How to remove shortcuts and widget tape on the left on Xiaomi

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face a situation where a swipe to the right opens an additional panel on the home screen, a space that developers call "Google Discover", "Ribbon of widgets" or simply "Left", designed to quickly access news, app shortcuts and widgets.

But for many users, this feature is becoming redundant, taking up memory and distracting attention. Fortunately, the interface of MIUI and the new HyperOS allows you to flexibly customize your workspace. In this article, we will explore all the available ways to disable unnecessary elements, from standard settings to deeper system changes.

The process may vary slightly depending on the firmware version and region, but the overall algorithm remains the same.We’ll look at how to get rid of Google News Feed, how to remove pre-installed service shortcuts, and how to customize navigation to fit your habits.

Disabling Google Discover feed

The most common element on the left is Google Discover, which automatically loads articles based on your search history, and can significantly slow down your swipe response, so you don't need superuser rights or sophisticated utilities to remove it.

Just do a simple sequence of actions in the desktop settings. Press and hold your finger on any empty part of the screen until the edit menu appears. At the bottom of the display, select Settings (or the gear icon). In the menu that opens, find the Additional section and switch the widget tape slider to the "Off" position.

Sometimes this item may be called "Google Discover" or "OneTap." Once you turn off the swipe left, it will stop calling the news feed, and the screen will react instantly. If you use the launcher POCO Launcher, the path may be slightly different: Settings → More → Widget Ribbon.

⚠️ Note: After disabling the Google Discover feed, you will lose quick access to weather cards and currency rates if they were fixed there, and not on the desktop.

It is worth noting that in some global firmware versions, this item can be hidden or replaced with its own MIUI tape. In this case, the algorithm of actions is similar, but the name of the switch will differ.

Customization of widgets and shortcuts in MIUI

In addition to the news feed, on the left, you can have static app shortcuts or widgets that the user has added himself or that were preinstalled by the system, which are managed through editing mode, press the empty space on the screen and go to view all desktops.

Swipe right to see the first (left) screen. Here you can see a grid with widgets. To remove a particular item, click on it and hold it until the basket or cross appears. Drag the unnecessary widget to the removal area. This action will free up space and remove the visual noise.

If you want to clean up the area completely, just remove all the objects. Xiaomi's system allows you to leave the left screen completely empty. However, if you prefer minimalism, you can consider changing the launcher to a more flexible one, such as Nova Launcher, where the control of the panels is implemented in even more detail.

• 📱 To remove the widget, click on it and select "Delete" or drag it to the cart.
• ⚙️ To change the size of the widget, pull the edges of it in editing mode.
• 🔄 You can reset the widget settings through the Settings menu → Annexes → All applications → System launcher.

It is important to understand that some system widgets, such as Security or Scanner, may return after a system update or reset, and in such cases, the deletion procedure will have to be repeated, a feature of MIUI optimization aimed at returning the user to the standard use case.

Hiding the left screen through launcher settings

The new versions of HyperOS and MIUI 14 not only allow you to turn off content, but also completely hide the screen stub on the left, making navigation more linear: swipe right immediately opens the search or does nothing, depending on the settings.

To activate this function, go to Settings → Desktop. Here you will find the item responsible for displaying the negative screen (the screen on the left). Depending on the firmware region, it can be called "Screen -1" or "Advanced Screen." The Hide or Disable switch will solve the problem.

If standard tools fail to hide the screen, you can use third-party applications to change the behavior of the launcher, although in recent versions of Android this is more difficult to do due to security limitations. Most often, just turn off all the widgets on this screen, and it will become visually indistinguishable from the void.

Note that in some custom themes, the left screen can be changed beyond recognition. If you can’t find standard settings, try temporarily switching to the standard Classic or Default theme to access the native settings menu.

Use of third-party launchers

If Xiaomi’s built-in tools don’t satisfy you, or you want to have full control of every pixel on the screen, the best solution is to install a third-party launcher. Apps like Nova Launcher, Lawnchair or Microsoft Launcher allow you to completely ignore system limitations.

Once you install that launcher, it'll suggest you go mainstream, and you'll get access to the advanced settings, and in Desktop or Navigation, you can find Swipe right and set "Nothing" or "Search" to that, and that's guaranteed to remove any shortcuts on the left.

The advantage of third-party solutions is that there are no intrusive MIUI services. You decide which widgets to display and where. In addition, such launchers often work smoothly than standard ones, especially on budget models of smartphones with limited RAM.

• 🚀 Nova Launcher provides the most flexible gesture and grid settings.
• 🌿 Lawnchair imitates pure Android, eliminating visual noise.
• 📂 Smart Launcher automatically sorts applications, eliminating the need for unnecessary shortcuts.

However, it’s worth remembering that third-party launchers can consume more battery power if they’re not optimized for your specific hardware, and some system features, such as double-touching to turn on the screen, may not work properly without an additional plugin.

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Before installing a new launcher, export the current layout of the icons to quickly restore the familiar look in case of compatibility problems.

Problems with navigation and gestures

Sometimes users confuse the widget tape with the navigation function. In gesture control mode, a swipe from the left or right edge of the screen is used to go back, and if you have problems with touch recognition or random transitions, it may not be the shortcuts, but the sensitivity of the edges.

Check your navigation settings in Settings → Settings → System Navigation. You can choose between buttons and gestures. When using gestures, you can adjust the Return Area, and reducing this area can prevent random swipes that are perceived as trying to open the left screen.

Also worth mentioning is the One-Hand Mode feature. When activated, swipeing into a specific area can cause a screen to shrink or a quick access panel. If you accidentally activate this feature, it can interfere with normal navigation. You can turn it off via Settings → Additional → One-Hand Mode.

⚠️ Warning: Changing navigation settings can be temporarily disorienting, and be prepared for the return gestures to work in other areas of the screen.

In rare cases, the problem can be caused by an application conflict. If the left screen behaves strangely (twitches, does not open, or opens itself), try to start the smartphone in Safe Mode. To do this, press the off button and hold the "Stop" option on the screen for a long time.

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Full left-screen shutdown is possible only through a combination of launcher settings and disabling Google Discover services.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions