How to bring the app shortcut to the screen of the Xiaomi smartphone: all ways

Did you install a new app on your Xiaomi, but its icon doesn't appear on the home screen? Or did all the shortcuts disappear after the MIUI update? This problem is familiar to many users of Redmi, Poco and Black Shark smartphones. Unlike "pure" Android, the MIUI shell has its own desktop management features, which is often confusing.

In this article, we will discuss 5 Proven ways to add an app shortcut to Xiaomi’s screen – from standard methods to hidden shell features. You will learn why some apps don't appear in the shortcut menu, how to recover missing icons after resetting, and what to do if an app is installed but not listed. MIUI 14/15 all modern brand models.

Why the app shortcut doesn’t appear on Xiaomi’s screen

Before you add a shortcut, it's important to understand why it might not be there, and 90 percent of the time, the problem is with the MIUI shell settings, not the app itself.

• 📱 The application is hidden in the settings - in MIUI there is a function of hiding icons of individual programs (for example, system or pre-installed).
• 🔄 Launcher cache is not updated - after installing the application, the launcher (the program responsible for the desktop) may not immediately display new icons.
• 📁 The shortcut is removed, but the app remains – users often confuse deleting the shortcut with uninstalling the program.
• 🔒 Profile restrictions – if the smartphone has set up a Child Mode or a Work Profile, some apps may be blocked.
• 🛠️ Failure after update MIUI — after large updates of the shell (for example, with MIUI 13 on MIUI 14) desktop settings are often reset.

If your app doesn’t even appear in the All Apps list (available via swipe up from the dock panel), the problem could be more serious, such as incorrect APK installation or conflict with Google Play Protection, in which case, first check if the app is installed through Settings → Apps → Application Management.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro)+ Xiaomi 13 Ultra) after resetting, not only shortcuts disappear, but also folders on the desktop. → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

Method 1: Adding a shortcut through the application menu (standard method)

This is the easiest and most versatile way that works on all Xiaomi smartphones regardless of the MIUI version.

1. Swipe up from the dock panel (the bottom of the screen with frequently used apps) to open the All Apps menu.
2. Find the app you want in the list. If you don't have one, use the search bar at the top.
3. Press the app icon for longer than 1 second, then drag it to a free space on the desktop or in the docking panel.
4. Let your finger go, the label will be created.

If the icon is not fixed on the screen when dragging, try:

• 🔄 Reboot the smartphone (sometimes helps with launcher glitches).
• 📱 Make sure there is free space on the desktop (if all the cells are occupied, no label will be added).
• 🛠️ Update the launcher via Google Play (search on request) MIUI Launcher).

On some models (such as the Poco F5 or Redmi K60), the application menu can be opened not by swiping up, but by clicking on the All Apps icon in the dock panel, depending on the version of MIUI and the desktop style you choose.

Method 2: Creating a shortcut through application settings

If the standard method didn’t work, try adding a shortcut through the app information menu, which is useful when the icon is on the app list, but it can’t be dragged to the desktop.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the app you want in the list (use search if the list is large).
3. Slip it, then select Open or Create a shortcut (on some versions of MIUI, this option may be called Add to the home screen).
4. Confirm the creation of a shortcut - it will appear on the desktop.

This method is especially relevant for system applications (e.g. Security, Themes, or Game Turbo) that are often hidden from the standard add-on, and it will help if you have disabled the MIUI launcher and are using a third-party (e.g. Nova Launcher or Hyperion).

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If there is no Creating a Shortcut option in the Application Management list, try opening the app from there first, then clamping its icon in recent tasks (the box button at the bottom of the screen).

Method 3: Recovering missing shortcuts after MIUI update

After updating MIUI (especially a large one, for example, from MIUI 13 to MIUI 14), users often face a problem: all shortcuts from the desktop disappear, and only standard icons remain in the application menu.

