Tape widgets on Xiaomi: how to turn on the display and configure for yourself

The widget tape on Xiaomi smartphones is a convenient tool for quick access to information: weather, calendar, notes or smart home management. However, many users face the problem when this panel suddenly disappears from the screen or does not appear after the MIUI update. The reasons can be different from accidental disconnection in settings to malfunctioning of the shell. In this article, we will examine all ways to return the widget tape to its place, and learn how to customize it.

While MIUI is intuitive, the widget display function is sometimes hidden in non-obvious menu sections, such as when you reset your settings or flash your smartphone, the tape can deactivate automatically. In addition, the path to settings may vary from MIUI 12 to MIUI 14 to HyperOS, and we’ll look at the universal methods that work on most devices, from the budget Redmi Note to the flagship Xiaomi 14.

If you've never used a widget before, it's worth noting that it saves time: instead of opening a weather app or a to-do list, just swipe right on the home screen. But what if this swipe doesn't work? Let's get straight.

Why the widget tape may not be displayed

Before you turn on the tape, it's important to understand why it disappeared.

• 🔄 Update MIUI: after installing a new version of the shell, the widget settings can be reset.
• 📱 Reset to factory settings: when you completely reset all customization of the interface, including widgets, are turned off.
• 🚫 Manual shutdown: a user could accidentally remove the tape through screen settings.
• 🛠️ System failure: rare, but it happens that after a fall or overheating of the device interface elements cease to work correctly.
• 🔒 Power saving mode restrictions: some features are turned off to save charge.

For example, MIUI 13 had a bug that caused the widget tape to disappear after installing themes from Theme → My Themes. HyperOS may be a problem with third-party launchers (like Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher). If you use an alternative launcher, go back to the standard MIUI Launcher first, which often solves the problem.

It's also worth checking if the tape is hidden due to navigation gestures. In some firmware, swipe to the right conflicts with returning to the previous screen, and we'll talk about this in more detail in the next section.

Method 1: Enabling the tape through MIUI settings

The most reliable way to return the tape is to use the built-in settings, which are suitable for most Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco devices:

1. Open the Settings app (cog icon).
2. Go to the Main Screen (or Desktop in some firmware).
3. Find the option of the Widget Ribbon (may be called the Widget Panel or the Widget Screen).
4. Activate the switch next to Show the Widget Ribbon.
5. Return to the main screen and swipe to the right – the tape should appear.

If your MIUI version doesn’t have one, try the alternative path: Settings → Additional → Special Features → Widget Ribbon. In HyperOS, settings can be in Settings → Screen → Home Screen → Widgets.

After activating the tape, we recommend you to immediately adjust its contents.

1. Swipe right on the main screen to open the tape.
2. Scroll down and click Edit (or Customize).
3. Add the desired widgets by dragging them from the bottom panel.

Method 2: Resetting the launcher settings

If the tape does not appear even after turning on in the settings, the problem may lie in the failure of the MIUI Launcher, in which case the launcher reset will help:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search bar, enter Launcher (or Launcher in Russian).
3. Select MIUI Launcher (or System Launcher).
4. Click Warehouse → Clear the data and confirm the action.
5. Reset the device.

Attention, after the launcher drops:

• The location of the icons on the main screen will be reset.
• The wallpaper and transition settings can return to standard.
• The widgets that were added earlier will have to be reconfigured.

This method works in 90% of cases where the tape is lost due to software errors. If the problem persists after the reset, move to the next method.

Method 3: Use of gestures and alternative means of calling

In some firmware, the widget tape doesn't swipe to the right, but is hidden behind other gestures.

• 👆 Swipe down on the main screen: in MIUI 14 and HyperOS tape can be opened from above.
• 🔘 Long tap on the home screen: in some themed builds, widgets are added via the context menu.
• 🔄 Double swipe to the right: if Full-screen gestures are enabled, the first swipe can open the notification bar.

Also check the gesture settings:

1. Go to Settings → Screen → Full-screen gestures.
2. Make sure you select the MIUI Standard Gestures mode (not Full-screen gestures).
3. If you use full-screen gestures, try switching to standard gestures temporarily.

On HyperOS devices, the widget tape can be integrated into the notification bar to see it:

1. Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the notification bar.
2. Scroll to the right – there may be a tab with widgets.

💡

If you are using Poco Launcher or another third-party launcher, the MIUI widget tape will not be available. Return to the standard launcher via Settings → Applications → Default → Launcher.

Configuring the contents of the tape: what widgets can be added

Once the tape is successfully turned on, it can be filled with useful elements. The following types of widgets are available in MIUI:

To add a widget:

1. Open the swipe tape to the right.
2. Scroll down and click Edit.
3. At the bottom of the screen will appear a panel with available widgets.
4. Drag the desired element to the top of the screen.
5. Click Ready to save the changes.

Some widgets support resizing, for example, a weather widget can be stretched across the screen to see a detailed forecast.

1. Press and hold the widget.
2. Blue markers will appear on the edges - pull on them to resize.

💡

Widgets from third-party apps (such as Spotify or Yandex Weather) may not appear in the feed if they are not optimized for MIUI. In this case, use standard widgets from Xiaomi.

Error Resolving: The tape is not working or slowing down

If the widget tape is turned on but is not working correctly (brakes, does not update data or crashes), try the following solutions:

• 🔄 Rebooting the device: Sometimes a simple reboot helps.
• 📥 App Update: Check the Relevance of Widgets in Google Play or App Store MIUI.
• 🧹 Cache Clearing: Go to Settings → Annexes → Widget tape → Clear the cache.
• 🛠️ Reverse updates: if the problem appeared after the update MIUI, Try to revert to the previous version.

If the widgets don’t update the data (for example, the weather shows outdated information), check:

• 📶 Internet connection (widgets require access to the network).
• 🔒 Application permissions (go to Settings) → Annexes → Permits and check access to location, internet and notifications).
• 🔄 Auto Update: Some widgets only update when you open the tape. Try to manually update the data (for example, pulling the screen down in the weather widget).

⚠️ Note: If after all the manipulations the tape still does not work, the problem may be in the damage of the system files. In this case, only a complete reset or flashing the device through Fastboot will help!

Alternative methods: third-party launchers and widgets

If the standard MIUI widget tape does not suit you, you can use alternative solutions:

• 📱 Third-party launchers: Nova Launcher, Apex Launcher or Microsoft Launcher support Android widgets and offer more customization options.
• 🧩 Google Widgets: Google Widgets (formerly Google Now) provides responsive cards with weather, news and calendar.
• 🔧 Widget applications: KWGT or UCCW Allows you to create your own widgets with a unique design.

To install a third-party launcher:

1. Download an app from Google Play (like Nova Launcher).
2. Open it and follow the setup instructions.
3. In Settings → Applications → By default → Launcher, select a new launcher.
4. Add widgets through a long press on the main screen → Widgets.

Important: With third-party launchers, the MIUI system tape will become unavailable, and you will have to manually reconfigure all settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi widget tape