Owners of Xiaomi Redmi and Poco smartphones often face a situation where a swipe to the right of the main screen appears an additional panel. This interface, usually a Google Discover tape or App Vault widgets, can be useful for tracking news, but many users consider it an extra element that clutters space and wastes RAM. Deleting or hiding this element is a standard setup procedure available in the shell of MIUI or the new HyperOS. The process does not require root rights or complex software intervention.
There are several ways to solve the problem depending on the firmware version and the owner's preferences: you can completely turn off the news feed, replacing it with empty space, or switch to an alternative launcher that ignores the system settings of Xiaomi. It is important to understand that the system files are not deleted, but only changes the configuration of the desktop display. Below we will discuss in detail all available methods that are relevant to current versions of the software.
Before we start to make changes, it's worth noting that the left panel is often pre-installed as part of the Google ecosystem, and it's not a virus or a system bug, but a regular feature that the manufacturer allows you to flexibly customize. If you're annoyed by the constant news stream or the ads in this section, setting the launcher right will solve the problem in a couple of clicks. Let's look at how to bring the home screen back to its familiar look.
Disable Google Discover feed through desktop settings
The simplest and most common method available on most Xiaomi Redmi devices is to use the launcher's built-in settings, which do not require third-party software to be installed and ensures that the system is running smoothly. First, you need to get into the desktop control menu, and this can be done in two ways: through the general settings of the phone or directly through the screen interface.
The first option is to log into the main Settings menu. Find a section that deals with the look and feel, which can be called Desktop or Home Screen. Inside this menu, look for an item associated with Google Discover or Tape left. The switch must be activated (burn blue or green). Click on it to deactivate the function. After that, the swipe left will stop calling the news feed.
The second option is faster and available directly from the desktop. Click the empty space on any screen or pinch the two fingers to open the editing menu. In the interface that appears, find the Settings button (usually the gear icon). In the open list of options, you also need to find the Google Discover switch or News Feed and turn it off.
Note that the names of items may vary slightly from one version of the MIUI shell to another, and in some regions, this element may be called -1 screen or Additional screen. If you don't find the right item at once, check all the subsections of the desktop settings menu carefully, and users often miss this switch because it's at the bottom of the options list.
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If the Google Discover switch is gray and doesn’t click, try turning off the internet for setup time or resetting the launcher settings in the app menu.
Configure App Vault and widgets on MIUI and HyperOS
In addition to Google’s news feed, Xiaomi’s smartphones often activate the App Vault service (formerly known as Mi Vision or Just Widgets), which contains quick links to apps, steps, weather and other widgets. Even if you disable Google Discover, a swipe to the left can open this interface, and it is set up separately.
To manage the App Vault, you also need to log into your desktop settings. Find a section called App Vault, Just Widgets, or Left of the first screen, where you have a choice between turning that screen off completely or replacing its contents. With new versions of HyperOS, the functionality is expanded to allow you to choose between Google Discover, Xiaomi widgets, or empty space.
If your goal is to clear the left side completely, choose No or Unplug. However, if you use weather widgets or pedometers but want to get rid of news, you can leave the screen on but clear it of the extra content. Go inside the widget settings and turn off the newscard display, leaving only the functional elements.
What is the difference between Google Discover and App Vault?
Use of third-party launchers for full control
If you are not satisfied with Xiaomi’s standard settings or in your firmware version, the developers have removed the ability to turn off the left panel, a great solution is to install a third-party launcher. This application completely replaces the standard desktop, providing advanced customization options and ensuring that no intrusive news feeds are available.
Popular options are Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Lawnchair. Once you install such an application, the system will prompt you to choose it by default to perform “Home” actions. If you choose a new launcher, you will get a clean interface without preinstalled Xiaomi widgets. In the settings of third-party launchers, there is often a separate section for managing swipes, where you can assign any action to move left or turn it off altogether.
However, it is worth considering that third-party launchers can consume a little more battery resources and do not always integrate perfectly with the system gestures MIUI. For example, the animation of opening applications can differ from the system.
