How to remove widgets from the desktop Xiaomi Redmi 9A: the complete guide

Xiaomi Redmi 9A desktops are often hijacked by unnecessary widgets, from weather to app recommendations, that take up space, slow down the system and distract from basic tasks, especially by the annoying MIUI system widgets that are not removed in the standard way, and in this article we will discuss all possible methods of cleaning the screen, from basic to hidden shell functions.

Many people mistakenly think that it is enough to hold a finger on a widget and drag it into the basket, like with conventional icons. However, MIUI behaves differently: some elements are tied to system services and require a separate approach. We tested all methods on Redmi 9A with the latest firmware versions (including MIUI 12.5 and MIUI 13) and identified those that work stably.

If you find that after the update, new widgets appeared on the screen (for example, Xiaomi World or Recommended Apps), take your time to reset the settings. 90% of the time, the problem is solved by a combination of two or three simple actions. Let’s start with the most obvious and gradually get to “heavy artillery”.

1. Standard removal: long press and widget menu

The easiest way to do this is for most third-party widgets (e.g., Google, Yandex or social media).

1. Press and hold your finger on the widget you want to remove until the menu appears.
2. At the top of the screen will appear a panel with options – look for the icon “Delete” (usually a basket or cross).
3. Drag the widget into this area and release your finger.

⚠️ If after a long press the widget simply increases or opens the settings menu – it means that this is a system element. MIUI, And it can't be removed that way.

Some widgets (such as Weather or Calendar) may offer the option of “Widget Settings” instead of deleting.

• 🔧 Open the widget settings and look for the “Show on Desktop” switch – turn it off.
• 📱 If you don’t have an option, try disabling the service itself in your phone settings (more on that below).

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If the widget doesn't get deleted, but it can be moved, move it to a separate screen that you don't use, so it won't interfere, but it will stay in the system.

2. disable system widgets through MIUI settings

Xiaomi embeds widgets into the MIUI shell that are not removed in the standard way.

• 🌍 «The world of Xiaomi (advertising banners)
• 📱 «Recommended annexes»
• 📊 «Usage statistics»
• 🔄 «Quick settings" (in some firmware)

To remove them, you need to disable the relevant services:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search bar, type the name of the widget (for example, “The World of Xiaomi”).
3. Select the app from the list and click “Disable” or “Delete Updates” (if the button is active).
4. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

⚠️ Note: Disabling system applications may cause some features to fail (e.g., access to branded themes or cloud storage will disappear). If errors occur after the shutdown, return the settings back.

Backup of important data |

Remember which widgets you are disabling |

Check the version of MIUI (Settings → About phone)|

Prepare for a possible reboot-->

3.Resetting launcher settings (without data loss)

If the widgets appeared after updating or resetting the phone, resetting the settings of the standard MIUI launcher will help. This method does not affect user data, but will return the desktop to its factory appearance.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Louncher app (or MIUI Launcher).
3. Click on “Storage” → “Clear Data” and confirm.
4. Reboot the phone.

Once you reboot, all widgets will disappear, but you'll have to re-arrange the app icons, which is especially effective if you have duplicate widgets or items that aren't removed by other methods.

4. Use of a third-party launcher (radical method)

If none of the previous methods worked, the most reliable option is to install an alternative launcher, which completely replaces the standard MIUI shell and allows you to flexibly configure the desktop.

Best launchers for Redmi 9A:

After the launcher is installed:

• 📲 Click the Home button and select the new launcher as the main one.
• 🔧 In the launcher settings, disable the option “Show widgets” MIUI» (if).
• 🗑️ Remove unnecessary widgets through the launcher menu (usually a long press). → «Delete»).

Important: Third-party launchers can slightly increase battery consumption (by 3-7%) due to background work. If autonomy is critical, choose Nova Launcher or Apex in light mode.

Standard MIUI Launcher|

Nova Launcher|

Apex Launcher|

Lawnchair|

Another (write in the comments)|-->

5. Manual removal via ADB (for advanced)

If you’re ready for experimentation, you can remove system widgets through ADB debugging. This method requires connecting the phone to a computer and basic command line knowledge.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Click 7 times on MIUI Version until the notification appears.

USB debugging

Settings → Additional → For Developers

ADB Tools

adb devices

Make sure the device is identified.

"The World of Xiaomi."

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.mishare.connectivity

com.miui.mishare.connectivity

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB This could cause the phone to fail:

• 🔋 Charge your phone at least 50%.
• 📁 Make a backup copy through Settings → Additionally. → Backup.
• 📝 Write down all the commands you enter.

List of packages of popular MIUI widgets:

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ADB-The teams are only running until the first flashing of the phone. MIUI System applications are being restored.

6. Hidden MIUI settings: Theme editor

Few people know, but MIUI has a built-in theme editor that allows you to disable individual elements of the interface — including widgets — a method that does not require root rights and works on most versions of the firmware.

How to get to the editor:

1. Open the “Themes” app (icon with brush).
2. Go to the "My" section» → «Edit».
3. Select "Desktop."
4. Scroll down to the Widgets block and disable the unnecessary ones.

If the option is not available:

• 🔄 Update the Themes app via Google Play.
• 📥 Set an alternative theme (such as Minimalism) that doesn’t contain widgets initially.

This method is especially useful if you want to remove the search widget or quick settings panel that is not usually removed by standard methods.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When removing widgets, users often face typical problems.

1. The widget disappeared but returned after the reboot Reason: the system app automatically recovers.Solution: Disable auto-update for this app on Google Play. ADB-flag-bearer --user 0 (sectionally 5).
2. Signals don't work after the launcher change Reason: conflict between MIUI system gestures and launcher Solution: In the launcher settings, turn off "Use system gestures." Or go back to the standard launcher and set the gestures in Settings → Lock screen and password → Gestures.

All icons disappeared after the launcher was dropped

Reason: Cleaning the launcher data resets it to factory settings.

• Restart your phone and the icons will be restored.
• If not, manually add them back through the app menu.