Users of smartphones OPPOupdated to Android 13 and the ColorOS 13 shell often encounter an intrusive news feed. This feature, known as Google Feed or Google Discover, automatically appears when you swipe left on the home screen. It displays personalized news, weather, sports scores and promotional offers, which can be annoying for those who prefer a minimalist and clean workspace.
Disabling this service not only frees up the device's RAM, but also increases privacy, since the system stops collecting data about your interests to create a feed. The deactivation process in the new version of the operating system has undergone some changes compared to previous versions ColorOS. In some cases, a standard switch may not be enough, and additional actions will be required through the launcher settings.
In this article we will analyze in detail all the available methods of completely disabling Google Feed on devices OPPO. We will look at the standard system settings, operating features launcher, as well as ways to block the background activity of the service if it continues to run in the background. Follow the instructions below to regain full control of your home screen.
The main method of disabling it is through the desktop settings
The easiest and safest way to remove the news feed is to use the built-in launcher settings. In Android 13 on the shell ColorOS 13 this item was moved, but the logic remained the same. You do not need to install third-party software or obtain root access. Just go to the main screen settings menu.
First you need to get into the context menu. Make a long tap (press and hold) on an empty space on the home screen where there are no application icons or widgets. A toolbar will appear at the bottom of the display. Select the item More or immediately go to Settingsif such an item is listed separately. The interface may differ slightly depending on the model of your smartphone, for example OPPO Reno 8 or Find X5.
⚠️ Attention: If after completing all the steps, swiping left still opens the feed, try restarting your device. Sometimes the launcher cache requires updating to apply new interface settings.
In the settings menu that opens, find the section responsible for the additional screen. It may be called Additional screen, Google Discover or simply Ribbon left. The switch next to this item should be active (blue or green). Click on it to change the state to Off. After this, swiping left should either do nothing or open widgets if this function is enabled separately.
☑️ Checking launcher settings
Google app settings and personalization
Sometimes disabling it in the launcher settings does not completely block data collection, although it does remove the visual feed. For complete control over the service, you need to go to the settings of the application itself Google. This will disable personalization and stop loading content at the system level. This method is especially relevant if you want to prevent algorithms from analyzing your search history.
Open the application Google on your device. Click on the profile icon in the upper right corner of the screen. In the drop-down menu, select Settings. Next, go to the General section or immediately find the item Google Feed (in some versions it is called Discover). Here you will see a switch Google Feed. Set it to inactive state.
After disabling the feed, you can also clear your activity history to reset your accumulated interest profile. To do this, in the same settings menu, select Google account management, then go to the Data and privacytab. Find the section Application and web search history and pause saving it. This action will make you search profile anonymous to news algorithms.
If you use several Google accounts on one device, the feed settings must be disabled for each profile separately by going to the application settings under the corresponding user.
Managing widgets and additional screens
The Android 13 company OPPO has integrated widgets directly into the space main screen, which sometimes creates confusion with the ribbon Google Feed. Users may accidentally enable widgets when swiping, thinking they are news. It is important to distinguish between these two interface elements, since they are disabled in different menus.
Return to the desktop settings through a long tap on a free area. Find the section Widgets or Widgets integration. Make sure that the option Show widgets when swiping is disabled if you do not plan to use them. In some assemblies ColorOS widgets and the news feed can be combined into one settings block called Minus screen.
If you have installed a theme from a third-party developer from the store OPPO Themes, it can intercept gesture controls. In this case, the standard settings may not work. Try temporarily using the default theme OPPO, disable the feed, and then return to your theme. This will help reset the launcher settings conflict.
| Interface element | Where it is disabled | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|
| Google Discover | Launcher settings / Google application settings | Removes news and articles |
| Widgets (Minus screen) | Desktop Settings -> Widgets | Removes the panel with weather and tools |
| Application recommendations | Settings -> Privacy | Hide usage-based tips |
| Quick search | Launcher settings -> Search | Disables the Google search bar on the screen |
Limiting background activity and battery
Even after a visual shutdown, the process Google Feed can continue to run in the background, consuming battery power and Internet traffic. To ensure a complete stop of the service, it is necessary to limit its rights in the application management section. This is especially important for owners of models OPPO A-serieswhere battery capacity may be limited.
Go to Settings smartphone, then select section Applications and press Manage applications. In the list, find the application Google (not to be confused with Google Play Services). Tap on it to open the app information page. Here we are interested in the item Battery usage or Charge consumption.
