Hiding At a Glance from the home screen if the option is not available to you (a short guide)

Understanding the At a Glance Widget and Its System-Level Integration

The “At a Glance” widget, known within the Android ecosystem as SmartSpace, is a deeply integrated feature developed by Google. It resides on the Pixel Launcher and several other launchers, providing users with contextual information such as the current time, weather conditions, upcoming calendar events, flight statuses, and package tracking. While useful for many, a significant portion of the user base finds this persistent display intrusive, aesthetically disruptive, or simply unnecessary, leading to a strong demand for methods to permanently remove it.

For years, Google has maintained a stranglehold on the customization of this feature. Historically, the ability to toggle the visibility of At a Glance was strictly controlled through a user-facing settings menu. However, recent iterations of the Pixel Launcher and Google app have introduced a server-side rollout of this toggle. This means that even if two users possess the exact same device, Android version, and app build, one might see the toggle in their settings while the other does not. This fragmentation is managed via a device configuration flag pushed from Google’s servers, specifically the flag device_personalization_services/EchoSmartspace__enable_show_on_home_screen_toggle.

When this server-side flag is absent, the standard user interface provides no recourse for hiding the widget. The standard advice found in forums—clearing the cache or data of Google Play Services or the Google app—is not only ineffective in this specific context but can be detrimental to system stability. We will explore why this generic advice is harmful and provide the definitive, technical methods to bypass these restrictions using system-level permissions.

Why Clearing Google Play Services Data is Discouraged

Before proceeding with the technical solutions, it is imperative to address a common misconception. Many users are advised to navigate to Settings > Apps > See all apps > Google Play Services > Storage & cache and select “Clear all data.” While this resets certain connectivity and location-based services, it does not manipulate the smartspace_show_on_home_screen secure setting.

Performing this action indiscriminately can lead to:

• Loss of Paired Devices: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi device pairings may be forgotten.
• Breakage of Location Services: Apps relying on high-accuracy location may malfunction until recalibrated.
• Authentication Issues: Google Account synchronization may require re-authentication across multiple applications.

The WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS permission is required to modify the specific toggle that controls the widget’s visibility. This permission is restricted to system apps and cannot be granted to standard user applications without elevated privileges. Therefore, clearing general app data is a brute-force approach that rarely targets the specific configuration storage we need to access.

Prerequisites for Modifying SmartSpace Settings

To successfully hide the At a Glance widget when the UI toggle is missing, we must interact directly with the Android Secure Settings database. This requires a controlled environment and specific tools.

1. Android Debug Bridge (ADB): A command-line tool that allows communication with an Android device. This is the most direct method and requires a computer (Windows, macOS, or Linux).
2. USB Debugging: Must be enabled on the target Android device within the Developer Options menu.
3. SetEdit (or similar database editor): An Android application capable of reading and writing to the Secure Settings table. This requires the aforementioned WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS permission.
4. Shizuku (Optional but Recommended): A modern system that allows privileged API access to applications without requiring traditional root access, simplifying the permission granting process.

It is also crucial to note the version dependency. As of the time of writing, these methods are most effective on Beta builds of the Google app or Pixel Launcher. Google frequently alters the internal logic of SmartSpace in stable releases, meaning a setting that works on a beta version may have no effect on the current stable release if the underlying code has changed.

Method 1: The ADB Command Line Approach (No Root Required)

This is the most efficient method for users who wish to avoid installing third-party applications on their device. It utilizes the Android Debug Bridge to inject a command directly into the device’s secure settings database.

Setting up the ADB Environment

1. Download the latest Platform Tools from the official Android developer website for your specific operating system.
2. Extract the files to a convenient location, such as the desktop.
3. Enable Developer Options on your Android device by tapping the Build Number in Settings > About Phone seven times.
4. Navigate to Settings > System > Developer Options and enable USB Debugging.
5. Connect your device to your computer via a USB cable. When prompted on the device screen, select “Allow USB Debugging.”

Executing the Command

Once the connection is established and verified (you can test this by typing adb devices in your command prompt or terminal), you may proceed with the modification.

To hide the At a Glance widget, execute the following single command:

adb shell settings put secure smartspace_show_on_home_screen 0

Explanation of the Command:

• adb shell: Opens a command shell on the connected Android device.
• settings put secure: Instructs the system to write a value to the Secure Settings table.
• smartspace_show_on_home_screen: The specific key that controls the widget’s visibility state.
• 0: The boolean value representing “False” or “Hidden.”

Verifying and Reverting the Change

To verify the change took effect, you may restart your launcher or simply reboot the device. The At a Glance widget should no longer be visible on the home screen.

If you wish to restore the widget at any point, the process is equally simple. You simply change the value from 0 to 1:

adb shell settings put secure smartspace_show_on_home_screen 1

This method is non-destructive and can be performed repeatedly without risk to system integrity, provided the setting key remains valid in the current OS build.

