How to return a desktop to Xiaomi if it is missing or lost: the complete guide

The desktop on Xiaomi smartphones is not just a background with icons, but a key element of the MIUI shell, which is responsible for running apps, widgets and quick access to functions.If it suddenly disappeared, lost or stopped responding to touch, it can paralyze the phone. Causes range from accidental removal of the standard launcher to system failures after the MIUI update.

Restore your desktop on Redmi, POCO or Mi in a number of ways, from simple (reboot, launcher reset) to radical (complete reset). In this article, we will analyze 5 proven methods that are relevant to all models on MIUI 12-15, including Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12 and POCO F5. Particular attention will be paid to cases when the screen turns black, the launcher does not open or icons disappear after installing third-party themes.

1. Phone reboot and launcher reset

In 60 percent of cases, the problem is solved by basic actions. Start with a forced reboot, which clears the temporary data of the system and can return the desktop to its original state.

How to restart Xiaomi if the screen is not responsive:

• 🔄 Soft reboot: Press the power button for 10-15 seconds until the off menu appears. Select "Reboot».
• 🔋 Hard Reset: If the screen is not responding, hold the power button + Volume increase 15-20 seconds before vibration.
• 📱 Launcher Reset: After the reboot, go to Settings immediately → Annexes → Application management, find “Luncher” (or «MIUI Launcher), click on "Storage» → «Clear the cache" and "Erase the data».

If the desktop is not restored after this, check if the launcher is disabled in the application settings. Sometimes MIUI automatically deactivates system programs after updates.

2. Restore the standard launcher through settings

A common cause of desktop disappearance is the removal or deactivation of the standard MIUI Launcher, which can occur when installing third-party launchers (such as Nova Launcher or Hyperion) or after resetting settings.

To return the standard launcher:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search box, type “Luncher” or “MIUI Launcher”.
3. If the application is disabled, click "Enable".
4. Click on Default and select MIUI Launcher as the default launcher.
5. Reboot the phone.

If MIUI Launcher is not listed, it has been removed, and only re-installation via Recovery or Fastboot (more on that below) will help.

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Before installing third-party launchers, back up your current desktop settings in Settings → Additional → Backup. This will allow you to quickly restore the layout of icons and widgets.

3. Reset desktop settings without data loss

If the desktop icons are lost, folders or widgets are gone, but the launcher itself is working, reset it, and this will return the standard layout without deleting your data.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings. → Desktop.
2. Select Reset Desktop Settings (or Reset Default in older versions of MIUI).
3. Confirm action. The phone will automatically restart.

After discharge:

• 📁 All folders and icons will return to the factory location.
• 🔄 The widgets will have to be added again.
• 🎨 The desktop theme will be dropped to the standard.

4. Installation of the launcher via Recovery Mode (if removed)

If the standard launcher has been removed and the phone is unresponsive to touch or shows a black screen, you will need to manually install it via Recovery, a method that is suitable for power users and requires a PC.

Step-by-step:

1. Download the firmware for your model from the official Xiaomi website (section "Recovery" ROM»). For example, for the Redmi Note 11 it's a file of view miui_BLOCKNAMEGlobal_V14.0.1.0.TKCMIXM_....
2. Rename the file to update.zip and place it in the phone’s root directory (via a memory card or OTG-cable).
3. Download to Recovery: Turn off your phone. Press the power button + volume up until the Mi logo appears. Select the language and go to "Install update.zip."

Confirm installation. Once the launcher is restarted, the launcher will be restored.

Note: this method will only reinstall system applications without affecting user data, but if you choose "Wipe Data", all files will be erased.

Download the Recovery firmware ROM forecast|Check the battery charge (minimum) 50%)|Connect a memory card or OTG-cable|Make sure the file is named update.zip|Disable the boot loader lock (if previously unlocked)-->

5. Complete resetting of settings (if other methods did not help)

If the desktop doesn't recover and the phone is unstable (hangs, app errors), the last option is Hard Reset, which erases all data, including apps, photos and settings, but returns MIUI to factory status.

How to reset:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select “Erase all data”.
3. Enter your password (if required) and confirm.
4. After restarting, set your phone as new.

For models with a locked bootloader (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro), installing custom firmware can lead to brick (complete inoperability), in which case you will need official recovery via Mi Flash in EDL mode.

FAQ: Frequent questions about desktop restoration on Xiaomi