Modern smartphone users often notice a mysterious feed of news, weather and facts on the home screen. On Xiaomi devices, this feature, known as Google Discover, can appear automatically or be hidden in the launcher settings. Many tech owners wonder what kind of service it is, why it is needed and can its contents be managed?
In this article, we will discuss in detail the purpose of the recommendation feed, how to activate it, and how to solve typical problems, you will learn how algorithms shape personal results and why some Redmi or POCO models work differently than on pure Android.
Google Discover is an intelligent system that analyzes your interests, search history and location. Instead of looking for information, it offers relevant content. On Xiaomi smartphones, the integration of this service can vary depending on the version of the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS.
What is Google Discover and how does it work? MIUI
At its core, Google Discover is a content aggregator built directly into the search engine and launcher. On Xiaomi devices, it often appears on the leftmost desktop screen. The system uses sophisticated machine learning algorithms to pick up articles, videos and cards that may interest a particular user.
Unlike static widgets, tape is dynamically updated in real time. If you read about technology a lot, the algorithm will start offering reviews of new products. If you follow sports, match results will appear in the feed. It is important to understand that the service depends on the activity of your Google account.
On the MIUI shell, implementations can differ from stock Android. Sometimes Xiaomi replaces Google's standard feed with its own, called Glance or Mi Video, especially in global firmware versions, which often causes confusion among users who expect to see services from the search giant.
⚠️ Note: In some regions, the firmware MIUI They can force Google Discover to replace it with a news feed. Check the launcher settings to see which service is active.
The functionality depends not only on the brand, but also on the version of the operating system. On older versions of Android (below 8.0), the full operation of the tape may be limited or require the installation of individual components of the Google App.
How to turn on and off the tape on the desktop
The visibility control of the recommendation feed is done through desktop settings. The process of turning the feature on or off is quite simple, but the steps may vary slightly on different Xiaomi models.
Swipe with two fingers in the center of the screen or hold your finger in a free place for a long time. In the menu that appears, select Settings (the gear icon), and here you are interested in the section responsible for additional screens or the left panel.
In the list of options available, you'll see "Google," "Discover," or "Tape." If you want to activate the service, select the appropriate option. To completely remove the left screen, set "No" or "Disconnected."
Sometimes, after updating the system, the settings can get lost. If the standard path doesn't work, try clearing the cache of the Google app. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Google → Storage → Clear the cache. This will help to reset temporary display errors.
It is worth noting that on some devices with a HyperOS shell, control can be moved to the Lock screen and desktop section. Carefully study all the settings subsections if you do not find the right switch at once.
Differences between Google Discover and Mi Video (Glance)
Users often confuse Google’s native feed with Xiaomi’s proprietary designs.Mi Video or Glance is often pre-installed on budget models and takes the place of a standard left-hand screen, with the main difference being the source of content and the purpose.
Google Discover focuses on text articles, news and knowledge cards based on your interests. Glance, in turn, focuses on entertaining video content, short videos and often contains more ad inserts. You can replace one service with another, but this requires manual switching in settings.
| Characteristics | Google Discover | Mi Video / Glance |
|---|
| Source of content | Search queries, interests | Partner videos, news |
| Advertising | Minimal, native. | Frequent, video format |
| Integration | Deep with a Google account | MIUI system shell |
| Personalization | Tall. | Medium, general. |
If you’re annoyed by automatic videos when unlocked or on the left screen, it’s likely that Xiaomi’s service is activated.Switching to Google Discover often makes the tape more useful and less intrusive.
How to remove Glance completely?
Complete removal of the Glance system application is possible only with root rights or through the ADB-The usual shutdown through the settings hides the icon, but the process can remain in memory. -k --user 0 com.miui.video Customize personalization and interests To make the tape work effectively, it needs to "explain" what you're interested in. Personalization is a key mechanism for Discover, you can directly manage the topics you want to see more often, or, conversely, hide. For fine-tuning, go to the Google app on your phone, click on your profile avatar and select Settings» → «Discover Settings. The Interests section is available here, and the system will let you choose topics from a wide range of topics, from cooking to cryptocurrencies. 📌 Choose the minimum 5-7 Categories to make the algorithm work. 🚫 Use the “Do Not Show” button if the topic is not interesting to you. 🔍 Check your activity history periodically to get rid of the excess. It's also important to keep track of your web search history and YouTube, as Discover uses this data to generate search results. If you happen to watch a video about plumbing repairs, don't be surprised if an hour later the tape offers to buy a new mixer. You can reset the accumulated data through the Data Management menu in the Google account settings. This will return the tape to a “clean sheet” state, and you will have to re-indicate your preferences. 📊 What content in the Discover tape you are more interested?Technology newsSports and resultsCulinary and recipesFinance and businessPolitics and societyTypical mistakes and ways to eliminate them Even on powerful Xiaomi smartphones sometimes there are failures in the work of Google services. The tape may stop updating, show a network error, or simply disappear, most often due to outdated components or cache conflict, and the first thing to do when errors occur is to check the date and time. The wrong time zone can block the connection to Google servers. Make sure that the settings are automatic timing. ⚠️ Attention: If the tape doesn't load after the firmware update, don't rush to drop the phone. Often the problem is solved by updating the Google and Google Play Services app through the Play Market Store. Another common reason is energy savings. Aggressive settings MIUI They can kill Google's background processes, preventing new feed from loading. Add the Google app to the battery exclusion list. → Battery and productivity → Select the Google app → No restrictions. This ensures that the system will not block background news synchronization. The impact of Android and region on functionality The availability and quality of Google Discover work directly depends on the version of the operating system and the region installed in the phone. On Android 13 and newer devices, the ribbon features are expanded, including support for larger widgets and improved graphics. Regional restrictions also play a role. In some countries (for example, China), Google services are replaced with local counterparts, and Discover does not work there without additional manipulation. Global ROMs are devoid of these restrictions. If you move to another country or use a VPN, the tape can temporarily stop the location of the new content from a couple of the system. 💡The stability of Google Discover on Xiaomi depends on three factors: the relevance of the Google app, the correct settings of the region and the lack of aggressive battery optimization. Users of custom firmware (for example, Xiaomi.eu) often get a cleaner experience using Discover, as in such builds removed unnecessary system applications-competitors from Xiaomi. FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions Why my Xiaomi doesn't have a left-hand screen with news? Maybe you have Chinese firmware installed or have Simple mode activated. Check your desktop settings and make sure you choose the Classic or Standard display option. Also make sure that you have Google installed. Can you completely remove Google Discover? Complete removal of the system component is impossible without root rights. However, you can completely disable your desktop feed from the launcher settings by selecting the No option for the secondary screen. Why is the feed showing news in a foreign language? The content language depends on the system language and Google account settings. Go to the Google → Language and region settings and make sure you choose the language you want. Also check your search history, it affects the results. How to hide a particular news or source? In the Discover feed, click on three dots next to the news card and select "Do not show news from this source" or "Not interested." This will improve personalization in the future.