How to Remove Game Recommendations in Xiaomi Folders: The Complete Guide

Modern Xiaomi smartphones are famous for their functionality and affordable price, but users are often annoyed by intrusive advertising built into the shell of MIUI or HyperOS. One of the most annoying features is the appearance of recommendations in application folders, where instead of a neat list of icons you see random offers to download new games or use services. To remove game recommendations in Xiaomi can be in several ways, but the standard settings menu does not always offer an obvious switch for this feature.

Ads in folders are part of a company's monetization strategy that allows you to sell devices at a low price, but for many users, it becomes a barrier that disrupts the aesthetic perception of the interface and slows access to the right programs. Fortunately, there are proven methods to deactivate these elements without having to root or flash the device.

In this article, we will take a look at all the options available, from simple internal settings to the use of debugging tools, to clean your desktop from unnecessary visual noise and make smartphone use more comfortable and faster. It is important to understand that some methods may require careful execution, so as not to affect other important functions of the system.

The nature of the appearance of advertising in the folders MIUI and HyperOS

The ad recommendations that appear in folders are part of a service called MSA (MIUI System Ads), which is a system component that collects user data and displays personalized content across the interface, and it causes a folder with utilities or games to suddenly expand and show a preview of apps you may never have searched for.

Beyond MSA, GetApps (formerly known as the Mi Store) is responsible for displaying content, and it’s Xiaomi’s own app store that’s integrated deep into the system and tries to promote content even when you just open a folder on your desktop. Disabling recommendations requires a holistic approach, because simply hiding an icon is not enough – you need to stop the background processes that generate that content.

⚠️ Warning: A complete shutdown of system services may affect widgets or automatic application updates. It is recommended to disable only those components that are solely responsible for advertising.

It is worth noting that different versions of the shell (Global, China, EEA) may have different switch locations. In new versions of HyperOS, Xiaomi has partially changed the architecture of the ad modules, making them less noticeable, but not completely removing them.

Disable personalization through system settings

The first and most secure step that every Xiaomi smartphone owner needs to take is to turn off personalized recommendations in the basic settings.This method requires no technical knowledge and works on most devices. You need to go to the Settings menu → Passwords and security → Access to personal data.

In the list of system services that opens, look for msa and GetApps. The switch next to them should be turned off. The system will warn you that some functions may stop working correctly, and start a countdown of 10 seconds.

However, simply disabling data doesn’t always instantly remove ads from folders. Additional action is often required to clear the cache of these services. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, search MSA and GetApps list, select Memory and click Clear Cache and Clear Everything.

• 📱 Find the service "GetApps" in the list of applications and forcefully stop it before clearing the data.
• 🔒 Disable access to personal data for the service "Mi Video" and "Mi Music", if you do not use them, this will reduce the overall background of advertising.
• 🔄 After all the manipulations, be sure to restart the device so that the changes take effect.

If the recommendations in the folders disappeared after doing these actions, but after a while appeared again, then the system automatically restored the settings, in which case you need to use the deeper configuration methods described in the following sections.

Using Developer Mode and Debugging over USB

For more advanced users who are not afraid to experiment with system settings, there is a method of disabling ads through the developer menu, which allows you to control the behavior of the system at a lower level. To activate the developer mode, go to Settings → About the phone and quickly press 7 times on the item "Version" MIUI" or "Version." OS".

Once activated, a new section will appear in the settings menu, Advanced Settings → Developers. Here we are interested in "Enable USB debugging." Turn it on, but be careful: do not connect your phone to suspicious computers in a public place while this feature is active, as this gives you full access to the file system.

Next, we'll need a computer and an ADB (Android Debug Bridge) program, and if you plug your smartphone into your PC, you can type a command that hides the ad modules, and the command is as follows:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.misys

⚠️ Attention: Use of teams ADB Introducing the wrong command can lead to unstable system operation or loss of data. Always check the syntax before pressing Enter.

This is the most effective method for removing ads at the system level, but it is also the riskiest. If you are not sure about your actions, you should use software methods or third-party launchers. Remember that after resetting the settings to factory, all changes made through ADB will be lost.

Configuring the behavior of folders and launchers

Often the problem lies not only in system services, but also in the settings of the launcher itself, the shell that controls the appearance of the desktop. MIUI has hidden folder settings that you can change. Try opening the folder, clicking on the folder name (or the three dots/setting icon inside the folder) and see if there is a Recommendations or Promoted apps switch.

If the standard launcher does not give the necessary control, a great alternative is to install a third-party launcher, such as Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher.They completely replace the standard interface and are guaranteed not to show advertising recommendations in folders, as they do not depend on Xiaomi services.

When you install a new launcher, the system may insist on going back to the standard one. To seal the choice, when you press the Home button, select Always for the new launcher, which will allow you to create a fully customized interface without unnecessary debris.

Removing System Applications via ADB (Advanced Level)

If you want to go all the way to completely remove the components responsible for advertising, you can use the method of "freeze" or delete packets. This again requires a connection to the computer and a set of ADB commands. This method allows you to remove not only recommendations in folders, but also ads in standard applications (calculator, conductor, music).

The list of packages that can be safely removed or frozen to remove ads includes:

• 🗑️ com.miui.msa.global – the main module of the advertising system.
• 📢 com.miui.analytics – an analytics service that collects data for targeting.
• 🛍️ com.xiaomi.joyose – often used for (push) advertising and game offers.

The command to remove is as follows: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 <name packet>. For example, to remove analytics, type adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.analytics. Once the commands are executed, the phone will become significantly cleaner and the folders will stop offering games.

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Save a list of deleted packets in a text file. If you want to return everything as it was in the future, you will need the exact name of the deleted component for the recovery command.

It is important to understand that removing system components is an irreversible process without resetting settings. If you notice performance problems in games or Mi Drop after deleting Joyose, the package can be returned by the adb shell cmd package install-existing com.xiaomi.joyose command.

Alternative methods and third-party utilities

For those who don’t want to mess with the command line, there are dedicated assistant apps like Universal Android Debloater.This is a graphical interface for ADB that allows you to safely remove system debris.The app automatically identifies your Xiaomi model and tags safe to remove packages, including ad modules.

Another effective way is to use DNS-level ad blocking apps like AdGuard or Blokada, which filter traffic and prevent Xiaomi ad servers from uploading content to folders, and while this doesn't remove the blocks themselves completely, they remain empty or unloaded, which visually cleans the interface.

And don’t forget simple but effective methods, such as cleaning cache regularly and limiting the background activity of suspicious processes. In the Battery and Performance menu, you can manually prevent applications like GetApps from running in the background, which will reduce the frequency of recommendations.

⚠️ Note: Using third-party debloating software may result in a loss of warranty in some regions.Always weigh the risks before tampering with system files.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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A comprehensive approach combining the shutdown of system services and the use of a clean launcher gives the best result in the fight against intrusive advertising in the Xiaomi interface.