Method 2: Using SetEdit for GUI-Based Modification

For users who prefer a graphical interface or do not have immediate access to a computer, SetEdit is a powerful application that allows direct editing of the Android Settings database. However, it requires the WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS permission to function, which cannot be obtained via the standard Play Store installation.

Granting Necessary Permissions

To use SetEdit effectively, you must elevate its privileges. There are two primary ways to achieve this:

Option A: Manual ADB Permission Grant

If you prefer not to use Shizuku, you can grant the permission via ADB using the following command:

adb shell pm grant by4a.setedit android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS

Option B: Using Shizuku (Wireless ADB)

Shizuku is a superior method for modern Android versions. It utilizes the Wireless Debugging feature to provide a secure bridge for apps to access system APIs.

1. Install Shizuku from the Google Play Store.
2. Follow the in-app instructions to start the Shizuku service (usually via Wireless Debugging).
3. Once Shizuku is running, install SetEdit.
4. In SetEdit, look for an option to enable Shizuku mode (often in settings or a prompt on launch). This grants the required permission automatically without needing a computer connection for every reboot.

Modifying the Setting with SetEdit

Once the permission is secured:

1. Open SetEdit.
2. Ensure you are viewing the Secure Table. This is critical; modifying the System or Global tables will not affect the At a Glance widget.
3. Use the search bar to look for smartspace_show_on_home_screen.
4. Scenario 1: The Key Exists. If the key is found in the list, tap on it. You will see the current value (likely 1). Edit the value to 0 and save the change.
5. Scenario 2: The Key Does Not Exist. In some device configurations or older Android versions, the key may not be initialized. To create it:
   • Tap the + (Add) button (usually located in the bottom action bar).
   • In the Key field, enter: smartspace_show_on_home_screen
   • In the Value field, enter: 0
   • Ensure the Type is set to Integer (or String, depending on the specific ROM implementation, though Integer is standard for boolean flags in this context).
   • Save the entry.

Reverting with SetEdit

To restore the widget, follow the same steps but change the value from 0 back to 1. If you manually added the key and wish to remove it entirely (though usually not necessary), you can long-press the entry and select “Delete Row.”

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even with precise execution, users may encounter issues due to the complexity of Android’s fragmentation.

The Setting Resets After Reboot

If you find that the smartspace_show_on_home_screen setting reverts to 1 after restarting your device, it is likely due to an aggressive system process or Google app update. This is common in non-rooted environments.

• Solution: You may need to reapply the setting after every major Google app update. To automate this, advanced users can utilize Tasker with the ADB Wifi permission to run the shell command automatically at boot, though this requires additional setup.

No Effect on Stable Build

As mentioned, Google is constantly iterating on SmartSpace. In some stable builds, the smartspace_show_on_home_screen flag is ignored entirely in favor of a new internal logic or a different setting key.

• Solution: If the command executes successfully (returns “Success”) but the widget remains, your specific build version may not honor this flag. You should check the Google app version and consider enrolling in the Beta program via the Play Store, where this toggle is more likely to be respected by the system.

Permission Denied Errors

When executing ADB commands or using SetEdit, you may receive “Permission Denied.”

• Solution: Ensure USB Debugging is active. If using Shizuku, ensure the service is running and has been granted root-level access. On some devices (specifically Xiaomi/HyperOS or OxygenOS), additional permission overlays might block WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS; in these cases, check the app permissions in the device settings and ensure “Modify system settings” is allowed for SetEdit.

The Technical Explanation: What is Happening Behind the Scenes?

For those interested in the mechanism, the process involves modifying the settings database located at /data/system/users/0/settings_secure.xml.

When you execute the ADB command or save the change in SetEdit, the Android Settings Provider writes a new entry into this XML file. The Pixel Launcher (or the Google App if using third-party launchers) polls this database key (smartspace_show_on_home_screen) during its initialization phase.

• If the value is 1, the launcher calculates the height of the home screen and renders the SmartSpaceContainerView.
• If the value is 0, the launcher skips the rendering process for that specific view component, effectively hiding the widget.

The server-side flag (EchoSmartspace__enable_show_on_home_screen_toggle) mentioned in the introduction controls whether the user-facing menu item is created. However, the underlying database key usually exists regardless of the menu visibility. The methods described above bypass the UI layer entirely, speaking directly to the database layer.

Conclusion: Achieving a Clean Home Screen

We have established that the absence of a user-facing toggle does not render the At a Glance widget permanent. By utilizing system-level permissions—specifically the WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS permission—we can manually control the smartspace_show_on_home_screen secure setting.

Whether you choose the direct, computer-dependent ADB method or the flexible, app-based approach using SetEdit and Shizuku, the result is a pristine home screen free of unrequested contextual information. We recommend the ADB method for its simplicity and lack of persistent background services, but the SetEdit method is a viable alternative for mobile-only workflows. By following this guide, you maintain full control over your device’s UI without resorting to risky operations like clearing Google Play Services data.