How to remove the widget tape on Xiaomi: the complete guide

Many users of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones are faced with an obtrusive widget tape that appears when swiping to the right of the home screen. This section, often called Google Discover or “Widget Ribbon”, can be annoying for its redundancy, traffic consumption and advertising recommendations.

The problem is solved quite simply, but the path to the solution depends on the version of the MIUI operating system or the new HyperOS. In some cases, standard system tools can only hide some elements, and for complete removal will require the use of a third-party launcher or deeper configuration through ADB. In this article, we will discuss all the available methods, from simple switches in the menu to advanced methods of cleaning the interface.

Before we start taking any drastic measures, it is important to understand that the widget tape is not just a set of shortcuts, but a system service deeply integrated into the shell. Disabling it can affect the work of the Google Assistant voice assistant or the weather widget, if they are associated with this process.

Disabling the widget tape through the desktop settings

The easiest and safest way to remove unnecessary items is to use the built-in launcher settings. Most modern versions of MIUI and HyperOS have left the developers the ability to control the display of the left screen, and this requires you to pinch the empty space on the desktop with your finger to create an edit menu.

At the bottom of the screen, you'll see a toolbar where you select Settings (cog icon). In the menu that opens, you'll find the option "Ribbon widgets"**. If the switch is active, the system will load content with each swipe. Disabling this slider instantly removes the left screen, making the swipe to the right inactive.

However, in some regions or on certain versions of firmware, this item may be called differently or not. For example, in global versions, the name Google Discover is often used. If you don't see the right switch, perhaps your smartphone model uses an alternative control method that requires you to go to the basic settings of the system.

Note that when you update your operating system, you may reset your settings. In HyperOS 1.0 and above, the widget algorithm has been changed, and you sometimes need to re-disable it after every major update. If the item is gone after the update, check the Advanced Settings section in the main menu of the phone.

Delete Google Discover and News Feed

Often, users want to remove more than just the widgets, but rather an intrusive news feed from Google that is filled with ads and recommended articles, which consumes CPU resources and can slow down the opening of the desktop. You can remove Google Discover by disabling the corresponding service in the settings of the Google app itself.

To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find the Google app (not Chrome, but the app with the G logo) on the list. Inside the app menu, find the General item.** This is where the switch that displays the tape on the left is hidden.

• 📱 Open your phone settings and go to the Apps section».
• 🔍 Find the Google system app in the list of installed.

If the standard path doesn't work, you can try to clear the app data. Go to Settings → Apps → Google → Memory and click Clear.** This will reset the feed settings, and when you first start, the system can suggest you choose whether to show news. Choose a negative answer.

⚠️ Note: Disabling Google Discover may cause the weather widget or news widgets on your desktop to disappear, as they often use the same data source.

In some cases, especially on Chinese firmware versions, Mi Video or GetApps may be installed instead of Google. The principle of action is similar: you need to find the corresponding system application in the installed list and disable its display in the settings or remove updates if the system allows.

Configure widgets on a locked screen

Special attention should be paid to the widget tape on the lock screen, which many users confuse with desktop tape, but these are different system components. On a locked phone, a swipe to the right or left can open widgets of music, weather or quick settings, and you can remove them through the lock menu.

Go to Settings → Always on screen and Lock. This is where you are interested in the Lock screen section.** Depending on the version of MIUI, the option may be called Shift to the left or Widgets. Disabling this feature will prevent access to additional panels without unlocking the device.

It’s also worth checking the theme settings. Third-party themes from Themes store can force their widgets to be on the lock screen, ignoring system settings. If the switches don’t work, try temporarily setting a standard Classic or Default theme and checking the system’s behavior.

It is important to distinguish between widgets and notifications. If you are concerned about pop-ups, you should configure them under Notifications and Status Bar. * The widget tape is a static or updated block of information, not a stream of push notifications from applications.

Using third-party launchers for complete cleaning

If the built-in tools can’t remove the widget tape, or you want to completely change the interface, the best solution is to install a third-party launcher, a radical but effective method that replaces the standard MIUI shell with a pure Android or custom interface.

Popular launchers like Nova Launcher, Lawnchair or Microsoft Launcher don’t have a default widget pre-installed tape. Once you install such a launcher and assign it to the main one, the swipe to the right will either do nothing or open the launcher’s widgets, which are easily customizable.

To install a third-party launcher, perform the following actions:

• 📥 Download the selected launcher from the Google Play Store.
• 🚀 Launch the application and follow the instructions for initial setup.
• 🏠 Click the Home button and select Always for a new launcher.

Using a third-party launcher gives more freedom, but has its own nuances. Animations can differ from the usual Xiaomi, and some system features, such as gestures of control or double-touch to turn on the screen, can work incorrectly without additional settings.

Advanced Methods: ADB and Hidden Settings

For power users who want to remove the system components of the widget tape permanently, the method is available through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to remove or disable system packages that cannot be removed through a conventional interface.

First, activate Developer Mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly press 7 times on MIUI Version. Then, in the "Additional" → "Development by USB" section, turn on "Debugging by USB." Connect your phone to your PC and execute a command to disable the widget package.

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox

This command disables the Google Quick Search Box, which is responsible for Discover tape. If you want to remove Chinese Mi Video tape or other system widgets, the packet names will differ (e.g. com.miui.videoplayer).Be careful: disabling critical system packages can lead to unstable phone operation.

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB-commands to remove system packages are performed at your own risk.Incorrect removal may require a complete reset of the device before factory settings.

Solving and optimizing the system

Once you've managed to remove the widget tape, it's recommended that you do some optimization, and removing the extra processes has a positive effect on battery autonomy, but if you notice that the phone is running slower, you might want to check for background processes.

Often, when system widgets are turned off, the cache and temporary files remain in memory, and you can clean them through the built-in Security app.** Start scanning and cleaning up the garbage, which will help the system rebuild the indexes without taking into account remote components.

If you have used a third-party launcher, make sure it is given all the necessary permissions. In the Settings menu → Apps → Launcher → Permissions, items related to displaying over other windows and accessing storage should be activated.

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For maximum performance after disabling the widgets, restart the device. This will start the system services again, without downloading the newsfeed modules.

In conclusion, removing the widget tape is a matter of personal preference, some people use news to access information quickly, some people need a clean screen, and modern versions of HyperOS are becoming more flexible, allowing you to customize the interface to yourself without the need for complex technical tools.

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Complete removal of system components through ADB gives the maximum result, but standard launcher settings are usually enough for most users.