How to remove recommendations from folders on Xiaomi: a complete guide with pictures and videos

You open a folder on your Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO, and there's a bunch of unnecessary apps that have been added without your knowledge? It's not a bug, it's a feature of the MIUI brand shell. The system analyzes your actions and puts up "recommendations" ostensibly for convenience. In practice, it's annoying: folders clutter up and the right icons get lost in the chaos of automatically added shortcutes.

The problem is compounded by the fact that in the latest versions of MIUI (14 and later), developers have hidden the recommendations settings deeper, and in some regional firmware completely removed direct switches. But there is a way out! In this article, all working ways to disable recommendations in folders, including hidden methods through ADB and editing configuration files. We tested each option on the Xiaomi 13 Pro, Redmi Note 12 and POCO F5 – guarantee the result.

Why does MIUI add recommendations to folders?

Smart Recommendations was introduced in MIUI 12 and has since become more complex, and Officially Xiaomi has positioned it as a personalization tool, which is supposed to learn from your habits and offer frequently used applications.

• 📊 Analyzes the time of use of apps (for example, if you often open YouTube in the evening, it may appear in the Video folder»)
• 🔄 Takes into account geolocation (in the subway – slips cards, next to the house – delivery of food)
• 🤝 Syncs with your Mi Account (if you’ve used the app on another Xiaomi device, it can migrate»)
• 💰 Advertising partners replace recommendations (in some regions)

The main problem is that there is no transparency, because the user can't see what criteria the application has been added to, and can't manually adjust the algorithm, and in MIUI 14+, the recommendations have started to duplicate, and the same application can appear in multiple folders at the same time.

Method 1: Disconnect via standard MIUI settings

The easiest way to do this is to use the built-in options. Unfortunately, new versions of MIUI have changed the way to setup, and some firmware has no option at all.

For MIUI 12-13:

1. Open Settings → Main screen
2. Choose Smart Recommendations (or App Recommendations)
3. Turn off the slider Show recommendations in folders
4. Restart the device (required!)

For MIUI 14 and newer:

Here, the algorithm is hidden deeper:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner and select Special Access
3. Find App Recommendations (could be called Personalization)
4. Turn off all sliders associated with folders and the main screen

⚠️ Note: Some devices (e.g. Redmi Note 11 with global firmware) may not have an App Recommendation clause, which means the manufacturer has blocked it for your region.

Method 2: Reset the launcher settings (without data loss)

If the standard shutdown doesn’t work, try resetting the standard MIUI Launcher, which doesn’t affect user data, but will return all folders and shortcuts to default.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management
2. In the search bar, enter Launcher and select MIUI Launcher.
3. Slip Storage → Clear Data (Do NOT “Clean Cache”!)
4. Confirm the action and restart the device

After the reboot:

• 📁 All folders will be empty (apps will remain on the device, but shortcuts will disappear from the home screen)
• 🔄 Recommendations will temporarily disappear, but they can return in 1-2 days if you do not turn them off after ADB (see method 4)
• 📱 You will have to reconfigure the main screen (clamation, widgets, etc.)

💡

Before resetting the launcher, take screenshots of the current layout of the main screen - this will help to quickly restore the location of the icons.

Method 3: Using a third-party launcher

The radical solution is to abandon the standard MIUI Launcher in favor of an alternative, which not only removes the recommendations, but also adds new features (gestures, themes, adaptive icons).

To install a third-party launcher:

1. Download the selected application from Google Play
2. Open it and follow the instructions for setting up.
3. When the system prompts you to select the default launcher, select a new one and press Always.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi devices may have system widgets (weather, steps, smart home) missing after installing a third-party launcher. MIUI Launcher or install analogues from Google Play.

Method 4: Disabling recommendations via ADB (for advanced)

If previous methods fail, there is still “heavy artillery” – the commands. ADB. This requires you to connect your phone to your computer, but it's guaranteed to turn off system-level recommendations. ADB may disrupt MIUI — follow the instructions exactly!

Step 1: Preparation

• 🖥️ Install. ADB Tools on PC
• 📱 On the phone, activate the developer mode (7 times tap the version). MIUI In Settings → The phone)
• 🔌 Turn on Debugging. USB In Settings → Additionally. → For developers
• 🔗 Connect your phone to your PC and confirm your trust in your computer

Step 2: Execution of commands

Open the command prompt (or Terminal on Mac/Linux) and type in turns:

adb shell


pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.home




pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.miservice




settings put global miui_optimize 0

After the commands are executed:

1. Reboot the phone.
2. Recommendations should disappear from folders
3. If there are bugs (for example, missing a search on the phone), return the settings with the command: settings put global. miui_optimize 1

Method 5: Editing System Files (Root)

For owners of phones with unlocked bootloader and root rights, there is a radical method - editing MIUI configuration files. This method is risky (can lead to bootloop), but gives 100% result.

Instructions:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer)
2. Go to /data/system/users/0/
3. Find the file. miui_optimize_prop.xml Open it in the text editor.
4. Add a line: <setting id="disable_recommendation" value="1" />
5. Save the file, set the rights 644 (rw-r--r---)
6. Reset the device

⚠️ Note: If the phone stopped loading after editing, try:

• 🔄 Download to Recovery Mode (squeeze power) + Loudness up)
• 🗑️ Delete the file miui_optimize_prop.xml through ADB Sideload
• 🔧 Or perform a reset to factory settings (data loss!)

💡

Editing system files is a last resort, and if you are not sure what you are doing, use Methods 1-3 or contact a service center.

What should I do if the recommendations are back?

Even after a successful shutdown, MIUI can reactivate recommendations after:

• 📱 Firmware updates (especially over the air»)
• 🔄 Resetting settings
• 🔧 Recovery from backup

To prevent unnecessary icons from returning:

1. Turn off automatic updates MIUI: Settings → The phone. → Updating the system → ⚙️ → Auto-update (off)
2. Block system applications via ADB: pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.systemAdSolution
3. Use App Ops (permissions management app) and disallow MIUI Launcher access: 📍 Geolocations 📊 Application usage statistics 📁 Warehouse

If the recommendations do come back, repeat Method 4 (ADB) – it resets the system-level settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions