How to remove the screen with shortcuts on Xiaomi: all the ways for TV and smartphones

The shortcut screen (or “launcher”) on Xiaomi devices is the standard interface that displays apps, widgets and quick settings. However, many users find it redundant, especially on Mi TVs, where it takes up useful screen space, or on smartphones with a MIUI shell, where it interferes with fast access to the desired functions. In this article, we will examine all the current ways to hide, disable or replace this screen – from standard settings to advanced methods for advanced users.

It is important to understand that the procedure differs depending on the type of device: on Xiaomi TVs (Mi TV A, S, P, Q, etc.) and on smartphones (Redmi, POCO, Xiaomi 11/12/13), different approaches are used. Also consider the firmware version - MIUI 14/15 and Google TV/PatchWall menus can be arranged differently. If you are not sure about the model of your device, check it in the settings (Settings → About TV / About Phone).

Before you make any changes, make sure you have a backup of important data. Some methods (such as resetting the launcher or rolling back the firmware) can lead to loss of personal settings. Also remember: on Xiaomi TVs with Google TVs (Models 2022 and newer), some of the features may be blocked by the manufacturer.

1. Ways to remove screen labels on Xiaomi TV

On Xiaomi TVs, a screen with labels (aka "main screen" or PatchWall) appears when you turn on or press the Home button on the remote, it can be hidden in several ways, but you can't completely remove it without root rights.

• 🔹 Hiding through Settings – a temporary solution that removes some of the interface elements.
• 🔹 Replacement of the launcher – installing a third-party interface (for example, ATV Launcher).
• 🔹 Disabling PatchWall Updates – Prevents Shortcuts from Returning After Reset.
• 🔹 Resetting to factory settings is a last resort if other methods have not worked.

The easiest way is to disable the recommendations and widgets.

1. Press the settings on the remote (cog).
2. Go to Accounts and Security → Privacy settings.
3. Turn off Personalized Recommendations and Widgets on the home screen.
4. Save the changes and restart the TV (Settings → About TV → Reboot).

If this method didn't work, try installing a third-party launcher.

1. Download. APK-launcher file (e.g, ATV Launcher or Sideload Launcher on the flash drive.
2. Connect the flash drive to the TV and open the File Manager.
3. Install APK by allowing installation from unknown sources (Settings → Security → Unknown sources).
4. After installation, click Home and select a new launcher as your primary.

⚠️ Attention: On TVs with Google TV (for example, Xiaomi TV A2 43) Replacing the launcher may cause disruptions to Google Play and embedded services. Before experimenting, check the launcher’s compatibility with your model in forums (for example, check the launcher’s compatibility with your model in the forums, 4PDA or XDA Developers).

2. How to remove shortcuts on Xiaomi smartphones (MIUI)

On Xiaomi smartphones, the shortcut screen is a standard MIUI launcher that can be customized or replaced. Unlike TVs, there is more freedom: you can hide individual elements, disable recommendations, or install an alternative launcher (for example, Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher).

If you are annoyed by banner ads or unnecessary widgets, follow these steps:

• 📱 Open Settings and go to the desktop.
• 🔧 Disable the options App Recommendations and Weather/Calendar Widgets.
• 🗑️ Hold your finger on an unnecessary shortcut and drag it into the basket (appears at the top of the screen).
• 🔄 Reboot your phone to make the changes take effect.

For a complete interface replacement:

1. Download an alternative launcher from Google Play (like Nova Launcher).
2. After installation, click the Home button and select the new launcher as the main one.
3. In the launcher settings, disable all unnecessary elements (for example, the search bar or the dock panel).

Backup data | Check launcher compatibility with MIUI | Disable battery optimization for launcher |Remember current screen settings-->

On some models (e.g. POCO F5 or Redmi Note 12) after upgrading to MIUI 15, protection that returns the standard launcher may work.

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.home

This command disables the standard launcher via ADB. To perform it, you will need to enable debugging over USB (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – press 7 times, then return to Additional → For developers) and connect the phone to the PC.

