Xiaomi smartphone owners often encounter the intrusive interface that MIUI 12 offers by default. One of the most annoying elements for many users is the endless widget tape that appears when swiped to the left of the home screen, a feature designed to make it easier to access information, often just clutters up space and consumes device resources.
Fortunately, the developers have left the option to control this element, although finding the right switches can be difficult due to the constant change of localization and firmware versions. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to remove the widget tape using the standard system tools or more advanced methods for advanced users.
We're going to look at not only standard settings, but also ways to fully deactivate through system commands, which is especially true for global firmware versions where options can be hidden. Prepare for the interface to be cleaner and management more familiar to those who value minimalism.
Assessment of the need to disconnect the tape
Before we embark on radical measures to remove widgets, it’s worth understanding the role they play in Xiaomi’s ecosystem: Google Discover tape (or its Mi counterpart) aggregates news, weather and offers that may be useful to some users. However, if you never use this space, having it is an extra strain on RAM.
Many users have noticed that after upgrading to MIUI 12, the system is beginning to promote content in this feed, including advertising integrations, which turns the functional element into a source of digital noise, and turning off this feature is often the first step towards customizing the smartphone for your own needs.
It is important to note that completely removing the service behind the tape may require debugging tools. Standard methods can only hide the visual display, but not disable the background processes completely.
⚠️ Warning: Before making any changes to system settings or using commands ADB It is strongly recommended to create a complete backup of data to avoid accidental loss of important information.
Standard method of disconnection through settings
The easiest and safest way to get rid of intrusive tape is to use built-in desktop customization tools, a method that requires no connection to a computer and is available to every Xiaomi smartphone owner. However, the location of the switch can vary depending on the version of the shell.
You need to start by going to desktop editing mode, usually by long-term tapping on an empty area of the screen or pinching two fingers, and in the menu that opens, you should find the Settings or Add button, where the global interface settings are often hidden.
Some versions of MIUI 12 may look different, for example, sometimes you need to go to the general system settings, find the Desktop section and look for an option associated with the Widget Tape or Google Discover. If the switch is active, you just need to deactivate it.
- 📱 Make a long tap (clamping) in the free place of the main screen.
- ⚙️ Click on the gear icon or the “Settings” button in the bottom corner.
- 🔍 Find the "Widget Tape" item or «-1 screen».
- 🚫 Turn the switch to the "off" position».
If the standard path didn't succeed, your firmware version may have a modified menu structure, so you should search the phone's settings by typing in "widgets" or "desktop" and the system will tell you where the switch is.
☑️ Checking screen settings
Use of third-party launchers
When the built-in MIUI tools don’t give the desired result or the interface seems too overloaded, an alternative launcher is a great solution. Third-party shells allow you to completely ignore system limitations and customize the behavior of the home screen as you wish.
Popular solutions like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Lawnchair offer flexible gesture and screen settings. By installing such a launcher, you automatically get the ability to turn off the swipe completely left or reassign it to open a particular application, ignoring the system tape.
However, it is worth considering that using third-party software may require additional permissions. Android and MIUI may periodically offer to return the default standard launcher. You will need to firmly select "Always" for the new application for the changes to take effect.
| Launcher | Flexibility of setting | RAM consumption | Advertising |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nova Launcher | Tall. | Low. | No (in Prime) |
| Microsoft Launcher | Medium | Average. | No. |
| Smart Launcher 6 | Tall. | Low. | Got it (free) |
| Standard MIUI | Low. | High. | There is. |
Switching to a different launcher is not just a way to remove the tape, but also the ability to completely change the visual style of the smartphone. You can customize the grid of icons, animations and the behavior of the search bar, making the interface unique.
Compatibility of launchers with MIUI 12
Advanced Method: Disconnecting via ADB
For users who want to maximize system cleanliness and remove the service-level widget tape, there is a method using Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which allows you to disable system components without obtaining superuser rights (Root), which preserves the warranty on the device.
To get started, you’ll need a computer (Windows, macOS or Linux) and a cable to connect your smartphone. You’ll need to install drivers on your phone (if you’re using Windows) and enable USB debugging mode. This is done in the hidden Developer Menu, which is activated by tapping the build number seven times in the About Phone section.
Once you connect your device to your PC and install the SDK Platform Tools, open the command line or terminal. You will need to enter a command to connect to the device and then disable the packet responsible for the tape, usually a component associated with Google App or Mi Global Search.
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchboxExecuting this command will hide not only the feed, but also the Google search widget if it is installed by default.Be careful: disabling critical system packages can cause the phone to malfunction.Always check the name of the package before removing or disabling it.
⚠️ Warning: Do not disable system components that you do not know what they are intended for, which can cause a cyclic bootloop or loss of search and voice assistant functionality.
Alternative solutions and optimization
If none of these methods have completely eliminated the element, or you don't want to risk the stability of the system, you can go for a way of minimizing the harm, for example, by clearing the cache of the application that controls the tape and denying it access to geolocation and data so that it stops downloading content.
It’s also possible to replace standard search with a lighter version, or remove the search widget from the home screen altogether, leaving only app icons. Visual purity is often more important than functionality you don’t use daily.
Remember that MIUI 12 is a live system that can be updated, and after a major update, the settings may get lost, and the tape will have to be turned off again, and checking your desktop settings regularly will help maintain order.
- 🧹 Clean the cache of system applications regularly to speed up work.
- 🚫 Limit background activity of unnecessary services in battery settings.
- 🔄 Update your launchers and system software to the latest versions.
- 🛡️ Use antivirus scanners to check third-party launchers.
Optimization is a constant process. By removing the extra elements, you not only free up space, but also prolong the battery life of the device, since the system does not need to constantly update the data in the background tape.
💡
Before disabling system components via ADB, note their names in a note that will allow the system to be quickly restored by the pm enable command if something goes wrong.
Possible problems and solutions
Users may encounter various difficulties when removing the widget tape, such as when the component is disabled via ADB, the search icon may disappear but reappear when it is rebooted, meaning that the system automatically restored the service.
In such cases, it is recommended to use specialized applications-debloaters, which have a graphical interface and databases safe for removing packets, which simplify the process and minimize the risk of error when entering commands manually.
Sometimes the problem isn't with the tape itself, but with the design conflict. If you're using a third-party theme from MIUI Themes, it can force certain interface elements back. Try switching to a standard theme to see if the tape disappears.
⚠️ V atenção: Using modified themes and system files can disrupt the theme store and lead to the blocking of Mi Account in rare cases.
💡
The most reliable way to remove the tape is comprehensive: disabling in the settings plus banning the background activity of the application.