Owners of modern Xiaomi smartphones often face an intrusive interface that goes beyond the standard desktop. After buying a new device, many users notice that swipe left opens a news aggregator or browser, which is not convenient for everyone. The question of how to turn off the widgets in Xiaomi tape becomes especially relevant for those who appreciate minimalism and speed of the system. The left screen is often overloaded with advertising recommendations, news and widgets that consume traffic and battery resources.
Eliminating this feature doesn’t require superuser rights or complex flashing. The MIUI and the new HyperOS have regular mechanisms for managing the workspace. However, the location of the switches you need may vary depending on the operating system version and regional firmware. Below, we’ll discuss in detail all the available methods to bring back classic desktop behavior and eliminate unnecessary visual noise.
Turning off your news feed is the first step to personalizing your smartphone, which not only cleans the interface, but can also have a positive impact on device autonomy, as background processes stop constantly updating content. Next, we will look at specific action algorithms for different versions of firmware.
The main methods of turning off the tape on the left
The easiest and most reliable way to remove the extra panel is to use the settings of the desktop itself. Unlike many other manufacturers, Xiaomi allows you to adjust the navigation flexibly. First, you need to get into the desktop management menu. This can be done in two ways: through the general settings of the system or through the screen editing menu. The first option is more versatile and suitable for most models, including the Redmi Note and the flagship Mi series.
The second method that's often overlooked is using the editing menu, and if you press a blank area of the desktop, you can preview all the screens, and that's where you swipe left, you can see that tape and find the switch off button, and it's particularly convenient because it allows you to visually measure the changes in real time, and if you don't find the switch right away, try zooming in.
- 🔍 Go to Settings and find the Desktop section».
- 📱 Or pinch an empty space on the screen to call the edit menu.
- ⚙️ Look for the item “Add screen” or “Tape widgets».
- 🚫 Transfer the switch to an inactive state.
⚠️ Note: Some global firmware may call the menu item "Google Discover" or "App Vault." If you don't see the switch, it's possible your shell version doesn't support direct shutdown through this menu, and an alternative method will be needed.
It's important to understand that in different versions of Android, item names may vary slightly, for example, in older versions of MIUI this could be called "Tape of widgets", and in newer versions it could be called "Google Discover". If the standard path does not work, it is worth checking whether a third-party launcher or theme that blocks system settings of the interface is activated.
Settings in MIUI 12, 13 and 14
In popular versions of the MIUI shell, the algorithm is almost identical, but has its own nuances in the arrangement of elements. users of MIUI 12 and MIUI 13 most often need to go to the desktop settings through the main menu of the system. It is important not to confuse the settings of the security application and the interface settings. The tape on the left is often associated with the system launcher, rather than with a separate application.
For MIUI 14 owners, the process has become even more intuitive, with the system tightening its control over advertising content, but the basic settings have remained the same. If you want to completely clear the space, you need to find the section responsible for "Additional Screens." This menu usually has a switchboard that displays the left screen, and deactivating it instantly removes the swipe to the left.
☑️ Checklist of tape shutdown
It's worth noting that in some regions, Xiaomi firmware may hide these settings. If the desktop menu doesn't have the right options, try changing the region in the general settings of the phone to India or Singapore, switching off, and then returning your region, a method that works because of the differences in advertising laws in different countries, but after a change in region, the interface may temporarily change.
| MIUI version | The path to adjustment | Title of paragraph | We need the Internet. |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI 12 | Settings → Desktop | Widget tape | No. |
| MIUI 13 | Settings → Desktop | Google Discover | No. |
| MIUI 14 | Settings → Desktop | Add a screen | No. |
| HyperOS | Settings → Desktop | Widget tape | No. |
After making changes, it is recommended to restart the device so that the system cache is fully updated. Sometimes visual artifacts can be saved until the launcher restarts. If the tape is missing but reappears after the restart, check if the system application "Desktop" has updated in the background, resetting the settings.
Ribbon management in HyperOS
With the release of the new HyperOS operating system, Xiaomi has redesigned many aspects of user experience. The question of how to turn off the widget tape in Xiaomi is solved in the new shell through a unified widget menu. The logic of working here has become closer to the stock Android, but with the preservation of branded chips. Swipe on the left can now open either smart widgets or news feed, depending on your preferences.
