Owners of Xiaomi Redmi 9 smartphones often face a crowded desktop that is literally stuffed with various widgets, news feeds and banner ads by default.This situation can be annoying, especially if you appreciate the minimalism and purity of the Android interface. The standard shell of MIUI offers a lot of features, but their abundance sometimes interferes with the comfortable use of the device in everyday life.
Disabling unnecessary elements will not only improve visual perception, but can also positively affect the performance of the system, freeing up RAM. In this article, we will discuss in detail all available methods for deactivating widgets, from simple desktop settings to deep shutdown of system services. Redmi 9 is a popular model, and knowing the intricacies of its interface will allow you to turn your smartphone into the perfect tool for your needs.
Before you make any changes, it’s important to understand that some widgets are system-based and require a special approach to remove or hide them. We’ll look at safe ways that won’t disrupt the operating system.
Basic setting of the MIUI desktop
The easiest way to get rid of the extra elements is with standard desktop management, and MIUI has a flexible system for moving and removing objects, and you don't have to be an IT expert to do that, but you just have to use the touch interface that you're used to.
To remove a widget that just cornies your eyes, just press it and hold your finger until the control menu appears. Usually, a basket or a Remove button appears at the bottom of the screen. If you drag the widget into this zone, it disappears from the current screen. However, this action does not always turn off the widget function itself, but only removes its shortcut.
Often users confuse widgets with app shortcuts or folders. It's important to distinguish between these elements. A widget is a dynamic object that updates in real time, such as hours, weather, or currency rates. A shortcut is a static icon to run a program. Deleting a weather widget won't turn off the weather service in the system, but it will remove the display.
It is worth noting that on Xiaomi Redmi 9 There are special areas reserved for widgets, for example, the left screen «-1» Or the top of the lock screen, which is set up separately from the desktops, and don't try to remove the system widgets from the shortcut menu, which may not work.
Removal of the tape "-1" and the widget Mi News
One of the most intrusive features in MIUI is the so-called "-1" tape, which opens with a swipe to the right of the home screen, which usually houses news, app recommendations and the "Mi News" widget, which many users find redundant and want to disable immediately after buying a smartphone.
To remove this tape, you need to go to the desktop settings. Push two fingers on the home screen or press and hold the empty area until the settings appear. In the menu that appears, find the Add Screen or Settings option, where you can find the switch for the tape "-1." By disabling it, you will remove access to the news aggregator.
If you want a tape, but you want to clear it of news, go to the settings of the Mi News widget itself, and you can turn off personalization and recommendations inside, which will reduce the amount of information noise, but completely disabling the tape is a more radical and effective method for those who want cleanliness.
☑️ Checking the desktop settings
⚠️ Warning: Disabling the system newsfeed completely can affect the Google Search widget if it's integrated into the same area.Make sure you don't use voice search via swipe before making changes.
In some versions of Xiaomi Redmi 9 firmware, the path to shutdown may be slightly different.Look for Settings → Desktop or Settings → Home screen. There are often hidden switches for Card-1 or Google Discover. If you haven't found these items, your version of MIUI may need an update or have regional interface features.
Set up weather widgets and clocks
Weather and watch widgets are standard elements that take up a significant portion of the screen on Redmi 9. They not only show the time and temperature, but also consume traffic to update data, and can drain the battery. If you prefer third-party apps or you just don't need these elements on your desktop, they can be easily deactivated.
To remove the weather widget, just click on it, hold it and drag it to the basket.However, if the widget comes back after a reboot or update, it may be anchored in the theme settings. MIUI themes often dictate the location of elements. Changing the theme to a standard or minimalist can solve the problem with intrusive widgets.
It's also worth checking the settings of the Weather app itself, so you can turn off notifications and background updates inside the program, which will make the widget less active, but you can use a standard deletion procedure to completely disappear from the screen, and remember that the widget is just a display of data, not the service itself.
| Type of widget | Deleting method | Impact on the system | Recovery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weather. | Drag in the basket | No. | Add widgets through the menu |
| The clock | Long pressing → Delete | No. | Widget menu |
| Mi News | Desktop settings | Average. | Enable in settings |
| Google search | Google Settings / Desktop | High. | Resetting Google settings |
How to turn off weather updates in the background?
It is important to understand the difference between removing a widget and deleting an app. By removing a widget, you will not remove the Weather app or the Watch from your phone’s memory. They will remain in the installed program list. To completely remove the apps, you will need access to the application management menu and possibly superuser rights, since Xiaomi system applications are protected from removal by standard methods.
Disabling recommendations and advertising in widgets
One of the main reasons users want to disable widgets on Xiaomi Redmi 9 is advertising. System widgets often contain ad units or recommendations for installing games. This is not only annoying, but also creates a sense of insecurity of the device. Fortunately, most of these features can be disabled in privacy settings.
Go to Settings → Passwords & Security → Authorization & Reviews. You can turn off personalized recommendations here, and you should also visit the settings of a specific widget if it has a menu button (usually three dots or a gear), and there is often a "Receive recommendations" switch hidden there.
For the Security widget (green icon), which is also a kind of widget in the notification bar and menu, the ad settings are inside the app itself. Open Security, click on the settings gear, and find Get Recommendations. Disabling this option will remove the ad offerings from the antivirus and cleaner interface.
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Use Second Space or Guest Mode to check which widgets are system and which are installed by you. In a clean profile, it is easier to see the default intrusive elements.
⚠️ Note: Disabling recommendations may do some functions MIUI It's less intelligent because it stops analyzing your usage habits for clues.
Another source of garbage is the Download or Memory Cleanup widget, which often pops up in the notification curtain. To remove it, go to the Security app → Settings → Notifications and turn off the memory widget display, which will free the notification curtain from unnecessary visual noise.
Use of third-party launchers
If standard MIUI methods seem too complex or insufficient, the best solution is to install a third-party launcher. Launcher is an application that completely replaces the desktop, menu and control panel. Popular options such as Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher allow you to completely ignore Xiaomi widgets.
Once the launcher is installed, the system will suggest you select the default app for the home screen. If you select a new launcher, you will see a clean desktop without the obtrusive tape "-1" and system widgets Redmi 9. You can add only those widgets that you really need, taking them from Google Play or AppStore.
Using a third-party launcher gives you complete control over the desktop grid, icon sizes and animations. This turns a budget smartphone into a personalized device. However, it’s worth remembering that third-party launchers also consume the device’s resources, although modern optimized versions work very quickly.
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Third-party launcher is the most radical and effective solution to completely get rid of the MIUI interface, while retaining access to all applications and functions of the phone.
To install the launcher, download it from the Google Play Store, launch it and follow the instructions of the setup wizard. Be sure to give the necessary permissions to access contacts and storage if the launcher requests them to work widgets or themes. Once set up, the old Xiaomi interface will remain in memory, but will not be used until you return the launcher by default.