How to display the app icon on the Xiaomi screen: 5 working ways

Did you install a new app on your Xiaomi but its icon didn't appear on the home screen? Or did you lose all the shortcuts after the MIUI update? This problem is familiar to many owners of Redmi, POCO and Mi smartphones - especially after resetting or switching to a new version of the shell. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to return icons to the screen, including hidden MIUI 14/15 features and solutions for older models.

The reasons for the icons disappear can be different from a basic user error (such as accidentally removing a shortcut) to system bugs after an update. It is important to understand that MIUI has two types of application "disappearance": 1) The application is installed, but the shortcut is missing on the home screen (remains only in the application menu). 2 The application is completely gone from the system (removed or hidden at the MIUI level).

We will focus on the first case – when the application works, but its icon does not appear where you are comfortable.

Before you get to the instructions, check the obvious: if you have a mode Unshorts on the home screen (clean desktop). To do this, tap your finger on the free area of the screen and hold — if the option Settings screen with the button App Shortcuts appears at the bottom, turn it on. If this item is missing, read on.

The simplest method that works on all MIUI versions (9 to 15) and Xiaomi models is from Redmi Note 8 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra. It is suitable if the application is visible in the general list, but is not on the home screen.

Instructions:

Tap the app menu icon (usually a round button with six dots at the bottom of the screen or swipe gesture up from the bottom edge).
Find the desired application in the list (you can use the search on the top line).
Press the application icon for 1-2 seconds until it “sticks” from the background.
Without letting go of your finger, drag it to the free seat of the main screen or to the dock panel (the bottom fixed panel).

If you drag and drop the icon back into the menu, it means there's no free space on the screen.

📱 Remove unnecessary labels (click the icon) → Delete).
📂 Move several apps to a folder (drop one icon to another).
🔄 Switch to another desktop (swipe left/right).

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO F5 s MIUI 14) after the update, a bug may work when drag and drop icons are blocked, in which case a reboot of the smartphone or a reset of the launcher settings (more about this below) will help).

2. if the application is hidden in the MIUI settings

MIUI allows you to hide apps from displaying in the menu and on the home screen — this can be done by accident or through parental controls.

Steps:

Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
Slip on the three dots in the top right corner and select Show All Apps.
In the list, find the hidden app (it will be marked as Hidden).
Slap it on and choose Show.

After that, the icon will appear in the application menu, and you can display it on the home screen in the standard way (see section 1).

📊 What is your Xiaomi model?

Redmi (Note/Pro series)

POCO (F/X/M)

Xiaomi (series 11/12/13/14)

Another model

If the app doesn’t show up even in the hidden list, check:

🔍 Is it completely removed (see Settings)? → Memory. → Basket).
🛡️ Is it blocked through security? → Application lockdown.
👶 Is it hidden through parental control (if enabled).

3.Resetting the MIUI launcher settings

The launcher (the program responsible for displaying the main screen) in MIUI sometimes fails - especially after updating or installing themes.Resetting its settings will return the standard location of the icons and fix bugs with the addition of shortcuts.

How to reset:

Press your finger on the free area of the home screen → select Screen Settings (or Desktop Settings).
Scroll down and tap Reset settings (or Restore by default).
Confirm the action.

After discharge:

🔄 All shortcuts will return to standard places (apps from folders will be decomposed on the screens).
📱 The dock panel (bottom panel) will be reset to factory applications (Phone, Messages, etc.).
🎨 Theme of icons and wallpaper may change.

⚠️ Attention: POCO custom launcher (e.g, POCO Launcher) the path to reset may be different: Launcher settings → Additionally. → Reset your settings. If you don't have one, update your launcher through Google Play.

Take a screenshot of the current location of the icons

Remember what apps were in the dock panel

Check if you are using a third-party launcher (Nova, Apex)

Make sure there are no important widgets on the screen (they will be removed)-->

4.Use of Developer Mode (for experienced)

If standard methods didn’t work, you can try to force the launcher cache to update via developer mode.This is true for Xiaomi on MIUI 12-15, where there are sometimes conflicts with system applications.

Instructions:

Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version (you will receive a notification "You became a developer").

Settings → Additional settings → For developers

Not to keep up the action

Don't stay active

turn off

Reboot your smartphone.

After the reboot:

🔄 The launcher cache will be updated automatically.
📱 Try adding the icon to the screen again (see Section 1).
🔧 If it didn’t help, turn back on Do not save actions (this is a temporary solution).