In the power management menu, select the option Limit background activity or Prohibit background activity. It is also recommended to disable autorun for this application, if such an option is available in your version ColorOS 13. This will prevent data collection processes from starting immediately after turning on the smartphone screen.
⚠️ Warning: Limiting background activity in the Google app may cause delays in receiving Gmail push notifications or updating the weather widget. Use this setting with caution if you actively use the Google ecosystem.
For advanced users, it is possible to completely freeze the component via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), but this requires connecting to a computer. The command adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.googlequickstepbox can disable the system component of the ribbon, however, using this method is not recommended for ordinary users due to the risk of system instability.
Risks of using ADB to disable system components
Using ADB commands to disable system packages may cause the phone to stop booting or not work correctly. If you are not sure of your actions, it is better to limit yourself to the standard settings in the menu. Restoring deleted system applications is only possible through a factory reset or flashing.
Resetting the launcher settings and clearing the cache
If the settings are not saved or the tape appears again after a reboot, the system may have malfunctioned. In this case, an effective solution would be to clear the cache and data of the application responsible for the desktop. This will return the interface settings to the factory state, after which you can correctly disable launcher systems. In this case, an effective solution would be to clear the cache and data of the application responsible for the desktop. This will return the interface settings to the factory state, after which you can correctly disable Google Feed.
Go to Settings -> Applications -> Manage applications. Find the application System launcher or ColorOS Launcherin the list. Click on item Storage. Select option Clear cache. If this does not help, click Reset data (or Clear data).
After resetting the launcher data, the icons on the main screen may return to their original position, and the widgets will disappear. applications. However, this action often eliminates software errors due to which the switch Google Feed does not work correctly in Android 13.
Resetting launcher data is a radical but effective method of dealing with software glitches of the interface when standard disabling functions does not produce results.
Alternative launchers as a solution. problems
If the built-in tools OPPO do not allow you to completely get rid of intrusive Google elements, consider installing a third-party launcher. The store Google Play offers many solutions that completely replace the standard interface and give the user 100% control over the desktop.
Popular options include Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Niagara Launcher. After installing such an application, click the Home (Home) button. The system will prompt you to select the default application for the main screen. Select the installed launcher and click Always.
Third-party launchers usually do not have built-in integration with Google Feed on the left screen by default, or allow you to easily disable this function in your settings. This can also speed up the operation of the old device, since the standard shell ColorOS is quite resource-intensive.
⚠️ Attention: When installing a third-party launcher, some control gestures (for example, swipe up to search) may stop working or work differently. You will need time to get used to the new smartphone control logic.
Some users note that after switching to an alternative launcher, battery life increases by 10-15% due to optimization of interface rendering processes. This can be a pleasant bonus to solving the problem with the news feed on yours. smartphone.
Before installing a new launcher, take screenshots of the location of your icons. This will help you quickly restore the familiar desktop structure after changing the interface.
Why did the Google feed appear on its own after updating to Android 13?
With major operating updates systems, such as switching to Android 13default settings are often reset or changed by the developer. Google and device manufacturers such as OPPOaim to increase user engagement in their services, so the option Google Feed may be activated automatically during the firmware update process.
Impacts. Does disabling Google Feed affect the operation of the voice assistant?
No, disabling the news feed does not affect the operation of Google Assistant. The voice assistant is a separate service. You can continue to use the “Ok Google” commands, alarms and reminders even with the feed completely disabled Discover and limited background activity. applications.
Is it possible to completely remove a Google application?
Complete removal of a system application Google without root access is impossible, since it is a critical component of the operating system. AndroidAn attempt to remove it via ADB may lead to the Play Market store and other services not working. It is recommended to use only disabling features and limiting rights.
Why is the Google Feed switch gray and not clickable?
If the switch is grayed out, this may mean that the feature is controlled by the device administrator (rare for personal phones) or corporate security policy is enabled. Also check if the mode is enabled. Simple mode (for older people), which blocks changes to interface settings. Disable simple mode in the screen settings.
Will the ribbon return after resetting the phone to factory settings?
Yes, with a full reset to factory settings (Factory Reset) all system parameters return to the "out of the box" state. This means that Google Feed will be enabled by default again. You will have to repeat the disabling procedure through the launcher settings after the initial setup of the smartphone.