Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often encounter intrusive interface elements that appear after updating the MIUI or HyperOS shell. One of these elements is a sidebar designed to quickly access applications and tools. However, many users find it useless, as it occupies part of the screen and can accidentally activate during games or watching videos.
Disabling this feature is a simple process, but the path to the desired setup may vary depending on the version of the Android operating system and the firmware modification. In some cases, the standard path is hidden, and you have to resort to additional methods through the engineering menu or special applications. It is important to understand that the complete removal of system components requires caution, but simply disabling the feature is safe for the device.
In this article, we will take a look at all the known ways to remove the sidebar so that your screen is cleaner and your control is more convenient. We will look at standard settings, features of new versions of HyperOS and alternative solutions for advanced users. Get ready to optimize your smartphone, removing unnecessary visual noise.
Why users want to turn off the sidebar
The sidebar, or App Vault, was originally intended as a convenient widget for quickly running frequently used programs and watching news. However, in practice, implementing this feature in Xiaomi shells is often annoying. Random swipes lead to the opening of the tape, which interrupts the current process, such as reading text or viewing a photo.
In addition, the presence of active widgets on the sidebar can consume additional RAM and battery power. Background loading of news feed and updating widgets create a constant load on the processor, which is especially noticeable on budget models of smartphones.
Many users value minimalism and prefer a clean desktop without unnecessary interface elements. The sidebar violates visual integrity, especially if you use a dark theme or specific wallpaper. By removing it, you regain full control of navigation and get rid of random clicks.
⚠️ Warning: Disabling the sidebar does not remove the widgets completely from the system, they simply stop showing when swiping to the right.
Standard method of disabling through system settings
The easiest and safest way to remove the sidebar is to use the built-in shell settings, which works on most current versions of MIUI 12, MIUI 13, MIUI 14 and the new HyperOS. You do not need to install third-party software or obtain superuser rights.
To start, unlock your smartphone screen and find the Settings icon, which is usually located on the home screen or in the menu of all apps. Go inside and scroll down to the Additional Features section. In some firmware versions, this item may be called Advanced Settings.
In the menu that opens, look for the Sidebar (or Toolbar) option, and if you click on it, you'll see a switch that activates or deactivates the feature, and if you swipe to the right, you'll see a standard widget screen or just a main screen, depending on your launcher settings.
☑️ Pre-switch check
It's worth noting that some global firmware versions may have slightly different paths, so if you don't find the right option in the additional features, try searching for the settings, type "Sidebar" or "Dashboard" into the search box, and the system will suggest you go to the desired menu.
Features of the shutdown in HyperOS and new versions of MIUI
With the release of the HyperOS shell, Xiaomi has significantly changed the logic of the interface. In new versions, the sidebar is often integrated with the control center and widgets, so a simple switch can be hidden or renamed. Users note that in HyperOS 1.0, the settings have become more disparate.
In some cases, the sidebar feature has been replaced with Smart Windows or Floating Windows. If the standard path doesn't work, try Settings → Desktop. There may be a separate section for swiping behavior and displaying additional screens. Look for options related to Widget Tape or Google Discover.
Also, newer versions have the ability to customize the behavior of the sidebar for specific applications. You can leave it active for games, but turn it off for messengers. To do this, in the sidebar menu, click on the gear icon and select Applications where you can uncheck unwanted programs.
Hidden settings in HyperOS
If you upgrade to the latest version and can’t find the usual settings, it may be that the developers have temporarily hidden this option in your region, in which case cleaning the cache of the Security application or resetting the launcher settings will help, but these are extreme measures.
Setup of applications for the sidebar
Even if you don't want to completely disable the sidebar, you can make it less intrusive or more functional, and there's a section in the panel settings where you can choose which apps will be displayed in quick access. This is useful if you use a panel to run a calculator, voice recorder or scanner. QR-code.
In the application management menu, you'll see two lists: those that have already been added to the panel and those that are available for add-on. You can manually remove unnecessary shortcuts, leaving only the tools you really need, which will speed up the work and make the panel less congested.
There's also the option of resizing the panel, and in some versions of the MIUI, you can choose a compact or extended view, and the compact view takes up less space on the screen and looks like a narrow strip of icons, which is less conspicuous when using a smartphone.
The table below shows a comparison of the sidebar modes:
| Parameter | Full mode. | Compact mode | Disconnected. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Occupied seat | Big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big | Minimum | No. |
| Access to widgets | Complete. | Only apps. | No. |
| Impact on the battery | Average. | Low. | Absent. |
| Risk of accidental pressing | High-pitched | Low. | No. |
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The best option for most is a compact mode with a minimum set of tools, if a complete rejection of the panel is impossible.
Alternative methods through third-party launchers
If the built-in system can not remove the sidebar, or it returns after each update, you can use a third-party launcher. Replacing the standard shell with Nova Launcher, Lawnchair or Microsoft Launcher completely changes the logic of the desktop.
Third-party launchers don’t have a built-in Xiaomi-style sidebar, so the problem goes away.In addition, you get a more flexible setup of the look, animations and icon behavior.It’s a great way to breathe new life into an old smartphone.
However, third-party launchers can consume more resources than a standard POCO Launcher or MIUI Home. Also, some specific Xiaomi features, such as one-hand gestures or secondary space, may not work properly or require additional customization.
⚠️ Warning: When installing a third-party launcher, be sure to give it all the necessary permissions in the special features menu, otherwise it may not work stably or fly out.
To install an alternative launcher, download it from Google Play, launch and press the Home button when the system asks which application to use by default. Select a new launcher and click Always.
Problems after disconnection and their solution
Once you turn off the sidebar, users may find that swipe to the right has stopped opening Google search or newsfeed, which is normal because you have disabled the layer responsible for this functionality, and you can return the search through the widget settings or installing the Google widget separately on the desktop.
In rare cases, when you turn off the panel, you may experience icon-image bugs or a desktop freeze. If you notice strange behavior, try rebooting the device, which usually resolves all the software conflicts that arise after you change the interface settings.
If the problem persists, the cache of the system application "Security" or "Themes" may be damaged. Go to Settings → Apps → All applications, find Xiaomi system services and select "Clear Cache." Do not confuse "Clean Data" with "Clean Data", as this can reset your personalization.
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Before making major changes to your system, back up your important data via Mi Cloud or Google Drive to protect yourself from data loss.
The impact of the sidebar on performance and battery
Many people wonder how much the sidebar affects the performance of a smartphone. The panel itself is just an interface, but the processes behind it can be resource-intensive. Constant indexing of applications, updating the news feed and running weather widgets require CPU cycles.
On devices with 4GB or less of RAM, disabling redundant services can give a noticeable increase in performance. The system will less often unload background applications, and switching between tasks will become smoother. For flagships with 8-12GB of memory, the difference will be less noticeable, but still present.
And in terms of autonomy, the impact depends on the contents of the panel, and if you have static labels, the consumption is minimal, but if you have live-update widgets (exchange rates, weather, news) active, the battery consumption can increase by a factor of two. 3-5% Turning off the panel helps save this charge.
And there's also ad integrations, which in some regions, the sidebar can contain app promotional recommendations that also require Internet connections and resources to download content, and by removing the panel, you're also improving your digital hygiene.