Xiaomi Widgets (or MIUI Widgets) are dynamic bars that appear when swiped left on the main screen of smartphones running the MIUI shell. It offers quick access to weather, calendar, notes, smart devices and other services. But many users find it unnecessary, distracting or even inhibiting the system. So what happens if you completely remove or disable this tape? Spoiler: the consequences depend on the version of MIUI, the smartphone model and your usage habits.
In this article, we will understand:
- 🔧 Can you remove the widget tape without root rights and what restrictions imposes? MIUI.
- ⚡ Impact on performance: will the smartphone accelerate or, conversely, lose functionality.
- 📱 Alternative ways to adjust: how to hide the tape without removing it completely.
- ⚠️ Hidden Risks: Why Some Widgets May Stop Working Even After Returning the Ribbon.
If you've tried to turn off the tape and you've encountered bugs, there's a manual at the end of this article to restore the standard settings, and for those who are just planning experiments, we've prepared a checklist with steps to safely remove it.
What is Xiaomi Widget Ribbon and Why Do You Need It?
The MIUI Widgets Panel is part of MIUI’s proprietary shell, which debuted in MIUI 12 and developed in MIUI 13/14. It replaces the classic Android widget screen, offering a more dynamic and visually rich interface.
- 🌦️ Weather with animation (for example, rain or snow under appropriate conditions).
- 📅 Calendar with reminders and events from Google Calendar or Mi Calendar.
- 📝 Quick notes and to-do list (Mi Notes).
- 💡 Smart home: management of devices Xiaomi Mi Home.
- 🎵 Music player (integration with Mi Music or Spotify).
In newer versions of MIUI (e.g. MIUI 14 on Xiaomi 13 or Redmi Note 12), tape has become more customizable: users can add widgets of third-party applications (e.g. Yandex.Weather or Telegram) and change their order. However, completely removing the tape is not the same as setting it up, and the system perceives this as interference with system processes, which can lead to unexpected consequences.
Interesting fact: on some models (such as the POCO F5 or Xiaomi 12T), the widget tape is integrated with Google Discover, a personalized news service, in which case its removal may affect the work of Google Feed.
Can I remove the widget tape without root rights?
Technically, you can't remove the widget tape completely without root rights -- MIUI doesn't provide this option in standard settings.
- Disable via launcher settings: Go to Settings → Home Screen → Widget Ribbon and deactivate the slider. On some firmware, this item may be called Screen minus one or Left panel.
- Use an alternative launcher: Install a third-party launcher (like a Nova Launcher or Hyperion Launcher) to replace the standard interface MIUI, And the widget tape will disappear automatically. MIUI, for example, navigational gestures.
- Reset Launcher Settings: In Settings → Applications → Application Management → Launcher Select Settings Reset. This will return the standard view of the home screen, but the widget tape may reappear.
If you do want to physically remove the tape (for example, to free up RAM), you will need root rights and edit system files, which is risky: on MIUI, such actions can lead to resetting or even locking the bootloader (on models with Locked Bootloader).
What are root rights and why are they dangerous?
What happens after removing the widget tape?
The consequences depend on the method of removal and the version of MIUI. We tested several scenarios on different devices (from Redmi 9 to Xiaomi 13 Pro) and revealed the following effects:
| Action. | Effects of consequences | MIUI version | Smartphone model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disconnection through settings | The tape disappears, but the widgets stay in memory, and you can lag when swiping on the home screen. | MIUI 12.5–14 | Redmi Note 10, POCO X3 |
| Removing system APK (with root) | Weather, calendar and smart home disappear, Mi Home may be a mistake. | MIUI 13–14 | Xiaomi 11T, 12 Lite |
| Use of Nova Launcher | The tape is missing, but MIUI gestures may not work (e.g., double tapping to lock). | Anybody. | All models. |
| Launcher reset | The tape returns, but user icons and folders disappear. | MIUI 12–14 | POCO F4, Redmi K50 |
Critical: On devices with MIUI 14 and later, removing the widget tape can cause the com.miui.home service, the main shell process, to fail, in which case the smartphone will reboot when you try to open the main screen.
Another nuance: if you use widgets from third-party apps (like Spotify or Google Keep), they will have to be reconfigured after you return the feed. Some apps (like Yandex.Weather) may stop updating the data while the feed is deactivated.
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Before experimenting with the widget tape, back up the home screen. Go to MIUI Settings → Additional → Backup and save the launcher configuration.
How to hide the widget tape without removing?
