The For You section of Xiaomi’s standard gallery was introduced in MIUI 12 and has since become a constant source of annoyance for many users, automatically picking up photos, videos and even memes from the Internet to fill the top of the app, and for some, it’s a convenient way to quickly find the “best” shots, for others – annoying advertising and privacy violations.
The problem is that Xiaomi hasn’t added an obvious “Disable” button to the gallery settings. Depending on the MIUI version (and even the firmware region), the ways to remove this partition are different. In this article, we’ll look at all the working methods, from standard settings to hidden commands for power users, and find out why a partition can spontaneously return after updates and how to avoid this.
Why "For You" is in the gallery and can it be removed forever?
The For You section (or For You in English firmware) is a part of the MIUI ecosystem integrated at the system level.
- 📸 Automatic sorting of photos by “quality” (algorithm analyzes sharpness, lighting, emotions on faces).
- 🔍 Personalized recommendations based on your activity (such as frequently viewed places or people).
- 🌍 Content from partners (in some regions, promotional materials, memes or news are shown).
Technically, the partition is part of the com.miui.gallery system application and cannot be completely removed without root rights.
- ✅ Hide from the gallery interface.
- ✅ Disable personalization and recommendations.
- ✅ Replace the standard gallery with an alternative gallery (e.g. Google Photos).
⚠️ Note: After major updates MIUI (For example, from 13 to 14, settings may be reset. To avoid returning a partition, use the method of ADB (described below).
Method 1: Disconnect via Gallery Settings (MIUI 12–14)
The simplest method that works on most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices without any additional manipulation is suitable for MIUI 12-14 firmware (including global and Chinese versions).
Instructions:
- Open the Gallery app.
- Swipe on the three points in the upper right corner (or swipe left if you use gesture control).
- Select Settings → General settings.
- Find the “For You Recommendations” item and turn off the slider.
- Restart the gallery (close it in multitasking).
If the item is not on the menu, try an alternative path:
Settings → System → Advanced settings → Content recommendations☑️ Checking the disconnection "For you»
⚠️ Note: On some devices (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro with a MIUI 14) after disconnection, the partition may still appear when you connect to Wi-Fi. This is due to background synchronization. Solution is method 3 or 4.
Method 2: Reset gallery settings to factory
If the For You section doesn't disappear after you shut down, there may have been a crash in the app's cache, in which case resetting the gallery settings without losing photos will help.
How to do this:
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Find the gallery (com.miui.gallery) and tap it.
- Select Warehouse → Clear cache and Clear data.
- Confirm the action (photos and videos will not be deleted, only the settings will be reset).
- Start the gallery again and check for a section.
If the partition reappears after the reset, it activates at the system level, in which case you move to method 3 or 4.
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Before resetting the gallery data, back up your albums in Google Photos or on PC, which will prevent you from accidentally losing your tags and favorites.
Method 3: Disconnect via ADB (for power users)
This method permanently removes the For You section from the gallery, but requires connecting the smartphone to a PC and using ADB. Suitable for all versions of MIUI, including MIUI 14 and HyperOS.
What you need:
- 🖥️ A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB Tools.
- 📱 Included debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Tap 7 times, then go back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers).
- 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
Step-by-step:
- Connect your smartphone to your PC and confirm the debugging permission.
- Open the command prompt (cmd) in the folder with ADB.
- Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
- Follow the command to disable recommendations: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.gallery.recommendation
- Reboot your smartphone.
If the team doesn’t work, try an alternative:
adb shell settings put global miui_gallery_for_you_enabled 0What if the ADB can’t see the device?
Method 4: Installation of an alternative gallery
If none of these methods worked, the radical solution is to replace the standard gallery with a third-party one, which not only removes For You, but also adds new features (such as cloud backup or an improved editor).
Best alternatives:
| Annex | Pluses | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Google Photo | ✅ Free cloud storage (15 GB)✅ Automatic sorting by person/place | ❌ Requires a Google account❌ Restriction on free storage |
| Simple Gallery | ✅ No advertising or tracking.✅ Support for dark theme and gestures | ❌ No cloud synchronization❌ Paid Pro version |
| A+ Gallery | ✅ Minimalist design✅ Support RAW-file | ❌ Rare updates❌ No Russian language |
How to determine:
- Download the selected gallery from Google Play.
- Open Settings → Applications → By default.
- Select the new gallery as the default app for viewing photos/video.
- Turn off notifications from the standard gallery (Settings → Notifications → Gallery).
⚠️ Note: When using Google Photos, turn off mobile autoload to avoid additional traffic consumption.
Method 5: Manual editing of system files (root only)
This method is only suitable for root-enabled devices (e.g., after installing Magisk), and allows you to completely remove the code responsible for the recommendations, but requires caution.
Instructions:
- Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or FX File Explorer).
- Go to /system/priv-app/Gallery2/
- Find the Gallery2.apk file and back it up.
- Open a file in a text editor (such as APK Editor) and find lines that mention ForYou or Recommendation.
- Delete or comment on these blocks, then save the file.
- Reset the device.
⚠️ Warning: Incorrect editing of system files can lead to a collapse of the gallery or bootloop ( looped reboot).If you are not sure about your actions, use other methods.
Why “For You” Returns After Updates and How to Prevent It
Many users complain that the For You section reappears after the MIUI update.
- 🔄 Resetting – Some updates reset the gallery’s custom settings.
- 📦 Recovery of system applications — MIUI Can automatically restore the components disconnected.
- 🌐 Regional features – in Chinese firmware, the section can be rigidly sewn into the system.
How to prevent return:
- 🔧 Use it. ADB-Method 3 command – it works at system level and is not reset.
- 🚫 Turn off automatic update check for gallery (Settings) → The phone. → Updating the system → Three points. → Settings → Auto-update of applications).
- 📵 Install an alternative gallery (method 4) and make it the default app.
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The only reliable way to permanently remove For You is to use ADB or replace the gallery with a third-party one. The usual shutdown in the settings can reset after the update.