How to remove the widget tape on Xiaomi Redmi

Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often face the intrusive interface that appears when swiping to the left of the home screen.This so-called widget tape, formerly known as Google Discover or Yandex, can be annoying, occupy RAM and distract from the main use of the device. Removing this element is one of the first tasks that users solve after buying a new gadget, who want to get a clean and minimalist desktop.

Fortunately, the MIUI shell and its latest version of HyperOS provide built-in tools to manage the space, so you don't need to install third-party launchers or root rights to get rid of the garbage, and the shutdown process takes only a few seconds and is done through the standard system settings menu, making the procedure accessible even to inexperienced users.

In this article, we will take a look at all the current ways to turn off the news feed, relevant for 2026-2026, we will look at the differences in the interfaces of different versions of firmware, touch on the topic of hidden settings and answer frequent questions that arise when customizing your desktop. If you want to return your smartphone to its original appearance and speed up its work, carefully follow the instructions below.

Why you need to turn off the widget tape on Xiaomi

The Widget Tape, which is integrated into the MIUI shell, is marketed by developers as a convenient aggregator of news, weather and fast action. However, in practice, many users notice that this feature is rarely used for its intended purpose. Instead of useful information, the screen is often filled with promotional offers, news of dubious quality or just empty widgets that consume traffic and battery power in the background.

Disabling this element allows not only to clean the visual space, but also to improve the performance of the device. System processes responsible for updating the tape, cease to load the processor, which is especially noticeable on budget models of Redmi with a small amount of RAM. In addition, the exclusion of unnecessary scripts and network requests has a positive effect on the battery life of the smartphone.

⚠️ Warning: Complete removal of system components responsible for tape, through ADB-commands can lead to unstable operation of the launcher.It is recommended to use the standard shutdown methods described in this article to avoid software errors.

Another important aspect is privacy: Widget tapes often collect data about your preferences, geolocation and search queries to generate personalized results. By disabling this service, you limit telemetry collection and increase digital hygiene, which for many users becomes a decisive argument in favor of cleaning the desktop of unnecessary software.

Preparation for changing the settings of the desktop

Before making changes to the configuration of the interface, make sure that your smartphone is ready for the procedure. Although the process of turning off the widget tape is a regular function and does not require complex preparation, following simple rules will help to avoid accidental crashes or data loss in the event of unforeseen circumstances.

It is important to understand that the interface may vary slightly depending on the version of the firmware installed. On devices with MIUI 12, 13, 14 and the new HyperOS, the paths to settings may vary. It is recommended to determine in advance which version of the software is installed on your Xiaomi or Redmi to select the appropriate instruction.

It is also worth noting that some carriers or regional firmware versions may have unique names for menu items, such as "Google Discover" may be displayed as "Yandex" or "Carousel." If you can't find an exact name match, look for options related to "Tape", "Video" or "Desktop".

Backing up important data is a good idea, although disabling widgets should not affect personal files. However, if you plan to experiment with deeper system settings or installing third-party launchers, keeping a backup is a sensible precaution.

Disabling the widget tape via MIUI and HyperOS settings

The easiest and safest way to remove the left screen with news is to use the built-in shell settings, which work on the vast majority of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices, regardless of the year of release. The algorithm of actions is simple and intuitive, requiring only a few touches of the screen.

You need to get to the desktop editing menu first, either pinch it with two fingers on the home screen, or just swipe it left to get to the very tape you want to remove. In the settings menu that opens, find the switch that displays the tape.

In HyperOS and the latest versions of MIUI, this switch is often in the top corner of the screen or in the settings menu called by the "More" button (three dots). Once the switch is turned off, the tape should disappear instantly. If this does not happen, try restarting the device.

Below is a table that will help you navigate the names of menu items for different versions of firmware and regions:

If the tape is still displayed after all the actions, the Smart Folder or other widget that mimics the behavior of the tape may be activated, in which case you should check the settings of each individually widget or reset the launcher settings to the factory.

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Tip: If you accidentally deleted important widgets along with the tape, they can be easily returned via the widget menu called by a long tap over an empty space on the desktop.

Using third-party launchers to completely replace the interface

For users who want to not just turn off the tape, but completely change the appearance of their Android smartphone, installing a third-party launcher is a great solution.This software completely replaces the standard MIUI interface, providing advanced customization options and guaranteed to get rid of intrusive services Xiaomi and Google.

Popular options are Nova Launcher, Lawnchair, or Microsoft Launcher, and these apps allow you to customize your grid of icons, animations, gestures, and of course, completely ignore the left-handed widget tape unless you add it, and installing a launcher is a radical but effective step toward personalization.

However, it should be borne in mind that on new versions of Android (12, 13, 14 and above), the system may limit the functionality of third-party launchers, for example, system control gestures may not work or system animations from MIUI remain.

⚠️ Note: When installing a third-party launcher, the system may repeatedly suggest returning standard settings. Be persistent in your choice if you want to keep the new interface, and read pop-up notifications carefully.

To install a new launcher, download it from the Google Play store, launch it and follow the configuration wizard instructions. After the first start, the system will ask which application to use as default for the home screen. Select the installed launcher and click "Always".

Removing system components via ADB (for advanced users)

If standard methods don't work, or if you want to cut out the packets that are responsible for the widget tape, you can use the ADB tool, which requires connecting your smartphone to your computer and having basic command line skills, and it allows you to remove system applications that are usually hidden from the user.

Before you start, you need to activate the developer mode. To do this, go to Settings -> About Phone and quickly click on the build number seven times. Then, in the Advanced Settings -> For developers, enable debugging over USB.

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox

The above command removes the Google app, which is often responsible for running the Discover feed, but be careful: removing critical system components can lead to errors in the voice assistant or search widgets. Use this method only if you are confident in your actions and understand the risks.

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Using ADB gives you maximum control over the system, but requires caution. A mistake in the command can lead to the need to completely reset the device before factory settings.

To return remote components, you just need to execute the reinstal command or make a complete data reset. Therefore, before starting manipulation through ADB, it is strongly recommended to create a full backup of all important data to an external medium or to the cloud storage.

Solution: Why the tape is coming back or not turning off

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where after a device reboot or system update, the widget tape appears again, this may be due to automatic updates to Google Play Services components or resetting the launcher settings after a critical error.

In some cases, the problem lies in specific widgets that you installed yourself. For example, weather widgets or news widgets from third-party apps may have their own full-screen stretching or extra page creation settings. Check the settings of each widget on the desktop.

If nothing helps, clear the cache and data of the Google Search app. To do this, go to Settings -> Apps -> All Apps -> Google, select Clear Data and Clear Cache. After that, double-check the widget feed settings.

• 📱 Make sure that the device does not have viruses or malware installed that can impose its services.
• 🔄 Check for system updates: sometimes tape bugs get fixed in new security patches.
• 🗑️ Try to remove Google app updates if the problem occurs after the next update.

In rare cases, especially on devices purchased in China and reflashed to the global version, there may be Chinese firmware artifacts, in which case only a complete reflash of the device to a clean global or European version of the software via a computer will help.

Questions and Answers (FAQ)