Modern smartphones of the POCO i Xiaomi line offer users enormous opportunities for customizing the interface. However, the standard shell MIUI or the new one HyperOS sometimes hides the usual functions that we are accustomed to on the “pure” Android. One of these tasks is often creating a shortcut on the desktop. This may be required for quick access to a specific section of the application, opening a web page or a person's contact.
Unlike some other manufacturers, in the ecosystem Xiaomi the process of adding icons may differ depending on the firmware version and the type of object being created. Users often confuse adding widgets and creating full-fledged application shortcuts. Understanding the difference between these elements will help you organize your screen space as efficiently as possible and remove unnecessary visual noise.
In this article we will analyze in detail all the available ways to create shortcuts. We will look at both standard methods through the app menu, and advanced techniques using hidden system functions. You will learn how to pin the desired site, set up a direct call to a function, or even create a shortcut to a hidden folder without installing a third-party launcher.
The basic method of adding an application icon
The most obvious and common method is to drag the icon from the general menu of all apps. In shells MIUI i HyperOS the application menu is usually opened by swiping up in the center of the screen or by pressing a special button in the dock bar. All applications installed on your device are stored here applications.
To implement this action, you need to find the desired app in the list. After detecting the icon, press it with your finger on the screen and hold it for a second until vibration appears or the visual effect of “lifting” the object appears. Without releasing your finger, move the icon to the top of the screen, where the Home button or desktop preview area is usually located.
The system will automatically switch you to the home screen. Now you can release your finger anywhere on the grid. If the space is occupied by other elements, the system will offer to move them or create a new page. This is the basic mechanism of operation launcherwhich is intuitive for most users.
⚠️ Attention: If when you long press an icon in the menu, a context menu appears with the items “About the application” or “Delete”, and dragging does not begin, try holding the icon just below it center or use two fingers to grab an object.
Creating a website shortcut through the browser
Often users need quick access to a specific web page, for example, to a bank’s personal account, a news portal or a web version of the messenger. A standard browser Chrome or a built-in browser MIUI allows you to create a full-fledged shortcut for this that will look like a regular application.
The process begins by opening the desired page in the browser. After loading the content, click on the menu button, which is usually located in the upper right corner of the screen and is indicated by three dots. In the drop-down list you need to find the item responsible for creating the shortcut. It may be called differently in different versions of the software.
After clicking the corresponding button, the system will prompt you to confirm the name of the future shortcut. You can edit it to make it shorter and easier to read on a small screen. Confirming the action will automatically place the icon on an empty space on your desktop.
- 🌐 Open the browser and go to the landing page.
- 📂 Click the menu (three dots) and select “Add to home screen.”
- ✏️ Come up with a short name for shortcut.
- ✅ Confirm creation by clicking “Add”.
⚠️ Attention: The browser interface is updated regularly. If you don't find the menu item right away, check the "Additional tools" or "Share" section, where the shortcut creation function is sometimes hidden in new versions of the software.
Usage widgets for quick access
It is important to distinguish between the concepts of “shortcut” and “widget”. While a shortcut is simply a button to launch it, widget is an interactive interface element that can display information or provide access to functions without fully opening the application. In the ecosystem Xiaomi widgets play a key role in organizing space.
To add a widget, you must go to desktop editing mode. To do this, pinch the screen with two fingers (pinch your fingers together) or long press on an empty space. A toolbar will appear at the bottom of the screen. You are interested in the “Widgets” button, when you click on it, a library of available elements will open.
The library of widgets in HyperOS and latest versions MIUI is divided into categories. You can find widgets for weather, clocks, notes, or specific apps. Some widgets are resizable. After selecting the widget, the system will offer to place it on the grid, where you can stretch it to the required dimensions.
| Element type | Functional | Size | Usage example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shortcut applications | Launch the app | 1x1 | Quick launch Telegram |
| Weather widget | Data display | 4x2 or 2x2 | Control temperature |
| Contact shortcut | Direct call | 1x1 | Call a relative |
| Calendar widget | View events | 4x4 | Planning meetings |
Use widgets of different sizes to create visual accents on your desktop. Large widgets (4x2) are best placed at the top of the screen for quick reading of information.
