How to remove widgets from the screen of the Xiaomi phone: all the ways (including hidden)

Widgets on Xiaomi’s screen can be useful, but they often become a source of irritation, taking up space, slowing down the system or simply getting in the way, especially for MIUI 14/15 users, where the manufacturer actively imposes standard weather widgets, calendar and even advertising blocks. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to remove them, from basic to hidden features that are not written in the official instructions.

It’s important to understand that Xiaomi divides widgets into three categories: system (weather, hours), applications (Google, Yandex) and advertising (promo banners from MIUI). Each type requires a different approach. For example, a standard weather widget can simply be dragged to the cart, but ad units will have to be disabled through deep settings. We’ll look at solutions for all cases — including the hidden developer mode, which allows you to remove even those widgets that MIUI does not allow you to touch through the usual interface.

If you are using the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 or the flagship Xiaomi 13 series, the instructions below will be suitable for all models on MIUI 12-15. The only exception is older devices on MIUI 11 and below, where some features may not be available, in which case you will need to update the firmware or use alternative methods (which we will also discuss).

1. Basic method: removal of widgets by drag and drop

The simplest method works for most app widgets and some system ones, requiring no additional settings and takes less than 10 seconds:

• 📱 Unlock your phone and go to the main screen where the unnecessary widget is located.
• 👆 Press the widget and hold your finger for 1-2 seconds until it “rises” above the screen.
• 🗑️ Drag it to the top of the screen where the Remove or Cart sign (dumpster icon) will appear).
• 🎯 Let go of your finger, the widget will disappear.

This works for Google, Yandex.Weather, Calendar and other third-party widgets, but Xiaomi system widgets (such as MIUI Weather or Steps) are often blocked from such removal, in which case move on to the next method.

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO F4) After removing the widget through drag and drop, it can appear again after the reboot. MIUI 14.To avoid the problem, after deleting, go to Settings → Main screen screen → Restore the layout and disable this function.

2. disable widgets through the settings of the main screen

If the widget is not removed by drag and drop, it can be deactivated in the settings menu.This method is suitable for system widgets that MIUI does not allow to remove in the standard way:

1. Open the phone settings.
2. Go to the Main Screen section (on some firmware it may be called the Desktop).
3. Select Widgets or Widgets Configuration.
4. Find an unnecessary widget in the list and move the slider to the off position.

After that, the widget will disappear from the screen, but will remain on the list of available, to return it back, you just need to turn on the slider again, which works for the Weather, Calendar, Notes and other system elements.

If the widget is not in the settings list, it is a protected system element, in which case only the developer mode will help (more about this in the next section).

Enable Developer Mode | Make a backup of data | Check the version of MIUI | Close all background applications-->

3. Removing Protected Widgets through Developer Mode

Some widgets (such as banner ads or Mi Video widgets) are protected from removal by standard methods. To remove them, you will need to activate the developer mode and use the device. ADB-This is a way for power users, but we'll give you a step-by-step guide:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Click 7 times on MIUI Version until you become a developer!
2. Turn on USB debugging: Return to Settings → Additional → Developer. Activate the USB debugging switch.

Connect your phone to your PC and do it. ADB-team:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.systemAdSolution

This command removes the system application responsible for advertising widgets. Other widgets will require other commands (you can find them in specialized forums, such as 4PDA).

⚠️ Note: Removing system applications through ADB This can cause unstable phone operation.Be sure to back up through Settings before executing commands. → Memory. → Backup.If you have errors after removing the widgets, restore your phone via Fastboot.

If you don’t want to use ADB, an alternative way is to disable widgets through the developer’s settings:

1. In the Developer Menu, find the item Limit Background Processes and set the value Without Background Processes.
2. Restart your phone. Some widgets (like the Mi Browser) will stop showing.

4. Hiding widgets with third-party launchers

If standard methods don't work, alternative launchers (like Nova Launcher, Lawnchair or Hyperion Launcher) can be used to fully customize the home screen, including removing any widgets, even system ones.

• 🎨 Full control of the screen layout.
• 🚫 Blocking advertising widgets MIUI.
• 🔄 The ability to return the standard launcher at any time.

Instructions for setting up Nova Launcher:

1. Install Nova Launcher from Google Play.
2. When you first start, select Import layout (to keep the current shortcuts).
3. Press and hold your finger in the free screen space → widget settings.
4. In the list of widgets, uncheck the unneeded ones (for example, Mi Weather or Mi Browser).
5. Save the changes and install Nova Launcher as the default launcher in your phone’s settings.

The downside of this method is that some MIUI system features (such as gestures or quick settings) may not work properly, and on budget models (Redmi 10A, POCO M4), third-party launchers may slightly slow down animation.

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If after installing the alternative launcher, notification icons (for example, charging indicator) are missing, go to its settings and turn on the option to Show notification icons (Notification Dots).

5. Reset the settings of the main screen (last resort)

If the widgets aren't deleted by any means, you can reset the home screen, and that will bring the screen back to factory status by removing all the widgets, folders and shortcuts, and the app data and files on the phone will remain intact.

How to reset the screen settings:

1. Go to Settings. → Main screen screen.
2. Select Reset (or Restore the Default layout).
3. Confirm the action.

After resetting, you’ll have to reconfigure the shortcuts and wallpaper, but all widgets (including system ones) will disappear, a technique that’s especially useful if the screen is crammed with banner ads after the MIUI 14 → MIUI 15 update.

⚠️ Note: Some firmware (Xiaomi.eu or Global) ROM) Resetting the main screen can also remove gesture settings and lock password. Before performing, check if your data is saved in the Mi Account.

6.Blocking Advertising Widgets through MIUI Settings

A separate problem is the ad widgets that Xiaomi embeds into the firmware (for example, Mi Video, Mi Browser or GetApps banners), which can not be removed by standard methods, but you can disable:

• 📵 Through Advertising Settings: Open Settings → Memory. → Clean. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Cleaning Settings. Turn off the slider Recommendations.
• 🔧 Through Application Settings: Go to Settings → Annexes → App management. Find GetApps, Mi Video or Mi Browser. turn off notifications and background activity.

If the ads continue to appear, try turning off personalized recommendations:

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Advertising.
2. Turn off all sliders related to personalization.
3. Reboot the phone.

Nana POCO-In addition, check the theme settings: sometimes advertising widgets are hidden in Settings. → Theme → Recommendations.

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Disabling personalized ads in Mi Account reduces the number of ad widgets by 70-80%, but does not remove them completely. ADB root-access.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When removing widgets, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ways to solve them:

• 🔄 The widget returns after the reboot: This is due to the Autorestore layout function in the MIUI 14+. Turn it off in Settings. → Main screen screen → Rebuilding the layout.
• 🔒 You can't drag the widget into the cart: So it's a secure system widget. Use it. ADB Developer mode (see section 3).
• ⚡ The phone started to brake after removing the widgets: You probably deleted an important system application. Restore it through Settings → Annexes → Show it all. → Three points. → Show system-based.
• 📱 There is an empty space on the screen: It's normal — MIUI It doesn't automatically compress the layout. To remove the spaces, press and hold your finger on the screen. → Screen settings → Change the size of the grid.

If none of the methods worked, check out the MIUI version. On some firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.eu), widgets are removed differently than on the Global ROM. Check the version in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions