Modern Xiaomi smartphones, which run on MIUI shells or the new HyperOS, offer users a variety of personalization features. One of these features is a special area to the left of the home screen, which can be accessed by swiping to the right, a zone known as the widget tape, which provides quick access to important information and tools, which many users confuse with Google Discover or Yandex services, but technically it is a native element of the manufacturer’s shell interface.
Device owners often wonder why this area is needed and whether it can be turned off if it interferes. By default, it displays news, weather, pedometer and other useful data that the system considers relevant. However, the functionality of this zone goes far beyond a simple news aggregator, becoming a full-fledged control panel for the digital space of the user.
Understanding how Xiaomi interface works can significantly improve the usability of the gadget. In this article, we will discuss in detail what is hidden behind this screen, what widgets are available for installation and how to customize this area to your personal needs, removing the extra and adding the really necessary.
Functional purpose and capabilities of the tape
Widget tape is not just a static list, but a dynamic platform for displaying content in real time, the main difference from conventional widgets on the desktop is that it is vertically scrolling and can accommodate a large number of elements without cluttering the main workspace.
Key features include integration with Mi Account and cloud services, which can display calendar reminders, note tasks, physical activity tracking, and even smart home device management, making tape a central hub for fast reading without having to open individual apps.
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Use the widget tape as a quick access panel to frequently used functions so as not to clutter the main screen with unnecessary application icons.
Importantly, the content of this area depends on the region and the settings of the account. In some cases, the system can offer news recommendations from partners, which is often perceived by users as information noise.
How to activate and access settings
To get started with this tool, you need to make sure it's enabled in the settings of the system. Often users can't find the tape just because it's deactivated by default or has been disabled before, and to activate it, you need to go to the desktop settings menu.
The process of turning on is standard for most firmware versions. You need to pinch the empty space on the home screen or use the settings menu through the Security app. The path to the desired switch is usually as follows:
Settings → Desktop → Widget Ribbon (or Google Discover)Once the slider is activated, the option will be available. Depending on the version of MIUI, the name of the item may vary slightly, but the essence remains the same. If you use a third-party launcher, this feature may not be available or work correctly, as it is part of the system shell.
☑️ Checking tape activation
Types of available widgets and their settings
Inside the tape, you can place various modules that are divided into system and third-party. System widgets are optimized by Xiaomi developers and consume a minimum amount of battery resources. Third-party modules are provided by installed applications such as social networks, email clients or task trackers.
To add a new element, you need to click on the add button (usually a plus or pencil icon in the corner of the screen) or hold your finger for a long time in the free space of the tape. A directory will open where all widgets are sorted by category, you can choose the size of the module and its position in the list.
- 📊 Information: weather, exchange rate, news, battery status.
- 🏃 Health and sports: steps, pulse, sleep data (requires pairing with Mi Fit or Google Fit).
- 🎵 Multimedia: music management, voice recorder, scanner QR-code.
- 🏠 Smart home: control of lamps, sockets and cameras Mi Home.
Some widgets require additional permission to operate, such as a weather module requesting geolocation access, and a news aggregator requesting permission to use the network, without these rights, functionality may be limited or the widget will not display current data.
Hidden widgets
News management and content personalization
One of the most talked-about features of the feed is the news unit, which many users prefer to turn off to see only useful information, but if you follow the news, this section can be configured to show only the topics that interest you.
At the top of the feed, you often have a source switch or recommendation settings button, and by clicking on it, you can choose your preferred categories: technology, sports, politics, or entertainment, and artificial intelligence algorithms will analyze your clicks and gradually improve your selection.
If you don't need news at all, you can hide it completely, so you have to find "Recommendations" or "News" in your feed settings and deaktivirovat' it, and it won't remove other widgets like the weather or calendar, but it will clear the feed of information noise.
| Type of content | Source of data | Demands the Internet. | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weather. | Systems Service / Partner | Yes. | Low. |
| Stepper | Phone Sensors / Mi Band | No (synchronization later) | Average. |
| News | Partner aggregator | Yes. | Average. |
| Smart home. | Xiaomi Cloud Servers | Yes (for management) | Low. |
Solving problems and optimizing work
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the widget tape stops updating or does not work correctly.This may be due to energy saving restrictions that are aggressively implemented in MIUI.
To fix this, you need to go to the battery settings and find the app responsible for the tape (often called Wallpaper Carousel or Google Services). In the autostart and energy saving settings, select the No Limits mode, which will allow the widgets to be updated in real time.
⚠️ Warning: Forced shutdown of the system processes that run the desktop can cause icons to disappear temporarily or reboot the interface.
Problems can also arise when there is a lack of RAM: if a smartphone runs a lot of heavy applications, the system can unload widgets from memory, in which case it helps to periodically restart the device or close unused background tasks.
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For stable operation of widgets it is necessary to allow them to auto-start and remove restrictions of background activity in the battery settings.
Differences in different versions of MIUI and HyperOS
The interface and features of the widget tape vary significantly depending on the version of the operating system. In older versions of MIUI 12 and below, the functionality was more limited and often depended on the firmware region (Global, China, EEA).
With the release of MIUI 13 and 14, the company has begun to actively introduce iOS-style widgets, adding the ability to change their size and transparency. The new HyperOS shell puts even more emphasis on the visual component, offering deep integration of widgets with live wallpaper and lock animations.
Older users should consider that some animated widgets may not be available due to processor limitations, and in such cases, the system will automatically offer simplified static versions of modules to ensure smooth interface operation.
⚠️ Note: When updating the firmware, the tape settings of the widgets may be reset to the factory.