Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often encounter an intrusive interface element called “Recommendations,” a feature built into the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS that automatically fills empty cells in app folders with suggestions to download new programs. For many users, it’s not a help, but a source of visual noise and potentially unwanted traffic that distracts from the main work with the device.
The problem is that the standard switch for this option is often hidden deep in the menu or missing in some regional versions of the firmware.The system aggressively promotes content from the GetApps store or third-party services, creating the illusion of a crowded desktop.
In this detailed guide, we will look at all the known ways to deactivate this feature, and we will look at both standard methods through system settings, and more advanced options for cases where standard control levers are blocked by the manufacturer, you no longer have to put up with junk icons that appear immediately after cleaning the folder.
The Nature of Intrusive Recommendations in the Shell of MIUI
The recommendation function in folders is part of Xiaomi’s monetization ecosystem, and it analyzes the apps you have installed and suggests similar or popular programs that the system thinks you might be interested in, and it’s technically implemented as part of the system component of msa (MIUI System Ads) and desktop services.
Users often confuse recommendations with regular widgets or shortcuts. However, unlike static elements, recommendations are dynamically updated when connected to the network. Advertising modules can download content even when you just open a folder with utilities. This creates the feeling that the phone is "living its life" by constantly offering something new.
It's worth noting that the behavior of the system can vary depending on the version of Android and the specific shell modification. On older versions of MIUI 12, the settings were more accessible, whereas in MIUI 14 and HyperOS, developers sometimes hide these options or change their location.
⚠️ Warning: Disabling system advertising services completely may affect the performance of personalized offers in other areas of the system, for example, in the topic of “Music” or “Video”, if you use them.
Basic method of disconnection through desktop settings
The easiest and safest way to remove unnecessary icons is to use the built-in launcher settings, which do not require root rights or a computer connection, but as mentioned earlier, this menu item depends on the region for which the firmware is released (Global, Russia, China, EEA).
First, you have to go to the desktop settings menu, not through the general settings of the phone, but through a long press on the blank space of the screen. Once the menu appears at the bottom, select Settings (the gear icon). This is the key switch.
In the list that opens, look for a section that might be called "Recommendations," "Receive Recommendations," or "Recommended Apps." If you're lucky enough to have your version of the software do that, just switch the switch to "Off." Changes apply instantly.
- 📱 Make a long tap on the free area of the desktop.
- ⚙️ Click on the settings icon in the lower right corner of the menu.
- 🔍 Find the "Recommended Apps" or "Recommended Apps" item».
- ❌ Transfer the switch to an inactive state.
☑️ Checking the launcher settings
If you don't find one, don't despair. It means that in your current software configuration, the vendor has hidden that possibility, and then you need to move to deeper system settings or relocation.
Impact of the region on availability of the recommendation function
One of the most effective, but often ignored, ways to combat advertising is to change the device region, and the company’s logic is simple: in some countries (such as Russia or India), advertising integrations may be more aggressive or completely absent, depending on local laws and partnerships.
By changing a region, you actually make the system read the configuration files for a given area again, and it often happens that in a Russia or Ukraine profile, there is a recommendation switch, and in a U.S. or China profile, there is no recommendation switch, or vice versa. Changing a region is a secure operation that does not affect your personal data.
To change a region, go to Settings → Additional → Region. Try picking any European country, like Andorra or Albania, then go back to your desktop settings and check if the right switch appears. If not, try another region.
| Region | Probability of Advertising | Presence of a switch | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Russia | Tall. | Often hidden | Requires a check-up. |
| India | Very high. | Often available | Not recommended |
| Europe (EU) | Low. | Usually. | Recommended |
| China | Medium | Specifically. | For the advanced. |
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After changing region, the phone may suggest installing local apps or changing the format of the date. This is normal, just refuse or accept depending on your preferences.
Disconnection through System Services (MSA and MIPicks)
If the interface settings don't work, you have to address the problems, the system services that are responsible for advertising. At Xiaomi, the most common ones are processes with names that contain MSA (MIUI System Ads) or MIPicks. Disabling these services blocks the mechanism of loading advertising content to the root.
To access these settings, you will need to go to the Settings menu → Password and Security → Access to Personal Data (or “Authorization and Privacy”). Here is a list of all system components that have access to your data or network functions.
Click on the service name and turn off the "Access to Personal Data" or "Allow" switch. The system will alert you that some features may stop working, and start a countdown of 10 seconds. You will need to wait for the timer to end and click "Cancel." Withdrawal of permissions makes the service work.
⚠️ Attention: After the service is disconnected MSA Windows may pop up periodically for 24 hours asking for re-access, just ignore them or turn them off again, and after a day, the system will forget the requirement.
This is more radical than simply changing the launcher settings, it affects the whole system, and in addition to blocking recommendations in folders, you will also notice a decrease in the amount of advertising in system applications such as Explorer or Downloads.
Use of special codes and ADB for advanced
For users who are not afraid of technical terms, there is a method of disabling components through USB debugging and a computer. Using ADB (Android Debug Bridge) allows you to delete or freeze system packages that cannot be disabled through the interface. This is the most reliable way to guarantee 100% results.
First, activate Developer Mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on MIUI Version (or OS Version) 7 times. Then, in the Additional → Developer menu, turn on USB Debugging. Connect the phone to your PC.
Using the adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 command, you can disable the packets responsible for recommendations, most commonly com.miui.misys or components associated with Daemon. However, using ADB requires caution: removing the wrong packet can lead to unstable system operation.
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.mishare.localnetwork
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.browserList of deactivation packages
An alternative to manual commands is to use graphical utilities on PCs, such as Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools. They provide a user-friendly interface with checkboxes where you can simply select System Ads and click Debloata, which reduces the risk of error to a minimum.
Frequent problems and alternative solutions
Even after all the steps have been taken, recommendations can come back, often after a major system update, when settings are reset to factory settings, or when security updates are installed that “cure” the disabled services, in which case the procedure must be repeated.
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where recommendations in folders are replaced with “Hot Apps” or similar widgets, the mechanism of their appearance is similar, but the names in the settings may differ. Look for any mention of the words “Content”, “Feed”, “Recommendation” in the desktop settings.
If nothing works, the last resort is to install a third-party launcher, like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher, which completely replaces the standard Xiaomi desktop, and they simply do not have the functions of displaying ads from the manufacturer, which radically changes the experience of using the device.
- 🔄 System update could return default settings.
- 👀 Check your folders carefully after each major update.
- 📲 Third-party launchers - a guaranteed solution to the problem.
- 🛠 Combination of methods (region) + MSA) gives the best effect.
In conclusion, combating intrusive interface elements is a normal practice for any modern Android user. Xiaomi provides powerful devices, but requires the owner to be careful when initially configured. Complete elimination of recommendations is possible only with an integrated approach that combines interface settings and limiting background services.
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The combination of a regional switch to a European one and a disabling MSA service solves the recommendation problem 95% of the time without the need for a computer.