How to remove the sidebar on Xiaomi Redmi Note 9

Modern Android shells, such as Xiaomi’s MIUI, are packed with additional features designed to improve the user experience, such as the Sidebar, which provides quick access to select apps and tools, but not all users need this interface element, as it can take up useful screen space or be accidentally activated during games.

Owners of Redmi Note 9 series smartphones often face a situation where accidentally hit the edge of the screen causes the appearance of this menu, which is annoying and distracting from the main task. Fortunately, the system allows you to flexibly adjust the interface, including completely disabling unnecessary elements. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to remove the sidebar to make using your gadget more comfortable.

Before we start to make changes, it is worth noting that the settings may vary slightly depending on the version of the firmware installed. We will look at the current action algorithms for MIUI 12 and MIUI 13, which are the most common at the moment.

What is the side panel in MIUI?

The sidebar in Xiaomi’s ecosystem is a special navigation tool that hides behind the screen and appears when swiped from the edge. Originally designed to quickly run messengers or calculators during games, it often becomes an extra element for those who prefer minimalism.

Many Redmi Note 9 users don’t know that this feature exists until they accidentally activate it. This is because the edge of the screen is so sensitive, and if you value the cleanness of the workspace and don’t want any elements to overlap the content, disabling it is the right solution.

Now, you have to understand that removing the panel doesn't affect the apps that were in it, they stay in the system and they're accessible through the main screen or menu, and you just remove one of the ways that you can access them quickly, but sometimes intrusively.

• 📱 Allows you to quickly switch between running applications without returning to the desktop.
• 🛠 Contains tools for screenshots, screen recording and voice recorder in one click.
• ⚙️ Customized individually for each application or globally for the entire system.

⚠️ Warning: Disabling the sidebar does not remove app shortcuts from the phone’s memory, they only stop showing up in that particular quick access menu.

So once you've figured out what the element is, you can get to the practical part, and it's important to do things consistently so you don't get confused by the layered menu of MIUI settings.

Step-by-step instructions for disconnecting through settings

The most reliable and correct way to remove the sidebar is to use the standard settings menu of the smartphone. This method is guaranteed to work on all Redmi Note 9 devices without the need to install third-party software.

In the list of options that opens, you should find the section responsible for additional system functions. Depending on the interface language and firmware version, it can be called “Additional Features” or “Special Features.” This is where the switches for many unique Xiaomi chips are hidden.

Once you enter the "Additional Features" section, you will need to find the "Sidebar" (or "Floating Window") item. Inside this menu, you will find a master switch that activates or deactivates this function.

If you can't find the right item right away, search by settings. Type "sidebar" or "sidebar" into the search box, and the system will show you the path to the desired menu, which is especially useful if the items have been renamed in the new version of MIUI.

Once these actions are done, the changes take effect instantly, and no device restart is required, although in rare cases, when the interface freezes, it can help to apply the settings correctly.

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If the switch does not respond to the press, try to restart the smartphone and repeat the shutdown procedure.

Management through Security Application

In some versions of the MIUI shells, access to system functions management, including the sidebar, can be duplicated or migrated to the standard Security app. This is a system tool that is present on every Xiaomi device by default and colored green.

When you run the Security app, scroll down to the Tools or Accelerate box, and it might have a "Dashboard setting" or similar label that leads to the management of interface elements, which is less obvious, but sometimes the only way to go for certain regions of the firmware.

Inside the app menu, you should also look for sections related to "Floating Windows" or "Game Acceleration." Often the sidebar settings are integrated into the game mode, since it was originally designed for gamers. Check these sections if you found nothing in the main settings.

• 🛡 The Security app contains deep system settings.
• 🎮 Often the panel settings are associated with the game mode (Game Turbo).
• 🔄 The interface of the application may differ depending on the version MIUI.

Using the Security app gives you access to more subtle settings, but simply turning off the panel, the standard menu described in the previous section is usually enough.

⚠️ Warning: Do not delete or attempt to disable the Security app itself, as it is a system component necessary for the stable operation of the Redmi Note 9.

