How to display Google search bar on the screen of Xiaomi smartphone: 3 proven ways

You want to access Google search instantly from your Xiaomi home screen, but don’t know how to do it? In the standard MIUI shell, the search bar widget is often hidden or replaced with Xiaomi’s Mi Search, but you can return a familiar Google bar in just a few steps, even if you’re a beginner.

In this article, we will discuss three working methods: through widget settings, alternative launcher installation and manual configuration of the Google App. Each method is tested on the latest versions of MIUI 14/15 and is suitable for most models - from the budget Redmi Note to the flagship Xiaomi 13 Ultra.

Importantly, if you have Poco or Black Shark, some menu items may be called differently, we will specify alternative paths, and for owners of devices with secure EU/Global ROM mode, we have added separate recommendations.

Why does Xiaomi not have a default Google bar?

Xiaomi is actively promoting its own services, so the standard MIUI firmware often does not have a Google search bar.

• 🔍 Mi Search is a branded search engine integrated into the system (works slower and shows ads Xiaomi).
• 📱 Empty space on the main screen if the widgets are disabled.
• 🔄 Automatically hide a line after updating the Google App or MIUI.

In addition, some models (e.g. Redmi) 9A POCO M3) The line may be lost due to battery optimization, which suspends the Google App in the background. MIUI.

🔹 Interesting fact: On devices for the Chinese market (China) ROM) The Google line is missing, basically, it uses Baidu or Sogou instead. If you imported one, you'll have to install Google Services manually (the instructions are at the end of the article).

Method 1: Adding a widget through the main screen settings

The simplest method, which works on 90% of Xiaomi devices with MIUI 12-15, is that you don’t need root rights or third-party apps.

1. 📱 Press and hold the empty space on the home screen (not on the icon) with your finger!).
2. 👆 In the menu that appears, select Widgets (or Widgets in English firmware).
3. 🔍 Scroll down the list and find the Google Search widget (an icon with a magnifying glass and G colored letters).
4. 🖱️ Hold the widget and drag it to the main screen. Release your finger when the frame appears.
5. ⚙️ When you first add the system can request permissions – click Allow.

If the widget doesn’t appear in the list, check:

• 📥 Google App is Installed (download it from Play Market).
• 🔄 Is it updated to the latest version (see Settings) → Annexes → Application management → Google and click Update).
• 🚫 Are the widgets disabled in the launcher settings (path: Settings) → Main screen screen → Widgets → Showing widgets).

Update the Google App to the latest version

Reboot your smartphone

Clear the Google App cache (Settings → Apps → Google → Storage → Clear the cache)

Check if Google is disabled in your account settings (Settings) → Accounts. → Google)-->

⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI 13 for Poco F3) The widget can be called "Quick Search" or "Google Search Bar." If you didn't find it on the list, try the method. №2.

Method 2: Install an alternative launcher (for advanced users)

If the standard MIUI launcher stubbornly doesn't want to show Google's bar, you can install a third-party launcher where the feature works out of the box.

• 🌟 Nova Launcher – supports customization of the search bar (you can change color, size, transparency).
• 📱 Lawnchair – Lightweight launcher with integrated Google string.
• ⚡ Hyperion Launcher – Optimized for Xiaomi and allows you to hide Mi Search forever.

Instructions for Nova Launcher:

1. 📥 Install Nova Launcher from Play Market.
2. 🔧 Launch the launcher and select it as the default launcher in the window that appears.
3. 🖱️ Press and hold the main screen. → Widgets → Find "Google search".
4. ⚙️ Drag the widget onto the screen. In Nova Launcher, you can resize it (stretch it to the full width of the screen).
5. 🎨 For additional settings, go to Nova Settings. → Widgets → Google Search Line.

💡 Pros of the method: you get not only the search bar, but also complete freedom to customize the main screen (change icons, gestures, hiding unnecessary elements).

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi) K50 Gaming) when installing a third-party launcher, Game Turbo, the mode for games, may disappear. To return it, you will have to go back to the standard launcher.

Standard MIUI

Nova Launcher

Lawnchair

Hyperion

Other-->

Method 3: Manually configure via Google App (for experienced)

If the first two methods don’t work, you can force the Google App to show the search bar through hidden settings, which requires a little more action, but works even on China ROM (assuming Google Services is installed).

Step 1: Enable USB debugging (optional, but will help in crashes)

1. 🔧 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI Click on it 7 times to activate Developer Mode.
2. 🔙 Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. 🔌 Turn on Debugging. USB Allow imitation of location.

Step 2: Activate the search bar through ADB (no root)

If the widget persists, you can send a command via ADB (does not require superuser rights):

adb shell pm grant com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS


adb shell settings put secure widget_google_search 1

Step 3: Reboot your smartphone

After you have completed the commands, restart the device. The search bar should appear in the list of widgets. If not, check if the Google App is blocked in the battery settings:

• 🔋 Go to Settings. → Battery and productivity → Battery consumption management.
• 🔍 Find Google in the list and select Without Limits.

🔹 Note: On MIUI 15 for Xiaomi 14, this method may not work due to new security restrictions, in which case only the installation of an alternative launcher (the method) remains. №2).

Compatibility table with Xiaomi models

Not all methods work equally well across devices, and the following are the popular models (tested on MIUI 14/15):

🔹 Conclusion: For most devices, a method is sufficient №1. If you have Poco or Black Shark, it is easier to install Nova Launcher immediately. №2) To China ROM Without Google Services, no method will work – first you need to flash global firmware or install the Google Framework manually.

What if the search bar disappears after the update?

Many Xiaomi users are faced with a problem: the Google string appears, but disappears after updating MIUI or Google App.

• 🔄 Auto-update MIUI: After major updates (for example, with the MIUI 14 by 15) the system resets the widget settings. Solution: Re-add the widget through the method №1.
• 📦 Cleaning up Google App cache: Sometimes the cache gets corrupted and the widget stops showing.Solution: Go to Settings → Annexes → Google → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
• 🔋 Optimizing the battery: MIUI Solution: In the battery settings for Google App, select No Limitations.
• 🛠️ Launcher failure: If all widgets disappear after the update, reset the launcher settings: Settings → Annexes → Launcher → Warehouse → Drop it.

⚠️ Attention: Xiaomi with China ROM After the update, you may need to re-install the Google Services Framework. download it from the APKMirror site (the version should match your firmware!).

💡

If the search bar goes missing after each smartphone restart, try turning off the Adaptive Battery feature in the power settings. This often solves the problem on the Redmi Note 11 and similar models.

How to remove Mi Search and leave Google alone?

The branded search engine Mi Search not only takes up space on the screen, but also consumes the battery by showing ads.

Method 1: Disconnection through settings

1. 🔧 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
2. 🔍 Find Mi Search (or com.miui.search).
3. ⚙️ Click Disable (if the button is inactive, first click Stop).
4. 🗑️ Clear the cache and app data.

Method 2: Removal via ADB (requires PC)

If Mi Search does not turn off, delete it by command:

adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.search

⚠️ Note: On some firmware, this may cause system search to crash in your settings. If other features stop working after deleting, return Mi Search with the command:

adb shell cmd package install-existing com.miui.search

Method 3: Hiding through the launcher

In Nova Launcher or Hyperion, you can hide Mi Search without deleting it:

1. 🖱️ Click and hold the Mi Search icon on the home screen.
2. 🚫 Choose to Delete or Hide (in Nova Launcher).
3. 🔄 Reboot your smartphone.

💡

Removing Mi Search does not affect Google Assistant or other Google services, but on some firmware, it can break the search in system settings – be careful!

FAQ: Frequent questions about Google search bar on Xiaomi