How to turn off the widget tape on Xiaomi POCO X3 Pro

Modern smartphones, including the powerful POCO X3 Pro, come with a MIUI shell that is packed with a host of features and services by default. However, for many users who are used to pure Android or appreciate minimalism, the left-hand widget bar (often called Google Discover or Yandex) becomes a source of unnecessary visual noise. It consumes CPU and RAM resources even when you are not using it, which can affect the overall smoothness of the interface.

In this article, we will discuss in detail how to deactivate this interface element, returning your device to its original appearance and perhaps increasing battery life a little. The setup process does not require obtaining superuser rights or complex flashing, all actions are performed by the regular means of the system.

Turning off the tape is not just a matter of aesthetics, it's also a way to optimize your workspace, so you stop accidentally opening news feeds when you unlock the screen, and you can focus on the really important applications.

Why to turn off the left panel on the POCO X3 Pro

Many owners of Xiaomi and POCO smartphones are wondering whether it is advisable to remove system elements that seem useful at first glance. The widget tape located to the left of the home screen aggregates news, weather, exchange rates and offers from advertising partners. For the Russian segment of the market, these are often integrated services of Yandex or Google Discover, which constantly update content in the background.

The main reason for the shutdown is performance optimization. Although the Snapdragon 860 processor installed in the POCO X3 Pro is high in power, background news synchronization processes and user behavior analytics create additional load, especially on older firmware versions or when free RAM is not available.

⚠️ Note: Disabling Google or Yandex system services through the launcher settings is safe, but installing third-party launchers to completely remove system components may lead to unstable notifications.

Also, many users are annoyed by the intrusiveness of the content: the tape can offer articles or products that you do not care about, distracting from the main use of the smartphone. By removing this element, you regain full control of what you see immediately after you turn on the screen.

Preparing for changes in interface settings

Before you start modifying your desktop settings, it is recommended to make sure your device is running the latest version of the software. POCO X3 Pro owners often use different versions of global or Chinese firmware, and the location of some menu items may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI.

It's important to understand that we're going to work with the system launcher. If you've already installed a third-party shell, like a Nova Launcher or a Microsoft Launcher, the instructions will be different because they do not implement widget management. First, go back to the standard launcher or look for its settings in the application menu.

It's also worth checking if there's enough memory and battery power, and although it takes a couple of minutes, suddenly turning off the device when you change the system settings can cause the icons to temporarily fail, which is not critical, but it's better to be safe.

It is not superfluous to take a screenshot of the current location of the widgets, if you plan to return in the future, this will help quickly restore the usual configuration without long searches for the desired items in the menu.

Disabling the tape through the launcher settings

The easiest and safest way to remove the extra panel is to use the built-in desktop settings menu, which requires no additional software installation and is completely reversible. MIUI is quite logical, but hidden settings can sometimes be obscured for beginners.

You need to get to the launcher's settings menu first, and you can do this in two ways: through general system settings or through the desktop editing menu, and the second option is often faster and more accessible directly from the home screen.

• 📱 Make a pinch with two fingers on the home screen or clamp an empty space to call the edit menu.
• ⚙️ In the menu that appears, find and click the Settings button (usually it is the gear in the lower right corner).
• 🔍 In the list that opens, look for the option “Additional” or immediately the “Tape Widget” / “Google Discover” switch».
• 🚫 Transfer the switch to the position "Off».

Once you do this, swipe right will no longer open your news feed, instead you will either stay on the first desktop or see empty space, depending on the firmware version.

It is important to note that on different versions of the shell, item names may vary, for example, in MIUI 12 this could be called “Tape of widgets”, and in MIUI 13 or 14 it could be called “Google Discover” or “Yandex”.

Using MIUI Settings for deep customization

If you can't get rid of the tape with standard methods, the MIUI Settings system application comes to the rescue, which is a hidden menu of engineering settings that allows you to manage parameters that are not put into the normal interface, and you don't need Root rights to access it, but you need to be careful.

To activate advanced settings, you often need to go to the Security or Themes app and click on the version several times. MIUI, However, in modern versions it is easier to download the official application MIUI Settings from the GetApps store or install APK-This application gives you access to hundreds of hidden switches.

Using MIUI Settings, you can find the switch that is responsible for your widget model, especially for the POCO X3 Pro, which came with different sets of pre-installed software in different regions.

⚠️ Attention: In the annex MIUI Settings do not change settings that you do not know the purpose of. Carelessly changing system flags can lead to a cyclical restart of the device.

After changing the settings in the hidden menu, it is recommended to restart the smartphone so that the changes take effect correctly.

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If you accidentally changed the excess in MIUI Settings, you can reset the launcher settings through the Apps menu in the Android settings, finding the Desktop and selecting Clear → All Data.

Removing widgets through the widget menu

Newer versions of the MIUI have the ability to control widgets through a separate menu, called by a long tap over the free space, where you can not only add, but also remove entire blocks, if the system allows you to do this without turning off the entire tape.

Go to desktop editing mode and select the option “Widgets.” Find the block in the list that is responsible for the left panel (often marked with the Google or Yandex logo). If there is a delete button or a visibility switch next to it, use it.

Sometimes the widget tape is integrated into the system so deeply that you can’t remove it completely through this menu, in which case you only have the option of completely disabling the function described in the previous sections, or using a third-party launcher.

It's also worth checking the settings of a particular widget, and by tapping the gear inside the news unit itself, you can often turn off the card display, leaving only the weather or nothing, a compromise for those who are afraid to touch the system settings.

Alternative methods: third-party launchers

A radical but effective solution to the obsessive tape problem is to install an alternative launcher. Apps like Nova Launcher, Lawnchair or Microsoft Launcher completely replace Xiaomi's standard interface, providing a pure Android-like experience.

Installing a third-party launcher has several advantages: no advertising, full customization of icons and animations, and a guaranteed absence of left panels if you don’t add them yourself.

• 🚀 Performance: Third-party launchers often run faster than standard ones, but may consume more battery due to lack of deep iron optimization POCO.
• 🔒 Safety: The first installation will alert you to potential risk. MIUI, You just need to confirm the action.
• 📱 Functional: You may lose some branded chips, such as “double tapping to turn on screen” gestures or specific control gestures.

To install an alternative launcher download APK-file from a trusted source or find the application in the Google Play Store. After installation, the system will prompt you to select the application for the main screen by default - select a new one.

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Using a third-party launcher is the best way to get rid of the limitations of MIUI completely, but it requires getting used to the new interface and can reduce autonomy by 5-10%.

Possible problems and solutions

When you turn off the widget tape, users of the POCO X3 Pro may encounter a number of typical problems, most often related to specific versions of the firmware or conflicts of installed applications.

One common issue is the widget's automatic return after a system update. Xiaomi often updates Google components and its own services, which can reset user launcher settings to factory values.

You may also experience errors when you try to disconnect from hidden menus. If after manipulation, the smartphone began to work unstable, you should reset the launcher settings. To do this, go to Settings → Applications → All applications, find the desktop (or System Launcher) and select Clear → All data.

⚠️ Warning: Clearing your desktop data will remove all folders and icon locations you created. Make sure important widgets (such as clocks or weather) can be easily restored.

If the problem is that the feed just stopped updating, but did not disappear, check the date and time settings, as well as the availability of updates for Google and Yandex applications.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)