How to fix the application on the home screen Xiaomi Redmi 8: all ways + error solving

Why apps aren’t fixed to Redmi 8 and how to fix it

Frequently used applications on the Xiaomi Redmi 8 home screen are a basic feature that should work out of the box. However, many users face a situation where the app icon disappears after a reboot, is reset when updating the MIUI or not fixed at all, the reason most often lies in shell settings, conflicts with launchers or system limitations.

In this article, we will discuss three official ways to anchor applications on Redmi 8 (including hidden MIUI 12/14), and also solve typical problems: why icons “fly off”, how to return deleted shortcuts and what to do if the system blocks fixation.

Important: instructions are valid for all versions of Redmi 8 (Redmi 8A, Redmi 8A Pro, Redmi 8 Dual) based on MIUI 10-14. If your device runs on Android Go Edition (models with 2/3 GB of RAM), some of the features may be missing - we will warn you about this in advance.

📊 What version? MIUI You're using the Redmi 8?

MIUI 10-11

MIUI 12

MIUI 12.5

MIUI 13-14

I don't know.

The most obvious method is to use the built-in MIUI launcher. It works on all versions of the shell, but has a limitation: you can not fix system utilities (for example, Settings or Phone) or applications installed in the Guest Section.

Step-by-step:

Open the app menu by swiping your finger up from the bottom edge of the screen (or clicking on the All apps icon in the dock panel).
Find the desired application and pinch its icon for 1-2 seconds until the context menu appears.
In the window that appears, select Secure on the home screen (or drag the icon to the free screen space).
If required, select the size of the widget (for some applications, 1×1, 2×2 or 4×1) options are available.

⚠️ Note: If the icon disappears when you reboot after you fix it, check the Battery Optimization settings for this application.The system can automatically freeze rarely used programs, which leads to a reset of shortcuts.

Make sure there is free space on the main screen.|Turn off the "Light version" mode in the launcher settings|Check if a third-party launcher (Nova, Apex) is installed)|Update. MIUI last-minute-->

Method 2: Fixing through launcher settings (hidden function)

MIUI 12.5+ has a hidden option that allows you to “nail” icons to the screen so that they do not disappear even after resetting the launcher settings, which is useful if you often change wallpaper or themes – usually such actions reset the location of shortcuts.

How to turn on:

Click on the empty space on the home screen and select Screen Settings (or Launcher Settings).
Go to the section Additional → Fixed Applications.
Activate the switch to Lock the location of the icons.
Return to the home screen and secure the desired applications in the standard way (see Method 1).

Once activated, icons will not reset when you update MIUI or change the theme, but they will not be moved without first unlocking in the settings.

MIUI version	Supports icon locking?	Limitations
MIUI 10–11	❌ No.	No function, use Method 1 or 3
MIUI 12–12.5	⚠️ Partially.	Available only on devices with 4+ GB of RAM
MIUI 13–14	✅ Yes.	It works stable but requires manual activation
Android Go (Redmi 8A 2/32GB)	❌ No.	A stripped-down version of MIUI without additional features

Method 3: Affixing through ADB (for power users)

If standard methods do not work (for example, due to custom firmware or system failure), you can use the ADB-This method requires connecting a smartphone to a PC and basic knowledge of working with Android Debug Bridge.

Step-by-step:

Turn on Developer Mode on Redmi 8: go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate Debugging over USB.
Connect your phone to your PC, open the Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (macOS/Linux) and type: Adb devices Make sure the device is identified (serial number should appear).
Run the command to secure the application (replace com.example.app with your application package): adb shell cmd shortcut create-home --package com.example.app --activity com.example.app.MainActivity

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB This may cause a launcher to crash. Before executing commands, back up through Settings. → System system → Backup.

How do I find out the application package?

Open Google Play, find the app you want, and copy text from your browser address bar. For example, for Telegram, the address would look like this: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.telegram.messenger, where org.telegram.messenger is a package.

Solving the Problem: Why Applications Are Not Locked

If the icons “fly off” or not fixed at all, check the following points:

🔄 Update MIUI: In older versions (below). MIUI 12) there is a shortcut saving bug. Update the system through Settings → Update of the PO.
🛡️ Battery Optimization: Go to Settings → Annexes → Application management, select the right one and disable Battery Optimization.
🎨 Third-party launchers: If you use Nova Launcher, Apex or others, go back to the standard launcher MIUI (in application settings, disable the third-party launcher by default).
🔒 Guest Mode: Applications installed in the Guest Space (MIUI 13+), cannot be fixed on the main screen.

If the problem persists, try resetting the launcher settings:

Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
Find the MIUI (or System Launcher) launcher.
Press Warehouse. → Clear the data.

Warning: Clearing the launcher data will remove all shortcuts and widgets from the home screen!

💡

If the icons continue to disappear after the launcher is reset, try turning off Adaptive Brightness in the screen settings. In some versions of MIUI, it conflicts with keeping the shortcuts.

More tips: how to optimize the main screen

App attachment is only part of the customization of a comfortable workspace, and here are some recommendations for Redmi 8:

📂 Icon folders: To avoid cluttering the screen, group similar applications. Click the icon and drag it to another, and the folder will automatically be created.
🔍 Search engine: B MIUI 14 you can add a search widget from Google or Xiaomi directly to the home screen, which will speed up access to rarely used programs.
🌙 Dark theme: Include it in Settings → Screen. → Dark theme to reduce battery load (relevant for Redmi 8s) AMOLED-screens in Pro modifications).
🔋 Energy saving: Turn off Windows animation in the developer settings – this will speed up the opening of fixed applications.

Another life hack for root-right users is that Tasker can set up automatic attachment of frequently used programs after reboot, but it requires a deep knowledge of Android and can disrupt system stability.

💡

On Redmi 8 with 2 GB of RAM, it is not recommended to fix more than 12-15 icons on the home screen. This can lead to slowdowns due to a lack of RAM.

Frequent Questions (FAQ)

Can I fix system applications (Settings, Phone, Messages)?

No, MIUI blocks the system utilities from being fixed on the home screen, but you can always find them in the app menu or add them to the dock panel (bottom panel with 4-5 icons).

After the MIUI update, all the icons were gone.

If you used a standard launcher before the upgrade, try returning the backup via Settings → Additional → Backup. If you don’t have a copy, you’ll have to reconfigure the screen.

How to find out the application package ADB-team?

Install the App Inspector app from Google Play or use the command: adb shell pm list packages | grep "app name" For example, for WhatsApp, type adb shell pm list packages | grep whatsapp.

Can I use a widget instead of an icon?

Yes, but not all widgets support fixation. Click on the blank space on the screen → Widgets → choose the right one and drag on the screen. Weather, watch or music widgets are usually fixed without problems.

Why is the Redmi 8A (2/32GB) not working with icon lock?

Android Go Edition models have a stripped-down version of MIUI without additional launcher features, in which case use Method 1 or third-party launchers (such as Nova Launcher).