MIUI, the default OS on all Xiaomi phones like the Mi 4, Mi4i and Mi Note, has evolved a lot from its initial days of being an iOS clone. While some resemblance to Apple’s OS remains, MIUI now looks and offers enough features that gives the skin its own identity.

Despite being on its sixth iteration now, MIUI still remains inspired from iOS in one key area: the home screen or the lack of one. Just like in iOS, MIUI v6 has a single unified home screen and app drawer. However, since MIUI is based on Android, it is still possible for you to create folders, add widgets, and move the icons around. How? Check out the steps below.

Creating a folder

Creating a folder on the stock MIUI v6 launcher on Mi 4, Mi4i, Mi Note or Mi Note Pro is similar to other Android devices. Simply tap and hold on an icon and once your phone vibrates, drag it on top of another icon to create a folder. The folder will be automatically given a name based on the apps present inside it, but you can always change its name by opening the folder and then tapping on its name displayed at the top.

Add widgets

To add widgets on MIUI v6, you need to pinch on your home screen first to enter overview mode. Once you have entered the mode, you will see the option to add widgets being present at the bottom of the screen. Simply tap on it, select the widget of your choice and then drop it to your desired place on the home screen.

Add new home screen panels

To add a new home screen panel on the Mi 4, Mi 4i, Mi Note or the Mi Note Pro, enter the overview mode by pinching on your home screen and then scroll to the right most home screen. Once you have scrolled to the very end, you will see a ‘+’ symbol. Simply tap on it to add a new home screen panel.

Change transitions

The stock MIUI launcher also comes with a number of transitions that you can easily change. Simply pinch on the home screen and from the overview mode, select the ‘Effects’ option located at the bottom followed by a transition animation of your choice.

The stock MIUI launcher on the Mi 4, Mi 4i, Mi Note and the Mi Note Pro might not be the customisable launcher out there, but it is good enough to get the job done and compared to stock launchers found in devices from other OEMs, it does pack in a lot of features.