HyperOS has the ability to fine-tune the contents of the left screen, so you can not just turn it off, but also replace the news feed with a quick access panel to the smart home or notes, you need to go to the settings of widgets. If your goal is maximum purity, then the function of "Smart recommendations" or "News Tape" should be completely deactivated, this will speed up the response of the system when you unlock.
- 🧩 Open the widget menu with swipe up or pinch.
- 🛠 Click on the settings icon (cog) in the corner.
- 📰 Find the "News Feed" or "Recommendations" section».
- ❌ Remove the tick from the left screen display.
⚠️ Note: In HyperOS, disabling your news feed can also disable weather and pedometer widgets if they were tied to this screen.Be prepared to transfer them to your main desktop.
Users who have moved from iOS will appreciate the similarity of space organization in HyperOS. However, unlike competitors, it retains a high degree of customization. If standard methods do not help, perhaps your device has activated an advanced widget mode that requires a separate disablement in the "Advanced" section. Check for system updates, as early bets may have bugs.
Disabling Google Discover and Browser
Often, what we mean by "tape" is the integration of Google services. In global firmware versions, the left screen is the default Google Discover. It's a news aggregator that collects information from your subscriptions and search history. To turn it off, it's not enough to just remove the screen, you have to change the settings of the Google app itself.
The second common option is to impose a Mi Browser or UC Browser browser, which is that when you swipe left, you can open a web page, not a widget, and this behavior is customized in the browser settings or in the search settings. If you use another browser, such as Chrome or Firefox, it makes sense to turn off this feature to free up resources.
Settings → Applications → All applications → Google → Discover → DisableYou should also check your Google account settings. In the Google app, click on your profile avatar, select Settings, and find General. You can turn off map and news display here. This action will not remove the app, but will clear the left screen of information noise. If you don't use Google services, this step is a must for optimization.
It's important to distinguish between the widget system feed and the Google News Feed, the first being part of the MIUI shell, the second being the search engine service. Disabling one doesn't always mean turning off the other. To clean it completely, you need to check both sources. Sometimes, after updating the apps, the settings can reset, so it's worth repeating the procedure.
Use of third-party launchers
If the standard methods do not give the desired result or the interface seems too overloaded, a great solution is to install a third-party launcher. This is a radical but effective way to completely change the appearance of a smartphone. Popular launchers such as Nova Launcher, Lawnchair or Microsoft Launcher allow you to flexibly customize the behavior of swipes.
Installing a third-party launcher gives you complete control of your desktop, so you can swipe left to open any app, widget, or just leave it without a function. This is ideal for those who want to get rid of MIUI's philosophy of navigation completely, but it's worth remembering that third-party launchers can consume more battery if they're poorly optimized.
- 📥 Download the launcher from the Play Market (for example, Nova Launcher).
- 🏠 Click the Home button and select the new default launcher.
- ⚙️ Go to the launcher settings and find the "Gestural" section».
- 🚫 Assign the action “No” or “Open app” to the swipe to the left.
⚠️ Note: When using third-party launchers, some Xiaomi system features, such as control gestures or double-pressing to turn on the screen, may not work properly or require additional customization.
Many users choose Lawnchair for its lightness and maximum similarity to stock Android.It's a great choice for older Redmi models that lack performance. Launchers also allow you to hide the icons of system applications, making the desktop even cleaner. If you decide to go back to the standard interface, just uninstall the launcher app.
Problem Solving and Frequent Errors
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the tape disappears, but then appears again. This may be due to the automatic update of Xiaomi system components, in which case it is recommended to disable automatic updates of system applications in the settings of the Mi Account.
Another common mistake is confusion between Full Screen and Button modes. In some cases, switching between these navigation modes can reset your desktop settings. If you change the way you navigate, check your feed settings again. It's also worth making sure that the device doesn't have malware installed that can impose its widgets.
In rare cases, the only thing that can help is resetting the launcher to the factory settings, which won't delete your data and applications, but will return the desktop settings to their original state, and then you can reset the display of screens without unnecessary elements. If nothing helps, there may be a problem in a particular version of the firmware, and it's worth waiting for the update.