Modern Xiaomi smartphones, which run on the shell of MIUI or the new HyperOS, offer users a variety of tools to personalize the interface. One of the most noticeable but often misunderstood elements is the so-called App Vault. Many users encounter this feature immediately after buying a device, finding that a swipe to the right of the home screen opens a separate feed with news, widgets and app shortcuts.
In this article, we will discuss in detail what the App Vault is, how it differs from standard Android widgets and how to customize it correctly for your needs. You will learn how to get rid of intrusive news, which widgets are really useful in everyday use and how to hide this screen if you do not need one. Understanding the operation of this module will help make interaction with the Xiaomi smartphone more comfortable and productive.
It's worth noting that the interface and the name of the feature may vary slightly depending on the version of the operating system and the region for which the device is released. However, the basic logic of the operation remains the same throughout the brand ecosystem.
What is App Vault and Why You Need It
App Vault (or App Store) is a special section in the MIUI shell that serves as aggregator of useful information and quick access to frequently used features. In fact, it is an improved version of Google Discover or the left-hand Android bar, but with deep integration into Xiaomi services. The main purpose of this space is to provide instant access to data without having to open full-fledged applications.
Unlike a standard desktop, where widgets rank among icons, App Vault is set up in a separate vertical ribbon that keeps the home screen clean while keeping access to currency rates, pedometers, notes or news, and for many users, it becomes a digital well-being management center where you can quickly assess screen usage statistics or battery status.
It is important to understand that this functionality is not a separate application in the classical sense, but is a system component of the launcher. App Vault is integrated directly into the system process of the launcher, so its complete removal without root rights and deep modification of the system is impossible, but you can completely disable the display. This ensures stable operation and instant loading of content when swiping.
The functionality of the feed is constantly being updated by developers, and if it used to be primarily for news aggregators, it's now a powerful productivity tool, and you can see the status of food delivery, tracking packages, or meeting reminders right on the home screen without unlocking the phone completely.
The main features and widgets of App Vault
Customization flexibility is a key feature of this section: the user can create a list of displayed cards by choosing only what is really needed. The system offers a wide range of widgets covering various areas of use of the smartphone, from sports to finance.
Among the most popular tools that can be placed in the App Vault, the following categories stand out:
- 📊 Health monitoring: pedometer, sleep tracker, pulse data (if compatible Mi Band or Amazfit wearable devices are available).
- 📰 Information blocks: news, weather, exchange rates, calendar of events and reminders.
- ⚡ Quick access: shortcuts to run the scanner QR-codes, recorder, calculator or flashlight.
- 🎮 Multimedia and Games: Music management, list of recent running games or content recommendations.
Each widget can be moved, resized, or hidden, for example, if you don't follow cryptocurrency rates, you can remove the corresponding card so that you don't clutter the interface, and you can set it up through a special editing menu that is called by long pressing on an empty space or swiping to the right all the way.
Smart widgets are worth noting, because they can analyze your actions and provide relevant information, for example, if you order a taxi, the status card will automatically appear, if it's time for lunch, the system can suggest opening a food delivery app, which makes App Vault a dynamic interface that adapts to the context of use.
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For maximum performance, try not to keep more than 5-7 heavy widgets active at a time, especially those that require a constant internet connection (news, weather) to save battery life.
Instructions: How to Enable, Configure and Hide App Vault
The left panel display and content is managed through the shell system settings. The setup process is intuitive, but has its nuances in different versions of MIUI. Below is a step-by-step guide to help you activate or deactivate this functionality.
You have to get to the desktop management menu first, and you can do this in two ways: through the general settings of the system or through the desktop editing menu, and the second way is faster and more convenient for quick adjustment.
Follow the following steps to access the settings:
- Make a swipe with two fingers on the desktop in opposite directions (pick) or press on the empty area of the screen for a long time.
- In the bottom menu that appears, select the Settings button (the gear icon).
- In the list that opens, find the option Additional or immediately App Vault (in some versions it is called “App Storage” or “Widget Tape”).
- Activate the App Vault switch to turn on the tape, or turn it off to hide it.
If you want to change the contents of the tape, go to Add widgets or Manage widgets inside the App Vault itself (usually the button is at the top or bottom of the tape). Here you will see the full list of available cards. Active are marked with a tick or color, inactive are gray.
