How to completely remove the widget tape on Xiaomi: working ways with 4PDA

The widget tape on Xiaomi devices is one of the most controversial elements of the MIUI interface. For some users, it is a convenient tool for quick access to information, for others – an annoying ad panel that eats resources and space on the screen. Especially acute is the issue on Mi TVs and smartphones with a MIUI 12-14 shell, where the widget tape is integrated at the system level and does not have a standard delete button.

The 4PDA forum regularly features topics asking for help getting rid of the feature. The problem is that Xiaomi doesn't provide an official way to completely remove the tape - it can only be hidden or partially disabled. However, enthusiasts have found workarounds, including working with ADB, modifying system files and using third-party utilities. In this article, we have compiled all the current methods tested by 4PDA users, with detailed instructions and warnings about possible risks.

It is important to understand that some methods require superuser rights or changes to system files, which can lead to loss of warranty or unstable operation of the device. If you are not sure about your skills, it is better to limit yourself to the safe methods from the first sections.

Why Widget Ribbon Cannot Be Removed by Standard Means

The widget tape in MIUI and PatchWall (Xiaomi TV interface) is not just an app, but part of the shell. It is closely integrated with:

• 🔹 Google Services – to display weather, calendar and news.
• 🔹 MIUI System Launcher – the main launcher that controls the desktop.
• 🔹 Advertising SDK Xiaomi – module responsible for showing recommendations and banners.
• 🔹 Android framework – at the level of system libraries.

For this reason, it is not easy to “delete the application” in the settings. Even if you turn off the display of the tape in the personalization menu, its processes will continue to work in the background, consuming up to 50-100 MB of RAM and periodically uploading data over the Internet. 4PDA users confirm that after completely removing the tape (for example, through ADB) can occur:

• 🚨 Errors in updating MIUI — The system attempts to recover the remote components.
• 🚨 Launcher departures – if critical libraries are removed.
• 🚨 Loss of functionality – for example, the search on the device stops working.

Method 1: Turn off the tape via MIUI settings (without root)

The safest method, which does not require superuser rights or PC connectivity, is suitable for Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones on MIUI 12-14. The tape is not completely removed, but it can be hidden and background activity turned off.

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings. → Desktop.
2. Select Desktop Settings (or Personalization in new versions).
3. Find the option of Widget Ribbon (may be called Minus Screen or Smart Assistant).
4. Turn off the slider Show tape when swiping to the left.
5. Return to the main settings menu and go to Applications → Application Management.
6. Find the MIUI Smart Assistant (or Xiaomi Smart Home for TVs) app and open its settings.
7. Select Limit Background Activity and Disable Autostart.

This reduces the system load, but does not remove the tape completely. When updating MIUI settings may reset, and some widgets (such as weather or calendar) may continue to update through other system services.

⚠️ Attention: On Mi TVs TV With PatchWall, this method works partially -- the tape is hidden, but it takes up space in memory. ADB (see method 3).

Method 2: Use MIUI Tweaks (for power users)

MIUI Tweaks is a module for Magisk that allows you to deeply customize the MIUI interface, including hiding system elements, the advantage of which is that it does not require you to delete system files, but only blocks the display of tape.

What you need:

• 📱 Device with unlocked bootloader and installed Magisk.
• 🔧 Module MIUI Tweaks (download from) XDA Developers).
• 🔄 Backup of data (in case of failure).

Step-by-step:

1. Install the module via Magisk Manager (drop the.zip file into the Modules section).
2. Reset the device.
3. After downloading, open the MIUI Tweaks app (appears in the menu).
4. Go to the Home Screen (or Desktop) section.
5. Find the Disable Smart Assistant option and activate it.
6. Save the settings and restart the device again.

If the tape still appears, try to turn off:

• 🔘 Disable Left Screen (turns off swipe left).
• 🔘 Hide Search Bar (Hide Search Bar) (Hide Search Bar Linked to Tape).

💡

If after installing the module, the device began to slow down, try clearing the cache in Settings → Storage → Clear the cache.

Method 3: Removing tape via ADB (for TVs and smartphones)

This method is suitable for devices where the widget tape is a separate system application (for example, on Mi TVs). TV smartphone-wise MIUI 13+). You will need a computer with installed drivers. ADB and the debugging included USB device-wise.

Pre-launch warnings:

• 🚫 Does not work on devices with a blocked loader.
• 🚫 It can cause a cyclical reboot if critical components are removed.
• 🚫 On Xiaomi TVs after removing the tape may disappear access to Google Play.

Instructions for smartphones:

adb shell


pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.systemAdSolution




pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.xiaomi.mipicks




pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.miservice

Instructions for Mi TV (PatchWall) TVs:

adb shell


pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.dianshang.bazaar




pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.mitv.tvhome




pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.tv.weather

After you execute the commands, restart the device. If the tape has disappeared but errors have appeared (for example, search is not working), restore the deleted packets with the command:

adb shell cmd package install-existing com.miui.systemAdSolution

⚠️ Note: On some TV models (Mi) TV 4S/5X) Deleting com.mitv.tvhome results in loss of access to the main menu. 4PDA model-themed.

Method 4: Manual editing of system files (root only)

If previous methods didn't work, you can try to disable the tape by editing system files, which requires root rights and working with the file system, so it's only suitable for advanced users.

Algorithm of action:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or FX File Explorer).
2. Go to /system/priv-app/MiuiSystemAdSolution/
3. Find the file MiuiSystemAdSolution.apk and rename it to MiuiSystemAdSolution.apk.bak.
4. Similarly, rename the file /system/app/XiaomiSmartHome/XiaomiSmartHome.apk.
5. Clear the cache and data of the com.miui.home and com.miui.systemAdSolution applications through Settings → Applications.
6. Reset the device.

If errors occur after the reboot, return the original names to the files. For Xiaomi TVs, the path may be different:

/system/priv-app/TVHome/TVHome.apk

On the 4PDA forum, users share lists of files that can be safely disabled for specific models, such as the Redmi Note 10 Pro, which often recommends deleting:

• 📁 /system/priv-app/Analytic — statistics.
• 📁 /system/priv-app/MiuiDaemon — background.
• 📁 /system/app/XiaomiSmartHome — ribbon-module.

Method 5: Alternative launchers (bypass)

If you can't remove the tape, but you want to get rid of it, you can just replace the standard MIUI launcher with a third-party one, which won't physically remove the tape, but it will make it unavailable.

• 📱 Nova Launcher – Supports gesture customization and hiding unnecessary elements.
• 📱 Lawnchair is an open source lightweight launcher.
• 📺 ATV Launcher – for Xiaomi TVs (requires) ADB fitting).

How to install an alternative launcher on the TV:

1. Download. APK-launcher file (e.g, ATV Launcher on USB-accumulator.
2. Connect the flash drive to the TV and install the application through the File Manager.
3. Connect to the TV on ADB and execute the command:

adb shell pm grant com.miui.tv.launcher android.permission.CHANGE_CONFIGURATION


adb shell am start -n com.android.launcher3/.Launcher3

After that, the standard launcher PatchWall will be replaced with the selected one. The tape of widgets will disappear, but some remote features (for example, voice search) may disappear.

💡

Replacing the launcher is the safest way to remove the tape without risking damage to the system, but on TVs, it can disrupt the remote control.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When trying to remove the widget tape, 4PDA users encounter common errors, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

If you’re facing another problem, check out 4PDA themes for your model. Often users post error logs and ready-made solutions. For example, Mi TV 4A has a separate section with instructions for recovering from a failed tape removal.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions