How to remove news from the Xiaomi desktop: step-by-step instructions

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often encounter intrusive functionality that is built into the MIUI or HyperOS shell by default.This is an endless news feed that opens with a swipe to the left of the home screen.This aggregator, based on Google Discover or Yahoo News services (depending on the region), consumes Internet traffic and can slow down the launch of the launcher.

Removing news from Xiaomi’s desktop is a simple task, but the solutions may vary depending on the firmware version (Global, EU, China) and the year of release of the device. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods of disabling news widgets, as well as touch on related settings that will help make the interface cleaner.

Before we make any changes, we need to understand that turning off the feed doesn't affect the search engine or the voice assistant, but we just remove the visual element that many users consider redundant. Here are the proven action algorithms for current versions of the software.

Disabling the news feed through desktop settings

The most common and safe way to get rid of the news feed is to use the built-in launcher settings, which in most cases allows the user to decide for themselves what additional screens they need, and first you need to get into the menu settings of the desktop itself, rather than the general settings of the phone.

Press and hold your finger on any free area of the home screen until the edit menu appears. In the lower right or left corner (depending on the interface language), find the Settings button or the gear icon, and that's where the switches that control the look of the interface are hidden.

In the list that opens, look for an item called “News Tape”, “Google Discover”, “Yandex” or «-1 Names can vary, as Xiaomi often changes default partners in different regions. Once you find the right switch, just put it in an inactive position.

Once the switch is turned off, the swipe left stops calling the news feed. Instead, you either stay on the first screen or you move to the widgets if they are set up separately. The changes take effect instantly and do not require the device to be rebooted.

Control widgets and lock screen

Users sometimes confuse desktop newsfeed with widgets that can be placed directly on the lock screen or as floating windows. In the new versions of HyperOS and MIUI 14, the system actively promotes weather widgets and subscriptions that visually resemble news blocks.

To remove the extra items, go to the general smartphone Settings. Next, select the Lock Screen section. You need to find the option "Password and Security" or "Advanced Settings" here. Look for items related to "Recommendations", "Slides Show Wallpaper" or "Subscription Cards".

⚠️ Warning: Disabling system weather widgets or promotions may cause you to stop receiving storm warnings or sudden currency changes if you use them.

Also worth checking the widget section. Press and hold your finger on any widget on your desktop and select "Delete" or "Widget Settings." Some widgets have their own logic and can download content from the Internet even after hiding the main tape.

Cleaning the desktop of unnecessary elements not only improves visual perception, but also frees up RAM. The system stops updating the content in the background, which positively affects the autonomy of the device during the day.

Disabling recommendations in folders and search

Even if you remove the main feed, you can see that the recommended apps and news continue to appear inside the app folders (like Google or Popular), part of the MIUI ecosystem that tries to guess your preferences.

To turn off ads and recommendations inside folders, open any folder on your desktop. Click on the folder name (or three dots/cogs inside it) to open the folder settings. Find the Recommended Apps or Receive Recommendations switch and turn it off.

A similar situation is seen in the search bar, often at the bottom of the Google search screen or the built-in MIUI search, news cards are displayed.

• 📱 Open the Google app or click on the search bar.
• 👤 Click on the profile avatar in the upper right corner.
• ⚙️ Select Settings → General or Ribbon settings.
• 🚫 Turn off the option “Show cards” or “Google Tape».

These actions will help to completely clean the interface of intrusive content.

Use of third-party launchers

If standard methods seem too complicated or you want to radically change the appearance of your smartphone, the best solution is to install a third-party launcher.

Popular options such as Nova Launcher, Lawnchair or Microsoft Launcher don’t have a built-in default news feed or allow you to flexibly customize its content, and after installing such an application, the system will prompt you to choose its main one.

Installing a third-party launcher is the only way to ensure that you get rid of all the elements of MIUI, including system restrictions on the location of icons. However, it is worth considering that some deep features, such as control gestures or themes, may work differently.

Before installing, it is recommended to back up the location of the icons if you are used to a certain scheme.Switching to a clean Android-like interface often returns devices to a second life, making them more responsive.

Specifics of regions and firmware versions

It’s important to understand that the behavior of the system depends on which region the smartphone is purchased for. Global versions usually contain more ad integrations and news services like Yahoo News or Flipboard compared to Chinese versions.

Chinese firmware (CN ROM) often integrates local services such as Baidu or Today instead of Google Discover, and the shutdown mechanism is similar, but menu items will be in Chinese or English. European versions (EEA) often have less aggressive news policies.

⚠️ Note: When flashing a device from global to Chinese or back, you may experience problems with banking applications and notifications.

If you can't find the right switch, your carrier or seller may have preinstalled a specific version of the launcher, which can only help if you reset the launcher to the factory or install an alternative desktop.

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If the news feed reappears after the firmware update, check the date and time settings. An incorrect time zone may disrupt the synchronization of Mi Account settings.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Complete cleaning of the interface from news requires a comprehensive approach: disabling the tape, settings widgets and, possibly, changing the launcher.