Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often encounter intrusive interface elements that appear after the device is first activated. One of the most annoying features is the so-called “infinite tape” of widgets located to the left of the home screen, which automatically loads news, weather, app recommendations and other information, while consuming Internet traffic and CPU resources.
On the Redmi Note 10, which runs the MIUI shell, this feature can be turned on by default depending on the region of the firmware. Many users perceive this as a bug or a virus, although it is actually a standard launcher setting. To return a clean desktop and stop accidentally opening the browser when swiping to the right, you need to perform a few simple actions in the settings menu.
In this article, we will discuss all the ways to turn off this tape. We will look at standard methods through system settings, and also touch on the nuances of working with different content providers, such as Google Discover and Yandex. Understanding the structure of the menu will allow you not only to remove widgets, but also fine-tune the behavior of the desktop to your habits.
Why Xiaomi is embedding widget tape and can it be removed
Xiaomi, like many other Android smartphone makers, has partnered with tech giants, most commonly pre-installed on global firmware versions with Google Discover tape, which aims to keep users’ attention within the ecosystem by offering personalized content without having to open a browser or individual apps.
Technically, this widget is a separate process that is constantly hanging in memory and periodically updating data. On budget devices, this may be invisible, but on the Redmi Note 10 it is not easy to see. AMOLED-The screen has a lot of animations and background activity that can affect the smoothness of the interface. Complete removal of the system component of the launcher is impossible without obtaining Root rights, but the regular shutdown of the function completely solves the problem.
Also, having tape often leads to random taps: the user wants to unlock the phone and open the messenger, but instead swipe opens the news. This violates the ergonomics of use. Disabling this feature makes navigation more predictable and faster.
Preparation for changing the settings of the desktop
Before you make changes to your system configuration, make sure you're on the home screen. Don't try to search for settings from inside apps or from the lock menu. MIUI is context-sensitive, and the items you want can be hidden.
It’s also worth checking which version of the launcher is installed on your device. In the recent updates to MIUI 12 and MIUI 13, the location of the items may have changed slightly. If standard methods don’t work, it’s possible that your phone is using an alternative widget provider.
☑️ Checking before setting up
It's important to understand the difference between a desktop widget and a left ribbon. You place the widgets (calendar, weather, steps) yourself by holding a blank space on the screen. The left ribbon is a separate panel that is activated by a swipe from the left-hand icon. We'll customize that.
Disabling Google widgets through screen settings
The most common scenario for global firmware versions is to use Google services. To remove this tape, you'll need access to an extended desktop settings menu, which works 95% of the time on the Redmi Note 10.
Put two fingers in the center of the screen, or just swipe the bottom up through the free space to call the edit menu. At the bottom of the screen, a toolbar will appear. You're interested in the Settings button (the gear icon), which is usually in the lower right corner.
In the menu that opens, find a switch called "Widget Ribbon" or "Google Discover." Depending on the firmware translation, the wording may vary, such as "More," "-1 screen" or "Google Feed." Turn the slider to "Off."
⚠️ Warning: After switching off, the swipe left may stop responding at all or start opening Google searches if it is set as the default action. If the swipe is left but the page is empty, the setup has been successfully set up.
If the switch is found and turned off, but the tape still appears, try restarting the device. The com.miui.home process should restart and apply new configuration settings. In rare cases, you need to switch the switch back and forth.
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If after turning off the tape, the swipe to the left still opens the browser, check the gesture settings in the section “More” -> “Navigate to the full screen”.
Setting up a content provider: Google, Yandex or Off
In some regions, including the CIS, Xiaomi may pre-installe Yandex instead of Google. The logic of the shutdown is similar, but the path in the menu may differ. Often Xiaomi combines these settings into one item "Widget Provider".
Go to Settings on your phone, then select Desktop, and you can see widget provider, and if you click on it, you'll see a list of options available: Google, Yandex, or No. Choosing No completely disables the left panel.
If you have a European firmware version installed, but you have changed the region to India or Russia in the system settings, the content in the tape can change dynamically. However, this will not remove the tape itself, only change its content. Always use the switch in the desktop editing menu to completely disable it.
| Supplier | Where do you meet? | How to turn off | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Discover | Global Firmware (EU, Global) | Screen settings -> Widget tape | Average. |
| Yandex | Russia/CIS Region | Settings -> Widget Provider | High. |
| App Vault | Older versions of MIUI | Screen settings -> App Vault | Low. |
| Glance (Lock Screen) | Indian firmware | Wallpaper and Style -> Glance | Average. |
What is App Vault?
Solving problems: tape does not disappear after switching off
There are times when a user turns off the switch, but when swiping to the left, the news page still opens, which may be due to the launcher's caching of settings or the conflict of Google App updates.
The first thing you need to do is clear the launcher data. Go to Settings -> Apps -> All apps. Go to Launcher. Click Clear -> Clear everything. Don't worry, your icons and folders won't go away, just your location and widgets will reset.
Step two is checking for updates. Go to Settings -> About Phone and click on MIUI. Sometimes a bug with a sticky widget tape is fixed with a security patch. Also check for updates in the Google app through the Play Market.
⚠️ Attention: When cleaning the launcher data, the order of the icons on the desktop may be lost. It is recommended to take a picture of the location of the applications in advance to quickly restore the usual structure.
If nothing works, try changing the theme. Some third-party themes from MIUI Theme Store have their own left-screen settings that override the system. Switch to the standard theme "Classic" or "Default" and check the swipe.
Alternative methods and installation of a third-party launcher
If Xiaomi’s regular funds don’t suit you or don’t work properly, a radical solution would be to install a third-party launcher, which will completely replace the interface of your Redmi Note 10.
Popular options:
- Smart Launcher is a minimalist interface that automatically sorts applications.
To install a third-party launcher download APK-file or find the application in Google Play. Once installed, the system will prompt you to choose the default home screen app. Select a new launcher and click Always».
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Installing a third-party launcher is the only way to completely get rid of the system limitations of MIUI and get 100% control over the desktop.
However, this method has a drawback: Xiaomi’s native launcher is better optimized for gestures, theme and system notifications. Third-party launchers can consume more power or incorrectly display the “bang” of the screen.