Owners of modern smartphones are often faced with a situation where, after purchasing or updating the system, an intrusive news feed appears on the device. This functionality, known as Google Discover, automatically loads articles, videos and recommendations, taking up space on the main screen. For many users, this becomes a source of irritation, as it distracts from the familiar interface and consumes Internet traffic in the background.
Fortunately, the operating system developers Android have provided quite flexible tools for managing this service. The feed is disabled directly in the settings of the launcher or Google application, without the need to use third-party software. In this article we will analyze in detail all the available methods, from simply hiding the screen to completely disabling notifications so you can regain control of your device.
The deactivation process may vary slightly depending on the model of your gadget and the firmware version. For example, on a clean Pixel or Motorola the settings are in one place, while on shells One UI from Samsung or MIUI from Xiaomi the path to the desired item may be hidden deeper. We will look at universal methods that are suitable for most current devices.
Disable through the home screen settings
The fastest and most effective way to remove the news feed is to use the settings of the launcher itself. This action hides the secondary desktop, which is usually located to the left of the main screen with application icons. You do not need to remove any apps, just change the display configuration.
To begin, hold down an empty space on any of the desktops of your smartphone until the editing menu appears. In the list that opens, select Home screen settings or Options. The interface may look different, but the logic remains the same for all standard launchers Android.
In the menu that opens, look for the switch named Google Discover, Google Feed or Summary. Move the toggle switch to the inactive position. After this, swiping left will no longer open the news feed, but will return you to the first desktop or application menu.
If you have a third-party launcher installed (for example, Nova Launcher or Lawnchair), the news feed setting may be in the "Gestures" or "Integration" section with Google."
It is worth noting that on some devices with highly customized shells this item may be called differently. For example, on smartphones, this may be a function that also broadcasts news. The principle of disabling is similar: find the corresponding switch in the desktop settings and deactivate it. Huawei or Honor this could be a function Huawei Assistant or AppGallery, which also broadcasts news. The principle of disabling is similar: find the corresponding switch in the desktop settings and deactivate it.
Management via the Google application
If hiding the screen did not give the desired result or you want to completely stop collecting data to personalize the results, you need to go to the settings of the application itself Google. This is a deeper level of configuration that affects what data the algorithms use to create your feed.
Open the app Google on your smartphone. It is usually marked with a colored letter "G" and is a system component. Click on your profile icon in the upper right corner of the screen. In the drop-down menu, select the section Settings, and then go to the subsection Google Discover (or simply Discover).
Here you will see a switch Show cards. Disable it. This action will completely stop the recommendation algorithm. Even if you accidentally open the feed through the widget, it will be empty or display only the search bar without news content.
⚠️ Attention: Disabling cards in the Google application settings may affect the operation of the voice assistant Google Assistantsince they use a single database of user interests to generate responses.
You can also clear your interest history in this section. Click on the item Managing interests and delete the topics that the system has remembered about you. This will help to “reset” your profile if you plan to turn on the news again in the future, but want to start from scratch.
☑️ Complete clearing of the news feed
Removing a widget from the desktop
Often users confuse the system ribbon on the left and a regular widget that was added to the desktop manually. The widget Google can display the weather, date and brief news directly among the application icons. You can remove it as easily as any other icon.
Find the news widget on the screen of your smartphone. Press and hold it with your finger for a few seconds until the device enters edit mode. Usually at this point the background darkens and a trash can or drag area appears on top.
Drag the widget to the top of the screen, where the inscription will appear. Delete or the trash icon. Release your finger. The system will ask you to confirm the action - agree to delete. After this, the widget will disappear from the screen, making room for other shortcuts or widgets.
It is important to understand the difference: deleting a widget does not disable the news service itself in the system, it only removes its visual representation from a specific screen. news in other places, use the methods described in the previous sections.
What to do if the widget is not deleted?
If, when you try to delete the widget, the system gives an error or it returns to its place, it may be pinned in the launcher settings. Go to the home screen settings and find the item “Lock Layout” or “Lock Home Screen Layout”, then disable it.
