Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often face a situation where the search giant’s long-awaited recommendation feed simply doesn’t appear on the desktop.In 2026, the integration of Google services into the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS has become deeper, but regional settings or account features can block access to content. The user expects to see personalized news and weather with a swipe to the right, but instead finds a void or standard Yandex widget if it is preinstalled.
The lack of function can be due to several factors: from banal shutdown in the launcher settings to more complex conflicts of versions of Google App. News algorithms require the correct operation of background services, which sometimes “fall asleep” in order to save battery power. It is also important to note that devices designed for the Chinese market (CN Activation requires additional steps to change the region or install global services.
In this guide, we’ll look at all possible scenarios, from basic interface settings to advanced ADB activation methods if the standard paths don’t work. You’ll learn how to set up the region correctly, what resolutions are critical to the widget’s performance, and why a simple reinstallation of system updates sometimes helps. Restore functionality takes no more than 10 minutes of your time.
Basic activation through desktop settings
The most obvious and often ignored step is to check the settings of the launcher itself. The MIUI and HyperOS shells allow you to flexibly adjust the behavior of the home screen, and sometimes the Google Discover function is simply turned off by default after a reset or update. To get into the desired menu, you need to pinch two fingers in the free space of the desktop or swipe a finger from the bottom up until the edit menu appears.
In the interface that opens, look for the settings button, which is usually located in the lower right corner and looks like a gear. Going to the Additional or More section, you will see the switch that displays the left-hand side screen. Make sure that the content source is Google, not Yandex or Mi Video, which is often found in firmware for CIS.
If the switch is active but the tape is not loading, try forcefully stopping the Google app. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, search the Google list (the colored G icon) and click Stop. Then go back to your desktop and pull the screen to the right and the system will try to restart the service from scratch.
⚠️ Note: If the switch is switched on, the screen flashes or returns to its original position, this may indicate a conflict with the third-party launcher (Nova, Lawnchair) installed.
Checking the region and Google account
One of the key factors affecting tape availability is the region specified in your smartphone settings. Google Discover is highly geolocated and language-specific. If your phone is set to a region where Google services are limited or not fully supported, the widget may not be activated. Go to Settings → Additional Settings → Region and select a country where services are fully functional, such as the US, UK or Germany.
It is also important to check your account status. Make sure you are logged in to the Google app under the main profile used in the Chrome browser. Algorithms form feeds based on search history and location, so login is mandatory. Sometimes it helps to delete and re-add an account in the Settings → Accounts and Sync.
Changing the region can affect the performance of other system applications, such as "Themes" or "Security", so after successful activation of the tape, you can try to return the region back, although in some cases this resets the widget settings. For stable operation in 2026, it is recommended to leave the region compatible with GMS (Google Mobile Services).
Setup of permissions and battery optimization
Xiaomi’s aggressive energy saving system often kills Google’s background processes, considering them to be irrelevant to the user’s current task. To update the tape in real time, you need to give Google’s app advanced rights. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Google and select Activity Control (or “Stop”).
In this menu, set a No Limits value, which will prevent the system from suspending service even if the screen is turned off, and check the Permissions section: the app must have access to location (for weather and local news) and microphone (for voice search), although the latter is not strictly mandatory for displaying tape.
- 📍 Location: Necessary for geo-dependent recommendations and weather widgets.
- 🔋 Battery: No Limits mode prevents background synchronization from stopping.
- 📶 Mobile data: make sure the app is allowed to use traffic in the background.
Remember that constant background activity can slightly increase charge consumption, but this is the price for the current news feed. If you notice that after the system update, the settings reset, repeat the procedure for setting permissions, as new versions of HyperOS can reset application rights to default values.
Updating and reinstalling Google components
Often the problem lies in an outdated or corrupted version of the Google or Google Discover app. In 2026, these components are updated regardless of the main firmware through the Play Store. Open the app store, go to profile and select App and Device Management. Find the Google app in the update list and install the latest available version.
If the update doesn't work or the button isn't there, you can try clearing the cache and data. In the app menu, click Storage and select Clear Cache and then Clear Everything. This will reset personalization, but often solves the widget's "hang" problems, and after cleaning, you'll need to log in again and re-select interests.
| Component | Function | Failure action |
|---|---|---|
| Google (main) | Search, voice assistant | Update or reinstall |
| Google Play Services | Synchronization, security | Clear the cache |
| Google One | Warehouse, backups. | Check the status of the subscription |
| Chrome | web-engine | Update to the latest version |
In rare cases, especially on global firmware with Chinese hardware, manual installation may be required. APK-Google App files from a verified resource if automatic updates are blocked by a region, but in 2026, such cases are becoming less common due to the unification of services.
Use of widgets and alternative launchers
If the standard left panel doesn't work or you don't like its implementation in MIUI, you can always add a Google Discover widget directly to your desktop. To do this, pinch on the screen, select Widgets and search in Google's list. Drag the "Discover" or "Feed" widget into a vacant space. This will create a separate news window that works independently of the system feed.
For customization enthusiasts, a third-party launcher like Nova Launcher or Lawnchair is a great solution, and these shells have built-in support for Google Discover and often work more stable than standard solutions. Once the launcher is installed, you need to find and activate Google Integration or News Feed in its settings.
☑️ Check before installing the launcher
It’s worth noting that using third-party launchers on newer versions of HyperOS may be limited by Xiaomi’s licensing policy, and you may need to activate mode via ADB or pay for advanced themes subscriptions to get full access to a desktop change without restrictions.
⚠️ Note: When installing third-party launchers, make sure you download them from the official Play Store.Modified versions may contain malicious code or work with Google widgets unstablely.
Addressing problems with ADB (for advanced users)
If the software methods do not help, you can try to force activate the component through debugging over USB. This method requires connecting the smartphone to the computer and having ADB drivers installed. Enable Developer Mode (7 times click on the build number in About Phone) and activate Debugging over USB.
Connect your phone to your PC, open the command line, and enter the command to check the connection: adb devices. If the device is determined, you can try resetting the launcher settings or force the Google component. However, in 2026, direct commands to turn on the tape often change, and a safer alternative is the use of specialized activator applications from the Play Store, which work on the principle of ADB without having to connect to a PC.
adb shell pm clear com.google.android.googlequicksearchboxThis command cleans the data from Google apps, which is equivalent to manually cleaning the settings, but it is done at the system level. If that doesn't work, then your firmware version may have a software lock that you can't get around without flashing the device to the global ROM.