How to completely remove recommendations on the Xiaomi Redmi 9 desktop: from advertising to unnecessary widgets

Xiaomi Redmi 9 desktops are often dominated by intrusive recommendations: app ads, MIUI newsfeeds, partner content widgets, and even after manual removal, they come back after rebooting. The problem isn't your actions, it's a feature of MIUI firmware, where system services aggressively promote content.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods, from simple (disable in settings) to radical (remote disabling services via ADB). All methods are tested on Redmi 9 with MIUI 12-14 versions (including global and Chinese firmware).

Why the recommendations are coming back: the mechanism of MIUI

The MIUI recommendation system is linked to three key services:

  • 🔄 Msa (MIUI System Ads, the main module for displaying ads and personalized offers, works even without the Internet, loading cached data.
  • 📡 Analytics – collects data about your actions (installed applications, usage times, geolocation) to form “relevant” recommendations.
  • 🛠️ Security Center – manages the “Security” widget on the desktop, which is often replaced by banner ads.

Even if you manually remove the widget from the screen, com.miui.systemAdSolution will restore it in 12 to 24 hours. It's not a bug, it's a feature: Xiaomi monetizes free firmware through integrated advertising. Chinese versions of MIUI have 2-3 times more ads than global ones.

📊 What Redmi 9 Ads Are The Most Irritating To You?
Advertising apps on the menu
News Feed on the Desktop
Pop-up banners in settings
Security widget with suggestions
other

Method 1: Disabling recommendations in settings (without root)

The most secure method, but it doesn’t work on all versions of MIUI, is suitable for users who don’t want to interfere with system files.

  1. Open Settings → Applications folder → Application management.
  2. In the search bar, enter msa (without quotes).
  3. Select Msa (or com.miui.systemAdSolution).
  4. Click Disconnect → Stop → Clear the cache.
  5. Repeat the steps for applications: 📊 Analytics (com.miui.analytics) 🛡️ Security Center (com.miui.securitycenter) 🔍 Quick Search Box (com.miui.quicksearchbox)

After you reboot the device, the ads disappear for 1 to 3 days, and if they come back, the services automatically turn on, in which case, move to method 2.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI 13+ The disable button can be blocked. If it's not, use it. ADB (3-way).

☑️ Preparing for the Advertising Disconnection

Done: 0 / 4

Method 2: Manual removal of widgets (temporary solution)

If recommendations are displayed as widgets (e.g., “News” or “Weather”), they can be removed directly from the desktop:

  1. Hold your finger on the recommendation widget.
  2. In the menu that appears, select Remove or drag the widget to the basket at the top of the screen.
  3. If the widget is not removed, try replacing it with an empty one: press the widgets → the empty widget.

Step 2: Commands to disable:

  1. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command line in the folder with ADB.
  2. Enter alternately: adb shell pm hide com.miui.systemAdSolution adb shell pm hide com.miui.analytics adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.msa.global adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.xiaomi.midrop
  3. Reset the device.

If after the reboot the ad remained, check the list of active packages with the command:

adb shell pm list packages | grep miui

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI 14 pm hide may not work, in which case use pm disable-user for all the packages found with the word ad or analytics in the title.

💡

If ADB Does not recognize the device, try reinstalling Xiaomi drivers USB Drivers or using other drivers USB-cable (preferably original).

Method 4: Removal of root-right system applets

If you have root, you can completely delete the files that make recommendations, and this method is irreversible, so back up your recommendations with TWRP before you do it.

Step 1: Removal APK-file:

  • 📁 Use Root Explorer or FX File Manager for accessing the folder /system/priv-app/.
  • 🗑️ Delete the following folders: Msa (com.miui.systemAdSolution) Analytics (com.miui.analytics) QuickSearchBox (com.miui.quicksearchbox)

Step 2. Clear the cache:

  • 🧹 Move to the /data/data/ and delete folders with the same names (com.miui.systemAdSolution, etc.).
  • 🔄 Restart the device to recovery mode (TWRP) And do the Wipe. Dalvik/Cache.

After this action, the ads will disappear forever, but some MIUI features may stop working, such as:

  • 🔍 Quick search on the system.
  • 📊 Application usage statistics.
  • 🛡️ Some options in "Security".
What to do if the phone does not start after removing the APK?
If the device gets stuck on the Redmi logo after deleting system files, download to TWRP and restore the backup. If it's not, reflash the phone via Fastboot using the Mi Flash Tool.

Method 5: Alternative launchers (bypass)

If none of the methods worked, install a third-party launcher that will completely replace the MIUI desktop, including all widgets and recommendations.

  • 🌐 Nova Launcher — flexible configuration, gesture support, no advertising.
  • 🔧 Lawnchair – open source, minimalist design, integration with Google Feed (optional).
  • 🎨 Microsoft Launcher – sync with Windows, weather and calendar widgets without ads.

How to determine:

  1. Download the launcher from Google Play.
  2. After installation, click the Home button and select the new launcher as the main one.
  3. In the launcher settings, disable all options related to recommendations (e.g., Google Discover in Nova Launcher).

Advantage: does not require any intervention in the system, disadvantage: some MIUI functions (for example, double-pressing to lock the screen) may not work properly.

💡

The side launchers do not remove MIUI system services, but simply hide them.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When trying to remove recommendations, users often face typical problems:

  • 🔄 "Advertising returns after update MIUI" → Before updating, turn off the automatic installation of updates in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
  • 🚫 "I can't turn off the msa button - the button is inactive" → Use it. ADB (method 3 or get root.
  • ⚠️ "After removal APK Notifications have stopped working" → Recover com.miui.securitycenter files – they are responsible for the notification center.

If you use root, never remove the following system applets:

  • com.android.systemui is responsible for the interface.
  • com.miui.home is a standard launcher (remove it only if you have installed a replacement).
  • com.xiaomi.finddevice is a device search service.

Before you manipulate your system files, check their purpose on the XDA Developers or 4PDA forums.

Can I remove recommendations without a computer?
Yes, but only temporarily. Use method 1 (disable settings) or method 2 (delete widgets).
Why did the ads stay on after the MSa was turned off via ADB?
It is likely that other services are showing ads on your firmware (e.g. com.xiaomi.mipicks). Check the full list with the command adb shell pm list packages | grep -i ad and disable any suspicious ones.
Will the ADB work on MIUI 14?
Yes, but on the newer versions of MIUI 14, Xiaomi blocks some commands. If pm hide doesn't work, use pm disable-user --user 0 for each packet separately.
Can I return the recommendations if they are needed?
To do this, turn the disabled services back on via Settings → Applications or the adb shell pm enable com.miui.systemAdSolution command.
Does disabling Analytics actually impair performance?
No, it's a myth. Analytics only collects data and doesn't affect speed, but without it, some personalization features (like the MIUI smart assistant) will stop working.