📱 It works even on lightweight firmware (for example, Redmi Go).
⚠️ Note: in the Favorites folder can fit only 8 applications (on the MIUI If you add a ninth, the oldest one will automatically be deleted. To increase the limit, use third-party launchers like Nova Launcher.
| Method | Works for MIUI 12-14? | Needs root? | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drag from the menu | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No. | Doesn't work on lightweight firmware. |
| Context menu (widgets) | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No. | May be absent from custom firmware |
| Favourites folder | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No. | Limit in 8 applications |
| ADB-team | ✅ Yes. | ⚠️ Partially. | Requires PC and debugging over USB |
4. Creating a shortcut through ADB (for advanced users)
If standard methods don’t work, you can use the Android debugging bridge (ADB), which is suitable for recovering shortcuts to system applications (such as Camera or Phone) that have been removed or hidden.
📌 What's the matter:
- 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB Tools.
- 📱 Included Debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times tap to unlock the developer mode, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
- 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
Step-by-step:
- Connect your smartphone to your PC and confirm the debugging permission on your phone screen.
- Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the adb folder.
- Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
- Use the command to create a shortcut (replace com.example.app with the application package): adb shell cmd shortcut create-home --package com.example.app --activity com.example.app.MainActivity
🔍 How to find out the application package?
- Install the App Inspector app on your smartphone (available on Google Play).
- Open it and find the desired application in the list.
- Copy the values of the Package Name and Activity Name fields.
Critical detail: on MIUI 14 with Android 13+, the command may not work due to new security restrictions. In this case, add the --user 0 flag to the end of the command.
What if the ADB can’t see the device?
5. Recovering Removed Shortcuts through Launcher Settings
If the app shortcut is lost after updating or resetting, it can be returned via a launcher reset, which does not delete the application data, but only restores the standard location of the icons.
Instructions:
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Search the Lawnchair list (or POCO Launcher if you have a POCO device) and tap on it.
- Select “Storage” → “Reset” (or “Clear Data”).
- Confirm the action and restart the smartphone.
⚠️ Warning: After the launcher is reset, all folders and widgets on the desktop will be deleted, applications will remain installed, but their shortcuts will have to be reconfigured.
If the reset didn’t help, try reinstalling the launcher:
- 📲 For MIUI: download APK standard launcher for your model from the site Xiaomi Firmware Updater.
- 🔧 Install the file through any file manager (allow installation from unknown sources in Settings) → Security).
- 🔄 Reset the device.
💡
If you lose your weather or watch widgets after resetting the launcher, reinstall the MIUI Home app via Google Play.
6.Use of third-party launchers (Nova, Apex, Lawnchair)
If the built-in MIUI methods don't suit you, install an alternative launcher, which not only solves the shortcut problem, but also adds new features: gestures, adaptive icons, hidden folders.
📌 Top.-3 launcher for Xiaomi:
| Launcher | Advantages | Deficiencies |
|---|---|---|
| Nova Launcher | ✅ Full customization, gesture support, backup settings | ❌ Paid for premium feature |
| Lawnchair 2 | ✅ Free, easy, support for dark topics | ❌ There is no built-in app search |
| POCO Launcher | ✅ Optimized for Xiaomi, built-in memory cleanup | ❌ Rare updates |
🔧 How to transfer shortcuts from a standard launcher:
- Install the selected launcher from Google Play.
- When you first start, select it as the default launcher.
- In the new launcher settings, find the option “Import Settings” (in Nova Launcher it is Backup / Restore).
- Choose imports from the standard MIUI launcher.
💡 Hidden feature: Nova Launcher allows you to create a shortcut for any action, even if the application does not appear in the menu:
- Hold your finger on the free space on the desktop.
- Select "Widgets» → «Actions by Nova».
- Find the action you want (such as “Open Wi-Fi settings”) and drag it to the screen.
💡
The launcher side is the only way to return the shortcuts to system applications (such as Security or Themes) that MIUI blocks for porting to the desktop.
7. Solving typical problems
Even after you've completed all the instructions, you may encounter errors, and here are the most common cases and solutions.
🚨 Problem 1: The app is installed, but it is not in the menu All applications.
- 🔍 Check if it is hidden: Settings → Annexes → Show all applications.
- 📥 Reinstall the app (sometimes helps even if it’s system-based).
- 🛠️ For system applications (e.g, FM-radio) may need to be unlocked through ADB: adb shell pm enable com.android.fmradio
🚨 Problem 2: The shortcut appears, but when pressed, it gives an error: "Application not installed».
- 🔄 Reboot the smartphone – it will reset the launcher cache.
- 🗑️ Clear the launcher's cache: Settings → Annexes → Lawnchair → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
- 📦 If you have a problem with a system application, check its package through adb shell pm list packages. | grep".
🚨 Problem 3: A duplicate label appears on the desktop.
- 🧹 Remove both labels and create a new one.
- 🔧 Check if the app is installed in two instances (for example, through Google Play and Google Play). APK).
- 📊 In Nova Launcher, turn off the “Show duplicates” option in the application settings.
⚠️ Note: If after the update MIUI If you've lost all the shortcuts, don't try to restore them one at a time. First, reset the launcher (section 5), and then reconfigure the desktop.