How to remove the widget tape on Xiaomi Redmi Note 7

Xiaomi’s smartphones, including the popular Redmi Note 7, run MIUI, which offers users a variety of additional features and visuals. One of the elements that elicits mixed feelings among owners is the so-called “infinite tape” or widget slider, located to the left of the home screen. This area, often integrated with Google Discover services or Xiaomi’s own aggregator, automatically loads news, weather and app recommendations, which can annoy those who prefer minimalism.

Users often wonder how to remove the widget tape on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7, as standard methods running on “pure” Android are not always obvious here. Unlike many other devices, in MIUI, this feature is deeply embedded in the logic of the launcher, the system application responsible for displaying icons and desktop. Disabling this option does not require superuser rights (Root) or complex software, but knowing the exact path in the settings menu will significantly speed up the process.

In this article, we will take a look at all the available ways to deactivate your news feed, including hidden settings and alternative methods for different versions of the firmware. You will learn how to optimize your gadget, eliminating the unnecessary traffic consumption and RAM that are often consumed by the background processes of the news aggregator.

Why there is a tape of widgets and why turn it off

The widget tape that appears when swiped to the right of the first screen is a standard element of the MIUI interface. By default, the system activates this feature immediately after the first setting of the smartphone or after resetting to factory settings. The main purpose of this element is to provide quick access to information without having to open individual applications. However, for many users of the Redmi Note 7, this becomes a source of unnecessary visual noise and distractions.

Aside from aesthetic considerations, there are technical reasons to turn it off: The news aggregator keeps updating content in the background, which leads to increased battery consumption and mobile traffic. On devices with less powerful hardware, such as the Snapdragon 660 processor in the Redmi Note 7, constant synchronization of widgets can create micro-latency when switching between desktops.

⚠️ Note: Disabling the widget tape does not remove the widgets themselves (such as the weather or clock) from the desktop if you have placed them manually.

It’s also worth noting that depending on the firmware region (Global, European or Chinese), the content of the feed may differ, with some versions being Google Discover, others being Mi Video* or *App Store. Understanding which service is running on your device will help you choose the most effective method of blocking it if standard shutdown through settings is not possible.

Standard method of disconnection through launcher settings

The easiest and safest way to remove the widget tape on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 is to use the built-in system settings. This method works on most current versions of MIUI (from MIUI 10 to MIUI 12/13). You do not need to install third-party applications or connect the phone to your computer.

You can get to the desktop settings menu in two ways, either through the phone's general settings menu or through the desktop's context menu itself. The second option is usually faster. Just pinch your two fingers in the free space of the screen, or hold your finger on the empty area for a long time until the edit menu appears. In the bottom corner of the screen, you will see the Settings button (the gear icon).

Once you log in, find the switch that displays the left screen, which can be called differently in different versions of the firmware, and the table below shows the matching of options names depending on the MIUI version and region:

Once you find the right switch, just turn it to the "Off" position. The changes take effect instantly, and when you try to swipe left, the screen will no longer respond or move to the first desktop.If the switch is missing or inactive, this may mean that your device has a specific version of the launcher that requires an alternative approach.

Removing Google Discover and Integration Services

In global firmware versions for Redmi Note 7, the widget tape is often tightly tied to Google services, particularly the Google Discover feature. Even if you turn off the standard switch in the launcher, the system can continue to load the news feed through the system services, in which case you need to dig deeper into the settings of the Google account and the applications themselves.

The first step is to disable the personalization of the results in the Google app. Open the Google app (the G icon), click on the profile avatar in the upper right corner and select Settings. Next, go to the Feed Settings or Discover section. Here you need to find the Show in Ribbon item and turn it off. This action will stop downloading news content, although the empty tab itself may formally remain.

If your goal is to completely get rid of any reminders of the existence of this feature, you can try to disable the Google app itself, although this is not recommended, since it is responsible for voice search and the Assistant. A more gentle option is to limit background activity. Go to Settings → Apps → All applications, search in the list of “Google”, click “Saving Charge” and select “No restrictions” (to avoid waking it up), or, conversely, limit background activity if the system allows.

