App Vault on Xiaomi: Hidden features, setup and removal

If you own a Xiaomi, Redmi or a smartphone POCO, You may have noticed a strange widget on the home screen that says App Vault (or "Fast Apps" in Russian). MIUI 9, but still raises questions: why it is needed, how to use it correctly and whether it can be disposed of without consequences?

At first glance, App Vault seems like a simple set of shortcuts for fast access to applications, but in fact it is a powerful optimization tool that can not only run programs, but also show contextual information directly on the home screen — from the weather to the latest notifications from messengers. In this article, we will analyze all its features, hidden settings and explain why some users prefer to delete it.

It is important to understand that the App Vault is closely integrated into the shell. MIUI, So it can be different depending on the firmware version and the smartphone model, like the Xiaomi 13 Pro, it works differently than the budget Redmi Note 12.

What is App Vault and Why You Need It

App Vault (in Russian version – “Fast Apps”) is a system widget from Xiaomi, which replaces the standard weather applet to the left of the main screen. MIUI 9 in 2017 and has evolved since, adding new features.

The main tasks of the App Vault:

• 📱 Quick start of frequently used applications (camera, flashlight, calculator, etc.).
• 🌦️ Weather widget with forecast for 7 days and precipitation notifications.
• 📊 Smartphone usage statistics: screen time, battery charge, data traffic.
• 🔔 Notifications in one place: missed calls, SMS, messenger.
• 🎵 Media player for controlling music or podcast playback.

It's basically Xiaomi's attempt to put together everything that a user might need on the go, for example, instead of opening Settings. → So, battery, you can see the charge level and the energy consumption right in the App Vault, or instead of running Google Weather, you can get a prediction with one swipe to the left.

But not everyone likes this approach, and the main complaints of users are:

• ⚡ Increased battery consumption due to background widget activity.
• 📱 Occupied space on the main screen that can not be used under other widgets.
• 🔄 Inability to remove completely without root rights (on most models).

How to Open and Use App Vault

By default, the App Vault is on the far left of the home screen. To open it, just swipe to the left of the first desktop. If the widget was accidentally removed or disabled, it can be returned:

1. Click the empty space on the home screen and select Widgets.
2. Find the App Vault (or “Fast Apps”) list.
3. Drag him to the left panel.

The interface of the App Vault is divided into several tabs (their set depends on the model of the smartphone and the version). MIUI):

The most useful feature is fast apps. Here, by default, is:

• 📸 Camera – Quick launch without unlocking (on some models).
• 🔦 Lightning - on / off in one tap.
• 📝 Records - quick access to the recorder.
• 🔍 Scanner. QR — scanner launch without opening the camera.
• 🎵 Music - Player control.

💡

If you have Xiaomi with AMOLED-screen, add to the App Vault shortcut Dark theme – this will allow you to quickly switch between display modes without going into the settings.

Hidden features of App Vault, which few people know

Most users use App Vault only for weather or quick camera launches, but it has a few hidden features that can be useful:

1. Quick access to the latest screenshots If you swipe down on the Quick Apps tab, you'll see a gallery with the latest screenshots. This is convenient when you need to quickly share a screenshot.
2. Real-time traffic control: The Statistics tab shows not only the total consumption of mobile data, but also the hourly chart, which helps you track which app is eating the Internet in the background.
3. If you have Xiaomi ecosystem gadgets (lamps, sockets, robot vacuum cleaners), they can be controlled directly from App Vault without running a separate application.

Another little-known feature is the At Work mode, which, if you activate it in the App Vault settings, the widget will only show business information, calendar, weather, and fast apps, hiding personal notifications, which is handy if you don't want your colleagues to see your messages when they swipe randomly.

The App Vault also has the ability to:

• 📅 Show the upcoming events from the calendar (if synchronized Google Calendar or Mi Calendar).
• 🚗 Display traffic information (if geolocation is enabled).
• 💰 Showing exchange rates (manually configured).

💡

App Vault can replace multiple widgets at once, saving space on the home screen. 3-4 Its functions are easier to disable it to save battery.

How to customize the App Vault for yourself

By default, the App Vault shows a standard dataset, but it can be customized.

1. Open the App Vault swipe to the left.
2. Slip on the gear settings (usually in the upper right corner).
3. Choose the options you want.

Here's what we can change:

Pay special attention to the section “Recommended content”, this feature constantly downloads data from the Internet, which:

• 📉 Mobile traffic (up to 50 MB per month).
• 🔋 Increases battery load (background processes).
• 🛑 Shows ads (even if personalized ads are disabled).

If you want to completely disable App Vault background activity, do the following:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find App Vault on the list.
3. Choose the Battery. → Background activity and set "Limit».
4. Turn off Auto Start and Secondary Start.

⚠️ Warning: Once the background activity is turned off, the weather and notifications in the App Vault will no longer update automatically.

How to Disable or Remove App Vault

If you don't use the App Vault, you can remove it from the home screen or deactivate it altogether. MIUI:

Method 1: Remove from the main screen (without deleting)

This is the easiest and safest method:

1. Press your finger on the main screen and select the screen settings.
2. Find the left panel option (or “App Vault”).
3. Turn off the switch or select “Disable”.

After that, the swipe to the left will stop opening the widget, but the application itself will remain in the system.

Method 2: Disable through application settings

This method completely deactivates App Vault, but does not delete its files:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find App Vault (could be called “Fast Apps”).
3. Click “Disable” (the button will only become active after clicking on “Forced Stop”).
4. Confirm the action.

⚠️ Note: On some models (POCO F5, Redmi Note 11 Pro+) Disabling the App Vault can cause the weather widget to crash on the locked screen.If it is critical, use Method 1.

Method 3: Removal by means of ADB (advanced)

If you want to remove App Vault completely, you will need to ADB-commands and unlocked bootloader:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.weather2


adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.quicksearchbox

After these commands are executed, the widget will disappear, but:

• 🔙 After resetting settings or updating MIUI widget will return.

If you are not sure about your skills, it is better to limit yourself to Method 1 or 2.

App Vault Problems and How to Solve Them

Sometimes the App Vault doesn't work properly, and here are the most common problems and solutions.

If the App Vault has started opening on its own (for example, when unlocking your phone), it may be due to:

• 🔄 Failure after update MIUI.

Decisions:

1. Reset the App Vault settings in its settings menu.

⚠️ Note: If after the update MIUI App Vault has stopped working, don’t try to delete it through ADB — This can lead to a cyclical reboot of the phone.

Alternatives to App Vault on Xiaomi

If you don't like the standard App Vault, you can replace it with third-party solutions.

• 🌦️ Overdrop (or Today Weather) - Beautiful weather widget with support AMOLED-You can put it on the home screen instead of the App Vault.
• ⚡ Another Widget: A modular widget for fast app access, battery statistics and music management. Supports customization of colors and sizes.
• 📊 Sesame Shortcuts Smart Search and Quick Actions (e.g., "write a message to mom" or "turn on Bluetooth"). Integrates with Nova Launcher.
• 🔍 KWGT Kustom Widget Maker For advanced users: allows you to create your widget from scratch, including weather, battery, notifications, etc.

If you want to remove the left panel completely, but leave the weather, do the following:

1. Install a Nova Launcher or other launcher.
2. In the launcher settings, turn off the "Left panel".
3. Add a weather widget to the home screen (e.g. Google Weather or Yr.no).

Advantages of third-party widgets:

• 🎨 More customization options (colors, fonts, location).
• 🔋 Lower battery consumption (no background processes) MIUI).
• 🚀 More accurate data (for example, weather forecast from AccuWeather or Foreca).

But there are downsides:

• 💰 Some widgets are paid (for example, Overdrop Pro is worth it). ~300 ₽).
• 🔧 Requires manual configuration (unlike the ready-made solution from Xiaomi).
• 📱 It may conflict with system services (e.g., geolocation will work worse).

FAQ: Frequent questions about App Vault