Redmi 9 owners often encounter intrusive features that are built into the system by default, such as the widget tape to the left of the home screen, a space filled with news, recommendations and app shortcuts that many users don’t need.
This article will help you figure out how to get rid of this element of the interface forever. We will look at methods to disable Google Discover and Xiaomi system widgets, which occupy usable screen area and consume resources.
The setup procedure doesn't require root rights or complex software, you just need access to standard system settings, and let's look at all the ways that you can clean your desktop.
Why the widget tape appears on Redmi 9
Xiaomi smartphones run on the MIUI shell, which has deep integration with Google services and its own products. After the first activation of the device, the system automatically connects the left panel for quick access to content, which is a standard firmware behavior aimed at retaining the user's attention.
The main sources of data in this feed are the news aggregator Google Discover and the service Mi Video (or Mi Music), which collect information about your interests, location and search queries, creating personalized results, for many this creates a feeling of congestion.
Also, having a constantly updated tape consumes RAM and traffic in the background. Even if you don't open this screen, the sync processes can work. Disabling this feature is the first step to optimizing the performance of your Redmi 9.
It's important to understand that you can't completely remove a system component without flashing it, but you can completely deactivate it, making it invisible to the user, and the system will deactivate the function and stop downloading content.
⚠️ Warning: Disabling system widgets can lead to the disappearance of the widget "Stephomer" or "Weather" if they were fixed on the left panel, and not on the desktop.
Preparing for changes in interface settings
Before making changes to the desktop structure, it is recommended to do a little preparation, which will avoid confusion if after turning off the tape, the widgets you used disappear, save important shortcuts or transfer them to the main screen.
Make sure your Redmi 9 device has the latest available MIUI. In older versions of the firmware, the paths to settings may differ, and some interface bugs may prevent you from saving settings correctly.
It’s also worth checking which apps have access to geolocation and usage data if you plan to turn off only the news part but leave functional widgets, which will help you understand which services will stop working.
It's not superfluous to take a screenshot of the current icon layout, and if you have unforeseen disruptions, you can quickly restore the configuration, which is especially true for users who are actively using weather and currency widgets.
Disabling Google Discover and News Feed
The most common source of content on the left is Google Discover, which is responsible for showing news cards and articles, and to turn it off, you don't have to delete Google apps, you just have to change the launcher settings.
Swipe right to open the left panel. At the top of the screen or at the bottom (depending on the MIUI version), find the gear icon or menu button. Pressing this element will open the settings of a particular tape.
In the menu that opens, you'll see a switch called "Ribbon" or "Google Discover." Put the slider to the off position. After that, the news feed will disappear, and when you swipe to the left, you'll immediately get to the first desktop.
If the simple switch doesn’t work, try the following algorithm:
- 🔹 Hold an empty space on the desktop.
- 🔹 Select the Settings item in the lower corner.
- 🔹 Find the section Additionally.
- 🔹 Turn off the option. -1 screen.
Once these steps are done, the system will stop loading news content, which will significantly reduce the load on the processor when unlocking the device.
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If the Google Discover switch is missing from the screen settings, try clearing the Google app cache in Settings → Apps → All Apps → Google → Memory → Clear.
Removal of Mi Video and Mi Music widgets
Beyond news, Xiaomi's left panel often contains shortcuts to multimedia apps. Even if you turned off news, these icons can stay. They're part of the System Launcher system launcher.
To remove them, you need to go to the widget settings. Swipe left to open the panel, and click on the settings icon (cogs), there may be a separate item responsible for displaying application shortcuts.
If there is no separate switch, try removing widgets manually. Press the Mi Video or Mi Music icon on the left panel. In the context menu that appears, select the option to Delete or Hide.
Some firmware versions for Redmi 9 require additional sequences:
- Open the smartphone settings.
- Go to the Desktop section.
- Find the widget tape item.
- Remove the boxes from unnecessary sources (Video, Music, Apps).
These actions will clear the space of multimedia garbage, leaving only a clean interface.
☑️ Checking the purity of the interface
Configure through the Security app
In the Xiaomi ecosystem, many system settings are hidden in the company’s Security app, which manages not only antivirus, but also system optimization, including some aspects of the interface.
Launch the Security app (green icon with shield). In the upper right corner, click on the settings gear. Scroll down to the section related to Memory Cleanup or Acceleration.
There may be an option that prevents the services associated with the widget tape from auto-starting: Find processes called Google Discover, Mi Daemon, or MSA (Mi System Ads), and limiting their activity can indirectly affect the left panel.
A deeper setting is available through the "Permissions" menu:
| Component | Where to find out. | What to limit |
|---|---|---|
| Settings → Applications | Data and geolocation | |
| System launcher | Settings → Desktop | Access to -1 screen |
| Mi Video | Settings → Applications | Auto-start and notifications |
| Mi browser | Settings → Applications | Pop-ups |
Limiting the rights of these components will reduce their impact on the system, even if they cannot be completely removed.
⚠️ Warning: Do not completely disable system processes related to "Security" or "Google Play Services", this can lead to unstable smartphone operation.
Alternative launchers as a radical solution
If the standard methods don’t work, or you want to completely change the look of Redmi 9, the best solution is to install a third-party launcher, which completely replaces the desktop and application menus.
Popular options like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Lawnchair allow you to flexibly adjust swipe behavior, so you can swipe to the left to open a particular application or leave the action blank.
To install an alternative launcher:
- 🔹 Download the selected launcher from Google Play.
- 🔹 Launch the application and follow the instructions of the setup wizard.
- 🔹 When accessing the working phone, the system will ask which application to use by default.
- 🔹 Choose a new launcher and press Always.
Using a third-party launcher gives you maximum control over the interface, you can remove any system restrictions imposed by MIUI, and customize each pixel of the screen to suit yourself.
However, it’s worth considering that third-party launchers can consume more battery life than Xiaomi’s optimized system launcher.Select lightweight versions if your Redmi 9 has only 3GB of RAM.
Can I return the standard launcher?
Frequent problems and their solution
During the setup process, Redmi 9 users may encounter a number of difficulties, such as resetting the settings after a firmware update and resetting the widget tape, which is normal behavior when major Android or MIUI updates are made.
Sometimes the tape switch may be inactive (shadowed in grey).This often happens if Easy Mode or Elderly Mode is enabled. Switch to standard mode in the screen settings to unlock editing ability.
Another problem is swipe lags. If the swipe to the left still causes the swipe to hang out after the widgets are turned off, try clearing the system launcher cache. Go to Settings → Applications → All Applications → System Launcher → Memory → Clear.
Incorrect commands can lead to a cyclical reboot of the device.
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The safest and most effective way to remove tape is to use the regular launcher settings, not to delete system files.