⚠️ Warning: Disabling Google’s system application completely can cause desktop voice input and search widgets to malfunction. Use this method only if you understand the consequences.

Sometimes, after updating the firmware settings can reset and the widget tape will appear again. In such cases, it is useful to know that the integration of Google services is deeply embedded in the system partition /system, and simply removing updates to the Google application can temporarily solve the problem by returning the old version without the Discover feature, but the system will automatically update it again.

Using third-party launchers as a radical solution

If standard methods don’t work out the way you want them to, or you just want to drastically change the look of your Redmi Note 7, installing a third-party launcher is the perfect solution. Third-party shells completely replace Xiaomi’s standard interface, delivering a pure Android-like experience without intrusive tapes, ads, and unnecessary widgets.

Popular and proven options are Nova Launcher, Lawnchair or Microsoft Launcher. These apps are available in the Google Play Market. Once you install and launch a new launcher, the system will ask which application to use as default for the desktop. Choose the installed launcher and click "Always." From now on, the standard Xiaomi widget tape will cease to exist, as you will use a completely different navigation system.

Advantages of using third-party launchers:

• ⚡ Performance: Lightweight launchers consume less RAM, which is true for the Redmi Note 7.

However, it’s worth considering that switching to a third-party launcher may deprive you of some MIUI chips, such as control gestures from any corners of the screen (although in newer versions of Android this works systemically) or Xiaomi-specific widgets.In addition, some heavy launchers may run less smoothly on a Snapdragon 660 processor than the optimized native interface.

💡

When choosing a launcher, pay attention to Nova Launcher Prime - the paid version opens access to the gesture settings, which allows you to replace the standard Xiaomi navigation with a more convenient one.

Hidden settings and ADB-Teams for Advanced Users

For those who are not afraid to experiment and want to achieve the perfect result without installing third-party launchers, there are methods of hidden configuration through USB and ADB debugging (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to forcibly hide the system components responsible for the widget tape, even if the switch in the menu is missing or blocked by the manufacturer.

To start, activate the developer mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click 7 times on the MIUI Version. After the message “You became a developer” appears, go back to the main settings menu, select “Additional” → “Developers”. Find and enable “Debug by USB”. When you connect the phone to your computer, confirm the request for debugging permission on the smartphone screen.

Then you’ll need a computer with the ADB platform tool installed. Connect your phone with a cable and type the following command in the command line to hide the component responsible for Google Discover (the path may vary depending on the version of MIUI):

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox

This command disables the Google Search app, which is often the source of the newsfeed. If your goal is to disable only the widget, not the entire search, you can use the command to hide a particular launcher component, but the paths to components in the event are not the same. MIUI They change frequently and require individual selection. ADB — launcher reset:

adb shell pm clear com.miui.home

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB-Disabling critical system applications can cause a smartphone to run in an unstable way. Always check packet names before typing commands.

Use of the ADB-pm disable-user is the most efficient way to remove system bloatware, including news feeds, without having to flash the device. However, remember that after resetting to factory settings, all changes made through the device are made. ADB, will be cancelled.

Optimizing the work of widgets and alternatives

Once you’ve removed the widget tape on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7, the freed-up swipe space can be used more rationally or simply enjoyed by a clean desktop. However, if you still need some information on the home screen, standard MIUI widgets offer a great alternative to obsessive tape.

You can place a Weather, Stepmer or Notes widget on your desktop anywhere you want. Unlike an infinite tape, these widgets are static, consume minimal resources, and only display the information you need. To add a widget, pinch your desktop, select "Widgets," and drag the item to the screen.

Also worth noting is the “Second Space” or “Read Mode” feature, which in some versions of MIUI may conflict with desktop settings. Make sure that in each of the profiles (if used), the widget tape settings are disabled separately, as the profiles may have independent interface configurations.

Remember to periodically clear the launcher cache if you notice swipes have become less responsive. → Annexes → Application management → Desktop (or MIUI Home) → Memory. → Clear cache. This simple procedure helps keep the interface running at a high level, especially on devices that have been in use for several years.

💡

Turning off the widget tape is not only a matter of aesthetics, but also a way to extend the battery life of the Redmi Note 7 by stopping background synchronization processes.