Modern MIUI shells and Xiaomi’s new HyperOS offer users many features for personalization, but not all of them are convenient. One such controversial element is the left screen, often referred to as widget tape, Google Discover or “Minus screen,” which opens when swiped to the right of the home screen and contains news, app recommendations and widgets.
Many smartphone owners face a situation where this feature interferes with navigation or simply is not used. Setup of Xiaomi widget tape is a process that allows you not only to change the content of this space, but also completely disable it, freeing up the resources of the system. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the options available to manage this interface.
It is important to understand that the appearance and available options may vary depending on the version of the operating system and the firmware region. We will consider current methods for modern versions of MIUI 12, 13, 14 and HyperOS. Proper configuration of this element will help make the use of the smartphone more comfortable and productive.
What is a left screen and why do you need it?
The left screen in Xiaomi smartphones is a separate workspace to the left of the first page of the main menu, originally conceived as a useful information aggregator, designed to quickly provide access to news, pedometer, app shortcuts and search, but for many users it becomes a source of unnecessary visual noise.
The main feature of this interface is to quickly access content without having to open apps. It can display the latest photos, weather, currency rates and notifications. Google Discover, which is often integrated here, serves personalized news feeds based on your interests. It is convenient for those who want to stay up to date just by unlocking the phone.
On the other hand, constant data synchronization and news downloads can consume traffic and battery power. In addition, accidentally opening the tape when trying to find a widget on the first screen annoys many users, which is why the question of how to set up or remove the widget tape on Xiaomi remains one of the most popular.
- 📱 Quick access to Google and Yandex search without opening the browser.
- 📰 Aggregation of news from different sources in a single feed.
- 🏃♂️ Displaying physical activity data (steps, pulse) from fitness trackers.
- 🔍 Smart app tips based on time of day and location.
How to Add or Remove Widgets on the Left Screen
Control of the left screen content begins with the basic steps of adding or removing individual elements. To change the set of widgets, you need to go to edit mode, to do this in the empty space of the main screen, you need to pinch two fingers or hold your finger for a long time on the free area until the screen is reduced.
Then swipe right to the left screen, and you'll see the available widgets here, click on the settings icon (usually a gear), or hold your finger on a particular widget, you can change the settings or delete it, and editing widgets allows you to customize what news or data will be displayed, making the tape more relevant.
If you want to add a new widget, look for the Add widgets or + button at the bottom of the screen or in the editing menu. The system will offer a list of modules available, from simple watches and calendars to complex weather widgets and currency rates. The choices are huge, but it's worth remembering about performance.
☑️ Customization of widgets
Don't overload the left screen with heavy live wallpaper widgets or constant online synchronization, which can lead to micro-twitching of the interface as you scroll through, and optimally leave 2-3 really useful elements that you check daily.
Completely disabling the widget tape on Xiaomi
If you don't need the left screen, you can turn it off completely, which will bring back the standard behavior of the system when swiping to the right doesn't lead to anything. The procedure for turning off is simple, but the path to setting up may vary slightly between versions of MIUI.
First, unlock your smartphone and go to the main screen. Swipe to the right to open the left screen. In the upper right corner or at the bottom of the screen, find the gear icon or three dots. When you click on them, you will be taken to the tape settings menu.
In the menu that opens, you need to find a switch called "Widget Ribbon," "Google Discover," or "Get recommendations." Put the slider in an inactive position. The system can request confirmation of the action - agree with it. After that, when you swipe to the right, nothing happens.
⚠️ Note: Once you disable the widget feed, the Google search shortcut may disappear from the home screen. If you need one, you can return it via the widget settings or add the search widget manually to any page.
What to do if the switch is inactive?
It's worth noting that completely disabling this functionality doesn't remove the Google app or system components, but only hides the feed interface. It's a safe operation that won't affect the warranty or stability of the device. You can always turn the feature back on by repeating the same steps.
Setting up Google Discover and News Feed
For those who prefer not to turn off the feed, but to make it useful, it is important to properly configure the content sources. The left panel is often based on Google Discover, which learns from your actions. The more you interact with certain topics, the more accurate the selection becomes.
To customize your interests, open the Google app (not Chrome, but the G app). Go to settings and select Set up or Interests, where you can manually select topics you're interested in: technology, sports, politics, entertainment.
| Setup parameter | Description of function | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| History of web search | Uses queries to select news | Insert for accuracy |
| Location | Shows weather and events nearby | Insert for relevance |
| Language of content | Determine the language of news articles | Choose a mother tongue |
| Notifications | Push notifications about urgent news | Shut it down for silence. |
You can also turn off the “Continue View” cards in the feed settings, which suggest you view YouTube videos or read an article that was previously opened on other devices, which helps to preserve privacy and remove unnecessary ones.
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To ensure that the newsfeed works correctly, make sure that the Google account settings allow the use of data to personalize advertising and content.
Solving problems with widgets
Sometimes users find that the left screen stops updating, widgets show old data or disappear altogether, this can be due to a lack of RAM or aggressive battery optimization in MIUI.
The first step in diagnosis is to clear the cache of Google. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, search in the list of “Google” and select “Clear Cache.” Don’t confuse it with “Clear Data” as this will reset your personalization.
If the problem is that the widgets aren’t updated in the background, check your power saving settings. Find an app that doesn’t work (like Weather or News), go to its battery settings, and select No Limits mode.
- 🔄 Check for updates for Google app and system components.
- 📶 Make sure you have a stable Internet connection, as the tape requires online access.
- 🔋 Turn off the power saving mode, which can block background activity.
⚠️ Note: If the widgets stopped working after a system update, try removing Google app updates through the app settings menu and then updating it again through the Play Store.
Alternatives to the standard Xiaomi tape
The standard solutions from Xiaomi and Google are not suitable for everyone: if the built-in tape seems too simple or conversely overloaded, you can use third-party launchers or widgets, which will create a unique interface that fully meets your needs.
A popular solution is to install launchers like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher, which allow you to create your own “Google screens” with any set of widgets and design, but it is worth remembering that third-party launchers can consume more resources than a standard shell.
There are also specialized aggregator apps like Smart News or Flipboard that can be put as a widget on the home screen, which gives you more flexible control over the news feed than the standard Google Discover.
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Using third-party launchers gives maximum flexibility in setting up the left screen, but can reduce the overall performance of the device on older smartphone models.
By experimenting with different combinations of widgets and apps, you can turn the left screen from an obsessive function into a powerful productivity tool, and the key is to find a balance between informativeness and minimalism.