Many users of smartphones based Android face intrusive content that appears immediately after waking up the device. Instead of a blank screen with a clock and notifications, the system offers a news summary, weather and articles from Google Discover. This can be annoying for those who value minimalism or want to save battery power.
The problem is that different manufacturers firmware implement this feature in their own way. Somewhere this is built into the launcher, and somewhere it is part of the system widgets. In this article, we will look in detail at how to find and disable these settings on popular phone models, returning you full control over lock screen.
Some users do not even suspect that the ribbon to the left of the main screen and widgets on the locked display are different functions, although visually they may seem related. We will clarify these differences and provide specific instructions for each case.
Reasons for the emergence of news feeds and widgets
The emergence of information flow is due to the desire of manufacturers to keep the user's attention within the ecosystem. Google and skin manufacturers such as Samsung or Xiaomi, integrate content aggregators deeply into the system. This often happens automatically when setting up the phone for the first time or after a major update software.
The main source of content is usually the service Google Discover. It analyzes your search queries and browsing history to generate personalized results. However, on the lock screen, this content is often duplicated through special system widgets, which are called differently depending on the brand.
Sometimes users confuse the lock screen with the “left” desktop. The news feed can be displayed in both places at the same time. It's important to understand that disabling a widget on the lock screen does not always remove the ribbon when you swipe right on the home screen. These settings are often located in different sections of the menu.
⚠️ Attention: The MIUI, One UI and ColorOS shell interfaces are updated regularly. Menu items can change names or move to other settings sections. If you do not find an exact match, look for similar options in the “Screen” or “Home Screen” sections.
Disable news on pure Android and Pixel
Line smartphones Google Pixel and devices with a pure operating system have the most transparent settings structure. Here, the function of displaying news on the lock screen is often tied to the application Google or the home screen settings.
To remove the widget, you need to go to the settings of the search engine application itself. This is not an Android system parameter, but a setting for a specific service. Find the application icon Google in the menu, hold it and select "Settings". Next, go to the section General or Discover.
Inside the menu, find the switch responsible for displaying cards. It may be called "Show Cards" or "Google Feed". After disabling this option, the summary will not only disappear from the main screen, but will also stop loading into associated lock widgets.
If you have a third-party launcher installed (for example, Nova Launcher), the lock widget settings can be managed separately in the settings of the launcher itself, and not in the system.
It is also worth checking the lock screen settings in the main menu of the phone. Go to Settings → Screen → Lock screen. There may be a separate toggle switch “Show news” or “Owner information”, which duplicates the content from the feed.
Setting the lock screen on Samsung Galaxy
The shell One UI from the company Samsung is famous for its functionality, but sometimes redundancy. The news function here is called "Device Information" or "Samsung Global Goals" depending on the region and firmware version.
To disable it, follow these steps: open Settings and select the section Wallpaper and style (in older versions it could be in the "Lock Screen" section). Scroll down to Lock screen services or Device information.
In the menu that opens, you you will see a switch. Move it to the inactive position. The system will immediately apply the changes, and the next time you turn on the display, the advertising cards and news will disappear. Instead, only standard time and notifications will remain.
| One UI version | Setting location | Function name |
|---|---|---|
| One UI 6.0+ | Wallpaper and style | Lock screen services |
| One UI 5.0 | Lock screen | Device information |
| One UI 4.0 | Lock screen | Device information |
| One UI 3.0 | Lock screen | Device information |
If you have an older model, the path may be different. Try to find the section Biometrics and security → Other security settings. Sometimes content settings are hidden there, especially when it comes to security widgets or news from partners.
How to remove the tape on Xiaomi and Redmi (MIUI/HyperOS)
Users Xiaomi and Redmi most often complain about intrusive content. In shells MIUI and new HyperOS this function is built into the system application "Browser" or in the desktop settings.
First check the home screen settings. Go to Settings → Home screen. Find item Widget Feed or Google Discover. If the "Widget Feed" option is selected, switch it to "Disabled" or "Google Discover" if you want to leave only search, but remove local news.
Next you need to disable recommendations on the lock screen. Go to Settings → Lock screen. There may be an item here Wallpaper Carousel or Recommendations. Disabling the "Wallpaper Carousel" often removes text blocks with news, since they are part of the same advertising module.
⚠️ Attention: In some regions of MIUI firmware, news settings may be hidden inside the Security or Explorer application. Check the settings of these system utilities if the standard path did not help.
It is also worth going to the application settings Browser (Mi Browser). Inside, find the section Privacy and security or Home page and disable receiving recommendations. This will prevent news from appearing even if you launch the browser accidentally.
☑️ Checking Xiaomi settings
Specific settings on Huawei and Honor
Brand devices Huawei and Honor use the shell EMUI or MagicOS. Here the function is called “Magazine Unlock”. It loads beautiful wallpapers with news text overlaid.
To deactivate this function, open Settings and select the section Security or immediately Lock screen. Find item Lock log. Switch the toggle switch to the "Off" position.
After disabling the Lock Log, the screen will become static. You can set your picture as wallpaper and it will no longer change to show news headlines. This will also have a positive effect on traffic consumption, since the phone will stop loading new images in the background.
If you use the "News" widget on the desktop, you need to delete it separately. Hold the widget icon with your finger and drag it to the top of the screen into the delete area (usually marked with a cross or a trash can). This action will not uninstall the application, but it will remove the widget from the interface.
Disconnection via the Google application and browser
Sometimes the source of irritation is not the system widget, but the settings of the account itself Google. Even if you have removed the widget from the lock screen, notifications about “important news” may appear in the curtain.
Open the application Google, click on the profile avatar in the upper right corner and select Settings. Go to section Notifications. Here you can configure in detail which notifications to receive. Disable the "News", "Weather" or "Recommendations" categories.
Also check your browser settings Chrome. Go to Settings → Feed (or "Discover"). Disable showing cards. This will prevent news from appearing when you open a new tab, which is often confused with lock screen problems.
Why do news come back after an update?
Smartphone manufacturers often reset some interface settings during major system updates (for example, switching from Android 13 by 14). After the update, it is recommended to re-check the “Lock Screen” and “Home Screen” items.
Additional methods and use of ADB
In rare cases, when the manufacturer “hardwires” news into the system so that the usual switches do not work or are missing, you can use a more advanced method. To do this you will need a computer and a utility ADB (Android Debug Bridge).
This method is suitable for experienced users. It allows you to disable system components responsible for displaying content. First you need to enable USB debugging in the "For Developers" menu on the phone.
Connect the phone to the PC and enter the command to disable the package responsible for the tape. The names of the packages differ for different brands. For example, to disable the Xiaomi feed, you may need the command:
pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.daemonBe extremely careful when using ADB commands. Disabling critical system processes may cause the device to become unstable. Always check the exact package name for your model on specialized forums before entering the command.
Using ADB is a drastic measure. In 95% of cases, standard settings in the “Lock Screen” or “Home Screen” menu are enough to solve the problem.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why did the lock screen turn black after turning off the news?
Most likely, you had the "Wallpaper Carousel" or "Magazine" function enabled blocking" which changed the pictures. When it was turned off, the phone switched to static wallpaper. Go to the "Wallpaper" settings and set any image manually so that the screen is not black.
Is it possible to turn off only the weather, leaving the news?
In standard Android settings, such detail is usually not available. The News widget is most often a single block containing both headlines and weather. To remove the weather, you will have to disable the entire widget.
Does the news feed affect the speed of the phone?
Yes, constant loading of content, updating widgets and running background processes of the news aggregator consume RAM and battery power. Disabling these functions can slightly increase the autonomy of the device.
How to remove advertising in notifications that looks like news?
These can be notifications from specific applications (browsers, cleaners). Long-press such a notification in the curtain and select "Disable notifications" or "Settings". Prevent this app from showing alerts.
Will my data disappear if I disable these features?
No, disabling widgets and news feeds does not affect your personal files, contacts, or installed apps in any way. This is just a change in the way information is displayed on the screen.