Xiaomi smartphone owners often encounter an intrusive MIUI shell interface or the new HyperOS that is overflowing with advertising content. One of the most annoying elements is the so-called "recommendations" in the application folders on the desktop. Instead of a neat list of icons, the user sees random suggestions for installing games and applications that slow down the device and consume traffic.
Fortunately, the company’s engineers have made it possible to disable this feature, although they have hidden it deep enough in the system settings, and in this article we will detail all the known methods that allow you to permanently get rid of ad units in folders, returning your smartphone to a clean and aesthetic look.
It’s worth noting that the location of the switches may vary slightly depending on the firmware version (Global, China, EEA) and Android version, but the overall algorithm of actions remains the same for most modern models, including the Redmi Note, Poco and the flagship Mi series.
The nature of advertising in the MIUI interface
The ad blocks you see inside folders are part of the ecosystem. MSA (MIUI System Ads is a system service responsible for delivering content from partners, not a virus in the classical sense, but a legitimate, albeit highly intrusive, function of monetizing budget and mid-budget devices.
The system’s algorithms analyze your preferences, download history, and geolocation to suggest applications that developers think are relevant, often low-quality games or questionable utilities, and the user experience suffers as the screen’s usable area is occupied by garbage, and the speed of opening folders can be reduced by downloading Internet content.
It's important to understand that you can't just delete these icons because they're dynamically generated, you have to influence the source of their appearance, the system's customization settings and advertising services, without which, even after cleaning the cache, recommendations will reappear after a while.
⚠️ Warning: Disabling system advertising may cause some embedded applications (such as Music or Explorer) to stop showing contextual sentences, which is normal behavior for a clean system.
Basic method of disconnection through system settings
The easiest and safest way to remove recommendations is to use the regular shell tools, which do not require superuser rights (Root) and do not violate the device warranty.
To start, go to Settings for your smartphone. In the settings list, find a item that may be called Desktop, Home Screen, or System Apps. In newer versions of HyperOS, the path may look like Settings → Desktop.
Inside this menu, you need to find a switch called "Recommendations" or "Receive recommendations," which is responsible for the content in the folders, and once you turn off this switch, the folders will instantly clear out the unnecessary visual noise.
☑️ Checking the launcher settings
If you don't find this right away, try searching by settings. Type the word "recommendations" into the search bar at the top of the settings screen. The system will tell you the section you want to use. This is especially true for users who are setting up a Xiaomi or Redmi device for the first time.
Customization of Personalization and MSA
A deeper level of control over advertising is in the personalization section, where you can prevent the system from collecting data about your actions to generate advertising offers, which not only removes banners, but also increases privacy.
Go to Settings → Passwords & Security → Access to Personal Data (in some versions of Authorization & Privacy) and find msa and turn it off. The system will alert you to a 10 second countdown timer, then click “Cancel”.
It is also recommended to disable GetApps (formerly Mi Store) if you do not use this app store, which is often the source of installation of advertising modules, and disabling these services requires confirmation of action.
What if the msa service doesn’t shut down the first time?
After doing this, it is recommended to restart the device, so that the changes take effect at the level of all system processes, and without rebooting, some interface elements can continue to load the old cache.
Disabling Advertising in Specific System Applications
Even if you remove recommendations from folders, you may encounter ads elsewhere. To completely clean your smartphone of intrusive content, you should go through the main system utilities, which will ensure maximum comfort when using the gadget.
In the Security app, click on the gear in the top right corner and find the "Receive recommendations" item. Uncheck it. You can do the same thing in Download, Music and Themes.
- 📁 Conductor: Click on the menu (three bars) → Settings → About the programme → Turn off "Recommendations».
- 🎵 Music: Menu → Settings → Advanced settings → Turn off "Show ads».
- 🧹 Cleaning: In the Appendix Security → Cleanup → Settings (cogs) → Turn off "Receive recommendations».
This integrated approach allows for a distraction-free environment, which Poco device owners should pay special attention to, as their MIUI for Poco shell initially contains more ad integrations than the standard version.
Using third-party launchers as a radical solution
If you find the standard methods too complicated or want to completely change the appearance of the interface, you can install a third-party launcher, which completely replaces the desktop, menus and folders of the standard system.
Popular options like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher don’t have built-in advertising and run much faster than the standard MIUI launcher.
To install a third-party launcher download APK-file or find the app on Google Play. Once installed, the system will prompt you to select the default home screen app. Choose a new launcher and the standard Xiaomi folders will no longer bother you.
However, it’s worth remembering that third-party launchers may consume more power or not support some of the specific gestures implemented in MIUI. For example, a down gesture to search or double tapping to turn on the screen may not work properly without additional settings.
Comparison of Desktop Cleaning Methods
To make it easier for you to choose the right option, we have prepared a method comparison table that will help you assess the risks and effectiveness of each method for your particular situation.
| Method | Difficulty | Efficiency | Risks. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disconnection in settings | Low. | Tall. | Absent. |
| MSA shutdown | Medium | Maximum | Possible service failure |
| Third-party launcher | Medium | Full replacement. | Loss of MIUI functions |
| ADB team | Tall. | Maximum | Possible malfunction of the OS |
As you can see from the table, for most users, the best solution is a combination of disabling recommendations in settings and revoking licenses from the MSA service. This gives a better balance between functionality and cleanliness of the interface.
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If you plan to sell a smartphone, remember to return all ad settings back or perform a full reset.The new owner may be surprised by the lack of familiar features or, conversely, their availability if you used deep blocking methods.
Advanced Methods: ADB and System Packet Removal
For experienced users who want to securely remove advertising modules, there is a method of using debugging over USB and the ADB command line. This method requires connecting a smartphone to a computer and having basic knowledge of working with the terminal.
First, you need to activate the developer mode. → About the phone and quickly press 7 times on the item "Version" MIUI». Then in the advanced settings, turn on “Debugging by” USB».
Once you connect your phone to your PC, follow the command to remove the msa packet. Be extremely careful: removing critical system components can lead to a bootloop (cyclic reboot).
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.misysThis is the most radical method: it doesn't just hide ads, it physically removes service executables from user space, and you can only recover the remote through a full reset to the factory settings (Wipe Data).
⚠️ Attention: Use ADB commands to remove system applications can cause unstable operation of the device.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Does disabling advertising affect the speed of the smartphone?
Can I remove ads in the browser app?
Will the recommendations return after the firmware update?
Is it safe to disable GetApps?
Why are there ads in some folders?
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Getting rid of all Xiaomi ads requires a comprehensive approach: disabling recommendations in folders, revoking permissions from MSA and configuring system applications, only a combination of these measures gives the perfect result.