How to fasten apps to the home screen Xiaomi Redmi 8: the full guide

Frequently used applications on the Xiaomi Redmi 8 home screen are an easy way to save time and make it easier to interact with your smartphone. However, not everyone knows that there are several methods for fixing icons on devices with a MIUI shell, from standard drag and drop to hidden launcher features. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods, including those that work even after resetting or updating the firmware.

The peculiarity of Redmi 8 (codenamed olive) is that MIUI 10/11/12 is used depending on the firmware version. This means that the interface may differ slightly, but the principles of fixing applications remain universal. It is important to consider that some methods require activation of the developer mode or additional settings - we will describe each step in detail to avoid errors.

If you encounter a problem where fixed applications disappear after a reboot or update, at the end of the article you will find a solution to this common malfunction. FAQ-block.

Method 1: Standard fastening through the launcher

The most obvious method is to use the built-in MIUI Launcher, which requires no additional settings and works on all versions of the firmware.

1. Open the app menu (swipe up from the bottom of the screen).
2. Find the desired application and pinch its icon for 1-2 seconds.
3. Without letting go of your finger, drag the icon to the main screen or to the dock panel (the bottom of the screen).
4. Release your finger – the application will be fixed.

If the dock is already full (maximum 5 icons), the system will suggest replacing one of the existing applications. To add an icon to any free area of the screen, just drag it to the right place.

⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI 12.5+ When dragging, a context menu may appear. In this case, select Secure on the home screen.

This is a method that works for most users, but it has a limitation: once you reset your settings or update your firmware, your fixed applications can reset, and to avoid this, use alternative methods in the following sections.

Method 2: Fixing through screen settings

If standard drag and drop doesn't work (for example, because of a launcher failure), you can attach applications through the home screen settings, which is more reliable because the changes are stored in the system files.

Instructions:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Main screen screen.
• 🔧 Select the layout settings (or edit the layout depending on the version) MIUI).
• 📌 Click on the Doc Panel or Main Screen, then select Add App.
• 🔍 In the list, tick the desired applications and click Ready.

This way you can attach up to 25 apps to the home screen and up to 5 to the dock, and the main advantage is stability: icons will not disappear after the reboot, unless you completely reset the settings.

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If the layout settings menu doesn't have the right app, try opening it at least once from the app menu. MIUI sometimes hides unused programs.

Redmi 8 with MIUI 12.0.3+ firmware also has the option to Lock the layout on this menu, and if activated, it will be impossible to accidentally move or remove icons, which is useful for users who often pass the phone to children or colleagues.

Method 3: Use of gestures and quick actions

The MIUI shell supports gestures to quickly launch applications, which can be seen as an alternative way of "fixing": for example, you can assign an application to launch double-touch across the screen or swipe up from the corners.

How to set up:

1. Go to Settings → Additional settings → Gestures and movements.
2. Choose Double Touch or Swipe up from the lower corners.
3. Assign the right app for the gesture.

Advantages of this method:

• ⚡ Instant access without searching for an icon.
• 🔒 Gestures work even if the app is not mounted on the screen.
• 📱 Does not take up space on the main screen.

⚠️ Attention: Redmi 8s MIUI 11 and below, swipe upwards from the lower corners may conflict with calling the app menu.

This method is ideal for applications you use daily (like Phone, Camera, or Messages) but don’t want to clutter up the home screen.

Method 4: Affixing through Developer Mode (for power users)

If standard methods do not work (for example, due to a launcher failure), you can fix applications through the ADB-This method requires connecting the smartphone to the computer, but it guarantees the result even on unstable firmware.

Step-by-step:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Click 7 times on the MIUI Version until you become a developer!
2. Enable USB debugging: Return to Settings → Additional settings → Developer. Activate the USB debugging switch.

Redmi 8

adb shell cmd overlay enable-exclusive com.android.systemui/.miui.MiuiSystemUIOverlay

Then:

adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.MAIN -n com.miui.home/.launcher.Launcher

These commands will restart the launcher and reset the layout cache, which often solves problems with disappearing icons. After the reboot, try to secure the applications in a standard way.

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB-The commands may cause a system failure. On Redmi 8 with firmware below MIUI 12.0.1 enable-exclusive command can cause cyclic reboot - check the software version in Settings before execution → The phone.

This method is recommended only for advanced users. If you are not sure about your actions, use Method 2 (through screen settings).

Method 5: Third-party launchers (Nova, POCO, Apex)

If the built-in MIUI features don’t suit you, you can install a third-party launcher, such as Nova Launcher or POCO Launcher, which offer advanced fixing capabilities, including:

• 📍 Affixing icons anywhere on the screen (including edges).
• 🔒 Blocking the layout from random changes.
• 📦 Grouping applications into folders with user icons.
• 🎨 Set up gestures to launch applications.

How to install and configure Nova Launcher:

1. Download the launcher from Google Play.
2. When you first start, select Nova Launcher as the default launcher.
3. Press the free space on the screen → Settings → Dock panel.
4. Add the desired applications to the dock or on the main screen.

Third-party launchers have the advantage of stability: fixed applications do not disappear after MIUI updates, but they can increase battery consumption by 5-10% due to background activity.

Make a backup copy of the current layout|Check compatibility with MIUI|Disable battery optimization for launcher|Set up permits for launcher-->

Solving problems: apps disappear after reboot

If the fixed applications disappear after a restart or update, the problem lies in the failure of the launcher cache.

1. Clear the launcher cache: Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management. Find the Launcher (or MIUI Launcher). Click Clear the cache and Stop.

Reboot the phone.

Secure the applications again.

If the problem is repeated:

• 🔄 Update the firmware to the latest version MIUI.
• 📱 Install a third-party launcher (e.g. Nova Launcher).
• 🔧 Reset the launcher settings: adb shell pm clear com.miui.home ⚠️ Warning: This command will reset all home screen settings, including folders and widgets!

On Redmi 8 with MIUI 11.0.5.0 and below, the icons disappearing problem is due to an error in the com.miui.home.resource file.The only stable solution is to upgrade to MIUI 12+ or use a third-party launcher.

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If applications disappear after a MIUI update, the most common cause is a conflict between the old version of the launcher and the new system libraries, in which case only a complete flashing or a change of the launcher will help.

FAQ: Frequent questions about fixing apps on Redmi 8