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, called Google Discover or Yandex Ribbon, depending on the regional version of the firmware. While some users find useful information there, for many it is just an extra element of the interface that distracts and sometimes slows down the launcher.
Disabling this feature is a simple process, but the path to settings may vary depending on the version of the MIUI operating system or the new HyperOS. In some cases, standard methods do not work to remove the tape, and additional actions are required, such as disabling system applications. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to solve the problem.
By removing the extra bar, you not only clean up the visual space, but also potentially save battery power, as news widgets constantly update content in the background. Let's look at how to bring cleanliness back to your device's interface.
Why is the tape on the left and why to turn it off?
By default, the MIUI and HyperOS shells are set to maximize user engagement, and immediately after the first switch on or update, the Google Discover widget, or its Chinese counterpart, is activated, a news aggregator that loads articles, weather and reminders based on your search history.
Many users want to turn it off for a number of reasons: First, it saves traffic and CPU resources; second, privacy, it collects data about your interests; and third, the banal desire to have a clean desktop without unnecessary visual noise when random swipes.
It is worth noting that in different regions (Global, EU, China) this functionality can be answered by different system packages, sometimes it is com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox, and in other cases - com.miui.personalassistant. Understanding which service is active will help you choose the right method of disconnection.
💡
Before making changes to the system settings, it is recommended to create a backup copy of important data in order to quickly restore the smartphone’s performance in case of an error.
Some models, especially the budget segment, can respond more strongly to active widgets by reducing FPS when scrolling. Disabling heavy scripts of the news feed is an easy way to make the interface more responsive.
Standard way to disconnect through launcher settings
The simplest and most secure method, which works 90% of the time on current firmware versions, is directly in the desktop settings. You don't need third-party programs or access to hidden menus.
First, you need to get into the settings menu of the launcher itself. To do this, in the free space of the main screen, you need to make a long tap (hold your finger for 2-3 seconds) or pinch the screen with two fingers to go into editing mode. In the lower corner, a “Settings” button (usually in the form of a gear) will appear.
☑️ Algorithm of action
In the menu that opens, you should look for an item whose name varies: "Google Discover", "Widget Tape", "Mi Assist" or "One-step". The name depends on the version of MIUI. Once you find the right switch, just deactivate it. After that, when you swipe to the right, the tape will no longer appear.
If the standard switch is missing or inactive (shadowed), this may mean that the function is blocked by system constraints or region, in which case, move to the next sections of the instructions, where the deeper methods are described.
Disconnection through Google and account settings
Sometimes there is a switch in the launcher, but the tape continues to load or display old data, in which case the problem may lie in the settings of the service Google, you need to limit the rights of the application to display content.
Go to the basic smartphone settings, then go to the Apps → All Apps. Find the Google app (G icon) in the list. Inside the app menu, select Traffic Consumption or Other Permissions, if any, but most often you need to act through the profile.
Open the Google app (through search or widget), click on the profile avatar in the corner and select Settings. Find General or Discover. You can turn off the card display here, which will actually turn the feed into a blank page or remove the transition button.
What to do if Google’s settings are reset?
It's important to understand the difference between turning off a desktop widget and shutting down the service altogether. The first method just spins the panel, the second one restricts data collection, and for complete privacy, both methods are better.
Using a Hidden Menu for Advanced Users
In some versions of MIUI (especially older or regional-specific ones), the left-hand drive is hidden in a special engineering menu or activity menu, allowing you to control the system components in more detail than through a standard interface.
Accessing these settings often requires installing a dedicated activity launcher app, such as Activity Launcher from Play Market. Once installed, search for the com.miui.personalassistant or com.miui.newhome process in your application search.
Within the activity list, look for lines that contain the words "Assistant", "Discover" or "Settings." Running these hidden activities can open an additional settings menu where there is a hard shutdown of the module. Be careful: changing unknown parameters can lead to system instability.
This method is suitable for experienced users who understand what they are doing. If you are not sure about the purpose of a particular hidden function, it is better to refrain from changing it so as not to disrupt the system widgets.
Comparison of disconnection methods: pros and cons
The choice of method depends on your goal: simply remove the visual element or completely prohibit data collection. Below is a table that will help determine the best method for your situation.
| Method | Difficulty | Efficiency | Risks. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launcher settings | Low. | Tall (visually) | Absent. |
| Google settings | Medium | Medium | Minimum |
| Disabling the application | Tall. | Maximum | Possible system errors |
| Third-party launcher | Medium | Full replacement. | Change of habitual appearance |
As you can see from the table, standard launcher settings are the safest option, but if your goal is maximum performance and no background processes, a more radical approach may be needed.
Using third-party launchers like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher completely replaces the system shell.This gives you complete control, but deprives you of some Xiaomi branded chips, such as gestures or themes.
Removing system components via ADB (for experts)
If none of the soft methods worked, and you're confident in your actions, you can use USB debugging and a computer, which allows you to remove or freeze the system applications that control the news feed, even without root rights.
You need to turn on the developer mode: go to About phone and 7 times click on the build number. Then in advanced settings activate Debugging on USB. Connect the phone to the PC and use the command:
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.personalassistantThis command will remove the personal assistant for the current user, the tape will disappear physically, and to get it back, you will need to completely reset the phone to factory state.
💡
Use of the ADB-commands require accuracy: removing the wrong system packet can cause a cyclical device reboot (bootloop).
⚠️ Attention: Before executing commands ADB Make sure the batch name matches your firmware version. Package names may vary by region (CN, Global, EEA).