When switching to a third-party launcher, it is important to set the permissions correctly. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management, find your new launcher and make sure it is allowed to run in the background and have auto-start.This will prevent accidental resetting to the standard Xiaomi launcher after the device is rebooted.
Table of comparison of methods of disconnection of the left panel
To make it easier for you to choose the right way to remove the left panel, we have prepared a comparison table that will help you assess the pros and cons of each method depending on your needs and technical literacy.
| Method | Difficulty | Impact on the system | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launcher settings | Low. | Minimum | Tall (hiding panel) |
| App Vault (Settings) | Low. | Minimum | High (replaces content) |
| Third-party launcher | Medium | Medium (interface replacement) | Maximum (full control) |
| ADB team | Tall. | Deep. | High (component removal) |
Advanced Method: Disconnecting via ADB
For power users who want to completely remove the left panel component from the system, rather than simply hide it, there is a method using ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires connecting a smartphone to a computer and having basic knowledge of working with the command line, which allows you to “freeze” or remove the system package responsible for Google Discover.
Before starting the procedure, activate the developer mode. To do this, go to Settings → About Phone and quickly press 7 times on the MIUI Version (or OS Version). Then, in advanced settings, enable Debugging via USB. Connect the phone to your PC and enter a command to delete the package:
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox⚠️ Attention: Use ADB-The commands can lead to unstable system operation if you remove critical components. Make sure that you delete the search engine package, not the system services.
This is especially true for firmware versions where the manufacturer has blocked the ability to turn off the tape through settings. However, in most cases, standard launcher settings are sufficient. ADB is only justified in extreme cases where other methods have not helped to achieve the desired result.
Cache cleaning and launcher resetting
Sometimes you've done all the settings, the switches are off, but the screen on the left still appears or behaves incorrectly, and in this situation, the problem may lie in the accumulated cache or configuration error of the launcher itself, and simple data cleaning often solves the problem of "phantom" panels.
To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All Apps. Find the Desktop (or Launcher) app in the list. Click on it and select Clear → Clear all data. Don't worry, your icons and folders won't be lost, they'll be restored from the backup or rebuilt by the system, but the display settings will be reset to the factory.
Once reset, reset your desktop, but this time, carefully check if Google Discover is activated again. Often after you update your system or reset your phone, these settings return to default values, ignoring the user's previous preferences. Regularly checking these settings after major MIUI updates is a good habit.
☑️ Checklist for cleaning screen settings
Features of work in the mode of "One hand"
One-handed mode, often confused with the left panel, deserves special attention. On large Redmi and Poco screens, swiping from the bottom edge up can activate a shrinking interface. If you accidentally hit the edge of the screen, it may seem like some left-hand interface is opening, even though it's just a compressed desktop.
To check and disable this feature, go to Settings → Additional Settings → One-handed Mode. Here you can choose how to activate (swipe or button) or completely disable this option. This will help avoid accidental activations and make navigation more predictable. Make sure you don’t confuse this mode with the news feed.
It's also worth checking your navigation gesture settings. If you have gesture control enabled, try changing the sensitivity of the edges of the screen. Sometimes too wide a swipe back can conflict with trying to open the left bar, creating the feeling of an interface bug. Sensitivity setting is in Settings → Screen → Swipes and gestures.
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One-hand mode and left-hand newsbar are different features, but both can be swiped activated. Check the settings of both sections for complete comfort.
Solving Frequent Interface Problems and Bugs
Even after setting it up properly, users may find themselves in a situation where the left screen appears again on its own, whether it's due to third-party optimization apps or conflicting design themes. Some themes from the MIUI Themes store may force certain widgets to be included.
If you have a problem after you install a new theme, try to return the standard design. Go to the Themes app, go to the profile and choose the classic style. Also check if you have widget-making apps that may have permissions to display on top of other windows.
⚠️ Warning: If the left panel continues to appear and contains suspicious ads or unknown widgets, check the phone with antivirus.
In rare cases, updating the system to the latest available version helps. In security patches, Xiaomi often fixes launcher behavior errors. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and check for updates. If the problem persists on the latest version, consider resetting to factory settings as a last resort.