How to turn off swipe left on Xiaomi: setting up left screens MIUI and HyperOS

Modern Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones offer users many features for personalization, but some standard interface elements can be annoying. One of these elements is an additional screen that appears when swiping to the right of the main menu, or, conversely, a swipe to the left of the center screen depending on the chosen theme, often this section is filled with news, widgets or advertising blocks that prevent quick access to applications.

Many users who have bought a device with a MIUI 14 shell or a new HyperOS are wondering how to get rid of excess space and return the classic look of the desktop. The process of turning off this feature is not obvious, since the settings are scattered across different menu sections or hidden in system parameters. In this article, we will discuss in detail all available ways to deactivate the left screen, including disabling Yandex and Google services.

It’s important to understand that depending on the firmware region (Global, Chinese, European) and the operating system version, the paths to customization may vary slightly. However, the basic principles remain the same. We’ll look at the methods that work on most current models, from the budget Redmi to the flagship Xiaomi 13 and 14.

What is the left screen in the shell of Xiaomi

By default, the system offers the user an additional desktop located to the left of the main one, this space is reserved for the so-called "Assistant" or news feed. Depending on the settings and region, Yandex.Zen widgets, Google Discover recommendation tape or the proprietary Mi Video and Mi Music service can be displayed here.

The main purpose of this feature is to keep the user's attention. The system constantly loads new articles, videos and notifications, which can reduce the performance of the device on weak processors and consume mobile traffic. For those who prefer minimalism, the presence of constant information noise is a critical disadvantage of the interface.

⚠️ Warning: A complete shutdown of system services may affect weather or calendar widgets if they are tied to a news feed. Before making changes, check if you are using widgets on this screen.

In recent versions of HyperOS, Xiaomi has begun to integrate its services to replace Google’s standard solutions, which has led to the fact that even after disabling Google Discover, users can see Xiaomi’s news feed, so it’s important to know how to manage each content source separately.

The shell developers have left the choice between different content providers or completely abandon them, but this option is not always in sight. Often it takes several consecutive steps to (completely) clear the left side of the screen of excess content.

Disable left screen through desktop settings

The easiest and safest way to remove excess space is to use the standard launcher settings, which do not require superuser rights and are safe to guarantee the device, and you will need to go to the system settings menu to find the appropriate switch.

To start, unlock your smartphone and go to the main menu. Find the Settings icon (cogs) and open it. In the list that opens, you need to scroll down to the section that may be called Desktop or Home Screen. In some versions of firmware, this item is inside the Additional menu.

Inside the desktop settings menu, look for the item associated with the left screen, which can be called Left Screen, Google Discover, or -1 Screen. When you click on this, you'll see a list of options available. Select No or Disabled. This action will instantly swipe left.

If the standard path didn't work, try the alternative method by long pressing. Hold your finger on the empty desktop space until the edit menu appears. At the bottom of the screen, select Settings (cogs). There should also be a switch that displays the left screen or newsfeed.

It's worth noting that when you upgrade to MIUI 14 or HyperOS, you can reset your settings, so if you swipe again, you have to repeat the algorithm, which is a normal behavior that many users perceive as an error, although it's just a feature of updating configuration files.

Managing Google Discover and Yandex Services

Often, the left screen is not part of the launcher itself, but is a separate application or service built into the system. Global firmware versions are dominated by Google Discover, while Russian versions are actively promoted by Yandex. Disabling one does not always mean disabling the other if they duplicate functions.

To turn off Google Discover, you often need to go to the settings of the Google app itself. However, at the system level, you can do this through the searcher selection menu. Go to Settings → Desktop → Left screen. If there is a Google switch on there, just turn it off. If Yandex is, the procedure is similar.

In some cases, especially on Chinese firmware with Russian services installed, the left screen can be blocked for editing through the standard menu. Then you need to use deeper settings. Go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Language and input. Here you can try changing the default search engine, which sometimes affects the content of the left screen.

⚠️ Note: If you disable Google services on devices without Google Play Services (such as new Huawei models or some Xiaomi versions for China), the functionality may be limited.

If you use the POCO Launcher, which is often pre-installed on POCO smartphones, the logic is a little different, so you go to the launcher settings (after a long press on the desktop), select Also, and find -1 screen, and you can choose whether to display: App Tape, Yandex or Nothing.

