Xiaomi’s current smartphones, which are powered by MIUI and HyperOS shells, offer users a variety of automated features to improve comfort, one of which is the introduction of a special widget in the Quick Settings Panel, often referred to as “smart devices” or “Mi Home,” which is an interface element designed to provide instant access to control of home appliances without having to open individual applications.
But many users are confused by the sudden appearance of new icons in the curtain, especially if they have not planned to actively use the smart home ecosystem, and questions arise: can this widget be removed, why it is needed, and how it is associated with the Mi Account?
In this article, we will take a closer look at the purpose of the smart device widget, how to set it up and remove it, and what hidden opportunities are opened when you use automation scenarios correctly.
What is a widget of smart devices
The widget displayed in the notification curtain is part of the Smart Home system service, integrated deep into the operating system. Its main task is to display the status of devices connected to your Mi Home account. If you have lamps, sockets, cameras or robot vacuum cleaners in your home that are compatible with the Xiaomi ecosystem, this widget allows you to control them in one touch.
Visually, an item can look different depending on the firmware version and the number of gadgets connected. Often it is a horizontal plaque with light bulb icons, sockets or remote controls. The functionality of the widget is not limited to just turning on and off; it can display the current temperature, humidity or battery level of connected devices.
⚠️ Note: The widget can appear automatically after you update the system or install the Mi Home app, even if you haven’t added any devices yet.
It is important to understand that this interface element is closely related to the company’s cloud services. The widget requires an active Internet connection and authorization in Mi Account to work correctly. Without these conditions, the widget can appear as an empty stub or offer to undergo the configuration procedure again.
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If you don’t use a smart home, the widget can be safely disabled in the control panel settings so as not to take up space on the screen.
How to remove or hide a widget from the control panel
If you don't care about smart home functionality, having an extra element in the curtain can be annoying. Fortunately, Xiaomi developers have provided the flexibility to configure the quick action panel. Removing the widget does not require obtaining superuser rights (Root) and is performed by the regular system tools.
First, you need to open the notification bar completely, pulling your finger from the top edge of the screen down. In the upper right or lower corner (depending on the version of MIUI), you will see the icon of a pencil or gear, clicking on this element puts the interface into editing mode.
☑️ The widget hiding algorithm
In the menu that opens, you'll see a list of all the buttons available. Find the smart home section and drag it to the inactive items area. Once you save the changes, the widget will disappear from the active zone. However, remember that the app itself and the background services will continue to work.
In some cases, especially on global firmware versions, the widget can be part of the Smart Home system application. If simple drag and drop doesn't help, you can try disabling the app's notifications or limiting its background activity through battery settings.
Setting up scripts and automation through the curtain
The main value of the widget is the ability to quickly run pre-prepared scenarios. The user can set up complex chains of actions that will be activated at a single click. For example, the "I left" scenario can simultaneously turn off the lights, start the robot vacuum cleaner and activate the camera security mode.
To set up these actions, you need to go to the Mi Home app and select the Scenarios tab, and a new automatic process is created, where the user action is selected as the trigger (start conditions), and the state of the devices as the performer, and automation allows you to turn your smartphone into a full-fledged remote control of the apartment.
- 🏠 Good Morning script: Turns on bedroom lights, opens curtains (if there are smart drives) and reports the weather.
- 🎬 Screenplay of "Cinema": Dimms the lights, closes the smart curtains and turns on the TV or projector.
- 🔒 The scenario of “Night”: checks whether the smart locks are closed, turns off all electrical appliances and puts the alarm on the guard.
Limitations of scenarios
Once a script is created, its shortcut often appears in the smart device widget in the curtain, which provides instant access to complex actions, and you can rename scripts and change their icons for easier navigation in everyday use.
Interaction with the Mi Home Ecosystem
The widget in the curtain is just the tip of an iceberg called the Xiaomi ecosystem, which serves as a bridge between the user and the company's servers, synchronizing the state of all connected devices. To work properly, all gadgets must be tied to one region in the application.
Often users are faced with a situation where the widget shows devices that have been sold or removed from the house, this is due to data caching or synchronization with the cloud, in which case you need to clean the list of devices in the settings of the widget itself or in the application.
| Type of device | Status in the widget | Action. |
|---|---|---|
| Yeelight light bulb | Online | On/off, color, brightness |
| Robot vacuum cleaner | Charging. | Start cleaning, return to base |
| Surveillance camera | Offline | Viewing the archive (if any) |
| Smart socket | Off. | On/off, timer |
The widget correctly displays only those gadgets that are certified to work with Mi Home. Third-party devices connected through third-party integrations (for example, Home Assistant) will not appear in the standard Xiaomi widget.
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The widget only works with devices added to the Mi Home app to the same account region as the phone’s current location.
Solving problems with displaying icons
Despite the stability of the system, users can experience various errors, and the most common problem is that the widget displays but shows the status of "No devices" or "Connection error", which can be caused by a failure in the synchronization of authorization tokens.
To fix the malfunction, try to perform the following actions:
1. log out of your Mi Account in your phone settings and log in again.
2. Clear the cache of the Mi Home app and the Smart Home system service.
3. Check for updates for the home management app in the GetApps store or Google Play.
⚠️ Note: When reinstalling the Mi Home app, make sure to remember your account password. Without it, it will be impossible to restore access to device management, since the data is tied to the server.
Another problem may be time desynchronization. If the phone and router or gateway time is different, security protocols can block the connection, and the widget will no longer display the current status of the devices. Always use automatic time synchronization over the network.
Impact on autonomy and safety
The constant activity of the widget in the curtain involves periodic requests to the server to update the status of devices. While modern Xiaomi algorithms are optimized to minimize power consumption, on older smartphones this can contribute little to battery life.
From a security perspective, the widget is not a threat if you use a strong password for your Mi Account. However, it’s worth remembering that having a widget in the curtain means that anyone unlocking your phone could theoretically access the smart home control (turn off the lights, watch the camera).
- 🔐 Use a screen lock with biometrics or complex PIN-code.
- 🚫 In the curtain settings, you can hide the contents of notifications on the locked screen.
- 🔄 Regularly update the router’s firmware and smart devices to close vulnerabilities.
If you plan to transfer or sell your phone to another person, make sure to reset your phone completely and remove all devices from your account. A widget in the curtain is just an interface, but the account owner has access to control until the moment of detachment.