How to bring all applications to the main screen Xiaomi: hidden settings and life hacks

Xiaomi’s MIUI-based desktop often raises questions about why some of the installed apps don’t show up on the home screen, how to return hidden icons, or how to remove the All Apps folder. Unlike pure Android, the MIUI shell uses its own launcher with unique rules for organizing workspace. This article will help you figure out how to bring all applications to the home screen on Redmi, POCO and Xiaomi smartphones – from basic settings to hidden features.

The problem of “disappeared” icons can be related to several factors: activated function Hidden applications in security settings, features of the MIUI launcher (for example, automatic sorting by folders), or even a malfunction of the system. We will consider all possible scenarios, from standard methods to exclusive tricks for MIUI 14/15 that are not dokumented in the official help. If you just updated your smartphone or switched from another brand (for example, Samsung or Huawei), this guide will help you quickly adapt to the logic of Xiaomi.

Why apps don’t show up on Xiaomi’s home screen

Before you start setting up, it’s important to understand the cause of the problem, and MIUI has three main mechanisms that can cause icons to disappear:

• 🔍 Hidden applications: function in Settings → Annexes → Hidden applications that completely remove icons from the desktop (but do not uninstall the software) are often activated accidentally or through Second Space.
• 📁 Automatic sorting: launcher MIUI It's the default to group underutilized apps into the All Apps folder, which is the analogue of the Android app menu, and it's not a bug, it's a feature, but you can turn it off.
• 🔄 Resetting launcher settings: after updating the system or resetting to factory settings, the display parameters of the icons may be lost. MIUI 14 there was a bug in which new applications are not added to the desktop automatically.

Another common reason is the use of a third-party launcher (for example, Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher), in which case the logic of displaying icons depends on the settings of the third program, not on the settings of the third program. MIUI. If you have installed an alternative launcher, check its settings first or return to the standard interface via Settings. → Home. → Default launcher.

Method 1: Disable the All Apps folder (for MIUI 12-15)

The fastest way to get all the icons back to your desktop is to turn off the automatic grouping to the All Apps folder, which appeared in MIUI 12 and works by default on all new Xiaomi smartphones.

1. Touch the empty space on the home screen and hold your finger until the menu appears.
2. Select Home Screen Settings (or Screen Settings in older versions).
3. Scroll down to the Apps menu section.
4. Turn off the App Menu Switch (or Use the All Apps folder).
5. Confirm the action by pressing OK in the dialog box.

After that, all the apps, including those that were previously hidden, will appear on the desktop. Note that if you have a lot of programs installed, the icons can be arranged in a chaotic order. To organize them, use a long click on the icon and drag and drop to the right place.

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If the All Apps folder fails to display the icons after you turn off, restart your smartphone. Sometimes the MIUI launcher requires a restart to apply the changes.

Method 2: Checking Hidden Applications in Security Settings

Hidden Apps in MIUI allows you to hide icons from prying eyes, but users often forget that they have activated it.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Hidden Applications.
2. Enter a password (if requested) by default, it can be a pattern lock or PIN-lock-screen.
3. Press the badge. ⚙️ (gear) in upper right corner.
4. Select Show Hidden Apps.
5. Tick the programs you want to return to your desktop and click Ready.

If you don’t remember the password from hidden apps, you can reset it through Settings → Passwords & Security → Privacy → Hidden apps → Forgot the password. This will require confirmation through your Mi Account or answer to a check question (if asked).

Method 3: Reset the launcher settings (without data loss)

If previous methods didn't work, the problem could be that the launcher's settings failed, and unlike a full smartphone reset, resetting just the launcher won't delete your data, but it will return the standard location of the icons and folders.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search bar, enter Launcher (or Launcher in English firmware).
3. Select the MIUI Launcher (or MIUI Launcher) application.
4. Click Warehouse → Clear the data and confirm the action.
5. Reboot your smartphone.

Once you reboot, all the icons will return to their original state (like when you buy your phone), and you will have to reconfigure the location of the apps, but all the software glitches of the launcher will disappear, a method that is especially effective after the MIUI update, when the new settings conflict with the old ones.

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A launcher reset does not delete the applications themselves or their data - only returns standard desktop settings.

Method 4: Manually Adding Icons Through the App Menu

If you don't have to bring all the apps to the home screen, but only a few specific ones, you can add them manually, and this method works even if the All Apps folder is disabled:

1. Swipe up the screen to open the Apps menu (or the All Apps folder if it’s enabled).
2. Find the desired application and hold its icon for 1-2 seconds.
3. Drag the icon to the main screen or to the dock panel (bottom line).
4. Release your finger when the inscription Add to the main screen appears.

This is a convenient way to leave your desktop clean, but only return the most important applications. For example, you can only put messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) and social networks on the screen, and leave the rest on the menu. Please note that some system applications (such as Settings or Phone) can not be removed from the desktop this way.

Method 5: Use ADB-Teams for experienced users

If standard methods do not help, and the problem is associated with deep system settings, you can use the ADB-This is a good way for advanced users, because it requires the smartphone to be connected to a computer. ADB It can cause malfunctions in the phone.

To reset the launcher settings via ADB:

1. Install ADB and Fastboot Tools on your computer.
2. Turn on USB Debugging on your smartphone (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – press 7 times, then go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging over USB).
3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute in the command line:

adb shell pm clear com.miui.home

This command cleans the launcher data, similar to method 3, but with guaranteed results. Once executed, restart the smartphone. If the problem was corruption of the launcher files, the icons will return.

Problem Solving: What to Do When Nothing Works

If none of these methods worked, the problem may be due to one of the following reasons:

If your smartphone is running on custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), the logic of displaying icons may be different, in which case it is recommended to refer to the documentation of a particular firmware or return the official MIUI via Fastboot.

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Before resetting or flashing, back up your data via Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset. This will save your contacts, messages and application settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions about setting up Xiaomi desktop