Xiaomi widgets: why you need it and how to use it

Have you ever wondered why the Xiaomi home screen on the left of the desktop has a separate panel with weather, news and quick settings? MIUI, While many users either ignore or use it at a low capacity, configuring the feature can save minutes of daily time by providing instant access to important information without having to open apps.

In this article, we will analyze in detail what is a tape of widgets on Xiaomi, Redmi and smartphones. POCO, How to activate it (if it suddenly disappeared), which widgets are really useful, and which ones are better to refuse. We’ll focus on hidden features that aren’t covered in standard instructions, such as how to integrate data from third-party apps into the feed or why some widgets eat up battery power. If you want to turn your smartphone into a real information hub, read on.

What is a widget tape and how it appeared in MIUI

The widget panel is a vertical panel that swipes to the right of the main screen. It was first introduced in the video. MIUI 8 (2016) as an alternative to classic desktop widgets that took up a lot of space and slowed down the system.The idea was to gather all the useful information in one place without cluttering the main screens.

Since then, the tape's functionality has expanded considerably, and today it includes:

• 🌤️ Weather with detailed forecast for the week and precipitation notifications;
• 📅 Calendar with reminders and events from Google Calendar or Mi Calendar;
• 📊 Usage statistics (screen time, data traffic, steps);
• 🎵 Music management (playback, pause, transition between tracks);
• 📰 News feed (configurable sources: Yandex.Zen, Google News, etc.).

Interestingly, in the early versions MIUI The widget feed was tightly tied to Xiaomi services (such as Mi Browser for news), and users can now connect third-party apps, making it universal. For example, the Spotify widget or Yandex.Music will allow you to control the player directly from the tape, and the Google Keep widget – quickly create notes.

How to open and close the widget tape: basic gestures

By default, the widget tape is activated by swipe to the right of the home screen (not to be confused with swipe up to open the app menu!).However, many users accidentally disable it or can't find it after the update. MIUI. Here's how to get access back:

1. Open the Settings. → Main screen screen.
2. Find the option “Widget Tape” (in some versions – “Widget Panel” or “App Vault”).
3. Activate the switch if it is switched off.

If the tape still doesn't open, check:

• 🔄 Update MIUI: in older versions (below) MIUI 12) there may have been bugs with gestures;
• 📱 Third Launchers: If you’re using Nova Launcher or Action Launcher, Xiaomi’s widget tape may conflict with them;
• 🛠️ Resetting launcher settings: clamping the empty space on the home screen → Screen settings → Reset.

To close the tape, just swipe left or press the "back" button. POCO F5) Supported gesture "close swipe down" - it is convenient for one hand.

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If the widget tape is slowing down, try turning off animations in Settings → Special facilities → Delete the animations, which will speed up the opening of the animation. 20-30%.

What widgets can be added and how to configure them

Standard set of widgets in MIUI It's about 15 elements, but not all of them are useful:

To add or remove widgets:

1. Open the widget tape.
2. Scroll down to the bottom and click "Edit" (pencil icon).
3. Drag widgets in the right order or remove the checkmarks from unnecessary ones.

Few people know, but in MIUI 14+ Now you can add widgets from Google Play, like the TickTick widget for tasks, or Sleep as Android for sleep tracking:

1. Install an app that supports widgets (such as Widgetsmith).
2. In the editor of the tape, click "Add widget» → «More».
3. Select the desired widget from the list of installed.

Why Widget Ribbon May or May Not Work

One of the most common problems is the lagging tape of widgets, and it happens for a couple of reasons:

1. Too many widgets: each element consumes RAM. Optimal amount — 5-7 piece.
2. Third-party app widgets: Some are poorly optimized (like Facebook widgets or Facebook widgets) VK).
3. Background synchronization: Weather or news widgets constantly update data, consuming traffic and charge.
4. Beta versions MIUI: In test firmware, there are often bugs with animations.

How to remove the brakes:

• ⚡ Turn off automatic updates for unnecessary widgets (click on the widget) → «Settings» → «Manually update»).
• 🗑️ Remove social media widgets – they are most often guilty of hanging out.
• 🔄 Reboot your phone: Sometimes the tape “hangs” due to cache errors.

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Weather and news widgets are the main battery eaters, and if you notice your phone is running out faster than usual, check their update settings.

If the tape has completely stopped opening, try:

adb shell pm clear com.miui.miservice

This team will reset the settings of services MIUI, Responsible for widgets (rights required) ADB). The alternative is to reset all launcher settings as described above.

Hidden chips of widget tape that you didn't know about

Even Xiaomi’s experienced users often miss out on a few useful features:

1. Quick retention actions: pinch the weather widget – an extended forecast will open; pinch the music widget – go to the player app.
2. Widgets Only mode: in the feed settings, you can turn off the news feed, leaving only useful elements.
3. Mi Band integration: If you have a Xiaomi fitness bracelet, the Health widget will show your heart rate, steps, and stress levels right in the ribbon.
4. Voice commands: Say “OK, Google, show me my notes” and the tape will open on the Google Keep widget (not all models).

Another life hack: if you don’t like the design of standard widgets, you can use the application KWGT (Kustom Widget Maker for customization, like making a transparent weather widget with animations or a minimalist player:

1. Install KWGT from Google Play.
2. Download your favorite template (for example, on the site Kustom Rocks).
3. Add it to the feed through the widget editor.

Remove unnecessary widgets (leave) 5-7 piece)

Disable Auto Update for Weather/News Widgets

Replace social media widgets with lighter alternatives

Add widgets of frequently used applications (music, notes)

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Widgets vs. classic widgets on the desktop: which is better

Many users ask, why do you need a widget tape when you can put widgets right on the home screen? Each approach has pros and cons:

Our verdict is that the widget tape beats the classic widgets in speed and space saving, but it loses in flexibility.

• 📱 Keep often needed widgets in the tape (weather, music, notes);
• 🖼️ Place widgets on your desktop that require constant monitoring (such as currency rates or stock charts).

On Xiaomi AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Ultra or POCO F4 GT) Widget tape has the additional advantage of being configured to display in a dark theme, which saves battery power.

How to completely disable the widget tape (and whether it is worth it)

If you decide that you do not need the widget tape, you can turn it off:

1. Go to Settings. → Main screen screen.
2. Find the option of “Tape widgets” and deactivate the switch.
3. Confirm the action (some devices will require a reboot).

However, before you do so, please note:

⚠️ Note: Disable the widget tape on some models (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5) If you lose your app icons or artifacts after you turn off, reset your launcher: press the empty space on the screen. → Screen settings → Reset.

The alternative to a complete shutdown is to hide unnecessary widgets:

• Open the tape, scroll down and click "Edit."
• Take the boxes off all widgets except 1-2 essential (such as the weather).
• The tape will remain active, but will open almost empty.

If you do turn off the tape, but then you change your mind, you can return it in the same way in the settings (MIUI 13 and older) after turning off the tape, the option “Restore by default” appears - it will reset all settings to the factory.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the widget tape on Xiaomi