How to remove unnecessary tabs Xiaomi: cleaning the desktop

Modern shells MIUI and HyperOS offer users a huge amount of functionality, but often turn the desktop into a chaotic pile of elements. Many owners of smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO faced a situation where screens are full of unnecessary widgets, news feeds and duplicate folders. This not only visually clutters the interface, but can significantly reduce the performance of the device, spending the resources of the processor in the background.

There are a number of ways to remove tabs and clean up the system, from simple manual sorting to the use of special debugging tools. In this article, we will discuss all available methods for cleaning the interface in detail. You will learn to remove system widgets, disable intrusive recommendations and optimize the launcher for maximum comfort.

Analysis of tab types and widgets in MIUI

Before you start deleting, it's important to be clear about what elements you're dealing with. The system often masks different types of objects under normal labels, and the approach to eliminating them can be drastically different. Widgets are dynamic elements that display information in real time, whereas folders serve only as containers for applications.

Special attention should be paid to system tapes such as Google Discover or Yandex Zen, which are embedded in the desktop structure as separate pages. There are hidden recommendation tabs that are activated by default when you first start a smartphone. Understanding the nature of each element is the first step to a clean system.

Some users confuse standard weather or calendar widgets with full-fledged pages, trying to remove them by standard methods, which does not always work. It is important to distinguish between an application shortcut that can be moved and a system widget that requires specific actions to deactivate.

• 📱 Standard widgets: clock, weather, calendar, which can be removed with a long tap.
• 📰 Information feeds: Google Discover, Mi Video, Yandex, occupying a full page on the left.
• 📂 System folders: Pre-installed groups of applications that sometimes block deletion.
• 📢 Recommendations: App pop-up suggestions at the bottom of folders and on the desktop.

It is worth noting that the configurations may vary slightly in different versions of the MIUI 12, MIUI 13, MIUI 14 and the new HyperOS firmware, but the logic of the launcher remains similar, allowing the methods described below to be applied to most of the current devices of the brand.

Removing widgets and extra desktop pages

The easiest and most obvious way to clear space is to manually remove unnecessary items, which requires you to go to desktop editing mode, usually by long pressing on an empty area of the screen or pinching two fingers, which triggers the page management menu.

In this mode, you'll see all the tabs available. To remove a particular widget, just click on the cross that appears in the corner of the item, or drag it to the top of the screen to the delete zone. If you're talking about an entire page that is empty or contains only unnecessary information, you can also delete it by clicking on the corresponding basket or minus icon.

⚠️ Note: When you delete system application widgets (e.g., "Security" or "Conductor"), you do not delete the application itself, but only its display on the screen.

Often users forget that some widgets are part of the theme. If the cross to delete does not appear, try changing the theme to a standard one or checking the settings of a particular theme in the Themes app. This is a common reason why interface elements become undeleteable standard methods.

If you're faced with a situation where the tab is not deleted, it may be fixed in the launcher, in which case resetting the launcher settings will help, but this will return all the icons to their original positions, so pre-save the important folder structure if it is critical to you.

Disabling news feeds and recommendations

One of the most annoying features of the shell is the presence of a news feed on the left of the first screen, which is often filled with ads, news and recommendations that consume Internet traffic and battery resources, and you can remove this tab through the launcher settings.

To do this, go to Settings, find the Desktop section, or go to settings through a long press on an empty area of the screen and select Settings. Here you need to find the option responsible for "Ribbon widgets" or "Google Discover", and switch the switch to the "Off" position.

In addition to external feeds, recommendations can appear inside app folders. They suggest you download new games or programs based on your activity. To turn them off, go to Settings → Desktop → Recommendations and deactivate "Get recommendations."

• 🚫 Disconnecting tape: Settings → Desktop → Widget tape → Off.
• 📉 Ad Blocking: Settings → Passwords and security → Access to personal data → Turn off for MSA.
• 🧹 Cache cleanup: Clean the launcher cache regularly to prevent junk widgets from appearing.
• 🔄 Change of launcher: Installation of third-party launcher (Nova, Lawnchair) completely removes system tapes.

It is important to understand that after the system update, the settings may reset and intrusive tabs will appear again, so it is recommended to periodically check these parameters, especially after a major update of MIUI or HyperOS.

Setting up the display of applications and menu

Xiaomi’s smartphone interface allows you to choose between two modes of displaying applications: classic (all apps on the menu) and modern (all apps on the desktop), the second option often leads to the creation of many unnecessary pages and tabs that are difficult to control.

To switch to a more convenient mode, go to Settings → Desktop → Desktop Mode. Select Classic. This action will remove all shortcuts from the desktop screens, leaving only widgets, and put all applications in a separate menu called by the swipe up.

You can also set up a desktop grid in this section, and reducing the number of icons in a row (e.g., from 5 to 4) will visually expand the space, but increase the number of swipes you need. The optimal balance for most users is a 5x5 or 5x6 grid.

Using the classic mode with the app menu is the most efficient way to structure the space and avoid the chaos of a dozen extra pages, and this is especially true for devices with standard-sized screens, where every tab counts.

Using third-party launchers for complete cleaning

If the built-in features do not allow you to achieve the desired minimalism, the best solution is to install a third-party launcher, applications like Nova Launcher, Lawnchair or Smart Launcher completely replace the standard shell, providing unlimited customization options.

Once you install this launcher and assign it to the default system, all of Xiaomi's tabs, news feeds, and undeleteable widgets will disappear. You'll get a clean interface where you decide what you're going to put in, which is a radical but very effective method.

However, it is worth considering that third-party launchers can consume more battery life than an optimized system launcher.In addition, some specific MIUI features, such as control gestures or floating windows, may not work properly or require additional adjustment.

⚠️ Note: When installing a third-party launcher, the system may periodically suggest returning the default standard launcher.Be prepared to constantly confirm your choice or use special commands through the default launcher. ADB priority-holder.

For advanced users, there is a possibility to configure the launcher through ADB-So you can actually use commands to hide even the things that you normally see, for example, you can completely disable the rendering of certain interface layers.

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.mi.android.globalminusscreen

This command, executed via a computer, disables the system news feed at the packet level, making its removal impossible even theoretically, since the component ceases to exist for the system.

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Before installing a third-party launcher, export its settings to the cloud. If you reset your phone or reinstall the system, you can quickly restore your ideal desktop in a couple of minutes.

Cache cleanup and launcher reset

Sometimes the problem with tabs is not the settings, but the accumulated garbage or software failure. Launcher, like any application, stores temporary files that over time can lead to incorrect display of interface elements.

To clean up, go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find the Work Desktop (or System Launcher) list. Click on Memory and then select Clear Cache. This is a safe operation that won't delete your shortcuts, but can fix display errors.

If cleaning the cache didn't work, you can try a more radical method, Clear Everything (or Reset), and note that this action will return the icons to factory status, all folders and order created will be lost. Use this method only if other methods do not help.

Once the launcher resets, the system will behave as if it were purchased, and it's a great chance to reconfigure desktops by removing all the extra and leaving only the necessary tabs, often addressing the problem of ghost tabs that are not removed in any other way.

• 💾 Cache Clearing: Secure, save data, remove temporary errors.
• 🔄 Data reset: Removes all location settings, returns factory view.
• 🛠 Update: Check for updates to the Desktop app in GetApps or Google Play.
• 🔋 Energy consumption: After reset, the launcher can warm up more in the first 10-15 minute.

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Regular cleaning of the launcher cache (once every 1-2 months) helps to maintain stable operation of the interface and prevents the appearance of graphic artifacts and unnecessary elements.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)