How to permanently remove recommendations from the lock screen on Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

The lock screen on Xiaomi smartphones has long been a source of irritation for many users. Instead of concise display of time and notifications, the system stubbornly demonstrates banner ads, news feeds and “recommendations” from Mi Browser or GetApps. Even after numerous MIUI updates, this feature remains active by default – and it can not always be turned off by standard means.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can remove recommendations from your lock screen, including hidden settings, ADB commands, and even radical methods for the most persistent cases. The instructions described are relevant for Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO based on MIUI 12-14 (including global and Chinese firmware). If you’re tired of intrusive advertising or just want to return a clean minimalist screen, read on.

Why does Xiaomi show recommendations on the lock screen?

The root of the problem lies in Xiaomi’s business model, where it monetizes its smartphones not only through sales, but also through built-in advertising in the MIUI branded shell. The lock screen is one of the hottest places to display content, as users see it dozens of times a day.

• 📢 Advertising from Mi Browser – banners with news, promotions and promotional materials that are uploaded through the Xiaomi browser even if you do not use it.
• 🎯 GetApps and Mi Video – App and video recommendations from branded services, often tied to your geolocation.
• 🔄 System notifications – for example, offers to update firmware or activate cloud storage Mi Cloud.
• 🌍 Local partners – in some regions (India, Indonesia) banners of local services are added.

Interesting fact: Chinese firmware (China ROM) has virtually no lock ads on the screen, only appearing in global and regional versions of MIUI, due to local data protection laws that prohibit aggressive targeting without explicit user consent.

⚠️ Warning: Some recommendations may be disguised as system notifications, such as the Clean Memory banner actually leads to the GetApps promotion page rather than the settings.

Method 1: Disabling recommendations through standard settings

Let’s start with the simplest method that works on most Xiaomi devices with MIUI 12-14. Unfortunately, in the latest versions of the shell, the path to settings has become less obvious, and some menu items are hidden.

Here's the step-by-step instruction:

1. Open the Settings → Lock screen.
2. Scroll down to the Additional section and select Lock screen settings (on some models, the item may be called Lock screen style).
3. Find the Recommendations or Show Recommendations option and turn off the slider.
4. Go back and check the Notifications section on the lock screen, as banner ads may be hidden under the guise of “important notifications.”

If the recommendation item is not on the menu, try an alternative path:

• 🔍 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 📱 Find Mi Browser or GetApps, open its settings.
• 🚫 Turn off permission to display over other windows and display notifications.

Backup the lock screen settings |

Check the version of MIUI (Settings → About Phone)|

Turn off the automatic update Mi Browser|

Delete the cache of the application "Block screen" (Settings) → Annexes)-->

Some models (such as the Redmi Note 10 Pro or POCO X3 Pro) may have empty space on the lock screen after disabling recommendations. This is normal – the system simply does not load the content, but the markup remains. To remove the void, try changing the lock screen style to minimalist (in the same settings).

Method 2: Use hidden MIUI settings (for advanced ones)

If the standard methods don't work, we'll have to dig deeper. MIUI There are hidden settings that allow you to turn off ads at the system level. ADB-team.

Step 1: Activate the Developer Mode

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Find the MIUI version and click on it 7 times in a row until the notification “You became a developer” appears.
3. Go back to the main settings menu and open a new section for developers.

Step 2: Connect to the PC and send ADB-team

Download Platform Tools (part of the Android SDK) and connect your phone to your computer via USB.

adb shell pm hide com.miui.systemAdSolution

This command disables the system module that controls the ad impressions, and if it doesn't work, try alternatives:

adb shell settings put global hidden_api_policy 1


adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.msa.global

After you execute the commands, restart your phone. The recommendations should disappear, but keep in mind that this method may reset after another MIUI update.

⚠️ Attention: Some ADB-commands can disrupt system applications. Before experimenting, back up through Settings. → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

Method 3: Remove system applications (route access)

If you are willing to take drastic measures, you can completely remove the apps responsible for showing recommendations, which requires unlocking the bootloader and getting root access (for example, through Magisk).

List of “culprits” of advertising on the lock screen:

Use Root Explorer or the ADB command to remove:

adb shell


su




pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.xiaomi.mipicks

Warning: Removing system applications can cause MIUI to work in an unstable way, for example, without Security, some security features will stop working, and always check if the application does not depend on the critical logic of the system.

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Before you uninstall your system applications, back them up via Titanium Backup or similar software, which will help you recover them in case of problems.

Method 4: Alternative launchers and lock screens

If you don't get the best way to deal with recommendations through settings, you can go around the corner and replace the standard lock screen with a third-party one. There are several reliable applications that completely overlap the system interface:

• 🔒 Always On Display (AOD) — Minimalist watch with notifications, no advertising. AMOLED-screen.
• 📱 AcDisplay – a lightweight launcher with a customizable lock screen.
• 🎨 KLCK — Advanced lock screen designer with support for themes.
• 🛡️ Nox Lock Screen – Blocks system banners at the overlay level.

Example of AcDisplay setup:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. In the settings, select Replace the lock screen.
3. Turn off the lock system screen via Settings → Lock screen → Style → No (if available).
4. Set up the display of notifications and widgets to your liking.

The downside of this method is the increased battery consumption, because third-party launchers run on top of the system, but you get complete control over the appearance and content on the screen.

Disabled through the MIUI settings|

Used. ADB-team|

Remove system applications (root)|

Put a third-party lock screen |

I didn't do anything, I used to.-->

Method 5: Resetting settings or flashing

If all previous methods failed, there are two extreme options: factory reset or custom firmware. Let's look at both in detail.

Option 1: Resetting settings

Sometimes recommendations are eaten into the system after updates or experimenting with settings.

1. Back up your data via Settings → Google → Backup or Mi Cloud.
2. Go to Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset → Reset settings.
3. Choose to erase all data and confirm the action.
4. After the reboot, don’t restore settings from the backup – set your phone up as new.

Option 2: Installation of custom firmware

For power users, the best way to get rid of advertising once and for all is to switch to firmware without MIUI.

• 🤖 LineageOS – pure Android without unnecessary add-ons.
• ⚡ Pixel Experience – firmware with Google Pixel interface.
• 🔧 Havoc-OS - customizable firmware with a lot of functions.

The installation process requires unlocking the bootloader and using TWRP. For detailed instructions, see the XDA Developers or 4PDA forums for your model. note that this voids the warranty and may result in data loss.

⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 9 Pro with MediaTek processor), unlocking the bootloader can lead to problems with Widevine L1, Why Netflix will stop working on Netflix HD-quality.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after disabling recommendations, users experience a return of ads or other bugs.

Issue 1: Recommendations return after the MIUI update.

Solution: After each major update, check the lock screen settings — Xiaomi sometimes resets them to default values. It’s also helpful to disable the automatic update of Mi Browser and GetApps in Google Play.

Problem 2: There is empty space on the lock screen.

Solution: Change the lock screen style to Classic or Watch Only in the settings. If the void remains, try resetting the com.android.systemui app settings via ADB:

adb shell pm clear com.android.systemui

Problem 3: ADB-The team is not working, there is an error not found.

Solution: Make sure that:

• You are using the latest version of Platform Tools.
• In the developer settings, the option of debugging over USB (security options) is enabled.
• You give permission to debug when you connect to a PC (pop-up on your phone).

Problem 4: After removing the system applications, the weather widgets or camera stopped working.

Solution: Some MIUI features depend on Mi Browser or GetApps. Restore deleted packets via backup or reflash your phone.

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If you've been manipulated, check to see if there's any viruses or suspicious apps on your phone, and some Trojans mimic system banners.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions