Why news on Xiaomi’s lock screen annoys users
The lock screen on Xiaomi smartphones with the shell MIUI 11 is not just protection from accidental clicks, but a whole information hub. It displays notifications, weather, quick shortcuts and, of course, news feed from Mi Browser or third-party services. For some users, this is a convenient way to stay informed, for others – an annoying feature that eats up battery power and distracts from business.
The main complaints against the newsfeed on lockdown: Redmi Note 8 Pro, Mi 9T or Poco X3 — it does not matter, model. The problem is the same. News loaded in the background, consuming traffic and CPU resources. The content is often irrelevant: advertising articles, clickbait headlines or news in an unfamiliar language (if the region of the smartphone is configured incorrectly), and most importantly, even after manual removal, the tape returns after a reboot or MIUI update.
In this article, we will discuss all the working ways to disable news on the lock screen for MIUI 11, from standard settings to hidden commands for power users. The methods are tested on models from 2019 to 2020, but are also relevant for newer devices with a similar version of the shell.
Method 1: Disconnect via standard MIUI 11 settings
The most obvious and safe method is to use the built-in options, but MIUI 11 has a deeper path to adjusting the news feed than the newer versions of the shell.
- Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
- Go to Lock Screen and Password (or Lock and Protect on some models).
- Slip on the lock screen settings item.
- Find the News Feed (or Mi Browser) option and move the slider to the Off position.
If there is no such item, try an alternative path: Settings → Applications → Application Management → Mi Browser → Notifications and disable all permissions.
Check the MIUI version (in Settings → About the phone)
Close all background applications
Connect to stable Wi-Fi (to sync changes)
Reboot your smartphone after the changes-->
Important! On some firmware (e.g., Redmi Note 7 with global MIUI 11), the option may be called Lockscreen magazine or Content recommendations. Use a Settings search (the magnifier icon in the upper right corner) to find the item you want.
⚠️ Warning: After the news feed is turned off, some widgets (such as weather or calendar) may temporarily disappear from the lock screen.
Method 2: Use of the ADB-deep-switch
If the standard settings don't work, you'll have to use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires you to connect your smartphone to your computer, but it's guaranteed to remove the news feed even on "hard" firmware.
- Download and install Google’s Platform Tools (folder with adb.exe).
- On your smartphone, activate Developer Mode: go to Settings → About Phone and tap on the MIUI version 7 times.
- Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
- Connect your phone to your PC, open the command line in the ADB folder and execute: Adb devices (the name of your device should appear)
- Enter the command to turn off news: adb shell pm hide com.miui.weather2/.lockscreen.LockScreenNewsActivity or to completely remove the widget: adb shell pm uninstall-k --user 0 com.miui.weather2
Note: After completing the commands, restart your smartphone. If the news comes back, repeat the procedure with the command:
adb shell settings put global lock_screen_magazine_enabled 0What if the ADB can’t see the device?
| ADB Team Team | Action. | Reversibility |
|---|---|---|
| pm hide [package] | Hiding the app for the current user | Yes (pm unhide team) |
| pm uninstall -k --user 0 [package] | Remove the application for the current user | Only reinstalling APK |
| settings put global lock_screen_magazine_enabled 0 | Disables the news feed in the system settings | Yes (replace 0 for 1) |
⚠️ Attention: Teams ADB with the uninstall option, you delete system applications, which can lead to unstable operation MIUI. We recommend you try pm hide first – this method is safer and reversible.
Method 3: Third-party applications for lock customization
If the first two methods did not help or you want not just to remove the news, but completely redesign the lock screen, use third-party launchers. MIUI 11:
- 🔹 Always On Edge – allows you to create a custom lock screen with a widget of time, weather and notifications (no news.
- 🔹 LockScreen X – Minimalistic launcher with the function of blocking news feed MIUI. There is a free version with basic settings.
- 🔹 AcDisplay – displays notifications on a locked screen without unnecessary elements. Compatible with most Xiaomi devices.
- 🔹 Hi Locker – a full replacement for the standard lock screen with support for themes, passwords and fingerprints.
How to install and configure: Play Market → Find an app → Install → Grant permissions to access notifications and overlay windows.
After installation, select the application as the default lock screen in the security settings.
💡
Before installing a third-party launcher, back up your MIUI data via Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset. Some applications may conflict with system services.
Cons of the method:
Fingerprint or Face Unlock bugs are possible on some models (e.g. Mi 9 Lite).
Applications may consume an extra battery due to background work.
After the MIUI update, the settings may reset.
Frequent problems and their solutions
Even after a successful news blackout, Xiaomi users are faced with a tape return or other bugs. Consider typical situations and ways to fix them:
1.News returns after reboot
Reason: com.miui.weather2 is automatically updated via Google Play or Mi App Store.
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management → Mi Browser.
- Slip on the three dots in the top corner and select Remove Updates.
- Turn off auto-update for Mi Browser in the Play Market.
2. It's not working. ADB-Pm hide team
Possible causes:
An outdated version of Platform Tools (update via SDK Manager).
Lack of superuser rights (root access is required for some teams).
The firmware is modified (for example, custom Xiaomi.eu).
Try an alternative command:
adb shell settings delete global lock_screen_magazine_enabled3.The lock screen started to lag after the changes
It's because of a conflict of systems processes.
Clear the cache of the com.android.systemui application through Settings → Applications.
- Reverse to the factory lock screen settings by the command:
adb shell cmd overlay reset com.android.systemui💡
If after manipulating ADB, the smartphone stopped booting, try resetting via Recovery Mode (press Power + Volume Up when turned on).
How to Check if News Is Really Shut Down
To make sure that the news feed is no longer loaded in the background, follow the following steps:
- Open Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Use
- Check if there is Mi Browser or Weather (com.miui.weather2) on the list. If your energy consumption is 0%, the news is off.
- Use the NetGuard app (without root) to monitor network activity. Block Internet access for Mi Browser.
- Restart your smartphone and check the lock screen in 5-10 minutes. News should not appear even after you connect to Wi-Fi.
For advanced users:
Install ADB AppControl from Play Market and check the status of com.miui.weather2. If the State box says Hidden or Disabled, it's done right.
Alternative methods for experienced users
If you're willing to take drastic measures, consider these options: They require root rights or an unlocked bootloader, but they give you 100% results.
- 🛠️ Removal of systemic APK: With Root Explorer or Titanium Backup, delete your files: /system/priv-app/Weather2/Weather2.apk and /system/priv-app/MiBrowserGlobal/MiBrowserGlobal.apk. Warning: This could disrupt weather widgets.
- 📱 Custom firmware installation: Xiaomi.eu or LineageOS firmware does not contain built-in news feed, minus the loss of official support and possible camera bugs.
- 🔧 Editing the build.prop file: Add a line ro.config.low_ram=True, this will turn off background processes, including news downloads!
How to unlock the bootloader on Xiaomi?
For owners of Poco F1 or Mi Mix 3 with unlocked bootloader, there is another life hack:
Install a Magisk module called Lockscreen Mod. It allows you to fully customize the lock screen, including removing news and ads.