Many Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphone users are confronted with an intrusive interface element that appears when swiping to the right of the home screen.This feature, known as Google Discover or Widget Ribbon, is often annoying for its uselessness, traffic consumption and occasional taps. Owners of devices with MIUI shells and the new HyperOS often wonder how to remove this extra screen and restore the purity of navigation.
The problem is relevant for all firmware versions, whether it is a global build or a Chinese version. The default system activates this module so that the user can access news and widgets faster, but for many it is just unnecessary finger movement. Fortunately, the developers have provided the ability to deactivate this feature through standard settings without requiring Root rights or install third-party software.
In this article, we will discuss how to turn off the screen on the right by changing the launcher and system settings. You will learn where to look for the right switches in different versions of the shell, how to set up the lock screen and what to do if standard methods do not help. We will also look at the nuances of widgets and alternative ways to personalize the desktop.
Setting up the main screen and launcher
The main method of disabling the right-handed widget tape is in the settings of the launcher itself. It is the desktop system application that is responsible for displaying all icons, folders and additional panels. To access the desired menu, you need to find the settings gear, which is usually hidden in the application menu or accessible through long-pressing on an empty desktop space.
When you log into the Settings menu, you'll see a list of design and behavior options, and we're interested in the section related to "Additional Items" or "Widget Tape." Different versions of MIUI may have different names, but the essence remains the same: control the swipe content to the right. Find the switch for "Google Discover" or "Widget Ribbon" and put it inactive.
Important: Once you turn off, swipe right will stop opening your news feed, and you will be stuck on the first desktop, which is standard behavior after you make changes. If you use a third-party launcher, such as Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher, the settings will be inside the launcher's application, not in the system settings of the phone.
⚠️ Warning: Turning off the widget system tape does not remove widgets you have manually placed on desktops.Your calendars, weather and clocks will stay in place.
Disconnect Google Discover and Yandex.Zen
Users often confuse the system feed of Xiaomi widgets with the integration of Google or Yandex services. Many global versions of firmware have Google Discover activated by default, which downloads news from the Internet. Russian versions of firmware often preinstalled Yandex.Zen, which behaves similarly, but uses the content platinum of a domestic search engine.
To turn off Google Discover, you need to go to the settings of the weather widget or Google search bar, if it is displayed on the desktop. However, most often, the management of this option is duplicated in the general settings of the launcher. If you have a Russified version of the system, you can see the Yandex.Zen option in the Desktop -> "Additional".
In some cases, especially on older versions of MIUI 12 or MIUI 13, it may be necessary to disable the Google plugin or Google Cards in the application settings section.This will prevent content from loading even if the launcher switch did not work correctly. For HyperOS, the procedure is simplified: one switch in the desktop editing menu is enough.
Why does the tape come back?
Managing widgets on the lock screen
The request “how to turn off the screen on the right” may also refer to widgets on the lock screen that appear when swiping left or right before entering the password. In MIUI and HyperOS, the lock screen has its own settings, independent of the desktop.
To manage these elements, go to Settings -> Lock Screen. In this section, you will find "Widgets" or "Lock Screen Widget Ribbon" and disabling this feature will make the lock screen clean, leaving only the time, date and unlock button. This can also have a positive impact on battery life, since the system will not need to constantly update data in the background.
If you want to leave widgets but change their order or remove a specific item, click on the Edit button (usually at the bottom of the screen or in the widget menu). Here you can drag and drop items or remove them by ticking. Some widgets, such as Smart Home Management, are system-based and may not be completely deleted, but they can be hidden from view.
☑️ Checking the lock screen settings
Comparison of settings in MIUI and HyperOS
With the release of the new HyperOS shell, Xiaomi has slightly changed the logic of the settings. Users who move from older versions of MIUI may not find the usual switches in the same places. Below is a table that will help to navigate the differences between the two shells when you turn off the right screen.
| Parameter | MIUI 12 / 13 / 14 | HyperOS 1.0+ |
|---|---|---|
| The path to settings | Settings -> Desktop | Settings -> Desktop and Lock screen |
| Option name | Widget Tape / Google Discover | Widget tape/Cards |
| Switch location | At the top of the launcher settings menu | In the "Advanced" section or immediately in the menu |
| Lock screen | Separate menu "Block screen" | Combined with desktop settings |
As you can see from the table, HyperOS developers are looking to combine personalization settings in one place, which makes it easier to find the right switches, but requires getting used to the new menu structure. If you've recently updated, carefully study the Desktop and Lock Screen section, which contains all the key options.
It’s worth noting that some global versions of HyperOS have Google Discover integrated deeper, and to completely disable it, you may need to disable the display of the desktop weather widget, as they are connected.
Use of third-party launchers
If Xiaomi’s regular tools don’t work well or the interface seems overloaded, installing a third-party launcher is a great solution. Apps like Nova Launcher, Lawnchair or Microsoft Launcher completely replace the standard desktop and lock screen (partially), providing flexible settings.
Once you install the launcher and assign it to the default, swipes to the right and left will work the way you set it up. In most third-party launchers, Google feed or similar panels are disabled by default or easily managed through the desktop -> Google Tape settings, which gives you complete control over navigation.
However, the use of third-party launchers on MIUI and HyperOS has its nuances: animations can run less smoothly than on a native launcher, and some system features (for example, one-hand gestures or specific Xiaomi widgets) may become unavailable.
⚠️ Note: When installing a third-party launcher, be sure to give all the permissions requested, otherwise it may not display widgets correctly or operate unstablely.
💡
Before installing a third-party launcher, export the current layout of the icons, if this is provided by your version of MIUI, so as not to lose the location of the applications.
Problems with access to settings and their solution
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the right-hand switch is missing or inactive, this may be due to restrictions of regional firmware or specifics of a contract with partners (for example, Google or Yandex), in which case a simple switching of the toggle may not work.
One solution is to change the region in your phone settings. Go to Settings -> Additional -> Region and select a country other than yours (e.g. India or the United States). Once you change region, the interface may reboot and the launcher settings will have new options or no forced elements. Remember to return the region to the local services and weather after you set up.
Newer security patches and MIUI versions often fix bugs associated with intrusive advertising and widgets. If the problem occurs after the update, try clearing the desktop app cache through the app menu by finding it in the list of all programs.
💡
Changing the region is an effective but temporary way to unlock hidden interface settings in the MIUI shell.
The impact of widgets on the autonomy of the device
Many users turn off the right screen not only for aesthetic reasons, but also to save battery life. Active widget tape, especially if it displays news, weather or currency rates, requires a constant Internet connection and periodic updates in the background.
The process of synchronizing data consumes the resources of the processor and communication module. On older models of smartphones Redmi or POCO with small batteries, turning off heavy widgets can add from 30 minutes to an hour of additional screen time, especially if you use live wallpaper or widgets with a high refresh rate.
In addition, disabling unnecessary interface elements frees up RAM. Although modern smartphones have sufficient RAM, a decrease in background activity of the launcher makes the system more responsive, reducing the number of micro-freezes when scrolling through the menu.