Owners of Xiaomi Mi A1 smartphones often face an intrusive interface that, despite the pure Android One, still integrates Google services too deeply. Standard firmware offers a news feed, a search bar and widgets that take up precious space on the screen and consume resources in the background. Removing these elements will not only visually clean the desktop, but can also positively affect the autonomy of the device.
The deactivation process depends on which component you are concerned about: it can be a standard search bar, a weather widget or an entire Google Discover news feed. In this article, we will discuss all available methods, from simple settings to using third-party launchers.
Before we start taking any drastic measures, we should try the standard desktop customization tools, which are safe and do not require additional software installation, and if the standard methods do not give the desired result, we will move to more advanced options.
Disabling Google Discover tape on your desktop
The most notable element that many want to remove is the side feed that swipes right. In the Xiaomi Mi A1 with Android One shell, it is often integrated into the standard launcher. To turn it off, you need to make a long tap from an empty desktop space.
In the settings menu that opens, select Settings or More. Here you will see the switch that displays the tape «-1» And if you turn the slider off, you remove the extra page. Importantly, after that, the swipe to the right will just put you back at the top of the app list or do nothing, depending on the firmware version.
If a standard switch is missing, try going to the settings of the Google app itself. Search the Google app list, open its settings, and look for the "Set up" or "General" section, which may also hide the option to turn off the tape on the home screen. Android One sometimes hides these settings deeper than the standard MIUI.
⚠️ Warning: Disabling Discover tape does not remove Google app from device, it only hides news stream. Complete removal of system components requires root rights and may disrupt other services.
Removing Google Search bar from the screen
The search bar at the top or bottom of the screen is a widget that can be removed just like any app icon. You don't have to be an expert in modifying the system. Just look for a widget on your desktop.
You can make a long click on the search bar. Depending on the version of Android, you'll have two options: either the Remove zone (basket) will appear at the top of the screen, or the context menu will pop up. Drag the widget into the cart or select Delete.
In some cases, if the widget is part of the theme, the system may not allow it to be removed, then changing the theme to a standard "Classic" or "Default" through the launcher settings will help, and once the theme is changed, the widget will become a regular element that can be easily removed.
☑️ Pre-deletion check
It's worth noting that deleting the search bar doesn't affect the voice assistant or the search engine in the browser. You just clear the visual space. If the search bar comes back after you reboot, it might be in the set theme configuration.
Using third-party launchers for complete cleaning
If the standard launcher Xiaomi Mi A1 does not provide the desired flexibility, the best solution is to install an alternative launcher, which completely replaces the desktop interface, allowing you to remove any Google widgets, even those sewn into the system.
Popular options are Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher. Once you install such an app and assign it to the default, you will have full control of the desktop grid. You will be able to create a screen without a single Google widget.
| Launcher | Difficulty setting up | Possibility of removing widgets | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nova Launcher | Medium | Complete. | Low. |
| Microsoft Launcher | Low. | Complete. | Average. |
| Smart Launcher | Low. | Partial | Low. |
| Lawnchair | Tall. | Complete. | Low. |
| Nova Launcher | Medium | Complete. | Low. |
| Microsoft Launcher | Low. | Complete. | Average. |
| Smart Launcher | Low. | Partial | Low. |
| Lawnchair | Tall. | Complete. | Low. |
When you install a new launcher, the system will ask for confirmation. Select "Always" for the new app to become the main one. After that, the old interface with Google widgets will disappear, replaced by a clean screen.
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Use profile-enabled launchers to quickly switch between the work and game interface without widgets.
Disabling widgets through application settings
A deeper method involves working with the settings of the apps themselves that create the widgets, most often Google, Google Play or Weather, and disabling these components can prevent widgets from appearing.
Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps. Find Google. Click on it and select Notifications or Permissions. While you can’t remove the widget, you can limit background activity, making the widget less “intrusive” in terms of updates.
Some system widgets have the option to “Disable” in the app menu, and if you see a button like this, the system will warn you of the possible consequences. Be careful: disabling the Google system app can lead to incorrect search and voice input.
The alternative is through the widget menu. Hold your finger on your desktop, select "Widgets." Search in the Google list and see if you can remove a particular widget from the system. On pure Android, this is rarely available, but in custom builds it can occur.
Using ADB for Advanced Users
For those who are not afraid of the command line, there is a method to remove the system packages responsible for widgets through Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This way you can remove components that are normally hidden from the user. You'll need a computer and a cable. USB.
First, you need to enable USB debugging on your smartphone. To do this, go to Settings → About Phone and 7 times click on “Build Number.” In the “Developers” menu, activate “Debug by USB”.
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchboxExecuting this command will remove the Google Search app that is responsible for the search bar and newsfeed.Removing the com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox package is the most efficient way to clear the screen of Google widgets on the Mi A1.
⚠️ Attention: use ADB Deleting critical system packets can cause a cyclical reboot of the device.
How to return a remote application via ADB?
Once you've done the command, the changes will take effect immediately, and the widgets will disappear, and the apps will no longer appear on the menu, and this is a radical but very powerful method for enthusiasts.
Frequent questions and problem-solving
When cleaning the screen, users often face repetitive problems, widgets can come back after a system update or change theme, and security issues for removing system components also raise questions.
If the widget reappears after the reboot, check if sync is enabled with your Google account, which restores desktop layout. Turn off backup of desktop settings in your Google account.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with settings, as the Xiaomi Mi A1 is an open-loader device, and it’s not difficult to return factory settings to it through the Recovery menu.
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The combination of a third-party launcher and disabling Discover tape solves 95% of intrusive widget problems without risking the system.