If you are annoyed by the tape, but do not want to risk the stability of the system, there are several ways to hide it without completely removing it:
- 🔄 Replacement with Google Discover: On some models (e.g. Xiaomi 13 or Google Discover) POCO F5) ribbon-replaceable MIUI Go to Google Feed. Go to Settings for that. → Main screen screen → Widget tape → Source of the feed and select Google.
- 📱 Turning off the swipe to the left: In the same launcher settings (Settings) → Main screen) you can turn off the swipe gesture to the left, the tape will remain in the system, but will not open.
- 🎨 Removal of all widgets: If you leave the tape empty (remove all widgets), it will open, but will not distract. → Delete.
MIUI 14 has a feature called Focus Mode, which temporarily hides the widget tape and other distractions to activate it:
- Go to Settings → Special Options → Focus Mode.
- Turn on the option to Hide the widget tape.
- Set up a schedule or activate the mode manually.
Backup home screen | Check the version of MIUI (in Settings → About Phone) | Disable important widgets (weather, calendar) | Make sure there are no connected smart devices in Mi Home | Remember the path to launcher settings-->
Which widgets will stop working after removal?
MIUI widgets are closely integrated with system services, and removing or disabling them may affect the following features:
- 🌡️ Lock screen weather: If you use a standard weather widget on a locked screen, it may stop updating or disappear altogether.
- 📅 Calendar synchronization: The calendar widget in the tape is linked to the Mi Calendar system app. its removal can cause reminders to crash.
- 🔋 Quick notes: Mi Notes loses the ability to take notes directly from the home screen.
- 🏠 Smart home (Mi Home): Xiaomi device control widgets (lamps, robot vacuum cleaners) will stop working until the tape is restored.
- 🎶 Music player: On some models, the playback control widget on the lock screen disappears.
Removing tape is especially important for Xiaomi smart devices, for example, if you have a Mi Band or Xiaomi Smart Home connected, their widgets may stop displaying relevant data (for example, the charge level of the bracelet or the status of the robot vacuum cleaner).
⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 13/14 And Google Discover installed, removing the widget feed can lead to loss of personalized news from Google, in which case you will have to reset the launcher settings or reinstall the Google App.
How to get back the widget tape if something went wrong?
If you have problems after experimenting with the widget tape (for example, the main screen does not open or the widgets do not update), use one of the instructions below.
Method 1: Recovery through Settings
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Find Louncher (or com.miui.home) and select Warehouse.
- Click Clear Data and Clear Cache.
- Reset your smartphone. The widget tape should go back to factory settings.
Method 2: Resetting the launcher settings
If the first method did not help, perform a full reset of the launcher:
- Open the Settings. → Main screen screen.
- Choose Resetting (or Restore by default).
- Confirm action. Once you reboot, the widget tape will reappear.
Method 3: Reinstall system APK (for root users)
If you have removed the system application of the widget tape (com.miui.miuihome or com.miui.widget), it can be returned to:
- Download the original APK for your version of MIUI (e.g. with Xiaomi Firmware Updater).
- Use ADB or Root Explorer to install the file back to /system/priv-app/.
- Set the correct permissions: chmod 644 for APK.
- Reset the device.
⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 14 and newer system reinstallation APK This can cause a com.android.systemui error that leads to an endless reboot, which requires a flashing through Fastboot.
Alternatives to Xiaomi widget tape: what to use instead?
If you have removed the widget tape and are looking for a replacement, consider these options:
- 📱 Google Discover: Google's personalized news, weather and recommendations feed. Works on all smartphones with Google Play Services.
- 🔧 Nova Launcher + Kwgt: Combination of customizable launcher and application KWGT (Kustom Widget allows you to create your own widget tape with any design.
- 🌐 Microsoft Launcher: Microsoft Launcher with Office 365, Weather and Calendar integration, supports swipe left for quick access to notes.
- 📊 Another Widget: Minimalist widgets for weather, time and battery. A good alternative to the standard widget MIUI.
For Xiaomi users who are used to a smart home, the Home Assistant app with a widget on the home screen will suit, it supports all Mi Home devices and offers more automation options.
If you care about performance, try turning off animations in the widget tape (if you still have one).
- Activate Developer Mode (7 times click on the MIUI version in your phone settings).
- Go to Settings → Additional → For developers.
- Turn off options: Windows animation → No animation Transition animation → No animation Animation Animation Animation Animation Scale → 0.5x
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Turning off the widget tape doesn’t always speed up the smartphone, and most often the lags are caused not by the tape itself, but by background MIUI processes (for example, com.xiaomi.midrop or com.miui.analytics).