How to fix the application on the screen Xiaomi: all the ways for MIUI 14 and 15

Why fastening apps on Xiaomi doesn’t work the same way as on other smartphones

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphones often face surprises when trying to fix the app on the home screen. Unlike “pure” Android, the MIUI shell has its own icon management logic — there is no classic “holding a finger to anchor” like on Samsung or Google Pixel. Instead, the system offers several alternative methods, some of which are hidden in the depths of settings.

Complicating the problem, MIUI 14 and 15 have changed the anchoring algorithm from previous versions — some methods now work only for system applications, and third-party ones require workarounds. In addition, on devices with POCO Launcher or Mi Launcher, the interface may differ, which is misleading. This article covers all current methods, including those that are not officially documented but work on most models from 2020 to 2026.

Method 1: Standard fastening through the application menu

The most obvious (but not always working) method is to use the standard All App menu, which is suitable for most MIUI 12-15 models, but may not be available on custom launchers (such as the POCO X5 Pro or Black Shark 5).

Instructions:

• 📱 Open the app menu (swipe up from the bottom of the screen).
• 🔍 Find the right app in the list.
• 🖱️ Hold the icon with your finger 1-2 seconds.
• 📍 Drag to the main screen or folder.

There is free space on the screen for the icon.|

Application not hidden in MIUI| settings

You have not activated Easy Mode (it blocks drag and drop) |

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If the icon is not dragged, the reason may be:

• ⚙️ Activated Mode for Children (blocks screen changes).
• 🔒 The application is system-based and hidden from the user.
• 📱 A third-party launcher (e.g., Nova Launcher) is installed that conflicts with the MIUI.

💡

If the app doesn’t drag and drop, try adding it to the folder on the home screen first and then pulling it out – this will sometimes “unlock” the icon.

Method 2: Secure via screen settings (for MIUI 14/15)

In recent versions of MIUI, developers have moved some of the icon management features to a separate menu, a method that is especially useful if standard drag and drop doesn’t work or you want to secure a hidden app.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Settings. → Main screen screen.
2. Select Home Screen Setting → Add Apps.
3. In the list, tick the necessary applications.
4. Click Ready – they will appear on the last page of the screen.

Method 3: Using the Application Shortcuts widget (for hidden applications)

If the application is hidden from the user (e.g., Hardware Testing or Developer Mode), standard methods will not work, and the Application Shortcuts widget, which allows you to create icons even for system services, will help.

How to do this:

• 🖱️ Keep an empty space on the main screen.
• 📌 Select the Widgets → Application labels.
• 🔍 Find the right app in the list (including hidden ones).
• 📍 Drag the widget onto the screen.

Standard MIUI Launcher|

POCO Launcher|

Nova Launcher|

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Limitations of the method:

• ⚠️ Not all system applications support shortcut creation.
• ⚠️ The widget may disappear after the update MIUI.
• ⚠️ On some models (Redmi) 9A, POCO M4 Pro) this widget is missing.

💡

The app shortcut widget is the only way to secure system utilities like EngineerMode or CIT without root rights.

Method 4: Affixing through ADB (for power users)

If none of the previous methods worked, the last option is the use of ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires connecting a smartphone to a computer, but allows you to attach any application, including those that are blocked by the manufacturer.

Instructions:

1. Activate Developer Mode (7 times click on the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone).
2. Enable USB debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Connect the phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell cmd launcher add-favorite -p com.example.app -c "Name" where com.example.app is the batch name of the application (you can find out through the App Inspector).

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

Examples of packet names of popular applications:

• com.android.chrome — Google Chrome
• com.whatsapp — WhatsApp
• com.miui.calculator – Xiaomi Calculator
• com.miui.securitycenter - Security Center

Method 5: A workaround through folders and duplication

If the app persists in not fixing, you can go for a trick – first add it to the folder, and then “extract” it to the home screen, which works even on older versions of MIUI (for example, Redmi Note 8 Pro on MIUI 11).

Algorithm of action:

1. Create a new folder on the home screen (hold one icon and drag it to another).
2. Open the menu All applications and find the right one.
3. Hold its icon and drag it to the created folder.
4. Open the folder, hold the icon inside it and drag it to the main screen.

Why it works:

• MIUI handles drag and drop inside the folder using a different algorithm than on the home screen.
• Some restrictions on system applications are removed when you add them to the folder.

⚠️ Note: On some devices (POCO X3 Pro, Redmi K40) This method can lead to duplication of the icon, in which case, remove the original from the app menu.

Frequent problems and solutions

Even after the app is successfully secured, users face typical problems, and here are the most common ways to solve them:

If none of the methods worked, check:

• 📱 Is the beta version installed? MIUI (They often break down the work with icons).
• 🔄 Have you lost your launcher settings after the update.
• 🛠️ Is Second Space Mode in Use (Icons are not synchronized between profiles).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions