Xiaomi widgets: a complete guide to setting up and using

Have you ever wondered why Xiaomi has a vertical panel with weather, calendar, or quick settings? MIUI, This is something that many users either ignore or use at a low capacity. In this article, we’ll break down what the widget tape on Xiaomi phones is, how it works on different models (from Redmi Note 12 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra), and why setting it right can save you minutes daily.

It is worth clarifying: the widget tape in MIUI — It's not just a decorating interface, it's a tool for quickly accessing information and functions without having to open apps, like you can see the weather forecast, control a smart home, or even run Xiao, a voice assistant. AI But not everyone knows that you can completely remake this tape, add widgets from third-party applications, change the order of the blocks, or even disable it if it interferes with the system.

In this article you will find:

• 🔍 What is a widget tape and how it differs from the main screen
• ⚙️ How to turn on / off the tape on different versions MIUI (including MIUI 14 and HyperOS)
• ✨ Top.-5 Useful widgets that you should add right now
• 🚫 Common problems and solutions (e.g. why widgets don’t update)

What is a widget tape on Xiaomi and why you need it

The widget tape (or widget panel) is a vertical bar that appears when swiped to the right of the home screen on Xiaomi smartphones. MIUI 8 and has since become an integral part of the interface. Unlike the widgets on the home screen, which rank among the app icons, the widget tape is a feature of the app:

• 📱 It doesn’t take up space on the desktop – it’s hidden behind a swipe;
• ⚡ Updated in real time (for example, weather or exchange rates);
• 🔄 Supports widgets from third-party applications (Google Keep, Spotify, Yandex Weather, etc.);
• 🎨 Customizes to your needs - you can change the order of blocks, sizes and even remove unnecessary ones.

For example, if you use Google Calendar a lot, you can add a widget with upcoming events to your feed so you don't open the app every time, or you can put a Mi Fit widget there to track your steps and your heart rate without clicking. This is especially useful on models with large screens, such as Xiaomi. 13T pro POCO F5, swipe to tape takes a fraction of a second.

However, not all users are happy with the widget tape.

• 😤 "It happens by accident when I swipe when I just want to flip the screen";
• 🗑️ "Takes up space with unnecessary widgets (e.g. Mi Community or Themes)";
• 🔄 "Widgets are not automatically updated".

All these problems are solvable – we will talk about this later.

How to turn on or off the widget tape on Xiaomi

By default, the widget tape is activated on all Xiaomi smartphones with a shell MIUI (It's starting with version 8 and HyperOS, but you can turn it off or back on at any time:

For MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS:

1. Open the Settings;
2. Go to the Main Screen;
3. Find the option of the Widget Ribbon (or the Widget Panel);
4. Switch the slider to the On or Off position.

For older versions (MIUI 8–11):

1. Hold your finger to the free space on the main screen;
2. At the bottom of the screen will appear menu – tap on the screen settings;
3. Find the widget tape item and turn it off.

If the tape still appears after turning off, try:

On some models (e.g. Redmi) 10C or POCO M5) Widget tape can be integrated into the system launcher MIUI Launcher. In this case, disabling it will cause the icons to reset on the home screen — keep that in mind.

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If you've turned off the widget tape, but you want to bring it back, just repeat the same steps and turn on the slider. The widget settings will still be saved.

How to Add, Remove or Change Widgets in the Ribbon

Now, to the most interesting thing, customization, the widget tape on Xiaomi supports both system widgets (weather, calendar, notes) and widgets from third-party applications. Here's how to manage them:

Addition of a new widget:

1. Open the widget tape (swipe to the right of the main screen);
2. Scroll down to the end and click Edit (or Add widgets);
3. Select the widget you want from the list (like Google Weather or Spotify).
4. Press the widget and drag it to the right place of the tape.

Removal or reordering:

• 🗑️ To remove the widget, pinch it and drag it to the basket at the top of the screen;
• 🔄 To change the order, press the widget and move it higher or lower;
• ⚙️ To change the size (if supported), tap the widget and select Change the size.

Some widgets have additional settings, such as the Weather widget, which lets you select a city, and the Google Calendar widget, which is the number of events you display, to open these settings:

1. Touch the widget and hold your finger for 1-2 seconds.
2. In the menu that appears, select the widget settings (or icon) ⚙️).

Note: Not all apps support tape widgets MIUI. For example, Telegram or VK They can only offer widgets for the home screen, in which case the widget tape will remain "empty" for these applications.

