Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphone owners often notice that when swiping to the right of the home screen, a separate panel opens, and it displays news, quick access to features, widgets and advertising, and this system zone is called App Vault (or Mi Vault), and it is part of the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS.
Many users perceive this element as intrusive, especially because of the abundance of information noise and ad units that appear by default. However, behind the external simplicity lies a functional tool that can simplify access to frequently used applications and system switches.
In this article, we will discuss in detail the purpose of Xiaomi App Vault, analyze its capabilities and provide step-by-step instructions for setting up, you will learn how to turn this widget from a stimulus into a useful interface element or completely disable it if you do not need it.
What is App Vault and Why You Need It
App Vault is a dedicated system aggregator application built into the MIUI shell, and its primary purpose is to provide quick access to information and functions without having to unlock your phone and search for the right shortcuts, essentially an extended widget that lives separately from desktops.
Initially, the concept was designed for convenience: a user could see the weather, currency rates, steps or running timers with a single finger movement. In newer versions of the firmware, the functionality was expanded to include shortcuts to run specific actions within applications.
However, unlike standard Android widgets, App Vault has deep system rights that allow it to display information even when the main application is not running, which ensures data relevance, but also increases the consumption of RAM devices.
- 🚀 Quick Start: Instant access to camera, scanner QR-codes, dictaphone or calculator.
- 📊 Monitoring: Displaying health statistics, battery level and storage status in real time.
- 📰 News Aggregation: Events from selected sources, calendar and email services.
⚠️ Note: In some regions (e.g. global versions for Europe), App Vault functionality may be cut or different from the Chinese version of firmware due to data privacy laws.
Understanding the architecture of this component is important for those who want to optimize the operation of the smartphone, disabling unnecessary processes has a positive effect on the autonomy and response speed of the system.
The main functions and capabilities of the widget
App Vault can be divided into several key categories, the first being Quick Actions, where you set shortcuts to run specific scripts, for example, you can create a button that immediately opens a dialogue with a specific contact on Telegram or WhatsApp.
The second category is information cards, which pull data from other applications, and the Health card takes data from Mi Fitness, the Battery card takes data from the system monitor, and it keeps you on the pulse of the device's state without opening heavy settings apps.
The third category is smart, and the widget can analyze the clipboard, and if you copy the package track number or the Wi-Fi code, App Vault can suggest action, and it can display calendar reminders and alarms.
- 📦 Delivery management: Automatic parcel tracking (works mainly with Chinese services).
- 💳 Finance: Quick access to currency rates and account status (requires settings).
- 🎮 Game Mode: Integration with Game Turbo for quick game launch and memory cleanup.
Note that the set of available cards depends on the version of MIUI and the region selected in the phone settings, and in some cases, certain widgets require Google services or regional counterparts installed to work.
Hidden features of App Vault
How to turn on or off App Vault
The widget is controlled through the system settings of the shell. The process of on and off is as simple as possible for developers, but in different versions of MIUI, the path to the switch may vary slightly.
To manage functionality, you need to go to the settings menu. Usually the path is: Settings → Home screen. In some builds, this item may be called Desktop or located inside the Additional section.
In the menu that opens, you'll find the App Vault (or Mi Vault) item, and the switch next to it will activate or deactivate the function, and once you turn off the swipe to the right, it'll either return you to the first desktop or open Google Discover if it's set up as the primary one.
☑️ Checking the widget settings
If you want to not just disable the widget, but clean it of excess debris, leaving only useful functions, you need to click on the gear settings inside the widget itself. To do this, swipe to the right, scroll to the bottom and select Settings.
⚠️ Note: App Vault settings may reset to factory settings after the firmware update. Check this section periodically to avoid new ads.
Customizing content and removing advertising
One of the main complaints users have about the App Vault is intrusive advertising and information noise. Fortunately, most elements are customizable. In the widget settings menu, you can choose which cards will be displayed and which ones are hidden.
To remove ads, you need to find a Recommendations section or a Recommendation Card, and by disabling this item, you will get rid of news feeds and promotional materials, and it is also recommended to disable automatic card updates if you want to save traffic and battery.
To add useful elements, use the + button or Add cards at the bottom of the widget screen. Here you can choose the pedometer display, noise level, Internet speed or status of Bluetooth devices.
| Type of card | Impact on the battery | Necessity of the network | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quick action | Minimum | No. | Leave it on. |
| News and recommendations | High. | I'll be sure. | Recommended to disable |
| Weather and calendar | Average. | Periodically | If you wish, |
| Stepper | Low. | No. | Good for sports. |
Careful customization allows you to turn the App Vault into a personal control panel, leaving only what you really need in everyday smartphone use.
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To quickly remove ads throughout Xiaomi’s system, including App Vault, disable the “Receive recommendations” item in the Settings → Passwords and Security → Access to Personal Data section.
Impact on productivity and battery
There is a common belief that all widgets put a lot of battery down. In the case of App Vault, the situation is ambiguous. The widget itself consumes a little power, but the number of cards updated in real time plays a crucial role.
If you have cards that require a constant Internet connection and geolocation updates (such as a traffic map or detailed weather), charge consumption will increase.In addition, the active widget takes up a certain amount of RAM, which on budget models Redmi or Poco with 3-4 GB of RAM can lead to more frequent unloading of background applications.
For owners of flagship devices with a reserve of memory and a powerful processor, the impact of the App Vault will be almost invisible. However, if you notice micro-freezes when swiping or fast discharge, it is worthwhile to audit the active widgets.
- 🔋 Optimize: Turn off live wallpaper and heavy widgets if battery power is critically low.
- ⚡ Speed: Removing excess cards speeds up system response when swiping to the right.
- 📉 Memory: On devices with low RAM, it is better to keep App Vault minimalistic.
It’s important to understand that the App Vault process is constantly hanging in memory to ensure instant launch, and it’s the normal behavior of the Android and MIUI system, aimed at improving the user experience, not a bug.
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Disabling App Vault completely is the most effective way to reduce the background load on the processor and memory if you don’t use widgets daily.
Frequent problems and ways to solve them
Users may experience various problems with the widget, the most common of which is the inability to turn off App Vault or its spontaneous activation after a system update, in which case it is recommended to check for system updates or reset the launcher settings.
Another problem is that cards are not displayed correctly or rebooted constantly, which can be due to a lack of memory or conflicting versions of system applications, often by clearing the App Vault cache through the application management menu.
If the widget stops showing weather or steps, check the permissions. The app needs access to geolocation, fitness data and background activity. Without these permissions, App Vault will not be able to update the information on the cards.
⚠️ Note: Do not attempt to remove the App Vault system application through ADB without deep knowledge, this can lead to unstable launcher operation and the appearance of a black screen instead of a desktop.
In rare cases, resetting the home screen helps. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps → Find Home Screen (or Launcher) and select Clear Data. This will return the icons to factory status, but resolve software conflicts.