How to completely remove widgets on the left on Xiaomi: disable the sidebar in MIUI

Why are widgets on the left bothering Xiaomi users and can they be removed?

The left side menu with widgets is one of the most controversial features of MIUI firmware. On the one hand, it provides quick access to frequently used functions: calculator, flashlight, notes or notes. On the other hand, it takes up precious space on the screen, accidentally opens when swipes and slows down animations on weak Redmi or POCO smartphones.

Fortunately, Xiaomi has provided several ways to disable this panel, from standard settings to hidden commands via ADB. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods for MIUI 14/15 (including global and Chinese versions), and also explain how to return widgets back if they suddenly need them.

Before you start, check your firmware version in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. This depends on which menu items are available to you. For example, on Xiaomi 13 Pro with MIUI 15, the path to widget settings is different from the Redmi Note 10 with MIUI 14.

Method 1: Disconnect via standard MIUI settings

The easiest and safest method is to use the built-in system options, which is suitable for most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models on MIUI 14/15, but may not be available on older firmware versions (up to MIUI 12.5).

Instructions:

1. Open the settings (cog icon).
2. Go to the Desktop section (or Lock Screen and Desktop on some models).
3. Select the Desktop Settings item → Widgets.
4. Find the option Sidebar widgets (or left menu widgets) and move the slider to the position "Off".
5. Confirm the action if a warning appears.

If there is no such item, try an alternative path:

• 📱 Long press on the free space of the desktop.
• 🔧 In the menu that appears, select Desktop Settings.
• 🔍 Scroll down to the Additional section – there may be a disable option hidden.

⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI And when you turn off the sidebar, you lose access to Google Discover when you swipe left. ADB (see method 4).

Method 2: Removal through desktop editing

If you don’t have a direct option to turn off the widgets, you can try removing widgets manually through screen editing mode, which doesn’t work on all models, but often helps on POCO X3, Redmi Note 11, and other devices with MIUI 13+.

Step-by-step:

1. Press and hold your finger on any free desktop spot (not on the icon!).
2. At the bottom of the screen will appear toolbar – select Widgets (icon with squares).
3. Scroll the list of widgets to the left until you see the Sidebar (or Left menu) section.
4. Click on the basket icon (or icon "−") Next to each widget to remove it.
5. After removing all the elements, the panel should disappear.

If you have an empty area left after this, try:

• 🔄 Reboot the phone.
• 📱 Install a third-party launcher (like Nova Launcher) that completely replaces the standard interface MIUI.
• 🔧 Return to Method 1 and repeat the steps – sometimes the panel disappears only after a combination of methods.

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If you have a gray background left after you remove the widgets, try changing the wallpaper on your desktop, and sometimes it resets the interface cache and removes the artifacts.

Method 3: Use of a third-party launcher (Nova, Apex, Lawnchair)

If standard methods don't work, the most reliable option is to install an alternative launcher, which completely replaces the MIUI shell, allowing you to customize the interface to suit yourself.

• 🌟 Nova Launcher is the most flexible, with gesture and themes support.
• ⚡ Lawnchair is an open source lightweight launcher.
• 🎨 Apex Launcher – Good for Older Models (Redmi) 9A, POCO M3).

How to install and configure:

1. Download the launcher from Google Play (like Nova Launcher).
2. After installation, click Home and select a new launcher as your primary.
3. Go to the launcher settings and turn off the option to Show the Sidebar (the name may differ).
4. If necessary, adjust gestures – for example, swipe left can be reassigned to open Google Feed.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔧 Complete control of the interface.
• 🚀 Improved performance on weak devices.
• 🎨 Possibility of customization of icons, animations and transitions.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Xiaomi Mi) A3, POCO X2) After installing a third-party launcher, system widgets (such as weather or pedometer) may disappear. To return them, you will have to temporarily return a standard launcher.

Method 4: Disconnect via ADB (for advanced users)

If previous methods didn’t work, the radical method is the use of Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires connecting the phone to a computer and basic command line knowledge, but is guaranteed to remove the sidebar on any version of MIUI.

What you need:

• 💻 A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press the version MIUI → return to → For developers → Debugging by USB).

Instructions:

1. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.
2. Open the command line (Win + R → enter cmd).
3. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
4. Execute the command to disable the sidebar: adb shell settings put secure sysui_left_panel_enabled 0
5. Reboot your phone: adb reboot

To return widgets back, use the same command, but with 1 instead of 0.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware (MIUI China Stable after the team ADB You may reset the allowed refresh rate. Check the display settings after you restart!

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Adb shell settings put secure sysui_left_panel_enabled 0 work 90% Xiaomi devices, but may require superuser (root) rights on custom firmware.

Method 5: Manual editing of system files (root only)

This method is only suitable for users with an unlocked bootloader and installed Magisk (or other root rights manager) and allows you to permanently remove widgets on the left, but if you do not care can lead to the collapse of the system.

Step-by-step:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to /system/priv-app/MiuiSystemUI/
3. Find the file. MiuiSystemUI.apk And make a backup copy of it (copy it on the backup). SD-map).
4. Open the file in a text editor (for example, via APK Editor) and find the line: bool mLeftPanelEnabled = true; Replace true with false.
5. Save the changes by overwriting the original file and restart the phone.

Risks of the method:

• 💥 Bootloop ( looped reboot) possible if editing error.
• 🔄 After updating MIUI change.
• ⚠️ Xiaomi’s warranty will be cancelled.

On Xiaomi 12T and later, the MiuiSystemUI.apk file can be protected with the DM-Verity signature, in which case you need to disable integrity check via Magisk (Disable DM-Verity module) before editing.

What if the left-hand widgets are missing but other problems arise?

Sometimes, after you turn off the sidebar, you have side effects like lags, Google Feed disappearing, or gesture failures. Here's how to fix them:

If after manipulation the phone started to brake, try:

• 🔄 Restart the device in safe mode (press the power button) → "Restarting in Safe Mode").
• 🧹 Clear the cache via Recovery (turn off the phone) → clamp down on power. + Loudness up → Choose the Wipe Cache).
• 📱 Reset the launcher settings (Settings) → Annexes → MIUI Launcher → Warehouse → Clear the data).

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing widgets on the left on Xiaomi