⚠️ Note: Disconnecting the system launcher through ADB This can cause a cyclical reboot of the phone if the alternative launcher is not working properly.Be sure to have another launcher installed and configured before executing a command (e.g., Nova).

3. disable PatchWall updates on Mi TV

One of the reasons shortcuts are coming back to Xiaomi TVs is because of the PatchWall shell update, which means you have to block updates through settings or disable the services.

Method 1: Through settings of the TV

1. Go to Settings → About TV → System Update.
2. Turn off the automatic update option.
3. If available, select Update only over Wi-Fi and turn off the internet (or use a mobile hotspot without accessing Xiaomi servers).

Method 2: Blocking through a router

Add to the router’s blacklist the domains responsible for PatchWall updates:

• ota.tv.mi.com
• api.tv.mi.com
• patchwall.tv.mi.com

This will prevent new versions of the shell from loading, but it can disrupt other TV features (such as Mi Home or Google Assistant).

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Blocking PatchWall updates is a temporary solution, and Xiaomi regularly changes server addresses, so domains on the blacklist will have to be updated every 3-6 months.

4. Resetting settings as a last resort

If none of these things work, you have to reset to factory settings, which is a radical method that removes all user data, including accounts, apps, and settings, and Xiaomi TVs do this reset.

1. Go to Settings → About TV → Reset and Recovery.
2. Select Resetting (may require input) PIN-code).
3. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

On smartphones, the path is different:

1. Open Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset.
2. Select Reset and confirm.
3. After the reboot, set up the phone as new by skipping the recovery from the backup.

Resetting helps in cases where:

• 🔄 The launcher is not working properly after the update.
• 🚫 It is impossible to install a third-party launcher due to errors.
• 📱 Artifacts or constant failures appear on the screen.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi TVs with Google TV (Like Mi. TV A Pro 55′′ reset may result in the blocking of your Mi Account if the device was linked to an account.Untie the TV in the Mi Home app or account.xiaomi.com before resetting.

5. Alternative firmware: risks and opportunities

For power users, it is possible to install custom firmware, such as LineageOS (for smartphones) or ATV Custom ROM (for TVs), which allows you to completely get rid of PatchWall or MIUI Launcher, but requires:

• 🔓 Unlock the bootloader (Bootloader).
• 🛠️ Installations of custom recaveri (TWRP).
• 📦 Compatible firmware for your model.

The firmware process of Xiaomi TV is considerably more complicated than a smartphone due to the closed architecture of Amlogic or MediaTek. 4PDA forums have instructions for popular models (such as the Mi TV 4S 55) but they require:

fastboot flash recovery twrp.img


fastboot boot twrp.img




adb sideload custom_rom.zip

Installing unofficial firmware voids the warranty and can result in a complete loss of functionality of the device. On Xiaomi TVs with Google TV (2022 and later), custom firmware is often not supported due to AVB 2.0 protection.

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Before you run the firmware, check if your TV model has working ports custom OS on the sites XDA Developers or OpenGApps. For smartphones, use the utility Mi Flash Tool and official unlockers from Xiaomi.

6. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When trying to remove a screen with labels, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ones and ways to solve them:

Another common problem is that ads appear even after recommendations are turned off, and this is due to the work of Mi Advertising and MSA (Mobile Services Analytics) services, to completely remove ads:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find MSA and Mi Advertising, turn them off and clear the cache.
3. Install an ad blocker (such as Blokada or AdGuard).

7. Comparison of methods: which to choose?

The choice of method depends on your device, technical skills and willingness to take risks. Below is a comparative table of methods with their pros and cons:

For most users, the best solution is:

• 📺 On TVs: Turning off recommendations + blocking updates via router.
• 📱 On smartphones: installation of Nova Launcher + shutdown MSA.

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If you are not sure of your skills, start with the safest methods (hiding through settings, installing a launcher). Advanced methods (ADB, custom firmware) require backup and readiness for possible failures.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions