How to turn off the widget tape on Xiaomi Redmi 9

Xiaomi smartphone owners often encounter intrusive features pre-installed in the MIUI shell. One of these elements is the so-called “widget tape” or Google Discover, which appears when swiping left on the home screen. This feature aggregates news, weather and recommendations, but for many users it becomes a source of unnecessary traffic consumption and distractions.

On the Redmi 9 model running the current firmware version, this interface element is activated by default. Many users want to free up space or simply remove information noise, but can not find an obvious switch in the standard settings menu. The system is designed so that the direct “Off” button here is often hidden or requires changing the base parameters of the launcher.

In this article, we will discuss all the available ways to deactivate this feature, we will look at both standard methods through system settings, and more radical but effective options with a replacement desktop. Understanding the structure of the menu will help you not only solve the current problem, but also to more deeply customize the interface to your needs without using third-party software.

Why Widget Ribbon Gets Into Hand and Why Turn It Off

The main reason Xiaomi users are looking to get rid of the left panel is to optimize the device. Background synchronization of the news feed consumes CPU and RAM resources, which on budget models like the Redmi 9 can be noticeable.

In addition, personalization algorithms often collect location and search queries to generate search results. For those who value privacy, constant telemetry collection is a serious disadvantage.

Another aspect is visual clutter, and swiping your finger to the left instead of unlocking the screen annoys many users, and by removing this element, you make navigation more predictable and faster. Complete disabling of Google widgets on Redmi 9 is possible only through a change of launcher or use of the new version. ADB-commands, standard means can only limit their display.

⚠️ Note: Before making changes to your system settings, make sure you understand the consequences. Disabling system components may affect the voice assistant and weather widgets on your desktop.

It's also worth noting the impact on autonomy. While the power consumption of one widget seems negligible, when combined with other background services, it has a noticeable effect. If your goal is maximum battery life, cleaning up the workspace from excess dynamics will be useful.

Basic settings through the launcher menu

The first and easiest step for a Redmi 9 owner to take is to check the settings of the desktop itself. The MIUI shell allows you to manage some display options, although the options are limited here. You need to find an entry point to the interface configuration, which is often hidden in the general settings menu.

To start, go to your smartphone's system settings section, find the item responsible for the Desktop or the Home Screen. The names may differ from one version of MIUI (Global, EU, China) firmware, but the logic remains the same. This usually houses grid scale switches, icon signatures, and, in rare cases, sidebar management.

If your menu doesn’t have a direct switch for the left panel, try the following:

• 📱 Click the empty space on the main screen with your finger on 1-2 seconds to call the editing menu.
• 📲 Click on the Settings button (usually in the form of a gear) in the lower right corner.
• 🔍 Carefully examine the list of options: look for “Add screen”, “Tape widgets” or “Google Discover” items».
• 🚫 If the switch is found, simply move it to the "off" position».

Unfortunately, many global versions of Redmi 9 do not have this switch or lock it, in which case the system forcibly returns the user to the news feed when swiping, and this is done to promote Google services with which Xiaomi has partner agreements.

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If the switch is not in the desktop settings, do not try to find it in the hidden menu of the engineering mode - this can lead to unstable system operation.

Use of third-party launchers

The most effective and radical way to get rid of intrusive tape is to install an alternative launcher. A third-party desktop completely replaces the standard MIUI interface, giving the user full control over the organization of the space. This solution is ideal for those who want to customize their Redmi 9 beyond recognition.

Popular options are Nova Launcher, Lawnchair or Microsoft Launcher, which weigh a little but offer a lot of functionality. Once you install a launcher, the swipe to the left will either do nothing or open the launcher's widgets, which you can configure or disable.

The installation and activation process is as follows:

• 📥 Download the selected launcher from the Google Play store or GetApps.
• ⚙️ Launch the application and follow the initial setup instructions.
• 🏠 When you first access the desktop, the system will ask which application to use by default.
• ✅ Select “Always” and specify a new launcher in the list.

It is important to note that when using third-party software, some native Xiaomi features, such as control gestures or design themes, may not work properly or be inaccessible, but for most users, losing these features is not critical compared to a clean interface.

Disconnection method through ADB (for advanced)

For users who don’t want to change the launcher but have technical skills, there is a method to disable the component through USB debugging. This method requires connecting the smartphone to the computer and using the command line. ADB (Android Debug Bridge) is a powerful tool for managing system packages.

First of all, you need to activate the developer mode on your Redmi 9. To do this, go to Settings → About your phone and quickly click 7 times on the MIUI version. After the message “You became a developer”, go back to the settings menu and find a new section “Additional” or “Extended settings”.

Turn on the option "Debug over USB." Connect your phone to your PC with a cable. The computer must have ADB drivers installed. Enter the following command in the terminal to find the packet responsible for the tape:

adb shell pm list packages | grep google

Usually, the process responsible for the tape is called com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox. To turn it off (without removing it completely, which is safer), use the command:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox

⚠️ Note: Disabling system packages through ADB This can cause Google voice search and desktop search widgets to work in an unstable way.Be prepared to return changes via the pm enable command.

This method allows you to save the standard MIUI launcher, but removes the functionality that you do not need. If the swipe left is still active after the reboot, it may be a separate plugin that can also be found in the list of packages by the word "feed" or "discovery".

Managing widgets and widgets-memories

In addition to the news feed, Redmi 9 often features built-in widgets that take up space on the screen. Users often confuse Google feed with memory or quick-clean widgets, which can also be located on the left or right, and they are controlled by long pressing.

To remove or change the widget, click on it and hold your finger, and you will see a context menu with options such as “Change”, “Delete” or “Widget Settings”. In the case of MIUI widgets (such as “Memory Cleanup”), deletion is often not available, but you can resize or move them.

There is also a widget bar (not to be confused with Google Discover), which is called up or down swipe depending on your settings.

• 📉 Swipe down the center of the screen to open the notifications and widgets bar.
• 🖊️ Click on the pencil or edit button at the bottom of the screen.
• ❌ Click on the minus next to the widgets you want to hide from this panel.
• 💾 Click “Ready” to save the changes.

The separation of concepts is important: the news feed is an external service of Google, and MIUI widgets are part of the system. Disabling one does not affect the other. If your goal is a clean screen, you need to work with both elements of the interface.

Frequent problems and their solution

Redmi 9 users may encounter a number of difficulties in setting up the system, such as resetting all settings after a firmware update and resetting the widget tape, a standard system behavior that requires re-executing the unplug instructions.

Another common problem is that you can't install a third-party launcher as your primary one, and MIUI can insist on returning the standard interface, so you have to look at the countdown timer on the launcher selection menu and select "Always."

If after all the manipulations, the swipe to the left continues to work:

• 🔄 Check if Google has updated the app that could have regained its rights.
• 🔋 Clear the cache of the Google app (Settings) → Annexes → All applications → Google → Clean up).
• 🚫 Make sure that your Google account settings have news synced if this option is available in your area.

Sometimes it helps to simply restart the device in safe mode to identify conflicting applications, although this is rarely effective for system widgets.

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The most reliable way to permanently remove the tape is to install a third-party launcher, as it completely ignores the system settings MIUI regarding swipe gestures.

Questions and Answers (FAQ)