☑️ Setting up the App Vault
It’s worth considering that after turning on the feature, it may take a few seconds for the content to initially load, especially if you have a slow internet connection.If the tape is displayed blank, check for a network connection.
App Vault from Google Discover and Mi Video
Users often confuse App Vault with other services built into the shell, such as Google Discover or Mi Video. While they can all be located on the left side of the screen or be accessed via swipe, their architecture and purpose are fundamentally different.
Google Discover is a search giant service that focuses on personalized news feeds based on your search queries and browsing history. It is deeply integrated with your Google account and offers articles that may interest you. In contrast, App Vault focuses on functionality and system widgets, not just content consumption.
Mi Video (or "Video") is a video content aggregator that is often pre-installed as the left-hand bar in global firmware versions. It offers movies, TV series and short clips. App Vault is a more versatile tool that can include a video widget, but is not limited to entertainment.
Below is a comparison table to help you understand the difference between these components:
| Characteristics | App Vault | Google Discover | Mi Video / Video / Video / |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main objective | System widgets and quick access | News and articles | Streaming videos and movies |
| Account dependency | Mi Account (optional) | Google Account (required) | Mi Account / Locally |
| Customizability | High (choice of widgets) | Average (interest topics) | Low (recommendations) |
| Impact on the battery | Average (depending on widgets) | High (constant loading) | High (prebuffering) |
Understanding these differences allows you to choose the left-hand side that suits your habits. Fortunately, Xiaomi’s settings often allow you to choose which service will open when swiping to the right, or disable all of them, leaving only a clean desktop.
Can I install a left-hand sidebar?
Problem Solving: App Vault is not working or slowing down
Like any software component, App Vault can experience bugs, with users sometimes complaining that the tape won't open, widgets don't update, or the phone slows down when swiping, most often due to cache accumulation or version conflict.
If you notice that the tape is loading long or displaying incorrect data, the first thing you should try is to clean the cache of the system component. This will not delete your personal data, but will reset temporary files that may have been damaged. To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All applications, find in the App Vault list (or “App Storage”) and select Clear cache.
⚠️ Note: When you clean up the App Vault data (not just the cache, but the Data) your personalized widget settings and preferences can be reset to factory.
Another common cause of problems is an outdated version of Google components or Xiaomi system services. Make sure the Security app has checked the system and installed all recommended updates. It's also worth checking for updates for the launcher itself through the GetApps store or Google Play.
In some cases, the problem may lie in the autorun permission. If the system is not allowed to run App Vault in the background, widgets will not be updated in real time. Check the battery settings for this component and set the No Limits mode if the relevance of data is more important to you than saving power.
The Impact of App Vault on Autonomy and Performance
The question of the impact of widgets on battery life is always relevant. App Vault, being a collection of widgets, does consume the resources of the device, but the degree of this consumption depends on which cards you activate. "Heavy" widgets, such as the weather with animation or news feed with auto-update, require constant access to the network and processor.
If you’re using a Xiaomi smartphone with a less-than-new CPU model or limited RAM, an excess of widgets can lead to micro-freezes of the interface, and the system will have to keep the data update processes for each card on the left panel in mind.
To optimize the operation of the device, it is recommended:
- 🔋 Turn off unnecessary widgets: If you don't look at the currency rate every minute, remove this widget.
- 📉 Reduce the frequency of updates: In the settings of some widgets (for example, news) you can set an update interval or disable auto-update, leaving manual.
- 🚫 Use static wallpaper: While this is not directly applicable to App Vault, the combination of live tape and live wallpaper creates a double load on the app. GPU.
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The optimal balance between functionality and speed is achieved when using no more than 3-4 active widgets in the App Vault, especially on previous generation devices.
Conclusion
App Vault on Xiaomi is a powerful tool that, when set up properly, makes it much easier to interact with your smartphone, transforming the left panel from a simple newsroom into a personal data center, but like any tool, it requires customization for a specific user.
Don't be afraid to experiment with configuration: turn on useful widgets, remove the extra and watch for the effect on the battery. If you're not close to the functionality, it's easy to turn it off, returning to the classic desktop look. The main thing is that the interface of your device works for you, and does not distract from important tasks.