Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphone owners often encounter an intrusive interface element called “Recommendations,” a feature built into the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS that turns regular folders with desktop apps into sites for advertising and game installation suggestions. Instead of a clean list of icons, the user sees banner cards that not only annoy but consume Internet traffic in the background.
Fortunately, the developers have left it to remove this visual noise without obtaining superuser rights. The deactivation process takes only a few seconds, but requires understanding exactly where the switch is hiding. In this article, we will detail how to permanently eliminate ads in folders, returning the system to a neat and professional look.
It's important to understand that settings may vary slightly depending on the operating system version and the firmware region. However, the basic algorithm of actions remains the same for most modern devices from the Chinese manufacturer. We'll look at both the standard method through folder settings, and deeper system limitations if the simple method doesn't work.
What are the recommendations in MIUI and why are they needed
The Recommendations feature is a built-in monetization mechanism that Xiaomi uses in its budget and mid-budget devices. The algorithm analyzes your actions and suggests content that the system thinks you may be interested in, most often links to apps in GetApps, news or advertising banners of partners.
Technically, this interface element is part of the system launcher, which is not a virus or malware, but many users classify it as unwanted content. The inclusion of this option by default is intended to reduce the final cost of a smartphone for the buyer, but for an experienced user, the presence of advertising in the system often becomes a decisive disadvantage.
⚠️ Warning: Disabling recommendations does not affect the stability of the operating system. It is a cosmetic change that makes the interface cleaner.
It is worth noting that in different versions of the shell (MIUI 12, 13, 14 or HyperOS), the name of the menu item may vary, but the essence remains the same.
Step-by-step: disabling through folder settings
The fastest and most effective way to remove ads is to use the folder's built-in menu, which works 95% of the time and doesn't require any additional software, and you don't have to go into the deep system settings of the phone, it's all done at the desktop level.
To start, find any folder on your desktop that has at least one application in it. If you don't have one, create a new one by dragging one icon to another. Then click on the folder name or the empty space inside it (depending on the shell version) to open the control menu.
In the menu that opens, you'll see a list of apps and, usually, a switch called "Recommendations" or "Promoted apps." This switch is responsible for displaying ad units. Put it inactive, and the cards with offers will disappear instantly.
☑️ Algorithm of disabling advertising
Once you do this, the changes are applied immediately. You don't need to restart the device. If after a while the ad reappears, maybe the system update resets and you'll have to repeat the procedure.
Global Personalization Settings and MSA
If a simple method through the folder didn’t help or the switch is missing, you need to turn to deeper privacy settings. Xiaomi collects user activity data for targeted advertising through the MSA (MIUI System Ads) service.
To limit personalization, go to the basic smartphone settings. Find the Passwords and Security section or the Advanced section, and then select Privacy. Here we are interested in the Advertising Services or Special Opportunities section.
In the list of services, find msa and turn off the Receive Recommendations switch. The system will warn you that some features may stop working correctly, but for the average user it is not noticeable.
| Parameter | Where to find out. | Recommended value |
|---|---|---|
| Recommendations in folders | Folder settings | Off. |
| MSA Service | Passwords and security → Privacy | Off. |
| Personalization of advertising | Settings → Passwords and security | Off. |
| Auto-launching applications | Settings → Applications | Controlled |
Disabling the msa service is key for users who want to clean up their Xiaomi intrusive notifications as much as possible.This action blocks the main channel of delivering ad content to the device.
Launcher and desktop settings
Sometimes the problem is not with a specific folder, but with the general desktop settings, and the MIUI shell allows you to customize the launcher behavior, including the display of the news feed and various widgets, and checking these parameters will help eliminate the residue of advertising.
Click the empty space on your desktop to call the edit menu. Select Settings. Here, you should pay attention to the options associated with App Tape, Wallpaper Carousel or Recommendations. Make sure that all items containing the word "Recommend" or "Promote" are deactivated.
What is a wallpaper carousel?
It’s also worth checking the Music or Video widget settings if they’re installed on the desktop, and it’s often inside these widgets that recommended tracks or movies that are visually similar to folder ads can be displayed.
If you have a third-party theme installed, it may have its own folder display settings, in which case it is recommended to switch to the standard theme “Classic” or “No restrictions” to make sure that the advertising is not implemented through the modified interface.
Solving problems if settings are not saved
Users sometimes experience a situation where folder settings are reset after a phone reboot and the ad reappears, which can be caused by aggressive energy saving or errors in the launcher cache.
The first thing to do in this case is to clear the cache of the system application “Security” and “Luncher”. Go to Settings → Apps → All applications, find the relevant system processes and select “Clear Cache”. Do not confuse with “Clean Data”, as this will reset the location of the icons.
⚠️ Warning: When cleaning the launcher data, all the shortcuts on the desktop may return to factory appearance and the widgets will disappear. Use this method only if cleaning the cache has not helped.
The second step is to check for system updates. Sometimes a persistent ad return bug is a known error in the MIUI version that is patched in security patches. Go to Settings → About Phone and check for updates.
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If the ad returns after each restart, try turning off the internet while you set up folders, and then turn off recommendations again, which can bypass synchronizing your ad profiles.
In extreme cases, when software methods don’t help, you can use the adb command to remove advertising components, but this requires a computer connection and basic knowledge of working with debugging over USB.
Comparison of methods of disabling advertising
There are several approaches to solving the problem of obsessive recommendations, and the choice of method depends on your technical background and the version of the operating system.
Easy switching in the folder is the safest and fastest option, suitable for all users. MSA It's more complex, but it requires attention. ADB-Effective but risky for inexperienced users.
| Method | Difficulty | Efficiency | Risks. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Switch in the folder | Low. | High (locally) | No. |
| MSA shutdown | Medium | High (globally) | Minimum |
| ADB team | Tall. | Maximum | Medium (entry error) |
| Change of region | Low. | Medium | Changing services |
It is recommended to start with the first method and gradually move to more complex if the result does not satisfy.combination of methods (for example, disabling recommendations in the folder plus disabling). MSA) gives the best result.
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A comprehensive approach, including disabling recommendations in each folder and disabling the MSA service, ensures that there are no advertising blocks in the interface.