How to bring the application to the Xiaomi desktop: all the ways to MIUI 14 and 15

Adding an app shortcut to Xiaomi’s home screen seems like a simple task, but users often face non-obvious nuances. Depending on the version of MIUI (14 or 15), the smartphone model (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 13), and even the current launcher settings, the process may differ. For example, in some firmware, the “Add to the home screen” option is hidden behind a long press, and in others it requires pre-blocking the developer settings.

Another common problem is that after a system update, the labels disappear or become duplicated, and this is due to the way the shell works. MIUI, This is a tool that automatically optimizes desktops, and in this article, we'll go through all the current ways, from standard drag and drop to use. ADB-You will also learn why some applications (such as system utilities) are fundamentally impossible to bring to the screen and how to circumvent this limitation.

Method 1: Standard drag and drop from the application menu

The most obvious method works on all Xiaomi smartphones regardless of the MIUI version. It is suitable for 90% of applications, except system (for example, Settings or Security).

Instructions:

• 📱 Open the app menu (swipe up from the bottom of the screen).
• 👆 Find the right application and pinch its icon for 1-2 seconds.
• 📍 Without letting go of your finger, drag the icon to the free space of the desktop.
• ✅ Confirm the action if a pop-up appears Add to the main screen?.

If the icon is not being dragged, check:

• 🔒 Is editing mode blocked (long press on the empty screen space) → Screen settings).
• 📵 Is the security mode included in the settings? → Special opportunities → Simplified regime.
• 🔄 Has the update been recently updated (after the update) MIUI 15 Sometimes Resetting Desktop Change Permits).

On some models (e.g. POCO F5), after drag and drop, a menu appears with options: Add to the home screen, Delete or Application Information. Select the first item.

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If the app doesn’t appear in the menu, try to find it through System Search (swipe down on the home screen) and hold the icon from there.

Method 2: Through the context menu of the application

This method is useful if standard drag and drop fails (e.g. due to launcher failure) and works on all MIUI versions, including MIUI 14 for Redmi 10 and later.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the application menu (swipe up).
2. Find the right app and click on three dots (⋮) top-right corner of the icon.
3. In the menu that appears, select Add to the main screen.
4. If you don’t have an option, tap App Information → Open by default → Add a shortcut.

On some firmware (e.g. MIUI 15 for Xiaomi 13T), the context menu opens with a long click on the icon, rather than three dots.

• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone.
• 📲 Update launcher MIUI via Google Play, the app is called MIUI Launcher).
• 🛠️ Reset the launcher settings: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Launcher → Warehouse → Clear the data.

In MIUI 15 for HyperOS models (e.g. Xiaomi 14), the context menu can be swiped up the icon.

Method 3: Using the app shortcut widget

If the application does not want to be added by standard methods (for example, system utilities like Developer Mode), you can use the workaround - the application shortcut widget.

How to do this:

1. Press and hold your finger on the empty space of the desktop.
2. Select Widgets from the bottom menu.
3. Scroll down to the App Shortcuts (or App Shortcuts in English firmware).
4. Drag the widget onto the screen and select the desired app from the list.

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ Works for system applications that cannot be added otherwise.
• ✅ Allows you to create a shortcut for a specific action in the application (for example, immediately open Settings). → Sound).
• ✅ Does not require root rights or ADB.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ The widget takes up more space than a standard icon.
• ❌ Not all apps support shortcuts (e.g. Google Play Store).

Method 4: Through Application Settings (for Hidden Shortcuts)

Some apps (like Google Assistant or MIUI Security) don’t appear on the menu, but they can be pulled out through system settings.This method works on MIUI 14/15 and doesn’t require superuser rights.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the app you want in the list (use search if it’s not in the main list).
3. Then, click on it and select Open by default (or additionally on some firmware).
4. Click Add a shortcut to the main screen.

If you don't have an option, try:

• 🔍 Enable the display of all applications in the launcher settings (screen settings) → Show all applications).
• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone in safe mode (hold the power button) → Safe mode) and try again.
• 📥 Install a third-party launcher (like Nova Launcher) that often works better with system applications.

⚠️ Note: Some system applications (e.g. com.miui.securitycenter) may block shortcut creation due to Xiaomi's security policy. ADB root.

Method 5: Advanced Method with ADB (for system applications)

If none of the above methods worked, the last option remains: ADB-It's relevant to teams:

• 🔧 System utilities (Settings, Security, Software Update).
• 📱 Applications hidden by the manufacturer (e.g., Equipment Test) POCO).
• 🔒 Shortcuts for specific intention actions (for example, immediately open Developer Mode).

Step-by-step:

1. Enable USB debugging: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (7 times) → For developers → USB debugging
2. Connect your smartphone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell pm create-shortcut --package <name package> --activity <name activity> For example, for Settings: adb shell pm create-shortcut --package com.android.settings --activity com.android.settings.
3. On the smartphone will be a request for confirmation – allow the creation of a shortcut.

How to find the name of the package and activity:

• Install the App Inspector app from Google Play.
• Open it, find the app you want, and copy the data from the Package Name and Launch Activity fields.

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB You can crash the launcher. Before you experiment, create a backup through Settings. → Additionally. → Backup.

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ADB-commands are the only way to add system applications to the screen, but it takes care. Always check the data entered is correct.

Why can’t some apps be brought to the desktop?

Xiaomi has deliberately blocked shortcuts for a number of system applications, and the main reasons are:

1. Security Policy: Applications like com.miui.securitycenter or com.android.updater contain critical features (virus scanning, software updates), and their accidental launch can disrupt the system.
2. UI optimization: MIUI hides rarely used utilities (such as the Sensor Test) so as not to clutter up the menu.
3. License Restrictions: Some pre-installed apps (such as Mi Video) have agreements with partners that prohibit changing their shortcuts.

Bypasses:

• 🔗 Use quick settings (swipe down) → edit → add a tile for a hidden application).
• 🛠️ Install a third-party launcher (like Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher) that ignores the restrictions MIUI.
• 📌 Create a shortcut through Tasker or MacroDroid if you want to run an application with specific options.

For example, to add Settings to the screen without ADB:

1. Install Nova Launcher.
2. In the launcher settings, enable Show Hidden Applications.
3. Long tap on the desktop → Widgets → Nova Actions → Settings shortcut.

Frequent mistakes and how to fix them

Even after successfully adding a shortcut, users face problems, and here are the most common solutions.

If the label does not open the app:

• Check if the application is removed (sometimes unused programs are removed after the MIUI update).
• Reset the app settings: Settings → Apps → [name] → Storage → Reset.
• If it’s a system application, try rolling back updates: Settings → Apps → Three points → Show system → [name] → roll back.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions