Many Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphone owners face an intrusive feature that is activated when swiping to the right of the left edge of the screen.This so-called "side curtain" or "Google feed" is often filled with news, ads and widgets that the user does not always need. The standard desktop layout, where there is empty space or news feed on the left, can annoy those who are used to a clean interface and fast switching between applications.
Disabling this element does not require root rights or complex flashing of the device. Built-in MIUI shell or the new HyperOS allows you to flexibly manage system widgets. In this article, we will discuss in detail all available methods of deactivating unnecessary panels so that you can customize your gadget for yourself.
It's worth noting that menu item names may vary slightly depending on the operating system version and the firmware region, but the interface logic remains the same across the Chinese manufacturer's ecosystem. Let's look at step-by-step algorithms for complete control of the desktop.
Interface Analysis: What is the left panel on Xiaomi
Before we start to shut down, it’s important to understand what we’re up against. Xiaomi devices running MIUI shells to the left of the home screen usually have one of two features: either Google Discover (news feed) or the App Vault system widget, the first streaming content from the searcher, the second collecting app shortcuts, pedometer and fast links.
Users often confuse these concepts because they occupy the same display area visually. In modern firmware versions, these features are often combined or interchangeable in launcher settings. Understanding the differences will help you choose the right method of disabling if the standard path doesn't work.
Left swipe activation is enabled by default on most devices immediately after purchase, part of the company's strategy to keep users focused on ecosystem services, but for power users, it's an unnecessary action that slows navigation.
- 📱 Google Discover: A personalized feed of news, articles and recommendations based on your interests.
- 📂 App Vault: a panel with quick access to selected applications, step counter and delivery status.
- ⚙️ System Launcher: Standard shell that controls the display of icons and desktops.
Disable Google Discover feed through settings
The most common way to remove the extra panel is to use the standard system settings, which works on the vast majority of models, from the budget Redmi Note to the flagship Xiaomi 14.
To start, unlock the device and go to the main menu. Find the gear icon that stands for Settings. In the settings list that opens, you need to scroll down to the look and feel unit and desktop. In different versions of MIUI, this item may be called differently, but most often it is hidden inside the settings of the launcher itself.
Click on Desktop (or Home Screen) and you'll see a switch called News Feed, Google Discover, or Cards, and turn the slider to Off, and then the swipe to the left should stop activating the newsfeed, and the screen will remain black or empty.
☑️ Checking the launcher settings
Managing the App Vault widget (Cards)
If you turn off Google feed and swipe to the left opens a bar with app shortcuts and widgets, then you have an App Vault activated. This tool is analogous to Samsung's Bixby Home or Apple's Today View, adapted to the philosophy of Xiaomi.
To deactivate this feature, the actions will be similar to the previous method, but the path may lie through another menu. Go to Settings, then select Desktop. Find Cards (or App Vault) where you will be asked to choose the source of the cards or turn off the function completely.
In some versions of firmware, especially global ones, this item may be called "To the left of the home screen." Choose "No" or "Disable." This action will instantly remove the panel, and the swipe to the left will stop responding.
It’s important to understand that disabling this feature doesn’t remove widgets from the system completely.You can still add them to desktops (with a long press) in the free space of the screen, but they won’t be assembled into a single sidebar.
What to do if the “Card” item is not available?
Configure through the “Security” application
A unique feature of the MIUI shell is that it has a system application called Security that manages a lot of hidden settings. Sometimes desktop settings are duplicated or completely moved to this section. If you don't find anything in the basic phone settings, check here.
Open the green icon with the shield, which is the Security app. At the top of the screen, click three dots or a gear to open the menu. Select Settings. In the list that opens, look for the section associated with the desktop or the appbar.
This can be the App Panel or Menu Mode switch, and although this option is more often responsible for the style of display of icons (like Android or iOS), in some versions it affects the presence of sidebars, and also check the Acceleration section inside the application, sometimes it hides the interface optimization settings.
| Parameter | Where to find out. | Action. |
|---|---|---|
| Google Tape | Settings → Desktop | Turn it off. |
| App Vault | Settings → Desktop → Cards | Choose No. |
| Menu mode | Settings → Desktop | Change style |
| Application panel | Security → Settings | Shut down. |
The use of the Security app is especially relevant for devices released for the domestic market of China, where the integration of system services is more complete than in global versions.
Specifics of work in HyperOS
With the release of the new HyperOS operating system, which gradually replaces MIUI, the settings interface has changed. The logic has remained the same, but the path to the right switches has become less obvious. In the new system, Xiaomi is striving to unify with the smart home ecosystem.
In HyperOS, widget management is often put into a separate desktop editing menu. Try pinching two fingers on the home screen (to bring your fingers together) to open editing mode. An additional button or gear icon may appear at the bottom of the screen.
In this menu, look for the Bigger or -1 screen, and you can not only turn off the left panel, but also select its contents if you do not want to remove it completely, and the system will offer you a choice of Google Discover, Application Cards or empty space.
⚠️ Warning: After upgrading to HyperOS, desktop settings may reset to factory ones. If the curtain appears again after the update, check the menu items again.
The new system also includes a Smart Recommendations feature, which can be displayed as pop-ups or sidebars, and can be turned off in Settings → Passwords and Security → Privacy by finding the ad personalization and recommendations section.
Third-party launchers as a radical solution
If the sidebar is not removed by built-in tools, or it returns after a reboot, you can go a radical way - replace the standard launcher. Installing a third-party desktop, such as Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Lawnchair, completely ignores the system settings MIUI regarding swipes.
Once you install this app, the system will ask you what to open the main screen. Select a new launcher and click "Always." Now your desktop will look like it's on pure Android, and there will be no news feeds on the left by default.
However, this method has its drawbacks: You can lose some of Xiaomi’s branded features, such as iOS-style gestures, specific widgets or themes that work only with your native launcher.
- ✅ Pros: Full customization freedom, no advertising, stable swipe operation.
- ❌ Cons: Possible problems with navigation gestures, increased battery consumption, loss of native functions.
- 🔧 Difficulty: Takes time to initially set up icons and widgets.
💡
Before installing a third-party launcher, allow it to access “Display on top of other apps” to avoid startup errors.
Frequent problems and their solution
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where seemingly all settings are disabled, but the panel still appears, this can be due to the launcher cache or update conflict, in which case cleaning the data of the Desktop application will help.
Go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find Desktop (or Launcher) on the list. Click Clean → Clear Everything. Don't worry, your icons and folders won't be lost, but your widget settings will reset and the extra panels will be turned off.
Another reason could be to update the Google app or the Google Play services themselves, and after a major update, the search engine can activate the Discover feed again, just repeat the deactivation procedure in the desktop settings.
⚠️ Attention: Clearing the launcher data will reset the order of icons on desktops. Take screenshots of the current location if you have a complex folder structure.
If nothing works, check if you have a theme app that forcefully changes the behavior of the interface. Try to return a standard theme in the Theme app.
💡
Resetting the launcher settings through the application menu is the most effective way to deal with the “glitch” of the returning sidebar.