On Xiaomi 13T and newer HyperOS models (replace MIUI), the path to developer mode may be different: Settings → About Phone → Assembly number (stamp 7 times).

5 Problems with system applications (Google, Mi Apps)

Sometimes system app icons — Google Play, Camera, Gallery, or Mi Video — disappear because MIUI can disable their shortcuts after updates.

Problem.	Reason.	Decision
Google Play icon missing	Disabled through Settings → Applications → App Management → Google Play Store → Disable	Turn the app back on and add a shortcut to the screen
No Camera or Gallery icons	Resetting the launcher settings or updating MIUI	Reset the launcher (Section 3) or reinstall the app via GetApps
Icons are duplicated	Conflict between MIUI and third-party launcher	Install Standard Launcher: Settings → Applications → Default → Launcher
Icons turn grey	Cache or theme error	Change the theme to standard: Settings → Themes → My themes → Standard

For Google apps (e.g. YouTube, Gmail) can help:

🔄 Reinstallation via Google Play.
📥 Cache cleanup: Settings → Annexes → Google Play Store → Clear the cache.
🔧 Update to Google Play Services.

💡

If all icons are missing after the MIUI update, try rolling back the theme. Go to Settings → Themes → My Themes and select the standard MIUI Default theme. This often solves the shortcut problem.

6. Third-party launchers and alternative solutions

If the icon problem occurs regularly, consider using an alternative launcher.Popular options for Xiaomi:

🌟 Nova Launcher – flexible customization of icons, folders and gestures.
🎨 Apex Launcher – Support for themes and hide applications.
⚡ POCO Launcher (official) – optimized for POCO.
🔄 Microsoft Launcher – Integration with Windows.

How to install a third-party launcher:

Download the launcher from Google Play (like Nova Launcher).
Open it after installation and select Install as default launcher.
Set up the location of the icons through the launcher menu (usually a long press on the screen → Settings).

Advantages of third-party launchers:

🔧 More options for customizing icons (size, shape, animations).
📁 Support for Hiding Applications Without System Limitations.
🔄 Less often there are bugs with missing labels.

⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 12 for the Chinese market), third-party launchers may not work as well due to limitations. MIUI. Before installing, check the reviews for your model.

How to return the standard MIUI launcher?

If you have installed a third-party launcher and want to go back to standard: 1. Go to Settings → Applications → Default → Launcher. 2. Select MIUI Launcher (or POCO Launcher for POCO models). 3. Confirm the shift. If the standard launcher is not on the list, reinstall it via GetApps or reset your smartphone settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions

Why did all the icons from the main screen disappear after the MIUI update?

This is a well-known MIUI bug that occurs when you upgrade to a new shell (e.g., 13 to 14). The system resets the launcher settings but does not restore shortcuts. Solution: Reset the launcher settings (section 3). If it doesn't work, install a third-party launcher (section 6). At the very least, back up the data and reset the phone settings.

Can I return the icon of a remote system application (for example, Camera or Calls)?

If the application has been removed (not hidden!), it can only be restored through firmware or factory reset. To do this: Download the full firmware for your model from the official Xiaomi website. Through Settings → About Phone → System Update, select Install Service Pack and specify the downloaded file. After the update, system applications will return. Warning: This method will reset all user data!

How to add a website icon to the home screen (like an app)?

To do this, use Google Chrome or Mi Browser: Open the desired site in the browser. Tap three dots in the upper right corner → Add to the home screen. Enter the name of the shortcut and confirm. The icon will appear on the screen and open the site in the browser. For Xiaomi with MIUI 14+, you can use Quick apps (widget) to anchor the site in the dock panel.

Why do some icons appear gray and not open?

The gray icon means that: App is installed but disabled (include it in Settings → Apps).This is a widget shortcut that is not supported by your version of MIUI. Cache failure - clear the launcher cache (Settings → Applications → Launcher → Clear cache). If the icon remains gray, delete and reinstall the application.

Can I transfer my icons from one Xiaomi to another?

There is no direct way to transfer the location of icons between devices, but you can: Take screenshots of the screen on the old phone and manually restore order on the new one; Use backup via Mi Cloud (stores the list of applications, but not their location); install a third-party launcher (for example, Nova Launcher) and use the export / import function of settings.

💡

If none of these methods worked, check if you are using a guest mode or a restricted profile in MIUI. In guest mode, many apps are hidden by default. To exit, swipe down from the top of the screen → tap on the user avatar → select the main profile.