Top.-5 useful widgets for Xiaomi tape in 2026 year

What widgets should I add to the tape to make it really useful?-5 Options that save time and simplify everyday tasks:

One of the most underrated widgets is the quick setup (or Control Center), which allows you to control Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, flashlight and other functions directly from the tape without opening the notification curtain, which is especially convenient on large smartphones, where reaching the top of the screen with one hand is difficult.

Important: widgets from some banking applications (e.g. Sberbank or VTB) may not work in Xiaomi’s feed due to security limitations, in which case use widgets on the home screen.

Common problems with widget tape and their solutions

Even a tool like this has its own bugs, and here are the most common problems and ways to fix them:

1. Widgets are not updated

If the weather widget shows yesterday’s data and the calendar doesn’t show new events, try:

• 🔄 Update the app that the widget belongs to (e.g. Google Weather in Play Market);
• 📶 Check your internet connection – some widgets require a network to update;
• 🔧 Clear the app's cache: Settings → Annexes → [Title of the annex] → Warehouse → Clear the cache;
• 🔄 Restart your phone – sometimes it helps to reset the hanging processes.

2. The widget tape brakes or lays

If there are delays when swiping to the right, the reason may be:

• 📱 Weak iron (relevant for budget models like Redmi) A2);
• 🗑️ Overload widgets - remove unnecessary ones;
• 🔄 An outdated version MIUI — firmware update.

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If the widget tape is slowing down, try turning off animation in the developer settings (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI (tap 7 times) → Window animation = Off.).

3.Widgets disappear after update MIUI

This is a known problem when switching to a new firmware version.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management;
2. Find Launcher. MIUI (or MIUI Home);
3. Select Warehouse. → Clear the data;
4. Restart the phone - the widget tape will return to factory settings.

⚠️ Attention: Clearing the launcher data will reset the location of the icons on the home screen.

4. You cannot add a widget from a third-party application

If the widget is on the list but not added to the feed:

• 📌 Make sure the app is allowed to display on top of others (Settings) → Special facilities → Screen access applications);
• 🔄 Reinstall the app;
• 📋 Check if the app supports widgets for MIUI (Some only work on “pure” Android).

The widgets in HyperOS: what has changed

In 2026, Xiaomi began the transition from MIUI The widget tape has undergone several changes to the new HyperOS shell:

• 🎨 New design: smoother animations and adaptive icons;
• ⚡ Quick access to Xiao AI: Voice Assistant widget now built-in by default;
• 🔄 Smart sorting: the system itself offers widgets based on your habits (for example, if you often listen to music, the player widget will appear in the top);
• 📱 Support for foldable devices: on Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 tape adapts to the screen size.

To enable or disable the widget tape in HyperOS:

1. Open the Settings;
2. Go to the Main Screen → Widget tape;
3. Activate or deactivate the slider.

One of the key innovations is workflow widgets, like adding a Mi Share widget for fast file transfer or Notes for taking notes with a single tap, which makes HyperOS more productive than it is. MIUI.

⚠️ Note: On some models (such as the Xiaomi 14 with HyperOS), the widget tape is disabled by default. To activate it, you will have to manually enable it in the settings.

Alternatives to the widget tape on Xiaomi

If you don’t like the standard widget tape, there are a few alternatives:

1. Third-party launchers

Install an alternative launcher, for example:

• 🌈 Nova Launcher – supports widgets on the home screen and in the sidebar;
• 📱 Microsoft Launcher – Integration with Windows and Office Tools;
• ⚡ Action Launcher – Quick access to widgets through gestures.

To install a third-party launcher:

1. Download it from Google Play;
2. Open the application and follow the instructions;
3. In your phone settings, select the new default launcher (Settings) → Annexes → By default. → Launcher).

2.Widgets on the main screen

If the widget tape interferes, you can place widgets directly on the desktop:

1. Press your finger in the free place of the main screen;
2. Select the Widgets;
3. Drag the desired widget on the screen.

3. Quick Ball (Quick Ball)

Quick Ball function in the MIUI It allows you to add a floating button to quickly access applications or functions:

1. Go to Settings. → Special facilities → Quick Ball;
2. Activate the slider;
3. Set up activities of your choice (such as a quick start of a camera or flashlight).

This is handy if you don’t want to use widget tape but need quick access to key features.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the widget tape on Xiaomi