1. Go to Settings → Wallpaper and Style → Desktop Style.
2. Select Standard (if a different style has been installed, such as No Docking Panel).
3. Return to the main screen and swipe up to open the app menu.
4. Click any application and drag it to the desktop – this will “wake up” the launcher, and it will start displaying all the shortcuts.

If the shortcuts never appeared, try resetting the launcher settings:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the MIUI Launcher (or System Launcher).
3. Select Warehouse. → Clear the data.
4. Confirm the action - after the reboot, all shortcuts will return to their places.

⚠️ Attention: Clearing the launcher data will remove all custom desktop settings, including folders, widgets and icon locations. Before doing so, take screenshots of the current layout to make it easier to recover.

Method 4: Using Widgets for Quick Access

If standard methods don’t work, you can bypass MIUI limitations with widgets. Many apps (like Google Keep, Spotify, or Telegram) support widgets that can be added to your desktop instead of the usual shortcuts.

Instructions:

1. Click the empty space on the desktop and select Widgets.
2. Scroll down the list and find the widget of the app you want (usually it’s called the same as the app itself).
3. Press the widget and drag it to the screen.
4. Set the size and appearance of the widget (if provided).

The advantage of this method is that widgets are not dependent on the launcher and often appear even when the usual shortcuts disappear. For example, the Google Weather widget will work even if its icon is hidden in the app menu.

If the widget is not on the list, check:

• 🔄 Is the app updated to the latest version (widgets may appear in new versions).
• 📱 Does the app support widgets (some lightweight utilities don’t have them).
• 🛠️ Are the widgets in the settings disabled? MIUI (Settings → Wallpaper and style → Desktop settings → Widgets).

Method 5: Manually create a shortcut through ADB (for advanced users)

If none of the above methods worked, the last option is to create a shortcut through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which is suitable for system applications that cannot be added by standard methods, or if the MIUI launcher is completely broken.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB-driver.
• 📱 Included Debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Tap 7 times, then return to the additional → For developers).
• 🔌 USB-plug-in.

Instructions:

1. Connect your smartphone to your computer and confirm access to ADB on your phone screen.
2. Open the command line (or Terminal on Mac/Linux) and type: adb shell pm list packages -f | grep "name packet" Replace the name packet with the part of the application name (for example, telegram or com.whatsapp).
3. Copy the full path to the package (e.g. package:/data/app/com.telegram-1/base.apk=com.telegram).
4. Enter the command to create a shortcut: adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.CREATE_SHORTCUT -n Where your package is the name of the packet from the previous step, and ActivityName is the main activity (usually.MainActivity or.LauncherActivity).

After completing the command, a window will appear on the smartphone screen with a suggestion to add a shortcut. Confirm the action - the icon will be created.

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB Do not execute commands unless you are sure of their purpose. For system applications (e.g. com.miui.securitycenter), this method may require unlocking the bootloader.

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The ADB method is a last resort, and 99% of the time, the shortcut problem on Xiaomi can be solved by standard methods (methods 1-4).

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When working with shortcuts on Xiaomi, users often make the same mistakes, and here are the most common ones and ways to prevent them:

• 🚫 Removing the shortcut instead of uninstalling – many confuse removing the icon with removing the application itself.To completely remove the program, press the shortcut and select Remove (if the option is available) or do it through Settings → Annexes.
• 🔄 Ignoring the launcher updates – if MIUI Launcher is not updated, there may be glitching icons. Check for updates on Google Play.
• 📱 Using third-party launchers without setting up – if you installed Nova Launcher or Apex but didn’t make it the default launcher, shortcuts may be duplicated or disappear.
• 🛠️ Reset settings without backup – before clearing the launcher data or resetting the phone, save the current icon arrangement (you can take a picture of the screen).

Another common problem is that shortcuts disappear after a reboot, and this is due to MIUI optimization, which can freeze applications that are rarely used.

1. Open Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization
2. Find the MIUI Launcher in the list and select No Limits.
3. Do the same for apps whose labels are missing.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions