Poco F3 smartphone owners often face an intrusive interface that offers a huge stream of news by default, a feature known as Google Discover or Widget Ribbon that swipes to the left of the home screen, which for many users puts an extra strain on RAM and a source of constant visual noise, distracting from the main job.
Complete removal of MIUI system components requires deep intervention, but standard tools can effectively hide or disable this element. In this article, we will look at all the available ways, from simple launcher switching to advanced configuration through ADB. You will be able to choose the method that best suits your skills and needs.
Not only will the tape be removed, but it can also be a positive effect on the device's autonomy, because the back-end synchronization of news and widgets consumes processor resources, which is especially noticeable on older firmware versions. Let's take a step-by-step look at how to regain control of your interface.
Understanding the Nature of Widget Ribbons in MIUI
The MIUI interface that powers the Poco Launcher wrapper integrates Google services at a deep level. The widget tape is not just a shortcut, but a full-fledged system process that constantly updates content. It can display weather, currency rates, news and recommendations based on your search history.
It's important to distinguish between the widgets you add yourself and the built-in newsfeed. The second is often referred to as Google Feed or "Assistant." On global firmware devices, this component is tightly tied to a Google account, making it a little more difficult to disable than just hiding an icon.
Users who value minimalism often tend to remove everything that is unnecessary. However, it is worth remembering that some system functions may depend on Google background services. Complete removal (through root rights) can lead to unstable work, so we recommend using secure blocking methods.
Basic method: disabling through launcher settings
The easiest and safest way to remove the extra is to use the built-in desktop settings, which don't require a computer connection or third-party software installation, but is suitable for most users who want to simply stop seeing news when they flip through screens.
To start, unlock the device and go to the main screen. Push two fingers (finger mixing) or press and hold your finger in a free place. At the bottom of the screen, a control menu will appear where you need to select Settings (cog icon).
- 🔍 Find the Widget Ribbon Switch or Google Discover in the list of options.
- 📱 Select the option “No tape” or “Widgets only” if such option is available in your version MIUI.
- 🔄 After changing the settings, it is recommended to restart the device to apply the changes.
In some versions of the Poco F3 firmware, this switch can be hidden or replaced with "Primary Screen Mode." If you do not find a direct shutdown option, this means that the manufacturer has blocked this feature at the system level, in which case move to the next section.
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If the widget tape switch is missing from the settings, try changing the region in the phone settings to India or USA – sometimes this will unlock hidden interface options.
Using third-party launchers for full replacement
If the standard Poco Launcher doesn’t work, the radical solution is to install an alternative launcher, which completely changes the look of the system, removing all bindings to Google services in the interface, popular options include Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Lawnchair.
Once you install a new launcher, you ask for confirmation to use it by default, and the swipe left will no longer open the news feed, and you'll get a clean desktop where you decide which widgets to display.
However, it has its nuances: native MIUI gestures (such as swipe down for search or swipe around the edges for menus) may not work properly or require additional customization, and the themes downloaded from the MIUI Themes store may not apply to third-party launchers.
⚠️ Note: When installing a third-party launcher, some system features, such as Double Push to Wake Up or control gestures, may stop working or work with a delay.
For users who want to keep the visual style of MIUI but remove the tape, this may not be the right method. But if you want maximum customization and no intrusive services, this is the best choice. Remember to set up icon backup before you switch.
☑️ Check before changing the launcher
Advanced method: Disconnection via ADB
For those who are not afraid of the command line, there is a way to disable the system component responsible for the tape without deleting it from memory, this is done through USB debugging (ADB), which allows you to hide the com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox package, which is often responsible for the functionality of Discover.
First, activate Developer Mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and press 7 times on MIUI Version. Then, in the Developer Menu that appears, turn on USB Debugging. Connect your phone to a PC with ADB installed.
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchboxThis command will deaktiviruet the process for the current user. The tape will disappear instantly. It's important to understand that it doesn't delete the application completely, it just hides it. You can turn it back at any time, which makes it relatively safe.
| ADB Team Team | Action. | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| pm disable-user | Disable the package for the user | Low (easily reclaimed) |
| pm uninstall | Completely removes the package | Medium (reflashing is required for return) |
| pm enable | Puts the package back on. | Absent. |
If the interface becomes unstable after you use the command, you can always do the reverse. Just replace the word disable-user with enable, and that will return the functionality of Google Discover to its original state.
What if the ADB can’t see the phone?
Alternative solutions and optimization
Sometimes the problem is solved not by turning it off, but by setting it up correctly. In some regions and versions of MIUI, Google is available to customize content within, and if you can't remove the tape completely, try clearing it.
Go to the settings of the Google app, select Settings → Tape, where you can turn off the display of news cards, leaving only the weather or quick action, a compromise option that retains functionality but removes information noise.
- 🧹 Clean the Google app cache regularly so that the tape does not consume excess memory.
- 📶 Turn off background data transfers for Google if you do not use its features.
- ⚙️ Check system updates in new versions MIUI Often changing the logic of widgets.
Also worth mentioning is the existence of Magisk modules for users with unlocked bootloaders, which allow you to cut system components deeper than ADB does. However, using such methods requires high skill and can lead to a loss of warranty.
⚠️ Note: Modifying system files through Magisk or root rights may disrupt Google Pay banking applications and services. Use these methods only if you understand the risks.
Possible problems and solutions
When you turn off the widget tape, Poco F3 users may encounter a number of difficulties, often after updating the firmware settings are reset and the tape appears again, in which case the procedure has to be repeated.
Another common problem is that you have an empty white screen instead of a tape after you try to shut down through ADB, which means that the process was stopped incorrectly, the solution is to reboot the device or re-energize the package.
If you used a third-party launcher and it stopped launching, it may conflict with Android security updates.Try to clear the launcher data or install it a more recent version from the official Play Market store.
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The most stable result is a combination: standard launcher + disabling through ADB. Third-party launchers give more freedom, but may be less stable on MIUI.