Google Discover on Xiaomi MIUI 12: How to turn on the recommendation tape in 5 minutes

Google Discover is a personalized feed of news, articles and content that appears when swiping to the right of the main screen on Android. However, on Xiaomi smartphones with the MIUI 12 shell, this feature is often disabled by default or fails. The reasons lie in the features of the firmware: the manufacturer actively promotes its own services (for example, Mi Browser or GetApps), which sometimes conflicts with Google services.

In this article, you will find 3 proven ways to enable Google Discover on devices with MIUI 12 (relevant to the models of Redmi Note 9/10, Mi 10/11, POCO X3 and others), as well as solutions to the typical problems: why the tape is not updated, shows a blank screen or opens instead of it Mi Search. All instructions are tested on the latest versions of the firmware and do not require root rights.

Why Google Discover doesn’t work on MIUI 12

Before you try to turn on the tape, it is important to understand the root of the problem: in MIUI 12 (and later versions), Google Discover may be missing or not working correctly for the following reasons:

🔹 Google App service disabled: Xiaomi shell sometimes blocks background activity of Google app responsible for Discover.
🔹 Mi Search conflict: By default, swipe right on the home screen opens a search from Xiaomi, not Google Discover.
🔹 Outdated version of Google Play Services: Tape requires current Google services, which on Xiaomi are often updated with a delay.
🔹 Regional restrictions: Discover is disabled at the system level on some firmware for China or India.

The problem can also be in the cache of the Google app or the account settings, for example, if you use multiple Google profiles, the feed can only show content for the main account.

📊 What kind of smartphone you Xiaomi?

Redmi Note 9/10/11

Mi 10/11/12

POCO X3/X4

Another Xiaomi

Not Xiaomi.

Method 1: Including through launcher settings

The easiest method is to swipe right on the home screen, and in MIUI 12, this is done through the launcher settings:

Press the empty area of the main screen for a long time.
Select Screen Settings (or Home Screen, depending on the model).
Go to the swipe section to the right (or search for swipe).
Select Google Discover instead of Mi Search or Google Search.

If Google Discover is not listed, it means that the service is disabled at the system level, in which case, move to Method 2.

Update the Google app to the latest version

Make sure that mobile internet or Wi-Fi is enabled

Reboot your smartphone-->

Method 2: Update Google Play Services and Cache Reset

If Discover doesn’t appear even after the launcher changes, the problem may be with Google’s legacy services.

Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
Find Google (app, not services!) and open its settings.
Click Warehouse → Clear the cache and Clear the data.
Go back and search for Google Play Services, re-clean the cache.
Update both apps through the Google Play Store.

Then restart the device. If Discover is still not working, check if background activity is turned on for the Google app:

In the Google app settings, go to the Battery.
Choose No Limits or Allow background activity.
Activate the Auto Start option (if any).

💡

If Discover shows a blank screen after clearing the cache, try changing the system language to English (USA) – sometimes this resets regional restrictions.

Method 3: Manually Incorporated via ADB (for Advanced)

If previous methods have failed, you can force Discover to activate via ADB. This method requires a computer and basic command line knowledge.

Attention! Incorrect ADB commands may disrupt the system.

Turn on Developer Mode on your smartphone: go to Settings → About Phone and 7 times click on the MIUI version.
Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate Debugging over USB.
Connect your smartphone to your PC, install ADB Tools and execute the command:

adb shell settings put secure swipe_up_to_switch_apps_enabled 1


adb shell settings put global settings_provider_model false

After you've done the commands, restart the device. If Discover doesn't show up anyway, try the extra command:

adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.VIEW -d "googleapp://discover"

What if the ADB does not recognize the device?

Make sure you have Xiaomi drivers installed (download from the official website). USB-Cable (original preferably) Include the "Debugging by" option in the developer settings USB (Safe Mode)" Restart your PC and smartphone.

Table: Comparison of Google Discover Including Methods

Method	Difficulty	PC required	It works on all the firmware.	Risk of failure
Launcher settings	⭐	❌ No.	⚠️ Not always.	❌ No.
Cache cleanup + update	⭐⭐	❌ No.	✅ Yes.	❌ No.
ADB-team	⭐⭐⭐	✅ Yes.	✅ Yes.	⚠️ Low.
Resetting settings	⭐⭐⭐⭐	❌ No.	✅ Yes.	⚠️ Medium.

Important! Some of the firmwares MIUI 12.5 Enhanced and MIUI 13 for China have Google Discover locked at the system level, in which case only the flashing to the global version of the software will help.

Solving Typical Problems with Google Discover

Even after successful inclusion, Discover may not work properly. Consider the most common errors and ways to fix them:

🔄 Feed not updated: Check if Auto Update is enabled on Google Play. Also make sure that personalization is allowed in your Google account settings (Google Settings) → Account management → Data and personalization).
📵 Empty screen instead of content: Clear the cache of the Google app and restart the device. If it doesn't work, remove the updates for the app and install them again.
🔍 Mi Search opens instead of Discover: Go back to Method 1 and make sure that Google Discover is selected in the launcher settings, not Google Search.
🌍 Content in a language that is not clear: Change the main language of the system to English (USA) Or Russian, then turn on Discover again.

💡

If Discover has not worked after all the manipulations, check if you have modified firmware (such as custom MIUI) installed on your device, in which case you may need to clean the official software installation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I turn on Google Discover without root rights?

Yes, all the methods described in the article (launcher settings, cache clearing, ADB) work without root. Root rights may only be needed for deep changes to system files, which is not required in most cases.

Why did MIUI Discover disappear again after the update?

MIUI updates sometimes reset the launcher settings. After the update, check the Swipe section right in the home screen settings and select Google Discover again if necessary.

How to turn off Mi Search permanently?

You can’t completely delete Mi Search without root, but you can turn off its background activity: Go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → Mi Search. Click Disable (if available). Limit Internet access for the app under Mobile Data and Wi-Fi.

Will Discover work on Xiaomi with firmware for China?

On most Chinese firmware (China ROM), Google Discover is disabled due to a lack of Google services. Solutions: Install Global ROM via the Mi Flash Tool. Use alternative launchers (such as Nova Launcher) that support Discover regardless of region.

Can I transfer Discover settings to another smartphone?

No, Discover’s personalized recommendations are tied to your Google account, not your device, and when you change your smartphone, the tape will automatically adjust to your interests within 1-2 days.

If neither of these methods worked, consider alternatives like the Google News widget or third-party news aggregators like Flipboard, but for full integration with Android, it’s best to make Discover work – it’s the most convenient way to get relevant content right from the home screen.

⚠️ Attention, on devices with MIUI 12.5 Enhanced and newer, some settings may differ. If your shell version does not have the menu items mentioned, check the relevance of the firmware in the Settings section. → The phone. → Updating the system.