Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face intrusive functionality introduced by interface developers, such as Google Discover News Feed, which opens when swiped right or up on the home screen, which is designed to personalize the delivery of content, but in practice it only consumes traffic, battery and distracts the user from basic tasks.
Many users are looking for a way to remove Google search when swiping up on Xiaomi to return clean and fast access to applications. Fortunately, MIUI and HyperOS provide flexible tools for customizing the desktop. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods of disabling tape, from standard settings to more advanced options.
Before you make any changes, it's worth noting that the interface may vary slightly depending on the firmware version. However, the logic of the system launcher remains the same for most devices. We'll look at universal solutions that will help you get rid of unnecessary information noise.
Why Google’s Feed is on the Screen
The integration of Google services into Android smartphones is part of a licensing agreement. On Xiaomi devices, this integration is enhanced by cooperation with the search giant. By default, when the device is first activated, the system offers to enable personalized tape, and many users agree without paying attention to the terms.
Google Discover is an algorithmic feed that collects news, weather, currency rates and sports results based on your search history and location.It consumes CPU resources to constantly update content in the background.
The main reason users tend to turn off this feature is because of the inconvenience of navigation: random swipe leads to the opening of the browser or news feed, interrupting the workflow, and the presence of extra widgets on the zero screen visually clutters the interface.
- 📉 Battery consumption due to constant data synchronization.
- 🌐 Using mobile traffic to download news previews.
- 👆 Accidental opening of applications or sites with a quick turnaround of the desktop.
It's important to understand that turning off the feed doesn't remove Google apps from the device. Search, maps and the Play Market store will continue to work normally. You just remove the visual element that is activated by the swipe gesture.
Disconnection through desktop settings
The easiest and safest way to remove search is to use the launcher’s built-in settings, which do not require third-party software installation and works on most current versions of MIUI 12, 13, 14 and the new HyperOS.
To start, you need to get into the settings menu of the desktop itself. To do this, in the free space of the main screen, you need to make a pinch with two fingers (mix them together) or a long press on an empty area. In the bottom menu that appears, you should select Settings (cog icon).
In the settings that open, look for the section that handles the extra screens. Depending on the system location, it can be called "Additional Screens," "-1 Screen," or "Google Discover." The switch next to that point needs to be put inactive.
☑️ Checking the launcher settings
After these actions, the swipe in the appropriate direction will stop opening the news feed, the screen will remain empty or will skip this step, immediately moving to the first desktop with icons.
⚠️ Note: Some global firmware versions may call it "Glance" or "Widget Tape." If you can't see the Google switch, check if Xiaomi's alternative news service is activated.
Setup through the Google app
If the standard path through the launcher settings failed or the interface was changed by the manufacturer, you can try disabling the function from inside the Google app itself, which is effective when gesture management is tied to the level of search engine services.
Open the Google app on your smartphone. In the upper right corner, click on your account avatar. In the drop-down menu, select Settings and then go to General.
In the list of common settings, find the Detect (or Discover) item, and there's a switch that displays cards on the device, and if you turn it off, you'll prevent the app from forming tape to display to the main screen.
This method also allows you to fine-tune the types of content that you see if you don't want to completely abandon the feature, but just want to clear it of unnecessary noise.
- 📱 Open the Google app (G icon).
- 👤 Click on the profile avatar in the corner.
- ⚙️ Go to Settings. → General. → Discover.
- 🚫 Remove the box from the item "Show cards".
It is worth noting that after updating the Android system or the Google application itself, these settings can be reset to factory values, in which case the procedure will need to be repeated.
Use of third-party launchers
A radical but highly effective solution is to replace the standard MIUI launcher with a third-party launcher, giving you complete control over the gestures, appearance and functionality of the desktop, completely ignoring the limitations of the Xiaomi shell.
Popular launchers like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Lawnchair not only remove search when swiping, but also completely redraw the interface. You can swipe up the search opening, notification curtains or leave the action blank.
Compatibility of launchers with MIUI
To install a new launcher, download it from Google Play. Once installed, the system will prompt you to select the default app for working with the home screen. Select the installed launcher and confirm the action.
The advantage of this method is that it's highly customizable, and you can create a unique navigation system that's convenient for you, without the unnecessary elements imposed by the manufacturer.
| Launcher | Difficulty setting up | Flexibility | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nova Launcher | Medium | Very high. | Low. |
| Microsoft Launcher | Low. | Tall. | Average. |
| Lawnchair | Tall. | Maximum | Low. |
| Smart Launcher | Low. | Medium | Optimal. |
Using third-party software requires care, and make sure you download applications from trusted sources to avoid malicious code.
Specificity of Redmi and POCO models
The devices of the Redmi and POCO sub-brands often have software differences, particularly in the budget segment and the POCO series, aggressive advertising and in-house news aggregators such as Glance or GetApps are actively introduced.
On POCO phones with POCO Launcher shells, the settings may be elsewhere. Often you need to go to Settings → More → In-app Search, where you can turn off not only Google, but also internal app search, replacing it with standard system search.
The latest Redmi Notes feature Cards, which is visually similar to Google Discover, but is a native Xiaomi design, and it turns off using the same principle: desktop settings, but you need to look for Cards or Smart Assistant.
Users of gaming smartphones Black Shark (formerly part of the ecosystem) should also check the settings of the game mode, where you can display your widgets performance, taking place swipe.
⚠️ Note: Some Redmi models with Indian or Chinese firmware (Global) ROM) Regional news services may be pre-installed, and their removal may require a shutdown through the ADB or installing a global version of the software.
Problems after system update
Frequently, you successfully disabled your search, but after the MIUI or HyperOS update arrived, the setting reset, which is standard behavior for many security updates and major versions of Android that overwrite the launcher configuration files.
In such cases, you need to recheck your desktop settings. If the option "Additional screens" is lost or became inactive (serrated), this may mean a conflict between the versions of the Google application and the system.
The solution may be to update the Google app through the Play Market to the latest version. Sometimes it helps to clear the launcher’s cache: Settings → Apps → All Apps → System Launcher → Clear the cache. Note that cleaning the data (not the cache) will reset the location of the icons.
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If you can’t turn off your tape after the update, try temporarily changing the region in your phone settings (Settings → Advanced Settings → Region) to another country, such as India or the United States, then returning it back. This often updates service listings.
Also, in the new versions of HyperOS, Xiaomi is gradually abandoning Google Discover in favor of its own ecosystem tape, which is integrated deeper, in which case you will have to turn off Xiaomi services, not Google.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is it safe to disable Google’s system components?
Can I remove the Google app completely?
Why does the swipe still open the browser after disabling?
Does turning off the tape affect the speed of the phone?
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Turning off the news feed is a matter of personal comfort and resource savings, and the system continues to work correctly without this visual element, and the user gets a cleaner interface.