How to return the missing app icon on Xiaomi smartphone: all working ways

You opened up a Xiaomi smartphone to run a familiar app, but its icon on the desktop is not Suddenly? the situation is familiar to many owners of devices on MIUI - the shortcut can disappear after a system update, a launcher failure or accidental removal. In 80% of cases, the problem can be solved without complex manipulation, but it is important to act consistently.

In this article, we will discuss 7 proven methods of returning the icon - from basic (checking the folder "All applications") to advanced (resetting launcher settings or reinstallation) APK). We will pay special attention to the nuances for different versions. MIUI (12, 13, 14) model Redmi/POCO. If the application is not just hidden, but removed, we will tell you how to restore it without losing data.

Why are app icons on Xiaomi missing?

Icons are rarely accidentally destroyed, most often due to system changes or user actions, and here are 5 main reasons:

• 🔄 Update MIUI: After major updates (for example, with the MIUI 13 on MIUI (14) the launcher may reset shortcuts or hide “non-system” applications.
• 🧹 Cache Clearing: Utilities like Security or Cleaner sometimes delete launcher data, causing a display failure.
• 👆 Accidental Shift: On Xiaomi, it’s easy to drag the icon to a folder or to a second screen without noticing it (especially on the larger Redmi Note 12 Pro displays).+ or POCO F5).
• 🚫 System constraints: MIUI Can automatically hide underused applications (App Vault or Second Space).
• 💥 Launcher failure: If a third-party launcher (like Nova Launcher) is used, its failure will result in the disappearance of all shortcuts.

Before you start recovery, check if your case is an exception: if the application was removed via ADB or as a "system" - you can only return it by flashing it back.

Method 1: Search in the "All Apps" menu

The fastest method is to check if the icon is hidden in the shared list. On MIUI, many apps don't show up on the desktop by default, but remain on the menu.

1. Swipe your finger up from the bottom of the screen to open All Apps.
2. In the search bar (loop at the top), enter the name of the missing application.
3. If it is found, press the icon and drag it to the desktop.

If the app is missing from this menu, it's either removed or disabled. Go to the next way.

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On the POCO X5 Pro and newer models, swipe up to open the app menu may not work because of the "Return" gesture. Turn it off in Settings → Display → Full-screen mode.

Method 2: Enabling the Display of Hidden Applications

MIUI automatically hides some apps (like Google Play Services or MIUI Daemon), but sometimes custom programs are added to the list to bring them back:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner and select Show All Apps.
3. Find the desired application in the list and click on it.
4. Activate the Show Switch on the desktop (if any).

If the option is inactive, the app is disabled. Click Enable, then go back to method 1 to add it to the screen.

Method 3: Resetting the launcher settings

If you lose a few icons or change their placement, the launcher fails, and you can reset it without losing data:

1. Press the empty area on your desktop and select Desktop Settings (or Launcher Settings).
2. Scroll down and find the option to Reset or Restore by default.
3. Confirm action. The launcher will reboot and all standard apps (Phone, Messages) will return to place.

After reset, check the Other Applications folder (it is created automatically) - the missing shortcuts could move there.

Method 4: Cleaning the launcher cache and system

A clogged cache can cause the launcher to stop displaying labels correctly, and cleaning helps in 60% of cases:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the MIUI Launcher (or POCO Launcher if you have POCO).
3. Select Warehouse. → Clear the cache.
4. Go back and do the same for the MIUI System Interface.

After cleaning, restart the device. If the problem persists, try clearing the cache of all applications through Settings → Memory → Clean (select Deep Clean).

⚠️ Warning: Do not clear the launcher’s data (Clear all data) – this will delete all your desktop settings, including folders and widgets.

Method 5: Reinstall the application

If previous methods didn't work, it's possible that the app was deleted or its data was corrupted, and reinstallation will help:

1. Open the Google Play Store and find the missing app.
2. If the button shows you to Install (not Open), press it.
3. After installation, check if the icon appears on the desktop.

For system applications (e.g. Camera or Gallery), reinstallation is not possible.

• 🔧 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• Find the application and click Disable, then Enable again.
• 📥 If it didn't help, download it. APK from the official website (e.g. apk.mi.com) and install manually.

Method 6: Using ADB to Recover Hidden Applications

If an application has been disabled as a system or hidden through ADB, it can only be returned by a team.

You'll need:

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

Next, do it in the command line:

adb shell pm list packages -d# Shows a list of disabled packages


adb shell pm enable com.example.app # Replace to your application package name




adb shell pm install-existing com.example.app # If the application has been "removed for the user"

To find the name of the package, use the command:

adb shell pm list packages | grep "appendix name"

⚠️ Attention: Improper use ADB Do not disable system packages with unknown names (for example, com.miui.home is a launcher).

Method 7: Resetting phone settings (extreme case)

If none of the methods worked, and the application is critical (like Banking or Worker), you'll be resetting to factory settings, which will delete all the data, so:

• 📱 Make a backup copy through Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset.
• 🔒 Make sure you have passwords from your accounts (Mi Account, Google).
• ⚙️ Go to Settings. → The phone. → Reset settings and select Erase all data.

Once reset, the app will come back, but you have to reconfigure the phone. On MIUI 14, you can restore data from the backup, but not all apps support this (for example, WhatsApp requires a separate backup).

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Resetting is the last chance, and 90% of the time, the problem is solved by the first way (search in All Apps) or by cleaning the cache.

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