Where on Xiaomi are looking for applications: all the ways to find installed programs

Did you install an app on Xiaomi but it's not on the home screen? Or did you lose the icons of the commonly used programs after the MIUI update? This problem is familiar to many smartphone owners of the brand - the MIUI shell interface is not always intuitive, especially when it comes to finding installed software. Unlike "pure" Android, where all the apps are displayed in the menu, here they can "hide" in folders, on additional screens or even in system partitions.

In this article, we will look at all possible places where Xiaomi can be applications: from the obvious (program menu and desktop) to the hidden (system folders, “second space” and archival sections). You will also learn how to recover missing icons, find deleted programs in the shopping cart, and even return pre-installed services that have “disappeared” after resetting. The instructions are relevant for MIUI 12/13/14 and models from Redmi Note 10 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

1. Standard seats: application menu and desktop

Starting with the basic one, where Xiaomi displays the default programs installed, there are two main places in the MIUI shell where you can find the software:

• 📱 Desktop — this shows shortcuts to apps that you've added manually or that the system has deemed "frequently used." There's no limit to the number of screens: swipe left/right to switch between them.
• 📂 App Drawer is a complete list of installed software. To open it, swipe up from the bottom of the screen (on models without the Home button) or click on the *•• (three dots) icon in the dock panel.

If your smartphone is disabled App Drawer (this happens after an update or reset), turn it on in the settings:

1. Go to Settings. → Desktop.
2. Select the Desktop Style item.
3. Activate the option C app menu.

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If after turning on App Drawer applications still do not appear, try to restart the smartphone – sometimes the system does not update the list of programs immediately after changing the settings.

Note that in MIUI, some system applications (such as Security or Themes) can be hidden in the Google Services or Tools folder. scroll through the menu until the end – often the desired program is on the back pages.

2. Hidden folders and system partitions

The MIUI shell automatically sorts applications into categories, creating hidden folders that are not always visible on the first screen, but they occupy space on the menu.

• 🔍 The newly installed folder -- this is where all the apps downloaded in the last 7 days are collected, and it's at the beginning of the App Drawer menu.
• 📁 System folders: Google (Google services), Tools (calculator, voice recorder), Communication (calls, messages). Scroll down the menu — these are usually located after user programs.
• 🔒 Second Space – If you use a duplicate profile feature (for example, for work and personal affairs), applications can only be installed in one of the spaces. Switch between them by swiping down the notification bar → profile icon.

To see all hidden folders, open the app menu and enter the # symbol at the top of the search bar. The system will show service categories, including:

#tools - system utilities




#google - Google services




#mi - branded applications Xiaomi

Important: Some apps (such as Mi Pay or Mi Home) may be hidden if they are not supported in your region. To return them, change the region in your Mi Account settings to India or China (but note that this may disrupt some services).

3. Search through system tools

If the app is not in the menu or in the folders, use the built-in search tools. MIUI has three ways:

1. Global search: swipe down the home screen (or tap the magnifying glass in the dock panel) and enter the name of the program. The system will show not only the applications, but also the contacts, settings and files associated with the request.
2. Search in settings: go to Settings → Applications → Application Management and use the search bar at the top, and it will show all installed programs, including system and disabled.
3. Voice Assistant: Activate Google Assistant or Xiao AI (depending on the model) and say “Open [app name]” commands.

If the search doesn't work, check if the application is accidentally deleted.

1. Open the Settings → Applications → Recycle Bin.
2. See if there's any program on the list, and if there is, click on it and select Restore.

Attention! Some apps (like Facebook or Instagram) may be disabled but not removed, in which case they will not appear in the menu, but will remain in the Manage Apps list marked Disabled. To return them, click on the program and select Enable.

4.Recovery of missing icons

If the app is installed but its icon is not on the desktop or menu, try the following recovery methods:

• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone — sometimes the system doesn't update the icon cache after you install the program. Just turn it off and turn it on.
• 🗑️ Clearing the launcher cache: Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management. Find the launcher MIUI (or Lawnchair if you use an alternative launcher). Press Storage → Clear the cache.

Resetting launcher settings

Settings → Desktop → Additional

Resetting settings

If the icon is missing after the MIUI update, the problem may be the application database crash.

