How to turn off Zen in Yandex on Xiaomi Redmi phone

Owners of Xiaomi Redmi and Poco smartphones often face intrusive functionality that is pre-installed in the shell of MIUI or HyperOS. One of the most annoying elements for many users is the automatic integration of the Yandex Zen news feed, which appears when swiping left on the desktop. This solution is often installed without the direct consent of the owner of the gadget, taking up space and spending traffic.

There are a number of ways to turn this service off, but the effectiveness of the method depends on the version of the operating system and the type of launcher you use. In some cases, it is enough to simply switch the source of the tape, in others it will require a deeper dive into the system settings or use of third-party tools. The deep integration of Yandex services into the Xiaomi ecosystem makes the disconnection process not always obvious to the beginner.

In this guide, we will look at all the current methods to remove newsfeed from your device. We will discuss standard settings, working with aggregator applications and more radical measures to remove system components. It is important to understand that Android on devices of the Chinese manufacturer has its own features that must be considered when modifying the interface.

Why Zen Appears on Lock Screen and Desktop

The introduction of the recommendation feed is due to a partnership agreement between Xiaomi and Yandex. When you first activate your smartphone or after you update your firmware, the system can automatically activate the Cards or Ribbon widget, which is essentially a shell for Yandex Zen. It is not a virus or malware, but part of the user agreement that many agree to without reading, during the initial setup.

Technically, the system app or launcher widget is responsible for displaying news. Depending on the firmware region (Global, EEA, Russia), this component can be called Mi Cards, Yandex Feed or simply News. The system algorithms tend to keep the user’s attention by constantly feeding new content, which leads to increased battery consumption and mobile traffic in the background.

⚠️ Warning: Automatic updates to system components via GetApps or Google Play can return the default tape settings. Check desktop configuration periodically after major system updates.

Users often confuse the built-in widget tape with a separate application. Removing the browser icon or Yandex search engine doesn't always remove the tape from the desktop, as it can be sewn into the launcher itself. So it's important to understand the difference between an aggregator application and a system interface widget.

Disconnecting the tape through the settings of Yandex Launcher

If your Xiaomi Redmi uses Yandex Launcher as the main interface, the shutdown process is the most simple and transparent. This launcher is often pre-installed in Russian versions of devices or installed by the user himself. Ribbon management here is directly available through the launcher’s settings menu.

First, you need to call the settings menu. This can be done by long pressing on an empty part of the desktop or through the menu button (usually three dots or a gear in the corner of the screen). In the list that opens, we look for the item responsible for additional functions or appearance settings. We are interested in the section related to Tape or Yandex Ribbon.

Inside this menu, you'll see a switch that activates or deactivates the display of the news unit when you swipe to the left. When you swipe the slider to "Off," you instantly remove the obsession. The system will remember the choice, and the next time you unlock the screen will be empty.

It's worth noting that in some versions of the launcher, settings may be hidden under "Advanced." If you don't see an explicit switch, try changing the source of the tape itself. Sometimes the system suggests choosing between "Recommendations," "Weather" or "Disabled." Selecting "Disable" or removing the source solves the problem.

Remove the Card widget in MIUI and HyperOS

In the standard MIUI shell and the new HyperOS, a widget called Cards (or Mi Cards) is often responsible for news, which is built into the system launcher and does not require additional applications to be installed.

Put two fingers on your desktop to go into edit mode. Swipe right to open the widget bar on the left. At the top of the screen or in the corner, you should see the gear icon or the settings button. When you click on it, you will be taken to the left panel source control menu.

You'll be asked to choose a source of content here. You'll be asked to choose a "Recommendations" or "Yandex" as the default. You'll have to choose "No" or "No Widgets" if you don't, try switching to standard Xiaomi widgets that don't carry news load.

When you change your settings, make sure you swipe left to make sure the tape is gone. In rare cases, you need to reboot the device to apply the changes. If the swipe still causes an empty screen with a logo or error, then the widget is turned off, but the dead zone remains - that's OK.

Disconnection through application and permission settings

If standard methods don't work, the other way is to limit the functionality of the system component that delivers news. In MIUI-based Android, an app called Tape, Feed or Quick Center often does this, and locking it will get rid of news without deleting system files.

Go to Settings → Apps → All apps. In the list, find suspicious system apps related to news. Often they don’t have an icon or use a standard android icon. Once you find the right one, click on it and select “Other permissions.”

You have to block all items, especially location, contacts, and auto-run. Without that data, the news aggregator can't generate a personalized feed and can stop running. It's also helpful to click Stop and Clear (cache and data).

⚠️ Warning: Be careful when disabling system applications. Do not remove or disable components called Systems UI», «Security" or "Conductor", this can lead to unstable smartphone operation.

Additionally, you should check the settings of the Yandex browser itself, if it is installed. Inside the application in the Settings → In addition, the switch “Show the recommendation feed on the home screen” is often hidden. Disabling this option will prevent synchronization of preferences and return of the tape.

Using third-party launchers to completely replace the interface

The radical but most effective way to get rid of any built-in tapes, ads and manufacturer widgets is to install a third-party launcher. Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Lawnchair completely replace Xiaomi's standard interface, providing a clean Android experience without unnecessary debris.

Once you install a third-party launcher, the system will ask which application to use by default. Select the installed launcher and press Always. After that, the swipe to the left will either be empty or open the widgets of the new launcher, which you will configure yourself, which ensures that Yandex Zen will not appear again.

Third-party launchers often run faster than standard ones, especially on the budget models of Redmi and Poco. They consume less RAM and do not have background processes associated with news aggregators. However, it is worth considering that some features of the MIUI shell, such as gestures or themes, may work differently or require additional customization.

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Before installing a new launcher, export the current icon arrangement, if you have such an opportunity in your theme, which will save time to restore the usual look of the desktop.

Removing system components via ADB (for advanced)

For users who are not afraid of technical terms and want to guarantee the removal of the tape component, there is a method using the tape. ADB (Android Debug Bridge: This method allows you to remove system applications that are usually hidden from the user. It requires a computer and a cable. USB.

First, activate the developer mode on your smartphone. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly press 7-10 times on the MIUI Version (or OS Version). Then, in advanced settings, turn on USB Debugging.

Connect your phone to your PC, open the command line with ADB, and type in a command to delete the packet. Usually, the packet is called com.miui.personalassistant or com.yandex.searchplugin.

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

Executing this command will remove the widget for the current user, the phone will not lose the warranty software, since the application can be returned by resetting to factory settings. However, be extremely careful: removing the wrong package can lead to a bootloop.

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Using ADB is the only way to completely cut the system widget out of firmware, but it requires caution and a PC.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)