Owners of the popular Poco X3 Pro smartphone often encounter an intrusive interface that offers an endless feed of news and widgets to the left of the home screen, a feature that is part of the MIUI ecosystem designed to make it easier to access information, but in practice it often only consumes RAM and distracts the user. Many users prefer to have a clean desktop without unnecessary elements, especially on a powerful device with a Snapdragon 860 processor.
Removing or, more precisely, disabling this tape is not an obvious process, since there is no standard "remove" button in the system. MIUI hides these settings in the depth of the menu or requires the use of special tools to completely eliminate system components. In this guide, we will look at all the available methods, from simple switches in settings to advanced ways through ADB.
It is important to understand that the complete removal of system applications can affect the stability of some services, so we will proceed with caution.The complete removal of the com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox package requires superuser rights or the use of ADB, which is an irreversible action without backup. We will take each step in detail so that you can choose the appropriate level of interference with your Xiaomi operating system.
Analysis of built-in tape-off tools
The first and safest step is to try to disable the tape with the standard shell tools. Most versions of MIUI and HyperOS have the ability to hide the left-hand screen. This doesn't remove the application completely, but removes its visual display when swiping. This requires you to pinch the empty area on the desktop with your finger to make the edit menu appear.
In the menu that opens, select Settings (the gear icon) or immediately find the Widget Tape/-1 screen switch. Here, the user can select the "No Ribbon" option or disable the display of Google widgets. However, in some regions or firmware versions, this switch can be blocked or replaced with the forced activation of Google Discover services.
⚠️ Note: If the switch in the desktop settings is missing or inactive, your firmware version has forcibly integrated Google services, and more in-depth techniques will be needed to disable them.
It's worth noting that even after the visual part is turned off, the background processes can continue to consume resources. System services sometimes remain active for data synchronization. So if your goal is to maximize the performance of the Poco X3 Pro, simple concealment may not be enough. Next, we'll look at more radical but effective ways.
Disconnection through account and services settings
Another layer of protection that Xiaomi uses to keep users in its ecosystem is to tie the tape to the Mi Account account and Google services. Often, the widget tape is activated automatically when you first turn on your smartphone or after you update the system. To minimize its impact, you need to go into deep system settings.
Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Authorization and Review. This is a list of all system applications that have access to data. Find the list of "Ribbon widgets", "Card" or "GetApps." By unchecking the checkmark with consent to use, you can partially deactivate the functionality. However, MIUI can ignore this request if it concerns critical system components.
You also need to check the settings of the Google app itself, open the Google app on your smartphone, go to the settings, and find the Discover or the Tape section, where you can turn off the news card display, and this won't take away the feed on the left, but it will clear the noise from the information, making it empty, which is a useful trade-off for those who are afraid of disrupting the system.
- 🔍 Go to Google account settings and turn off your activity history to personalize your feed.
- 🚫 In the Apps section, find Google and force it to stop to check the system’s dependence on it.
- 📉 Clear the cache of the Google app to reset the accumulated feed data.
Using ADB for deep cleaning of the system
The most effective method that does not require obtaining Root rights is the use of debugging by USB tool ADB (Android Debug Bridge: This method allows you to delete or freeze the system packages that are responsible for the work of the widget tape on Poco X3 Pro. The method is safe if you follow the instructions, as it does not make changes to the system partition directly, but works through user rights.
First, you need to activate the developer mode. Go to Settings. → About the phone and quickly press 7 times on the item "Version" MIUI". Then you'll see "Development for Developers" in the "Additional" menu. USB" And, crucially, for Xiaomi, debugging USB (Security settings..” Last resolution only appears after insertion SIM-maps and Wi-Fi connections.
☑️ Preparation for work with ADB
Once you connect your smartphone to your computer and successfully authorize debugging, you can start removing packets. The main packages responsible for the tape are called com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox (search string and tape) and com.miui.personalassistant (Xiaomi hardware tape).
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchboxExecuting this command will only remove the application for the current user (user 0), that is, for you. System files will remain in place, and you can restore functionality at any time by resetting the phone settings. ADB is a powerful tool, so be careful when entering packet names. A name error can lead to the removal of the wrong application.
⚠️ Note: Do not delete the com.android.vending package (Google Play Store) or com.google.android.gms (Google Play Services), otherwise the phone will lose the ability to install apps and log in to your account.
Comparison of disposal methods and their consequences
The choice of method depends on your technical skills and goals. The regular shutdown is safe but inefficient. Using ADB gives excellent results, but requires a computer. Getting Root rights (via Magisk) allows you to delete everything forever, but it is not warranty and can disrupt banking applications without additional manipulation (Magisk Hide).
The table below compares the main methods of impact on the tape widgets on the Poco X3 Pro:
| Method | Difficulty | Efficiency | Risks. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desktop settings | Low. | Medium | No. |
| Disabling in application settings | Low. | Low. | Minimum |
| ADB (Uninstall for user) | Medium | Tall. | Medium (entry error) |
| Root + System App Remover | Tall. | Maximum | High (loss of warranty) |
If you're not sure about your abilities, you'd better limit yourself to the first two methods. System stability is more important than having free space or not having one tape. However, if you're a seasoned user, the ADB method is the middle ground between security and results.
What if the phone stops loading after deleting?
Alternative solutions: third-party launchers
The radical solution to the intrusive MIUI problem is to install a third-party launcher, and apps like Nova Launcher, Smart Launcher, or Microsoft Launcher completely replace the desktop and the app menu, and they don't have a built-in widget tape on the left unless you add it yourself.
Once the alternative launcher is installed, Android will ask which app to use as default for the home screen. Choose the launcher installed and press Always. This will override Xiaomi's standard interface. However, new versions of MIUI 12/13/14 may have limitations: animations can work in jerks, and control gestures can conflict.
A third-party launcher on Xiaomi often requires special permission to work properly. Go to Settings → Applications → All Apps → (Your Launcher) → Other permissions. You need to allow "Master on Other Apps" and "Auto Start." Without this, the launcher can periodically fly back to the standard shell with its tape.
- 🚀 Nova Launcher allows you to completely customize the grid of icons and remove all unnecessary elements.
- 🎨 Smart Launcher automatically sorts applications and has a minimalist design without unnecessary tapes.
- 🛠 Lawnchair offers experience as close as possible to “pure” Android as on Pixel.
💡
After installing a new launcher, be sure to turn off animations in the developer settings or use the application "MIUI Hidden Settings Activity" to return the smoothness of the interface.
Recovery of Remote Components
If you delete the extra one in the optimization process or the system starts to malfunction, it's important to know how to get it back (--user 0), All data on standard packets is stored in the system. ADB.
The command to restore the deleted packet looks like this:
adb shell cmd package install-existing com.google.android.googlequicksearchboxThis instruction is relevant for Android 11 and above, which are installed on the Poco X3 Pro. If you used older versions of ADB or Android, you may need to completely reset your phone settings (Wipe Data).
⚠️ WARNING: Wipe All Data will delete all your photos, contacts, and apps. Use this recovery method only as a last resort, saving data on your PC or in the cloud beforehand.
Remember that MIUI system updates can return remote components. After a major firmware update (e.g., from MIUI 12.5 to MIUI 13), it is recommended to check the application list and, if necessary, re-execute cleaning commands via ADB. This will ensure the system is clean throughout the life of the device.
💡
Using ADB to remove system applications is a reversible process, making this method preferred for fine-tuning Android without losing warranty.