How to remove the widget from the main screen on Xiaomi: all ways for MIUI

Xiaomi widgets are a handy tool for quick access to information, but sometimes they take up space, slow down the system or just annoy with their appearance. If you tried to swipe the icon like a regular application, but nothing happened, do not be surprised: widgets are removed differently. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to remove widgets on Redmi, POCO and Mi smartphones running MIUI 12/13/14, including hidden functions and radical methods for stubborn elements.

Complicating the problem is that the manufacturer regularly changes the interface logic: what worked in MIUI 12 may not work in MIUI 14.We tested all methods on current firmware in 2026 and identified 5 reliable ways - from basic removal to launcher reset.

1. Standard widget removal on Xiaomi

Let's start with the simplest method, which works 90% of the time, and it's suitable for most custom widgets (weather, calendar, notes) and some system widgets (e.g. Google Search or Mi Fit).

Algorithm of action:

• 📱 Press the widget on the home screen for 1-2 seconds until the menu or basket icon appears.
• 🗑️ Drag the widget to the top of the screen where the Remove (or basket icon) will appear).
• ✅ Let go of your finger, the widget will disappear. If the basket doesn't show up, try the method. №2.

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO F5 or Redmi Note 12) instead of the basket can open menu options, in which case, select Remove the widget or Remove from the screen.

If the widget does not respond to the press, check:

• 🔒 Is there a lock screen (swipe down the notification bar and make sure that the mode Protection against accidental presses is turned off).
• 📦 The widget is not part of a system application (e.g. Security or Topics) and is often protected from removal.

2. Removal through editing of the main screen

If the standard method didn’t work, try activating editing mode, which is especially useful for widgets that stick to the screen and don’t respond to taps.

Instructions:

1. Touch the empty space on the main screen and hold for 2 seconds.
2. At the bottom of the screen, a panel with options will appear – select Widgets (or screen settings on MIUI 14).
3. Find the widget you want in the list, pinch it and drag it to the basket (or click Remove).

💡 Useful advice: On some firmware (MIUI 13 Global) widgets in this menu are displayed in the Active section. If it is empty, try rebooting your smartphone - sometimes this helps to "unlock" sticky items.

Check out the MIUI version (Settings → About the phone)

Turn off the power saving mode (Settings → Battery)

Make sure the widget is not system (list in Settings → Apps)

Restart your phone if the widget doesn’t respond-->

3. Hidden widgets and system limitations

Some widgets (such as Weather, Steps or Mi Home) are protected by the system and are not removed in standard ways, because they are part of Xiaomi’s pre-installed services and are tied to key features.

How to recognize such a widget:

• 🔍 It appears after resetting settings or updating. MIUI.
• 🔄 It cannot be moved to another screen or folder.
• 🚫 When you try to delete a notification This widget cannot be deleted.

Solutions for stubborn widgets:

⚠️ Attention: Disabling system widgets through Settings → Applications can cause errors in the operation of services (for example, the weather or step counter will stop updating). → Additionally. → Backup.

4. Radical methods: ADB and launcher reset

If the widget isn't being removed by any means, you'll have to use advanced tools, which require caution, but are guaranteed to solve the problem.

Method 1: Remove via ADB (for power users)

This method is suitable for removing built-in widgets that do not lend themselves to standard methods, you will need a computer with Xiaomi drivers installed and USB debugging enabled on the phone.

Steps:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
2. Enable USB debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command in the terminal: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.weather2 (replace com.miui.weather2 with the desired widget package).

📌 Key conclusion: ADB — The most powerful tool to remove system components, but misuse can cause crashes MIUI. Before experimenting, examine the list of packages with the adb shell pm list packages command. | grep miui.

Method 2: Resetting the launcher settings

If the widget is duplicated, not deleted or "hangs" on the screen, resetting the launcher will help, which does not delete data, but returns the main screen to the factory settings.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Launcher (or MIUI Launcher) and select Warehouse.
3. Click Clear Data and Clear Cache.
4. Reboot the phone.

5 Third-party launchers as a solution to the problem

If system methods don't work, the most reliable way to get rid of intrusive widgets is to install an alternative launcher, which completely replaces the standard MIUI interface, allowing you to flexibly configure the main screen.

The best launchers for Xiaomi in 2026:

• 🌟 Nova Launcher – supports gestures, hiding icons and widgets, fine tuning animations.
• 🎨 Lawnchair is a lightweight open source launcher optimized for performance.
• 📱 POCO Launcher – official launcher from Xiaomi, but with advanced features (available on Google Play).
• 🔄 Microsoft Launcher – Windows integration, notification synchronization.

How to install and configure:

1. Download the launcher from Google Play (like Nova Launcher).
2. After installation, click the Home button and select the new launcher as the main one.
3. Press your finger on the main screen → Launcher settings → Widgets.
4. Find the unnecessary widget and remove it (in Nova Launcher, this is done by swiping to the left).

⚠️ Note: When using third-party launchers, system widgets MIUI To fix this, go back to the standard launcher or set up alternative widgets (e.g. Google Weather instead of Mi Weather).

6. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When you remove widgets, users often face typical problems, and let's look at the most common ones and how to solve them.

Error 1: The widget is removed but reappears after the reboot.

• 🔄 Reason: The widget is tied to a system application that automatically restores it.
• 🛠 Solution: Turn off auto-start for this application in Settings → Permits → Auto-start.

Error 2: You can’t delete Google Search or Mi Video widget.

• 🔍 Reason: These widgets are protected by Google or Xiaomi policies.
• 🛠 Solution: Hide through launcher settings or disable in Settings → Annexes → Google (remove permission to display over other windows).

Error 3: After removing the widget, notifications (such as weather) disappear.

• 🔔 Reason: The widget was part of the system notification service.
• 🛠 Solution: Install an alternative widget (e.g. AccuWeather) or return the standard widget via Settings → Notifications → Widget settings.

💡

If the widget is not removed in any way, try temporarily disabling MIUI optimization. To do this, go to Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization, find the app associated with the widget, and select No Limits. After that, try again to delete.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions