Xiaomi widgets: why you need, how to set up and remove from the screen

Xiaomi smartphone users often encounter an unexpected interface element, a widget tape that appears when swiped left on the home screen, which raises a lot of questions: What kind of application is this, can it be removed, how to transfer widgets to another place or turn off the tape completely? In this article, we will discuss in detail all the nuances of working with the tape of widgets on the Internet. MIUI, including hidden settings, differences between shell versions and problem solving.

Many people mistakenly consider the widget tape as a separate application, but in fact it is a system component of the shell. MIUI, The main purpose of the launcher is to provide quick access to weather widgets, calendar, notes and other tools without cluttering the main screen, but not everyone likes this solution: Some people accidentally activate the tape, some people can't find the right settings, and some people just want to make room for the icons. MIUI — 12 to 15.

It is worth noting that the functionality of the widget tape depends on the firmware version and smartphone model. For example, on Xiaomi 13 Pro with the help of the smartphone. MIUI 15 additional customization options are available that are not available on budget devices like the Redmi Note 12.It is also important to understand the difference between the system tape widgets (part of the article). MIUI) And the Google Discover widget, which is installed separately through Google services, and they're often confused, but they have very different settings.

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

The widget tape in MIUI — This is a vertical bar that swipes to the left of the home screen, and it contains pre-installed widgets (weather, calendar, steps, quick contacts) and allows you to add new ones. The main difference from the classic Android widgets is compact placement in one place, which saves space on the desktop.

The main functions of the tape:

• 📱 Quick access to frequently used tools (such as a flashlight or calculator) without searching the menu.
• 🌦️ Dynamic weather widgets that update in real time and show a multi-day forecast.
• 📅 Integration with calendar and reminders – events are displayed directly in the feed.
• 🔄 Customization: you can change the order of widgets, remove unnecessary and add new ones from the list of available.

On devices with MIUI 14/15 Widget tape has become more intelligent: it analyzes user habits and offers relevant widgets, for example, if you use a translator often, the system can automatically add it to the tape. However, this feature does not work on all models – it depends on the region of firmware and the availability of Xiaomi Cloud services.

It is important to understand that the widget tape is not a separate application, but part of the com.miui.home system launcher. Therefore, it cannot be removed by standard methods (via Settings). → However, there are legal methods of disconnection, which we will discuss below.

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If the widget tape is missing after the update MIUI, Try resetting the launcher settings: go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → Launcher and select "Reset settings".

How to open and use the widget tape

By default, the widget tape is swiped to the left of the main screen. If this gesture doesn't work, check two things:

1. Make sure you are swiping from the home screen, not from the folder or app menu.
2. Check if the tape is turned off in the settings (more on this below).

The interface of the tape is divided into three zones:

1. The top panel is the search bar and the settings button (cog).
2. The central part is the widgets themselves, which can be scrolled vertically.
3. The bottom panel is the "Edit" button to change the composition of the tape.

To add a new widget:

1. Click on the Edit button at the bottom of the tape.
2. In the list that opens, select the widget you want (such as Notes or Music).
3. Drag it up to the active area or press on"+".

Some widgets support interactive elements, such as the weather widget, which allows you to flip through the weather forecast for several days, and the music widget, which allows you to control playback without opening the application. MIUI:

How to remove or disable the widget tape on Xiaomi

If you don't need a widget tape, you can turn it off in a number of ways. MIUI 12) the option of disconnection may not be available - in this case, only the change of the launcher will help.

Method 1: through the launcher settings

1. Open the widget tape swipe to the left.
2. Click on the gear icon (⚙️) top-right.
3. Switch the switch to show the tape widgets in the position Off..

Method 2: through system settings (for the MIUI 14/15)

1. Go to Settings. → Desktop.
2. Select the widget tape item.
3. Turn off the option to show tape when swiping left.

Method 3: Change the launcher (if there is no shutdown option)

If you're in your version MIUI There is no way to turn off the tape, install an alternative launcher (such as Nova Launcher or Hyperion Launcher:

1. Hold the empty space on the desktop.
2. Select Desktop Settings → Default launcher.
3. Specify a new launcher and confirm the choice.

Make a backup copy of widgets (screenshots)|Check the version. MIUI|Make sure there is an alternative launcher (if required)|Close all background applications-->

⚠️ Note: On certain devices (e.g, POCO F5 with global firmware) disabling the widget tape may cause system weather widgets to fail, in which case it is recommended to use the method of changing the launcher.

Transfer of widgets from the tape to the main screen

If you don't like the location of the widgets in the tape, but you need the tools, you can transfer them to the home screen.

1. Open the widget tape and click Edit.
2. Click the desired widget and drag it to the right outside the tape.
3. Release your finger when the main screen appears – the widget will be added as a regular icon.

Pay attention to a few nuances:

• 📌 Not all widgets support portability, for example, the Steps widget can be moved, and the Recommendations widget MIUI — no.
• 🔄 After the transfer, some widgets lose interactivity (for example, the weather widget stops updating automatically).
• 📱 Nana MIUI 15 transferred widgets can be scaled by clamping corners.

If the widget doesn’t work after the transfer, try the following:

1. Remove the widget from the main screen and add it again through a long press on the desktop → Widgets.
2. Check the permissions for the launcher in Settings → Annexes → Launcher → Permits.
3. Reset the device.

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Widgets that have been moved from the tape to the home screen take up space like normal icons. If you need to save space, use folders or reduce the size of widgets (where possible).

Difference Between Widget Ribbon and Google Discover

Many users confuse the widget tape MIUI Google Discover tape (formerly known as Google Feed) is two different tools with different settings:

If your Xiaomi swipe to the left opens Google Discover, and not the tape widgets, it means:

• You are using the Google Now Launcher or its equivalent.
• In the settings MIUI Google Tape is activated instead of the widget system tape.

To get back the widget tape MIUI:

1. Hold the empty space on the desktop.
2. Select Desktop Settings → ribbon swipe to the left.
3. Specify the Widget Ribbon MIUI instead of Google Ribbon.

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T for the European market) widget tape MIUI It can be replaced by Google Discover by default, in which case the system tape can only be returned through a launcher change or firmware rollback.

Problems with the widget tape and their solutions

The widget tape sometimes doesn't work properly, and here are the most common problems and ways to fix them:

Problem 1: The tape does not open with a swipe

• 🔹 Check if the tape is disabled in the settings (Settings) → Desktop → Widget tape).
• 🔹 Make sure you’re swiping from the home screen, not from the app menu.
• 🔹 Restart the device – sometimes helps with temporary crashes.

Problem 2: Widgets are not updated

• 🔹 Check your internet connection (some widgets require a network).
• 🔹 Update apps related to widgets (such as Weather or Calendar).
• 🔹 Clear the launcher's cache: Settings → Annexes → Launcher → Memory. → Clear the cache.

Problem 3: The tape opens by accident

• 🔹 Turn off the swipe gesture to the left in the launcher settings.
• 🔹 Install another launcher (like Nova Launcher) where you can customize gestures separately.

Problem 4: The Edit button is missing

• 🔹 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version – in old firmware, this button may not be available.
• 🔹 Reset the launcher settings: Settings → Annexes → Launcher → Warehouse → Reset the settings.

If none of these methods worked, it could be the problem with corrupted system files, in which case it might be helpful to reset the settings to factory settings (remember to back up the data!) or flash the device.

Hidden possibilities of the widget tape on MIUI 14/15

In the latest versions MIUI The widget tape has several hidden functions that few people know about:

1. Quick action with widgets

Some widgets (such as Weather or Music) can perform actions without opening the app:

• 🎵 In the music widget, the swipe left/right switches tracks.
• 🌡️ In the weather widget tap temperature opens an extended forecast.
• 📝 In the note widget, a long press creates a new note.

2. Transparency setting

Nana MIUI 15 can change the transparency of the background tape:

1. Open the tape and press the gear (⚙️).
2. Select background style → Transparency.
3. Move the slider to adjust the transparency level.

3. Hidden widgets

There are hidden elements in the list of available widgets that don't show up by default.

1. Click Edit in the tape.
2. Scroll down the list and click Show All.
3. Among the available widgets will be Health, Finance and Games.

4. Synchronization with smart devices

If you have Xiaomi Mi Home devices (such as light bulbs or robot vacuum cleaners), their widgets can be added to the tape for quick control:

1. Open the Mi Home app.
2. Select the device and click Add the widget.
3. The widget will appear in the list available for the tape.

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Nana MIUI 15 Widget Ribbon supports dark theme regardless of system settings. To enable it, go to the tape settings (cogs) and select "Dark theme".

FAQ: Frequent questions about the widget tape on Xiaomi