It's important to distinguish between system launcher and third-party shells, and if you've installed themes from MIUI Themes, they can force the left screen with their widgets on, and then only reverting to a standard theme or removing a third-party launcher will help.

Configure widgets and application tape in MIUI 14 and HyperOS

With MIUI 14 and the subsequent HyperOS, Xiaomi introduced a new widget system and changed the logic of the left screen. Now it often houses a “Smart Canvas” or widget tape that is different from the classic list of applications. Users often confuse these concepts by trying to turn off one and disabling the other.

In the new shells, swipe left can open a widget bar similar to that found in iOS. To manage this, go to Settings → Desktop. Find the widget bar or Classic Mode. Switching to classic mode often removes a separate widget bar, returning them to the desktop, which indirectly affects the left screen.

HyperOS also has the ability to customize content in detail, so if you don't want to completely turn off the left screen, but you want to clear it of news, you can only leave widgets. To do this, in the left screen settings, select Widgets instead of News Feed, which allows you to use the space functionally, without information noise.

Note that HyperOS has made recommendations more aggressive, and even when you select No News mode, you can offer Recommended Apps or Frequently Used Contacts, and to remove that, you need to uncheck all the boxes associated with the recommendations in the same left screen settings menu.

For owners of foldable Xiaomi devices such as the Mix Fold, the left screen can transform into a multitasking bar, in which case turning off the swipe may not be desirable, as it is a key element of large screen control.

Comparison of disabling methods in different versions of firmware

The variety of Xiaomi models leads to users experiencing different interfaces. Understanding the differences between MIUI and HyperOS will help you find the right setup faster. Below is a table comparing the available methods for different shell versions.

As you can see from the table, as new versions come out, the number of options increases, but the complexity of the interface increases, and if MIUI 12 was all solved with a single tick, HyperOS has to go through several submenu to achieve the desired result.

Particular attention should be paid to Russian versions of firmware, which often pre-installed mandatory applications that are difficult to remove without root rights, but you can usually turn off their integration into the left screen using standard methods, simply by selecting a content provider “No” or changing the search engine.

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The main difference between HyperOS and MIUI is the deeper integration of the left screen with the smart home ecosystem, which requires more detailed filter configuration, rather than just a complete shutdown.

Advanced Methods: ADB and Third-Party Launchers

If the standard methods don't work, or you want to be completely clean, you can use more powerful tools. Using USB debugging (ADB) to hide system components that don't have a user interface to disable, which requires connecting your smartphone to your computer.

You will need a PC to work, USB-cable and installed drivers ADB. You need to activate the developer mode on the phone. → About the phone and press 7 times on the build number (MIUI Version, then in an additional → For developers, turn on debugging by USB.

Connect the phone to your computer and enter a command to hide the left-screen component in the command line.

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.mi.android.globalcardservice

This command disables the card system service, which is often responsible for the left screen in global firmware. Be careful: disabling system packages can lead to unstable operation if you turn off the wrong component. Always check the name of the package before entering a command.

An alternative and safer method is to install a third-party launcher, such as Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher. Once you install a third-party launcher and select its main one, the left screen from Xiaomi will stop working as the interface management will move to the new application. In the settings of the third-party launcher, you can configure the left panel at your discretion or leave it empty.

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB-If you're not sure what you're doing, you're going to have to use third-party launchers if you're not sure what you're doing.

Possible problems and solutions

During the setup process, users may encounter a situation where the swipe left disappeared but reappeared after the reboot. This may be caused by an update of system components or a conflict of themes. If the settings fly off, try resetting the launcher settings. To do this, go to Settings → Applications → All applications, find Desktop or System Launcher and click Clear Data.

Another common problem is that you can't click on left screen -- it can be gray or inactive -- and this often happens if you turn on Simple Mode (for older people) or activate a specific theme. Go back to the standard theme and classic mode to access all the settings.

Also worth mentioning are bugs in specific versions of MIUI. Sometimes a software failure doesn't save settings, so cleaning the search or Google cache helps. Go to application management, find the appropriate service, and select Clear cache.

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If the swipe to the left returns after each system update, back up your launcher settings (if available in your MIUI version) before the upgrade to quickly restore configuration.

Remember that in some regions (such as India or China) content display policies may differ from global ones. If you’ve searched your phone from global to Chinese, expect local services that may not have a “Disable” button in their usual location.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)