How to turn off the review feature on the Xiaomi phone screen

Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphone owners often encounter an intrusive but useful feature that comes right after the first swipe right on their desktop, a section known as the Review or Google Discover that is an endless feed of news, recommendations and widgets, and despite its informative nature, many users find it an annoying factor that takes up extra space and consumes Internet traffic.

Fortunately, with the current versions of the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS, the developers have made it possible to completely disable this element. The deactivation process takes only a few seconds, but requires accurate hits to the desired menu items, which can vary depending on the region and version of the firmware. Below we will discuss in detail all available ways to solve this problem.

It’s important to understand that disabling this feature doesn’t affect other system services, you simply remove the visual box that swipes to the left of the home screen, which allows you to make navigation cleaner and focus solely on the installed apps and widgets that you have placed yourself.

What is Google Feed and Why is it Removed?

The feature, commonly referred to as the Overview, is technically an integration of Google Discover services or Xiaomi’s own news aggregator (Mi Video/Mi Browser), which loads content based on your interests, location and search history. For active news feed users, it is a handy tool that allows you to stay up to date without opening a browser.

But there are a number of reasons why users are trying to get rid of this option: First, the tape consumes RAM even when you're not using it, because the process is constantly hanging in the background to update the data; and second, it's a privacy issue: algorithms analyze your actions to find relevant content.

⚠️ Note: Complete disabling of Google system services through ADB-commands can lead to unstable operation of the Play Market store. Use only the regular customization methods described in this article.

Also worth noting is the effect on the device's autonomy: Constant synchronization of the news feed in the background can lead to a slightly faster battery discharge, especially if geolocation for local news is enabled, and by removing this element, you optimize the smartphone.

• 📉 Reducing the consumption of RAM and the load on the processor.
• 🔒 Increasing privacy of personal data and search history.
• 🔋 Small but noticeable increase in battery life.
• 🧹 Visual cleanliness of the interface and the absence of unnecessary information noise.

Disconnection through the MIUI desktop settings

The easiest and safest way to remove the extra panel is to use the standard system settings menu, which works on most current firmware versions, including MIUI 12, MIUI 13 and MIUI 14. The algorithm is the same for all models, from the budget Redmi Note to the flagship Xiaomi 13.

To start, you need to go to the interface configuration menu. Find an empty area on your desktop where there are no application icons, and pinch with two fingers (mixing your fingers together), or just pinch your finger on the empty spot. In the bottom menu that opens, select Settings (the gear icon). Alternative path: go to Settings → Desktop.

In the settings list that opens, look for a switch called "Overview" or "Google Discover." Depending on the system language and region, the name may vary. For example, in global firmware, this is often called Google Discover, and in Chinese or re-flashed versions, just Overview. Put the slider in an inactive position.

Once you switch the toggler, the changes take effect instantly, so if you now try to swipe to the right of the first screen, nothing happens, or a standard widget page will open if your version of the software provides it.

Management through Google App

In some cases, especially on devices with Global certified firmware, the feed setting may be duplicated in the Google app itself. If the standard method through desktop settings failed or the item is missing, it is worth checking the searcher settings.

Open the Google app on your smartphone. Click on your account avatar in the top right corner of the screen. In the drop-down menu, select Settings and then go to General. Here you are interested in the option "Google Tape" or "Discover." If you turn it off here, this can affect the widget display, although new versions of MIUI prioritize the settings of the shell itself.

It is worth noting that the settings inside the Google application are more general and may not block the system swipe in Xiaomi, but only clean the contents of the tape.

Nuances of work in the shell of HyperOS

With the release of the new HyperOS operating system, which is gradually replacing MIUI on new models, the settings interface has undergone some changes. Logic remained the same, but the visual design and location of the items may have shifted. Owners of fresh smartphones such as the Xiaomi 14 or the updated Redmi Note 13 should be more careful.

In HyperOS, the path to customization is often hidden deeper: try to pinch the blank space on the screen, select Settings and carefully review the list. Sometimes the feature is renamed More widgets or Recommendations. Also, the new system has the ability to choose the source of the tape: you can only leave Xiaomi widgets, removing integration with Google, or disable everything completely.

⚠️ Note: In some regions (such as India or Europe), the HyperOS interface may be different from the Russian or Chinese version. If you do not find the Overview, look for synonyms like "Tape" or "News».

Users note that HyperOS has made the process of disconnecting smoother and more understandable, and the system itself can offer to simplify the desktop at the first setup. If you missed this point, manually disabling through the desktop settings menu remains the only right solution.

• 🔄 The interface of settings has become more minimalistic and clear.
• 🇨🇳 In the Chinese version of the firmware, the feature can be called "Mi Video" or "App Vault».
• 🛠 Accessing the full list of options sometimes requires an advanced settings mode.

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If you’ve upgraded to HyperOS and can’t find the right setting, try temporarily changing the region in the “Additional” menu to “India” or “Singapore” – this can open hidden menu items, after which the region can be returned.

Problems with the disappearance of functions and their solution

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the switch in the settings is turned off, but when swiping to the left, a page or widgets still opens, this may be due to the fact that the iOS-style Widgets mode is activated, which in MIUI 12.5 and later replaced the classic review, in which case you need to change not the viewing settings, but the type of desktop.

To solve this problem, go back to Settings → Desktop. Find Desktop Mode (or Desktop Style). Here you will be offered a choice between Classic Mode (like Android) and With Widgets Mode (like iOS). Choosing classic Mode often eliminates the swipe left completely, turning it into point-blank, or returns a standard Android widget page that is easier to control.

Another reason for a phantom review could be third-party launchers, which, if you installed themes from Themes, could change desktop behavior, so you should reset the topic to a standard one ("Classic" or "Default") and check the swipes again. Third-party shells often have their own feed settings.

In rare cases, cleaning the cache of the System Launcher system application helps. To do this, go to Settings → Applications → All applications, find the System Launcher (or Desktop) list, click Clear and select Clear Cache. This will not delete your icons, but reset temporary interface files.

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If the swipe is left behind after all the manipulations, most likely, the desktop mode “With widgets” is activated, switching to “Classic” mode solves the problem in 95% of cases.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)