Turn off notifications from Google News
Even if you have hidden the feed and deleted widgets, the application Google News (separate from the search) can continue to send push notifications about urgent events or topics that you subscribed to earlier. To completely get rid of information noise, you need to disable notifications.
Go to the main Settings of your smartphone. Find the section Applications or All applications. In the list, find the application with the name Google News (icon in the form of a newspaper). separate application, just look for Google.
In the application menu, select Notifications. Here you will see a list of all categories. notifications. You can completely disable the toggle switch All notifications or selectively disable categories such as "Breaking News", "Recommendations" or "Sports Results".
| Notification type | Description | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Breaking news | Important global events | Leave on (optional) |
| Recommendations | Articles based on your interests | Disable |
| Sports results | Match scores of your favorite teams | Disable if not follow |
| Reminders | Reminders for watching broadcasts | Disable |
After making changes, restart your smartphone to make sure that all background processes associated with notifications have been correctly stopped by the system.
Completely disabling notifications in the application settings is the only way to ensure that the phone will not vibrate due to news during quiet hours.
Resetting the launcher settings as a radical method
In rare cases, when the launcher interface is damaged or the settings are frozen, standard methods of disabling the feed may not work. In such a situation, resetting will help. launcher settings to factory settings. This will return the main screen to the state it was in when you first turned on the phone.
Go to Settings → Applications. Find your launcher app in the list. On most smartphones it is called One UI Home, Pixel Launcher, MIUI Launcher or simply Launcher.
Select item Memory or Storage. Click the button Reset or Clear data. The system will warn you that all home screen settings will be deleted, icons will return to their original order, and widgets will disappear. Confirm the action.
⚠️ Attention: Before resetting the launcher, be sure to take screenshots of the location of your icons and folders, since it will be impossible to restore them automatically after a reset, you will have to arrange them manually.
After rebooting the phone, reconfigure the wallpaper and icon layout. By default, on many devices, the news feed may already be disabled, or it may be easier to disable it in a clean interface. Google Discover It may already be disabled or it may be easier to disable it in a clean interface.
This method is also useful if you want to remove customization introduced by viruses or low-quality themes that may have forced news feeds to be turned on.
Does resetting make a difference? launcher to personal data?
No, resetting the launcher settings only affects the design of the desktop, the location of icons and widgets. Your photos, contacts, messages and installed applications remain completely safe.
Alternative launchers for complete control
If standard tools Android do not allow flexible management of news feeds or you want to completely change the look of the system, the best solution would be to install a third-party launcher. Third-party skins often don't have pre-installed integration with Google Discover or allow you to easily disable it.
Popular options like Nova Launcher, Lawnchair or Microsoft Launchergive the user complete control over gestures and screens. Their settings usually have a clear section dedicated to integration with Google services, where you can remove the ribbon on the left with one click.
To install a new launcher, download the application from the store Google Play. After installation, press the button Home (circle or house at the bottom of the screen). The system will ask you which app to use as the default home screen. Select a new launcher and click Always.
Using an alternative launcher will not only get rid of the news, but can also speed up the operation of the old smartphone, since standard shells are often overloaded with animations and background processes.
Before switching to a new launcher, check its compatibility with your version of Android in the application description to avoid conflicts and crashes.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Does disabling Google News affect the operation of other applications?
No, disabling feed Google Discover or deleting the widget does not affect the operation of the Google search bar, voice assistant or other system functions. You will still be able to use search and maps as normal.
Why did the news feed appear again after a system update?
Major operating system updates Android sometimes reset the launcher settings to default values, which may reactivate the news feed. You will have to repeat the disabling procedure through the home screen settings after each major firmware update.
Is it possible to remove the Google News application completely?
On most smartphones, the application Google News is a system one and cannot be completely removed without root access. However, you can disable it in the application settings by pressing the button Disable, which will hide the icon and stop all processes.
Will the battery be saved after turning off the news?
Yes, background loading of content, geolocation for local news, and data processing for personalization require CPU and modem resources. Disabling these functions will have a positive effect on battery life, especially on older devices.
How can I return the news feed if I change my mind?
To return the functionality, just go to the home screen settings (while holding down an empty space on the table) and turn on the switch Google Discover or Google Feed back to the active position.