Adding shortcuts to contacts and functions
System Android on smartphones POCO allows you to create shortcuts not only for applications, but also for specific actions of the system or people from your phone book. This is especially convenient for those who need to frequently call certain subscribers or quickly turn on the flashlight.
To add a contact, the procedure is similar to working with widgets. Go to table editing mode, select “Widgets” and find the “Contacts” application in the list. Inside you will see several options: a list of contacts, a specific person or a group. Drag the desired option to your desktop.
If you have selected a widget for a specific person, the system will immediately request confirmation of which subscriber from the book to pin on the screen. After selecting, an icon with a contact photo will appear on the table. Clicking on it will initiate a direct call to this number, bypassing dialing in the phone.
⚠️ Attention: When changing the SIM card or resetting the phone settings, the binding of contact shortcuts may be broken. In this case, you will need to reselect the subscriber from the phone book to restore the functionality of the icon.
☑️ Checking the functionality of the shortcut
Advanced methods: Action shortcuts (Activity Launcher)
Sometimes standard methods are not enough. For example, you want to create a shortcut not just for the Settings application, but for a specific section, such as “Battery” or “Notifications”. There are special utilities for such tasks, the most popular of which is Activity Launcher.
This application scans the system and finds all hidden activities that are not displayed in the regular menu. After installing the utility and granting it rights to display on top of other windows, you will have access to the full list of system functions. Once you find the item you need, you can create a shortcut for it on your desktop.
Using such tools requires caution. Some hidden activities may be intended only for debugging by developers. Launching such sections by an ordinary user can lead to unstable operation of the interface or the appearance of errors in the system logs.
adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.batteryusage.BatteryUsageActivityThe above command is an example of how hidden activity is technically called through debugging. The application Activity Launcher performs a similar operation, but through a graphical interface, which is much more convenient for most owners POCO.
Risks of using third-party launchers
When installing shortcuts through third-party utilities on new versions of Android (13/14), the system may block the creation of icons without special permission. You will need to go to Settings → Applications → Specials. features → Access notifications and allow the utility to work.
Setting up the grid and troubleshooting problems
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the shortcut is simply not added or disappears after a reboot. This may be due to the desktop grid settings or launcher permissions. MIUI i HyperOS The Launcher system application is responsible for this.
Check the grid size in the screen settings. If you choose a grid that is too large (for example, 4x4 or 5x5), there may not be enough space for new elements, even if there is visual emptiness. Try changing the configuration to a more sparse configuration to make room for larger widgets or groups of shortcuts.
Also make sure the launcher has permission to change the home screen. Go to Settings → Applications → Manage applications, find “Launcher” (or System Launcher) and check the permissions section. There should be no restrictions on creating shortcuts.
- 📐 Change the grid size in the desktop settings.
- 🔒 Check the permissions for the system Launcher.
- 🗑️ Clear the launcher cache if the icons are not displayed correctly.
The stability of the shortcuts directly depends on the version of the system Launcher. If glitches occur, update the Launcher application through the GetApps store or the official MIUI website.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why does the website label look like the logo of the browser, not the site?
This depends on the version of the browser and the site’s support for PWA (Progressive Web) technology app). If the site does not have an application manifest, the browser creates a shortcut with its logo and page name. In some cases, you can manually change the icon through third-party shortcut editors.
Is it possible to create a shortcut for a hidden folder in the Gallery?
There is no direct way to create a desktop shortcut to enter a hidden album without entering a password for security reasons. However, you can create a shortcut for the Gallery application, but entering the hidden section will still require authentication.
The shortcut disappears after restarting the phone, what is the reason?
Most likely, you have installed a third-party launcher that does not have the rights to change the system desktop, or the main launcher has crashed. Try clearing the Launcher application data in the phone settings (this will reset the icon layout, but will solve the problem).
How to add a shortcut to the lock screen?
On modern versions Android i HyperOS the ability to add arbitrary shortcuts to the lock screen is limited. Usually only two slots are available (to the left and to the right of the unlock button), which are configured in the menu Settings → Lock screen.