Xiaomi widgets: how to enable, configure and eliminate errors

What is a widget tape on Xiaomi and why you need it

The widget tape (or widget bar) in MIUI is a special screen that appears when swiped to the left of the home screen, and it displays quick cards with information from apps: weather, calendar, notes, steps, currency rates, and even recommendations from Xiaomi, essentially analogous to Google Discover, but with branded chips.

Many users of Redmi, Poco or Xiaomi are unaware of its existence — the feature can be disabled by default or hidden after the MIUI update. Meanwhile, the widget tape saves time: instead of opening each application separately, you see the actual data in one place, for example, the weather for today, the nearest events from the calendar or health statistics with the Mi Band.

In this article, we will analyze how to turn on the widget tape on any Xiaomi smartphone (including models from 2023-2026), customize it for yourself and solve typical problems - from the lack of a swipe to data download errors.

📊 What kind of Xiaomi smartphone do you have?
Redmi Note 12/13
Poco X5/F5
Xiaomi 13/14
Other

How to turn on the widget tape: basic instructions

If the swipe left on the home screen doesn't open the tape, it's disabled. You can turn it on in 30 seconds.

  1. Open the settings (cog icon on the desktop).
  2. Go to the Desktop section (or Home Screen in new MIUI versions).
  3. Find the item Widget Ribbon (in some firmware – the Widget Panel or Discover Screen).
  4. Activate the switch to the position VL.

After that, the swipe to the left should work. If not, check if you have a third-party launcher (for example, Nova Launcher or Hyperion), in which case the MIUI widget tape will not work.

Make sure you use the standard MIUI | launcher.

Update the firmware to the latest version|

Reboot your smartphone after the changes |

Check if the swipe is switched off in gestures-->

Why the widget tape doesn’t work: 5 reasons and solutions

Even after switching on, the swipe may not work, and here are the most common reasons and ways to eliminate them:

  • 🔄 Outdated firmware. MIUI 12 and older, the widget tape is running stable, and earlier versions may have bugs.Update via Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
  • 📱 Third-party launcher. If you're using an alternative launcher, go back to the standard launcher. MIUI Launcher (in the application settings, find it and click on Default).
  • 🔧 System applications crash. Clear the cache for MIUI Launcher and System Settings in Settings → Annexes → Application management.
  • 🛠️ Permissions disabled. Go to Settings. → Permits → Autostart and enable autostart for MIUI Launcher and Weather.
  • 🌐 Region restrictions: Some models for China may block the widget tape, so switching to India or Russia (but it will affect other system features).

Important: If after upgrading to MIUI 14, the tape stopped working, try resetting the launcher settings. To do this, press the empty space on the desktop → Desktop settings → Reset settings.

What to do if the swipe is in conflict with gestures?
If you have navigation gestures enabled (e.g. swipe from the edge to back up), they can block the opening of the tape. Solution: 1. Go to Settings → System → Gestures. 2. Turn off the swipe from the edge or set the gesture area so that it does not overlap with the ribbon area. 3. Reboot the phone.

Customization of the widget tape: what can be changed

The default feed is the weather, calendar and news, but it can be customized.

ParameterWhere to changeOptions
Order of widgetsSwipe left → Edit (pencil in the upper right corner)Dragging cards with a mouse
News sourcesSettings → Desktop → Tape of widgets → SourcesTurn on/off Xiaomi News, Google News, etc.
Weather and locationClick on the weather widget → SettingsSelection of city, unit of measurement (°C/°F), humidity display
Display of recommendationsSettings → Desktop → Tape of widgets → PersonalizationIncl./off recommendations on applications, content, promotions

If you don't like standard widgets, you can add third-party widgets, like Spotify widget for music management or Google Keep for notes.

  1. Install the desired application from Google Play.
  2. Click the empty space on the desktop → Widgets.
  3. Find the app widget and drag it to the tape.

💡

To make the feed load faster, disable unnecessary news sources in the settings. This will also save traffic and battery power.

