How to completely remove the widget panel on Xiaomi: from simple concealment to deep customization of MIUI

Why Xiaomi widget panel irritates users and can it be removed forever

The widget panel in MIUI is one of the most controversial interface elements that causes a lot of discontent among owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones. By default, it occupies the entire screen to the left of the main desktop, duplicating information from weather applications, calendar and even social networks. For many users, this is not just an extra element, but a real obstacle: random swipes to the left open an unnecessary panel, and aggressive animation distracts from the main tasks.

The difficulty is that Xiaomi does not provide an obvious option for completely removing the widget panel – it can only be hidden or modified through deep system settings. MIUI (especially the transitions to versions 14-15) The old methods stop working, and users have to find new workarounds. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to remove the widget panel on the Internet. 2026 year, including hidden firmware functions, ADB-commands and even manual editing of system files for advanced users.

It is important to understand that some methods require unlocking the bootloader or the rights of the superuser (root), which can affect the warranty and security of the device. If you are not ready for such radical measures, do not worry: there are more gentle options in the MIUI arsenal.

Method 1: Standard Hiding of the Widget Panel through MIUI Settings

The easiest and safest method is to use the built-in MIUI options. It is suitable for most Xiaomi models (including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11) and does not require additional rights. However, it has a limitation: the panel is not removed completely, but only hides behind the gesture.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Desktop (or Home Screen in newer versions).
2. Scroll down to the widget panel section (some firmware called the left panel).
3. Turn off the switch Show the widget panel.
4. Confirm the action if a warning system appears.

After that, the panel will stop opening when swiping to the left, but will physically remain in the system and may reappear after resetting or updating.It is also worth noting that some models (for example, Black Shark 5) may not have this item, in which case you will have to use alternative methods.

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If after turning off the widget panel, the swipe to the left starts to open Google Discover, go to the settings of the Google application → Settings → General → Discover and turn off its impressions on the home screen.

Method 2: Disconnect via ADB (without root rights)

If the standard cover does not work or the panel continues to interfere, you can use the ADB-This method does not require root rights, but it requires connecting the smartphone to the computer and enabling debugging mode. MIUI 12-15, including Xiaomi 13T redmi K60.

Step-by-step:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect your phone to your PC, install it. ADB-Drivers and open the command line in the folder with the platform-tools.
4. Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices (the name of your device should appear).
5. Run the command to disable the widget panel: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.home Attention! This command disables not only the panel, but also the standard MIUI launcher. After the restart, install an alternative launcher (such as Nova Launcher or Lawnchair), otherwise the desktop will stop working.

To get it back, use the command:

adb shell pm enable com.miui.home

Install drivers ADB PC-only|Enable debugging on USB phone-on|Download platform-tools from the Android site|Connect your phone to the original cable|Check the connection of the adb device team-->

Method 3: Editing system files (root required)

For users with unlocked bootloaders and root rights, there is a radical method - manually deleting the files responsible for the widget bar. This method is guaranteed to delete the panel forever, but requires caution: wrong actions can lead to the collapse of the system.

Instructions:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to /system/priv-app/MiuiHome/
3. Find the MiuiHome.apk file and back it up (copy it on PC).
4. Delete or rename the file (e.g., in MiuiHome.apk.bak).
5. Reset the device.

After that, the widget bar will disappear, but the standard launcher may disappear. Install an alternative launcher from Google Play in advance. If something goes wrong, return the original file to its place.

Method 4: Use of alternative launchers

If you don't want to mess with system files, but standard panel hiding doesn't help, the best way to do this is to install the launcher side. Most alternatives (like Nova Launcher, Hyperion Launcher, Before Launcher) don't have a built-in widget panel and allow you to customize your desktop completely.

How it works:

• 📱 Install a launcher from Google Play (we recommend Nova Launcher for the flexibility of settings).
• 🔧 When you first start, select it as the default launcher.
• ⚙️ In the new launcher settings, disable all options related to the left panel or gestures.
• 🔄 If the panel MIUI It still appears, go back to Method 2 (ADB) and turn off com.miui.home.

The advantage of this method is that not only do you get rid of the widget bar, but you also get advanced customization options: changing icons, adaptive folders, gestures and even a dark theme for individual applications. MIUI (Second Space or App Lock may not work properly.

Standard MIUI|Nova Launcher|Hyperion Launcher|Lawnchair|Other |Not using launchers-->

Method 5: Reverse to the older version of MIUI (for advanced)

If the widget panel appeared after the MIUI update (for example, when you switch from version 13 to version 14), you can try to roll back to the previous firmware, where it could be disabled by standard means, this method is suitable for users who are not afraid of losing data and are ready for manual firmware.

How to do this:

1. Download the desired version of MIUI for your model from the official Xiaomi website (choose Stable or Weekly depending on your preferences).
2. Create a backup of data through Settings → About Phone → Backup.
3. Go to Recovery Mode (press Power + Volume Up when the phone is off).
4. Select Install update.zip to System and specify the path to the downloaded firmware file.
5. Wait until the process is complete (don’t interrupt!) and restart the device.

After rollback, check for the option to disable the widget panel in the settings.

• ⚠️ A rollback will reset all settings and data (if there was no backup).
• ⚠️ Some models (such as Xiaomi 13 Ultra) can block the bootloader after rollback.
• ⚠️ Security updates will stop coming, which could create vulnerabilities.

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Firmware rollback is a last resort. Before the procedure, check if your model supports a downgrade without locking the bootloader (see the XDA Developers or 4PDA forums for information).

Comparison of methods: what way to choose

To make the choice easier, we've compiled the key characteristics of each method in a table, so focus on your level of training and device model:

For most users, the best solution is a combination of standard concealment + alternative launcher. If you are willing to take risks, ADB or editing system files will give a cleaner result.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after successfully disabling the widget panel, users face side effects, and consider the most common and ways to eliminate them:

⚠️ Attention, if after use ADB-When you have lost your desktop, but you haven’t installed an alternative launcher beforehand, connect your phone to your PC and type in the command: adb shell am start. -n com.teslacoilsw.launcher/.NovaLauncher (Replace the package with one that's relevant to your launcher, and it will temporarily start the interface so you can complete the setup.

Problem 1: The widget bar returns after the MIUI update.

• 🔄 Check the launcher settings - sometimes the update resets the settings.
• 🔧 Repeat the shutdown procedure through ADB or setting.
• 📵 If the panel returned after a major update (for example, with the MIUI 14/15), you may need to repeat all the steps again.

Problem 2: Swipe to the left opens Google Discover instead of the widget bar.

• ⚙️ Disable Discover in the Google App Settings (see tip above).
• 📱 Install a launcher that supports gesture settings (like Nova Launcher Prime).
• 🔍 Check if any third-party application is in conflict with the system (for example, Microsoft Launcher or Action Launcher).

Problem 3: After MiuiHome.apk was deleted, system applications stopped working.

• 🔄 Restore the file from the backup.
• 🔧 Fastboot with data storage (command: fastboot flash system) system.img).
• 📵 If nothing helps, reset to factory settings (data will be lost!).

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Before any manipulation of system files, back up via TWRP or built-in MIUI tools, which will save you recovery hours in case of an error.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions