How to Remove Xiaomi Widgets on the Left: A Complete Guide for All Devices

The left sidebar with widgets on Xiaomi devices is a convenient tool for quick access to applications and functions, but not all users like it. Many complain about accidental taps that lead to the opening of unnecessary windows, or that the panel takes up precious space on the screen. TV with a PatchWall shell, where a side curtain can appear even while watching movies.

If you want to remove the widgets on the left, or at least turn them off automatically, this article is for you. We'll look at all the options, from standard settings to hidden developer settings. It's important to understand that the methods differ depending on the type of device: MIUI smartphones, Mi TVs or Xiaomi Pad tablets. Some solutions require root rights, but most are available without them.

Why do the widgets on the left appear on their own?

Before you remove the panel, it’s worth figuring out why it’s activated without you. There are several reasons for Xiaomi devices:

• 👆 Random gestures: On smartphones, the panel often opens when swiped from the left edge of the screen. If you have a sensitive touchscreen or a protective glass with rounded edges, the system may perceive touching as intentional gestures.
• 🔄 Automatic deployment: On TVs Mi TV The panel may appear when getting stuck the cursor over the left edge or after pressing certain buttons on the remote (for example, Home or Menu).
• 📱 Errors of the shell: In some versions MIUI (especially 12-14) there are bugs when the panel opens arbitrarily after unlocking the screen or when switching between applications.
• 🔧 Default settings: After resetting or updating the system, the sidebar can turn on automatically, even if you previously disabled it.

On TVs, the problem is compounded by the fact that the PatchWall panel doesn't just get in the way -- it covers part of the screen while watching videos, which is particularly annoying when watching movies in wide format. Unlike smartphones, where you can swipe the panel back, on Mi TV it sometimes sticks and doesn't disappear until you reboot.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi TVs (e.g. Mi) TV 4S 55" or Mi" TV Q1) The widget panel is hard-stitched into firmware, and the only way to remove it is by rolling back the old PatchWall version or installing custom firmware, which is not guaranteed.

Method 1: Disconnect via standard settings (without root)

The easiest and safest method is to use the built-in system options, which is suitable for most smartphones with MIUI 12-14 and TVs with PatchWall version 3.0 and higher.

For smartphones and tablets Xiaomi:

1. Open the Settings. → Home (or Desktop).
2. Select Sidebar (on some devices it is called Quick Access Panel).
3. Translate the slider Insert the side panel in the off position..
4. If there is no option, try the path: Settings → Additional → Features → Sidebar.

On some models (such as the Redmi Note 10 Pro or POCO X3 Pro), the panel is disabled via Settings → Screen → Gestures, where you need to deactivate the Swipe option from the edge for the sidebar.

For Mi TVs:

1. Press the Settings button on the remote.
2. Go to System Settings → Home.
3. Select the Recommendation Panel Settings (or Sidebar).
4. Turn off the option to show the panel when getting stuck.
5. For full cover, also deactivate Automatic Deployment.

If you don’t have these items on your TV, try an alternative path: Settings → Smart Features → PatchWall → UI settings.

Make sure the panel does not contain important widgets (weather, calendar)

Remember the path to frequently used applications

Check if the widgets are connected to the smart home (Mi Home)

Take a screenshot of the current settings (in case of rollbacks)-->

Method 2: Using Developer Mode (for experienced)

If standard settings don't work, you can try turning off the panel through developer mode, which works on smartphones and some TV models, but caution is needed - wrong actions can lead to crashes.

Activation of the developer mode:

On a smartphone:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Press 7 times in a row on the MIUI version.
3. You will be notified that you have become a developer.

On TV:

1. Open the Settings. → On TV.
2. Press 5-7 times on the PatchWall version or build number.

Disable the panel via ADB (for smartphones):

If the panel does not turn off via the menu, you can use the ADB command:

adb shell settings put secure sysui_quickpanel_hidden 1

Once you've done the command, restart the device. To return the panel, replace 1 with 0.

For Mi TVs:

In developer mode, you can turn off the panel animation, which will make it less intrusive:

1. Go to the Developer Settings (will appear after activation of the mode).
2. Find the window animation option and set the value without animation.
3. Also turn off the display of tips when getting stuck.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi TVs with firmware older than 2021, changing the developer settings can cause PatchWall settings to reset.Before experimenting, back up via Settings → System system → Backup.

Method 3: Removal through third-party applications (requires root)

If none of these methods worked, the radical solution is to remove the system components responsible for the panel, which is only possible on devices with unlocked bootloaders and root rights.

For smartphones on MIUI:

With a root-access file manager (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer), delete or freeze the following files:

• /system/priv-app/MiuiSystemAdSolution/MiuiSystemAdSolution.apk is responsible for advertising widgets.
• /system/priv-app/QuickStep/QuickStep.apk – manages gestures and sidebar.
• /system/app/Lawnchair/Lawnchair.apk is an alternative launcher that can duplicate the panel.

Once you delete, restart the device. If the panel is gone but there are errors in the system, restore the deleted files from the backup.

For Mi TVs:

On TVs, the process is more complicated because of the closed PatchWall architecture.

1. Install Magisk and PatchWall Mod (available on 4PDA forums).
2. Through ADB, execute the command: adb shell pm uninstall-k --user 0 com.dianshang.mitvapp (remove the core module of the recommendation panel).
3. Reboot the TV.

💡

Before deleting system files, always back up via TWRP or other custom recovery, which will allow you to restore the device if something goes wrong.

Method 4: Alternative launchers (for smartphones)

If the widget panel is tied to a standard MIUI launcher, you can bypass it by installing a third-party launcher, which requires no root rights and is reversible.

Recommended launchers:

• 🔄 Microsoft Launcher – offers its own widget bar, but without intrusive elements.

How to install and configure:

1. Download the launcher from Google Play or APKMirror.
2. When you first start, select it as the default launcher.
3. In the new launcher settings, find the Gestures or Sidebars section and disable all related options.
4. For reliability, also deactivate the standard MIUI launcher through Settings → Applications → Application Management → Launcher → Disable.

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO F3 Xiaomi 11T) After installing a third-party launcher, navigation gestures may disappear MIUI. In this case, return the standard launcher or adjust alternative gestures in the new launcher.

What if the widgets return after the update?

One of the most common problems is that the widget bar reappears after the MIUI or PatchWall update, which is because the system resets some settings to default values.

How to prevent the return of the panel:

If the panel still returns, try to roll back to the previous version of MIUI via Fastboot or MI Flash Tool. Instructions for rollback can be found on the official Xiaomi forum or 4PDA.

💡

MIUI and PatchWall updates often reset custom settings. To avoid widgets returning, turn off automatic updates or use Magisk to block changes.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When you try to remove the widgets on the left, you often encounter typical problems, and here are the most common ones and how to solve them:

• ❌ "No "Sidebar" item in settings: Reason: On some firmware (e.g, MIUI Global for the European region) option hidden. Solution: change region to India or China in Settings → Additionally. → Region.
• ❌ "The panel is gone, but gestures are no longer working": Reason: Disabling the sidebar may conflict with navigation settings.Solution: return the standard launcher or adjust gestures in an alternative launcher.
• ❌ "After deleting system files, the phone will not turn on": Reason: Critical components removed MIUI. Solution: Fastboot your device or restore deleted files from the backup.
• ❌ "On TV, the panel only appears in some apps": Reason: Some apps (such as Netflix or YouTube) have their own interface settings. Solution: disable "Integration with PatchWall" in the settings of these apps.

If none of the methods worked, check if the panel is part of the MIUI advertising module, in which case only completely removing ads through ADB or installing custom firmware will help.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions