How to open and configure widget tape on Xiaomi

Modern Xiaomi smartphones offer users many ways to personalize the interface, but the standard MIUI shell or the new HyperOS sometimes hide the usual functions under the layers of settings. One of these features is the left screen, which on many Android devices serves to quickly access news, weather widgets and pedometer. If you switched from another brand or just updated the firmware, you may notice that the swipe to the right of the main screen no longer opens useful widget tape, but remains empty or leads to the search.

Returning this functionality does not require root rights or complex device flashing. In most cases, the problem is solved by switching one parameter in the launcher system settings. However, depending on the version of the operating system and the firmware region (Chinese or global), menu items may differ, which often confuses users. We will analyze all the current activation methods for different versions of the shells.

It's important to understand that there are several types of left-hand screens in the Xiaomi ecosystem, whether it's a classic Google Discover, a proprietary Mi Vision service, or a simplified widget range from the company itself, and the choice of the particular option depends on your preferences: some people want news, and some people only need weather and currency rates. Let's look at how to manage these settings.

Activation of widget tape through system settings

The easiest and most reliable way to return the left screen is to use the built-in shell settings menu, which works on the vast majority of devices running MIUI 12, 13, 14 and HyperOS. You don't need to install third-party apps, just find the right switch.

To start, unlock your smartphone and go to the main settings menu. Find the partition that controls the look of the system. Depending on the firmware version, it may be called differently, but the layout logic remains the same. You need to find the item associated with the desktop.

When you log into the desktop settings menu, look at the top of the list, and it's usually the option to add an extra screen to the left, and activating that switch will instantly swipe right to open the service feed you've selected.

• 📱 Open the settings of your Xiaomi device.
• 🔍 Find and click on Desktop (or Main Screen and Recent).
• ⚙️ Select the option Add screen or left screen.
• ✅ Activate the switch and select the desired content source (Google or Mi Vision).

If you don't see those, you might have a third-party launcher on or a simple interface mode activated, so the standard settings may be hidden, and it's also worth checking if the system has upgraded to the version where the settings interface has been redesigned.

⚠️ Warning: Some global firmware versions may call the menu item Google Discover instead of Left Screen. If you can't see the switch, try changing the region in your phone's settings to India or Singapore, turning on the feature, and then returning your region.

Differences between MIUI and HyperOS in widget management

With the release of HyperOS, Xiaomi has changed the logic of widgets dramatically, so if the left screen was a static news list in older versions of MIUI, it has become a dynamic area deeply integrated with the system, which requires a different approach to configuration.

HyperOS has shifted its focus to so-called live widgets and deeper integration with Google services, with the user interface smoother and the opening animations more complex, but the basic principle of activation through settings has remained the same, although the visual design of the menu may have changed.

It’s worth noting that HyperOS devices are more likely to have Chinese service sets installed by default, even on global versions, which can cause the left screen to be filled with Chinese content or not work properly without additional account settings.

Users who upgrade with MIUI may take time to get used to the new widget grid.In the new system, they take up more space and take priority over the news feed.This is done to improve productivity, but can annoy those who are used to fast news scrolling.

Set up Google Discover and alternative feeds

Most users prefer to see Google Discover on the left screen, a smart feed that analyzes your search queries, location and interests to suggest relevant news, weather and reminders, but it requires a number of conditions to work properly.

First, the device must have Google Play services installed; on Chinese versions of smartphones, they will have to be installed manually, which can cause login difficulties; second, the Google app must activate the corresponding module, sometimes after the system update, the settings are reset, and the tape has to be turned on again inside the search engine application itself.

To activate through the Google app, open it, click on the profile avatar in the corner and select Settings. Next, go to General and make sure the Discover or Google Tape switch is active. Without this, the system switch in the phone settings may remain inactive (gray).

• 🌐 Open the Google app on your smartphone.
• 👤 Click on your profile icon in the upper right corner.
• ⚙️ Go to Settings. → General.
• 📰 Enable the Google Tape option (Discover).

If you prefer minimalism, you can choose the Mi Vision or the standard widget, which consumes less traffic and does not collect your interests as aggressively as Google algorithms, and it depends on which is more important to you: personalization or privacy.

⚠️ Note: If after turning on Google Discover tape does not appear or shows a connection error, try clearing the cache of the Google app. → Annexes → All applications → Google → Clean up → Cash.

Solving problems with an empty left screen

The situation where the swipe to the right is working, but the screen is white or shows only the search bar, is a common problem, often due to conflict versions of system components or a bug in the launcher, you don't need to panic and drop the phone before the factory settings.

The first step should be to update all system components. Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI or HyperOS to check for updates. Also go to the Play Market and update Google, Google Play Services and OneGoogle Bar apps (if available).

Sometimes the problem is a crowded launcher cache, the system can't load new widgets because temporary files are corrupted, and cleaning the launcher's data will return it to a post-purchase state, but your icons and folders on your desktop may get lost, so be prepared to re-arrange the widgets.

The way to clean the launcher data:


Settings → Applications → All applications → Search by name (Launcher) →




Select "System Launcher Components" or "Miui Home" → Clean → Clean Everything

In rare cases, especially on custom firmware assemblies, the file responsible for the left screen can be deleted by the developer for the sake of performance_recovery_.

Using third-party launchers to expand functionality

If Xiaomi’s regular capabilities don’t suit you, or the left screen isn’t working well, a third-party launcher is a great solution, and it’s a program that completely replaces the desktop interface, offering much more customization options.

Popular launchers like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher allow you to swipe right to open any application, folder or special Google feed, giving the user full control over what they see when they unlock.

To install a third-party launcher, download it from the Play Market, launch it and follow the instructions on the screen. Android ask to confirm the default launcher change. After that, you can adjust the left screen in the settings of the launcher application itself, ignoring the system limitations of Xiaomi.

• 📥 Download the selected launcher from Google Play.
• 🚀 Launch the application and click Apply.
• 🏠 In the launcher settings, find the Desktop section or Show Google.
• 🔧 Customize the left screen contents to your liking.

Third-party solutions are especially relevant for older smartphone models, where the new version of MIUI can run slowly. Lightweight launchers can not only bring back the widget tape, but also speed up the interface as a whole.

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When installing a third-party launcher on Xiaomi, be sure to give it all the permissions you request, including access to contacts and calendar, otherwise the widgets may not display up-to-date information.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

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If standard methods to activate the tape fails, installing a third-party launcher is the fastest and safest solution that does not require data resetting.