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Click on the MIUI version several times to activate the developer mode.
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
4. Find the option Do not save actions and turn it off (if it is enabled).
5. Reboot your smartphone.

Check the cart in the application settings|Clear the launcher's cache|Reboot your smartphone|Reset the desktop settings|Check out "Second Space"-->

Attention! If you use a third-party launcher (like a Nova Launcher or Apex), the problem may be its settings. Try temporarily returning the standard MIUI launcher to check if the icon is displayed in it.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → By default.
2. Select the default launcher and install the MIUI launcher.

5. Search for Remote or System Applications

If the application has been removed (including accidentally), you can try to restore it. There are several ways to use MIUI:

To restore system applications (such as Mi Video, Mi Music or Mi Browser), you can use Xiaomi’s official tool, the Mi App Store. Open it, go to the Management section and find the System Applications tab. Here you can re-install the preinstalled software.

Attention! If you have removed an application with administrator permissions (such as Find My Device or Mi Unlock), its recovery may require unlocking the bootloader and re-routing the firmware, in which case you should contact the Xiaomi service center.

6 Problems after MIUI update

MIUI updates often result in icons disappearing or app crashes, and here are the typical problems and solutions:

• 🔄 The icons are stacked up — after the upgrade, the system can reset the location of the shortcuts. Solution: manually drag the icons to the right places or reset the launcher settings (Settings → Desktop → Reset settings).
• 🚫 Applications won't open -- clear the cache and program data to Settings → Applications → Management. If it doesn't work, reinstall it.
• 📱 App Drawer is missing — turn it back on to Settings → Desktop → Desktop Style.
• 🔍 Search does not find the program — restart your smartphone or clear the Launcher MIUI cache and Google Search.

If several apps are missing after the update, check if Guest Profile or Parental Control mode has been activated.

1. Open Settings → Accounts → Multiple users (on some models, the path may be different).
2. Make sure you are in the main profile (Owner).
3. If guest mode is active, switch back to your main account.

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After major updates (e.g., from MIUI 13 to MIUI 14), some apps may require re-authorization.

If the problem persists, try rolling back the update (if it was recently installed).

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Remove Update.
3. Confirm the action and restart the smartphone.

7. Search for applications through ADB (for advanced users)

If standard methods don't work, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) to find hidden or remote applications, which is suitable for advanced users.

First, turn on USB debugging:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Click on the MIUI version several times to activate the developer mode.
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
4. Turn on USB debugging.

Now connect your smartphone to your computer and execute commands in the terminal (or PowerShell for Windows):

adb devices

(connection check)

adb shell pm list packages -f

(List of all packages installed)

adb shell pm list packages | grep 'app' name'

(search for specific application)

If you find the package you want (e.g. com.miui.videoplayer for Mi Video) but it doesn’t show up in the menu, try running it directly:

adb shell am start -n com.miui.videoplayer/.ui.VideoPlayerActivity

Attention! Working with ADB requires caution. Do not remove or disable system packages without understanding their purpose - this can cause the smartphone to malfunction and require flashing.

8.Alternative methods: third-party launchers and file manager

If the built-in MIUI tools don’t help, try alternative methods:

• 📱 Third-party launcher: install Nova Launcher, Apex or Lawnchair. These often better display hidden apps. Once installed, configure the display of all programs in the menu.
• 📁 File Manager: Open Files (or Mi File Manager) and go to Internal Memory → Android → data. This is where the application data is stored. Note: without root rights, you won’t see the full list, but you can find APK- files.
• 🔍 Search apps: Installing AppFinder or All-in-One Toolbox will help you find hidden or remote programs.

If you suspect that the app has been removed by a virus or optimizer, check your smartphone for malware:

1. Open Security. → Scanning.
2. Run a full system check.
3. If threats are found, remove them and restart the device.

To recover data from remote applications (such as saves in games or settings), use backups:

• 🔄 Mi Cloud: Check if backup is enabled in Settings → Mi → Mi Cloud Account → Backup.
• 📱 Google Drive: If you have used backup through Google, restore data to Settings → System → Backup.

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Third-party launchers often do a better job of displaying hidden or cloned applications than standard MIUI launcher.

FAQ: Frequent questions about finding apps on Xiaomi