The tape widgets on different models Xiaomi: features

The functionality of the tape may vary depending on the model and version of the MIUI. Here are the key differences:

  • 📱 Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12/13: Full tape with support for dynamic widgets (such as animated weather) and integration with Mi AI for personalized recommendations.
  • 📱 Poco F5/X5: The tape is disabled by default due to the "clean" approach of the Poco Launcher. MIUI Launcher.
  • 📱 Redmi 10/9, Poco M4/M5: A stripped-down version of the tape without third-party widget support, with maximum weather, calendar and basic notifications.
  • 📱 Xiaomi for the global market: tape can show ads Xiaomi (disabled in the settings).
  • 📱 Models for China: Xiaomi News with Chinese sources is used instead of Google Discover (can be replaced via Google Discover) VPN).

On Poco devices, tape is often confused with the Quick Swipe Down panel, which is different: the Settings Panel controls Wi-Fi, brightness, etc., and the Widget Ribbon controls the information.

💡

On smartphones with MIUI 14 and later, the widget tape supports interactive elements – for example, you can respond to messages directly from WhatsApp or Telegram widgets without opening the application.

How to Remove Advertising and Unnecessary Widgets

Many users complain about banner ads in the feed, and you can remove them like this:

  1. Open the widget tape swipe to the left.
  2. Slip on the three points in the upper right corner → Settings.
  3. Disable Recommended Content or Personalized Recommendations.
  4. To completely remove the ad, turn off Show Ads in Settings → About Phone → Additional → Advertising.

If the adverts remain, try:

  • 🔄 Reset the settings of the tape (in its settings there is an option to Reset).
  • 📵 Disable mobile data for the Msa application (MIUI System Ads in Settings → Annexes.
  • 🛡️ Install ADB-command to block ads (requires an unlocked bootloader).

⚠️ Note: Disabling system advertising through ADB It can lead to disruptions in work. MIUI. Do this only if you understand the risks.

Alternatives to the widget tape on Xiaomi

If the standard tape does not suit, you can use third-party solutions:

  • 📱 Microsoft Launcher: Built-in dashboard with widgets, calendar and integration with Office 365.
  • 📱 Nova Launcher: Supports customization widgets, but without swipe left (you need to add widgets to the home screen).
  • 📱 Google Discover: If you turn off the tape MIUI, Swipe left will open Google Now with news and weather.
  • 📱 Action Launcher: Can show widgets in a retractable panel (analogue of tape).

To switch to Google Discover:

  1. Turn off MIUI tape in the desktop settings.
  2. Install Google App from Play Market.
  3. Swipe left will now open Google Discover.

The main disadvantage of the alternatives is that they do not support proprietary Xiaomi widgets (for example, integration with Mi Band or Mi Home).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi widget tape

Suddenly disappeared after update. How to restore it?
After updating to MIUI 13/14, the widget panel may disappear due to a launcher reset. To restore it: Go to Settings → Home screen → Widget panel and enable it. If the option is missing, clear the cache for MIUI Launcher in Settings → Apps → Manage apps. Restart your phone. If this doesn’t help, try switching the system language to English (India) — this sometimes unlocks hidden features.
Can I add widgets from third-party applications (for example, Yandex.Weather)?
Yes, but with limitations: The standard MIUI tape only supports widgets from Xiaomi and several partners (like Spotify). To add a Yandex.Weather widget, drag it to the home screen and then manually move it to the tape (if your version of MIUI allows it). On MIUI 14, there is experimental support for third-party widgets - check in the tape settings.
Why does the tape slow down or not update the data?
Performance problems are usually associated with: 🔋 Background optimization: Add MIUI Launcher and Weather with Battery Excluding (Settings) → Battery → Optimizing the battery). 📶 Weak Internet: Tape updates data via mobile network. Check background traffic restrictions. 🗑️ Cache filled: Clear the cache for MIUI Launcher and System Settings: If the weather widget doesn't update, remove it from the tape and add it again.
How to completely disable the widget tape?
If you do not need the function, you can deactivate it: Go to Settings → Desktop → Widget tape. Turn off the switch. To completely remove (on some firmware) run the command through ADB: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.miservice ⚠️ Note: This team will remove other Xiaomi system services, including cloud features.
Do Xiaomi tablets (Pad 6/5) support widget tape?
On the Xiaomi Pad 5/6, the widget tape works, but with features: Swipe to the left opens the tape only on the home screen (not in apps). Widgets are adapted for the big screen - for example, the weather shows an extended forecast. On some firmware, the tape is disabled by default (on the same way as on smartphones). Desktop mode (Settings → Screen → Desktop Mode) is also available for tablets, where widgets can be placed more freely.