Setting up the game mode and Game Turbo

The game mode known as Game Turbo is a special focus, and since the sidebar is often used during games to quickly access social networks, its settings can be categorized into different categories. In Redmi Note 9, this functionality is integrated quite deeply.

To check the settings of the panel in the context of games, open the Security app and look for the "Game Acceleration" or "Game Turbo" section. Inside this section, click on the settings icon (usually the gear in the corner).

Even if you have disabled the panel in general settings, in game mode it can remain active. Make sure the switch is turned off here too, if you don't want to see it while running heavy apps, this will avoid accidental taps at critical moments of gameplay.

You can also set up which apps the sidebar will work for in this section, and you can keep it active only for browsers or navigators, removing games and video players from the list, and this flexible setup allows you to keep the feature useful without sacrificing comfort in other scenarios.

After changing the settings in Game Turbo, it is recommended to completely close the background apps and start the game again to check if the panel has disappeared from the side of the screen.

Search for settings in advanced options

Sometimes users find that standard paths do not lead to the goal due to localization features or specific versions of MIUI. In such cases, it is worth looking at the section "Advanced Settings", the path to this usually lies through the menu "Settings" -> "Additional".

Here, you should pay attention to the items related to "Buttons and gestures" or "Full screen mode." Although the sidebar is a separate function, its logic is closely related to the processing of edge touches of the screen. Changing the sensitivity of the edges can also affect the frequency of random activations.

If you use third-party launchers (desktop shells), Xiaomi’s system sidebar settings may conflict with launcher features, in which case it’s best to use only one side menu source to avoid double positives and confusion.

• 🔍 Use the search by settings by entering the keywords “panel” or “sidebar».
• ⚙️ Check the section "Special. opportunities" for people with disabilities.
• 📱 Make sure third-party launchers don’t duplicate the function.

A thorough search across all settings sections ensures you find the right switch, even if it was hidden by developers in an unexpected place.The MIUI system is known for its complexity, but the logic of grouping functions is usually retained.

Critical:

On the Redmi Note 9

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Searching for keywords in settings is the quickest way to find a hidden option if you don’t remember the exact path in the menu.

Frequent problems and their solution

Despite the simplicity of the procedure, users may encounter situations where the sidebar does not disappear or behaves incorrectly.One common problem is the "stick" of the function when the visual indicator has disappeared, but the swipe still calls the menu, in which case a full reboot of the device helps.

Another problem is that the panel disappears in some applications but stays in others, which indicates that the settings are not globally applied, but selectively. Go back to the dashboard control menu and check the application list, making sure that the switch is off for all categories or for a specific problem application.

If nothing works, it may be the system process that runs the interface that is wrong, so you can try clearing the Settings or Security cache of the application through the application management menu, which won't delete your data, but will reset temporary files that may have caused the crash.

⚠️ Warning: When cleaning system application data, be careful and choose “Clear Cache” rather than “Clear All Data” to avoid resetting your system settings.

In rare cases, the problem may be due to an installed protective glass that miscalibrates the sensitivity of the screen edges.Removing the protective glass or recalibrating the sensor can solve the problem of false positives.

Impact of disconnection on productivity

Many people wonder if the active sidebar affects the speed of the Redmi Note 9. In theory, any active process consumes RAM and CPU resources. However, modern MIUI optimizations minimize this impact when the panel is not in use.

However, disabling unused features is a good practice for devices with limited RAM. By removing unnecessary services, you free up a few megabytes of RAM, which can have a positive effect on multitasking, especially on models with 3 or 4 GB of memory.

Also, not having a background check of the panel status can slightly reduce battery consumption. Although the effect will be barely noticeable, in combination with other optimizations, this will extend the battery life of your smartphone.

• 🚀 Freeing RAM for heavy applications.
• 🔋 A small but useful reduction in energy consumption.
• 🧹 Reducing the number of background processes in the system.

So turning off the sidebar is not just a matter of aesthetics and convenience, but also a way to slightly optimize the device, and for maximum performance, it is recommended to keep only those functions that you actually use active.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions