How to remove a note from the Xiaomi desktop: the complete guide

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face unusual behavior of the MIUI or HyperOS shell interface. One of the most common problems is the inability to remove the app shortcut or note widget from the home screen by standard methods. The user tries to drag the icon into the cart or pinch it, but the system ignores the actions or offers only movement.

To make matters worse, some firmware versions of Notes or Mi Drop have integrated the Notes widget into the system space so deeply that it is perceived as part of the launcher, which is annoying because it disrupts the visual purity of the interface. In this article, we will look at all possible ways to solve this problem, from simple settings to using hidden developer menus.

First, it's important to understand what you're dealing with: an application shortcut, a system widget, or the result of a random activation of a Second Space function. The way you eliminate it depends on the type of object. Wrong actions can only lead to confusion in settings, so follow the algorithm consistently.

Definition of the type of object on the desktop

Before you start deleting, you need to identify the nature of the interfering element. In the Xiaomi ecosystem, a completely different functionality can be hidden under the “note”, and most often users confuse the Mi Notes widget with the system shortcut or even with an interface rendering error.

If you press an object for a long time, you see a menu with a Remove button or a basket icon, it's a normal widget. However, if the menu doesn't appear or the button is inactive (dark), then the item is secured by the system. In some cases, this can be a quick access shortcut that is activated by a swipe in the corner of the screen, rather than a static icon.

It's also worth checking if this object is part of the theme, and third-party themes from MIUI Themes often add their own watch, weather, or note widgets that can't be removed by standard means without changing the theme to standard.

⚠️ Note: Do not attempt to delete system files through root-right file managers unless you are sure of the purpose of the object.This can lead to unstable launcher operation and the appearance of black squares instead of icons.

For accurate diagnosis, use the built-in Theme Editor. Go to the theme settings and try temporarily switching to the standard Classic design. If the object is gone, the visual design was the problem.

Removal of standard widgets and shortcuts

The simplest scenario is to remove the normal widget. In the MIUI shell, the process may be different from pure Android. To remove the item, perform a long press (tap and hold) with your finger on the icon or widget.

When the device vibrates, it goes into editing mode, and at the bottom of the screen, you'll see a toolbar, and you'll need to find a basket icon or a Remove button, and in some versions of the firmware, you'll need to drag the object to the top of the screen, where the red zone will appear.

• 📱 Press the note icon with your finger on 1-2 seconds before the menu arrives.
• 🗑️ Drag the object into the basket icon that appears in the top corner of the screen.
• ✅ Confirm action if the system requests confirmation of removal of the widget.

If you deleted the widget but it reappeared after the reboot, you may have activated the Auto Add widgets feature in the launcher settings. Check Settings → Desktop and disable the unnecessary autocomplete options.

⚠️ Note: When you delete the note widget, the data inside the Mi Notes app is not deleted. You will only lose quick access to a particular record on your desktop.

In case the standard drag and drop doesn't work, try zooming in on the desktop. With a pinch of two fingers, zoom in to see all the pages. Sometimes stuck objects can only be removed in general page view mode.

The problem of the undeletable Mi Drop widget and notes

A special category of problems are the Mi Drop widgets (now Xiaomi Share) and Notes, which often go together and block desktop cleaning. Users complain that these elements can not be moved, a well-known feature of some versions of MIUI 12 and 13.

To solve this problem, there is a special method through the widget settings. Click the empty space on the desktop to call the edit menu, and select "Add widgets" (or "Widgets" depending on the version).

Inside the widget control menu, there's often a button to delete or deactivate a particular instance. If there's an active indicator in the widget list next to the note, try removing it, which will force the object to be displayed on the screen.

There is also a "replace" method. Try adding a new widget of any other size on top of the problem widget. The system may suggest replacing an existing widget or moving it. Once successfully replaced, the old widget often becomes available for removal.

If the widget is linked to the Mi Drop app, you can temporarily disable the app itself. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find Mi Drop and select "Disable." This will hide all the interface elements associated with it.

Settings of the launcher and second space

Often, the reason for the undeleteable objects is in the settings of the POCO Launcher or MIUI Home system launcher. These sections hide the settings that display fixed elements. To access them, go to Settings → Desktop.

Here you are interested in "Add widgets to desktop" or similar. If this feature is active, the system can automatically return deleted items. Also check the settings of "Second Space." If it is enabled, icons can be duplicated or blocked.

• 🔍 Open the desktop settings in the main menu of the phone parameters.
• 🚫 Find and disable the option “Blocking the desktop layout».
• 🔄 Check the status of the "Second Space" and disable it if necessary.

Resetting the launcher settings is a radical but effective method, and your wallpaper and icon layout will go back to the factory, but all the "glutty" widgets will disappear. To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All applications, find the Desktop (or MIUI Home), click "Clean" and select "Reset settings".

Once the launcher resets, the system will ask you to reconfigure the grid of icons. This is a great moment to create a clean structure without any extra debris. Be sure to sync important data before resetting, although the launcher settings usually do not affect personal files.

Using the Developer Mode to Remove

If standard methods are powerless, advanced system settings come to the rescue. Xiaomi's developer mode allows you to control the behavior of the interface at a deeper level. To activate it, you need to quickly click 7 times on the build number in the About Phone section.

Once activated, a new section will appear in the settings menu called "Developers" and we're interested in the section related to displaying interface elements or managing windows. However, you can't remove widgets directly from here, but you can disable animations or overlays that interfere with deletion.

A more advanced method involves using ADB (Android Debug Bridge) commands, which requires connecting the phone to a computer. Using the adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.notes command, you can remove the note app for the current user, which automatically removes the widget.

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

Use of the ADB-The commands require the activated debugging mode on USB and the installed driver ADB Inexperienced users should be extremely careful.

⚠️ Note: Removing system applications through ADB It can disrupt other phone functions, such as an alarm clock or calendar, if they depend on a remote component.

To return an application deleted via ADB, use the command: adb shell cmd package install-existing com.miui.notes. This will restore the system package without the need to completely reset the phone.

Alternative methods and third-party launchers

If the built-in MIUI launcher causes too many widget management issues, the logical solution is to install an alternative interface. Third-party launchers like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher completely ignore Xiaomi's system limitations.

Once you install a third-party launcher, it will suggest you become the default one. You can take that action. In the new environment, you can remove any widgets with a simple drag and drop, because the new launcher, not MIUI, is the game.

The advantage of this method is not only to remove notes, but also to customize the desktop completely, so you can resize the icons, the grid, the animations, and add gestures, and it turns an old smartphone into a new device in terms of ergonomics.

However, it’s worth remembering that third-party launchers can consume more battery life than an optimized system launcher.If your smartphone has a weak battery or little RAM, this method can reduce overall performance.

To return to the original state, simply remove the launcher application through Settings → Applications.The system will automatically return the standard MIUI interface, although the “glutty” widget can return with it if other cleaning methods have not been applied.

Table of comparison of removal methods

To make it easier for you to choose the right method, we have systematized the methods according to their complexity and effectiveness, and choose the option that suits your situation and level of training.

As you can see from the table, for most users, the optimal solution is to reset the launcher settings or change the theme. ADB Leave for extreme cases when other methods are exhausted.

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The safest and most effective way for the average user is to reset the settings of the Desktop application through the application menu, without losing personal data.

Remember that after any major changes to the system, it is recommended to reboot the device, which will allow the system to re-index the widgets and apply the new settings correctly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)