Google Discovery Tape (formerly known as Google Feed) is a personalized stream of news, articles and recommendations that appears when swiping to the right of the main screen on Android. On Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI shell, this feature is often disabled by default or hidden due to the features of the firmware, it can be enabled in several ways, from standard settings to manual activation via ADB.
In this article, we will discuss all working methods for enabling Discovery on Redmi devices, POCO And Mi, and we'll also tell you how to customize the tape to suit your interests, eliminate common errors (such as a blank page or no swipe) and optimize battery consumption. MIUI 12/13/14, Where Google Algorithms Can Conflict with Xiaomi’s Branded Services.
If you find that the swipe to the right does not open the tape, or if you see a notification "Discovery is not available" - do not rush to reset the settings. In 90% of cases, the problem is solved without radical measures.
What is Google Discovery and Why You Need It on Xiaomi
Google Discovery is a smart content feed that analyzes your search queries, YouTube browsing history, activity on Google Maps and other services to offer relevant articles, videos, weather, sports results and even promotions from nearby stores. On smartphones with pure Android (like Pixel), the tape is integrated into the launcher by default, but on Xiaomi it is often blocked by the MIUI shell.
The main advantages of Discovery for Xiaomi users:
- ⚡ Quick access to news without opening your browser: swipe to the right – and you’re up to date with the latest developments.
- 🎯 Personalization: The feed learns your preferences and filters out unnecessary content (e.g., you can hide topics about politics or sports).
- 📍 Local recommendations: restaurant offers, transport schedules or weather in your city.
- 🔄 Device Sync: If you use Discovery on a tablet or computer, the tape will be the same.
However, Xiaomi has its downsides: the tape can be slowed down due to conflict with MIUI services, and some features (such as stock cards) may not work in regions where Google Pay is not officially supported.
Compatibility Check: Does Discovery work on your Xiaomi model?
Not all Xiaomi smartphones support Google Discovery out of the box.
| Parameter | Requirements for Discovery | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Android version | Android 8.0 Oreo and higher | On MIUI 12+ with Android 10/11/12, the tape is more stable. |
| Region of device | Anybody but better than the EU/USA | Discovery may be restricted in China and India due to local versions of MIUI. |
| Google Services (GMS) | Must be installed | On Chinese firmware (China ROM), Discovery does not work without manual installation of GMS. |
| Launcher | Standard MIUI Launcher or Google Launcher | Third-party launchers (such as Nova) can block swipe. |
To check if your device supports Discovery, follow the following steps:
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- In the search, type in Google and search for the Google app (not to be confused with Google Play Services).
- If you mention Discovery or Feed, your device is compatible.
⚠️ Note: On some models POCO (for example, POCO X3 Pro) swipe right by default opens MIUI Search, not Discovery. This is not a bug, this is how the shell is configured. To return Google feed, you will need to disable branded search (instruction below).
Method 1: Enable Discovery through Google Settings
The easiest method is to activate the feed through the Google app menu.It works on most Xiaomi devices with MIUI 12/13/14 and does not require root or ADB permissions.
Instructions:
- Open the Google app (the icon with the letter “G” on a color background).
- Slip on your avatar (or profile icon) in the upper right corner.
- Select Settings → General → Google Tape.
- Activate the switch Show the tape on the main screen.
- Return to the main screen and swipe to the right – the tape should appear.
Make sure that the Google app is updated to the latest version|
Check your Internet connection (Wi-Fi or mobile data) |
Disable VPN (it can block Google services)|
Reboot the smartphone after the changes-->
If the right swipe does not work after these actions:
- 🔄 Reset the device.
- 📱 Install Google Launcher from Play Market (it is guaranteed to support Discovery).
- 🚫 Check if Google services are disabled in Settings → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization.
⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI (For example, Global Stable 13.0.4 for Redmi Note 10 Pro, the Google Tape option may not be available in the settings.
Method 2: Activate via ADB (for power users)
If the standard method didn’t work, you can turn on Discovery using ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires a computer and basic command line knowledge, but produces 100% results on most Xiaomi devices.
What you need:
- 💻 Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
- 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).
- 📱 Included debugging by USB smartphone.
- 🛠️ Utility. ADB (You can download from the official Android website).
Step-by-step:
- Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI until the notification “You’ve become a developer” appears.
USB debugging
- Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
- Activate the debugging switch over USB.
- Connect your smartphone to your computer and start the command line (cmd on Windows or Terminal on macOS/Linux).
- Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices If the device appears in the list – you can continue.
- Run the command to enable Discovery: adb shell cmd overlay enable-exclusive com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox.overlay.GoogleNowOverlay
- Reboot your smartphone: adb reboot
Advantages of this method:
- ✅ 100% Discovery performance (if Google services are installed).
- ✅ Possibility of adjusting gestures and appearance of the launcher.
- ✅ Less conflict with MIUI, than using a standard launcher.
Disadvantages:
- ❌ No Xiaomi branded widgets (weather, steps, etc.).
- ❌ Incorrect display of some icons on the MIUI.