Many smartphone users are faced with a situation where the Google news feed begins to take up too much space on the main screen or is simply annoying with its intrusiveness. Often this feature is built deep into the launcher system, which creates the false impression that it cannot be disabled. However, the operating system Android provides quite flexible tools for managing pre-installed software.
In this article we will analyze in detail all the available ways to get rid of the news feed. You'll learn how to remove a widget, disable a feature in the launcher settings, and even completely deactivate the application through the system menus. It is important to understand that the methods may vary slightly depending on the manufacturer of your device, be it Samsung, Xiaomi or pure Pixel.
We will also touch on the topic of saving resources, since background news synchronization consumes traffic and battery power. Proper interface customization will allow you to focus on truly important applications, removing information noise. Are you ready to clear out the clutter from your smartphone?
Disable the news feed on the home screen
The most common way to interact with Google News is to swipe left from the first desktop. This feature is often called Google Discover or simply “Feed”. On most devices, it is enabled by default, but you can easily deactivate it without deleting the application itself.
First, you need to go to the settings of your launcher. You can do this by long-pressing an empty space on your desktop and selecting Home Screen Settings or Options. In the menu that opens, look for a section related to additional screens or widgets.
Find the switch with the name Google Discover, Google Feed or One Page. Move it to the inactive position. After that, when you swipe left, you will no longer see the news selection, but will go straight to the first desktop or widget menu.
- 📱 On devices Samsung the setting is in the “Home Screen” section → “Google Discover” switch.
- 📱 On smartphones Xiaomi i Redmi you need to go to “Settings” → “Home Screen” → disable “Applications Feed”.
- 📱 In Clean Android (Pixel, Motorola) launcher settings are accessible through a long press on an empty space.
⚠️ Attention: On some custom skins, disabling the feed may cause the Google search bar at the top of the screen to disappear. If this happens, you can return the search widget manually through the widgets menu.
Removing the Google News widget
In addition to the built-in feed, users often accidentally add a news widget to the desktop. This is a separate interface element that displays article titles in the form of tiles of different sizes. Removing it is much easier than disabling a system function.
To remove a widget, find it on the desktop. Click on it and hold your finger for a couple of seconds. A deletion zone will appear at the top or bottom of the screen, often indicated by a cross or text Delete. Drag the widget to this area.
An alternative method is available on some versions of Android: after a long press on the widget, a pop-up menu will appear. Select Delete or the trash icon. Confirmation of the action is usually not required, the widget will disappear instantly.
If the widget cannot be deleted by long pressing, check whether the desktop change blocking mode is enabled in the launcher settings. It needs to be temporarily disabled.
It is worth noting that deleting the widget does not disable the application itself Google. It will continue to work in the background unless additional actions are taken, which we will discuss in the following sections.
Disabling and deleting an application through settings
If your goal is not just to hide the interface, but to completely stop the service, you need to turn to the system application settings. The application responsible for news is usually called simply Google or Google App.
Go to the menu Settings of your smartphone. Find the section Applications or All applications. In the list, find an application with the Google logo (a multi-colored letter G). Click on it to open the application information page.
Here you will see two important buttons: Disable and Uninstall updates. The "Delete" button may not be active since this is a system application. Clicking on “Disable” will return the application to the factory version and prevent it from launching.
| Action | Result | Cancel option |
|---|---|---|
| Deleting a widget | Only the icon disappears from the screen | Easy to return |
| Disable Discover | The feed stops opening with a swipe | Enables settings |
| Disable the application | The service stops working completely | Requires enabling in the settings |
| Reset data | Delete cache and personalization | Data irrevocable |
☑️ Check before disabling the application
⚠️ Attention: Completely disabling the Google application may affect the operation of the voice assistant Google Assistant and the screen search function. Make sure that you do not use these functions critically.
Clearing data and resetting personalization
Sometimes users do not want to delete news, but simply reset selection algorithms that have begun to show uninteresting content. In this case, complete removal is not required, just clear the application data.
In the same application information menu mentioned above, find the section Memory or Storage. Press the button Clear data or Reset. The system will warn you that this will delete all files and application settings.
After this procedure the application Google will return to the “as after installation” state. You will have to re-accept the terms of use, and the news feed will be created from scratch, without taking into account your previous browsing history.
Settings → Applications → Google → Storage → Clear dataThis method also helps free up space in the internal memory, since the news cache can take up hundreds of megabytes. This is a great way to optimize device operation without drastic measures.
What happens when clearing data?
When clearing data, all saved offline articles, search history within the application and theme settings are deleted. However, your Google account and synchronized data (contacts, mail) will not be affected, since they are stored in the cloud.
Using third-party launchers
If standard methods do not suit you or the phone manufacturer has blocked the ability to disable the feed, the most effective solution is to install a third-party launcher. These are applications that completely replace the standard desktop.
Popular solutions such as Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Lawnchairallow you to flexibly customize every aspect of the interface. By default, they do not have a built-in Google News feed, unless you add it yourself.
After installing the new launcher, the system will prompt you to select an application for the default home screen. Select the installed launcher. Now you'll get a clean desktop where every icon and folder is exactly where you placed them.
- 🚀 Nova Launcher Known for its incredible speed and detailed gesture customization.
- 🚀 Microsoft Launcher Integrates perfectly with the Windows ecosystem and has a beautiful task feed.
- 🚀 Smart Launcher automatically sorts apps into categories, saving time user.
⚠️ Attention: Some manufacturers (for example, Xiaomi or Huawei) may require a complex procedure to change the default launcher, including unlocking the bootloader or using special utilities through the computer.
Using an alternative interface is not just a way to remove news, but also an opportunity to breathe new life into an old smartphone, making its operation more convenient and modern.
A third-party launcher is the only guaranteed solution for devices where the manufacturer has hardwired the news feed into the firmware without the ability to disable it.
Advanced methods: ADB and freezing applications
For experienced users who want to achieve maximum control over the system, there are methods for disabling applications via a computer. This allows you to “freeze” system software that cannot be disabled through the regular settings menu.
You will need to enable USB debugging in the “For Developers” menu on your phone and install the utility ADB (Android Debug Bridge) on your computer. By connecting your phone with a cable, you can send commands to disable packages.
The command to disable the Google application is as follows. It does not physically delete files, but makes the application invisible to the system and the user:
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchboxTo return everything as it was, use the command with replacement disable-user to enable. This method requires caution: disabling critical system components may cause the device to become unstable.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Will my Google account be deleted when I disable the application?
No, disabling the Google application or deleting news does not affect your account in any way. Your Gmail, contacts, photos in Google Photos and data on Google Drive will remain completely safe and will be accessible through the browser or other applications.
Is it possible to delete Google News on a Samsung phone without superuser rights?
Yes, on most Samsung devices, just go to the home screen settings and turn off the switch Google Discover. To completely remove the application, you will need superuser rights (Root) or use ADB commands through your computer.
Why do news still appear in notifications after deleting the widget?
Widget and notifications are different content delivery channels. To remove notifications, go to Settings → Applications → Google → Notifications and disable categories related to news and recommendations.
Is it safe to use third-party launchers?
Yes, Using launchers from the official store Google Play is absolutely safe. They do not access your personal data without permission and operate in an isolated environment like any other application.
Will the news feed return after a system update?
Possibly. Major firmware updates sometimes reset the launcher to factory settings. If this happens, you will have to disable the feed again in the home screen settings.