Xiaomi smartphone owners often face an intrusive interface that is full of unnecessary elements. Especially annoying is the appearance of banner ads and recommendations inside app folders. For the budget model of Redmi 9, this can be a serious problem, since the device’s resources are limited and visual noise interferes with navigation. MIUI system is set by default to maximize user engagement, which is expressed in constant offers to download games or click on a link.
Fortunately, the developers have left the option to disable most of these features, although they have hidden them deep enough. You can remove the recommendations on Xiaomi Redmi 9 without using third-party programs or superuser rights. You only need attention and access to system settings. The deaxation process takes only a few minutes, but requires sequential steps in different sections of the menu.
In this article, we will discuss all known methods of cleaning the desktop from garbage, learn how to disable the MSA service responsible for advertising, and how to change the settings of the launcher, we will also discuss security issues and explain why some options can return after a system update. This guide is relevant for current versions of MIUI firmware 12, 13 and 14.
Reasons for Advertising in Folders and MIUI Interface
The main source of intrusive offerings is the built-in analytics and advertising service. In Android, it is standard practice for budget device manufacturers to reduce the retail cost of gadgets. On Redmi 9, the Content Center component, or the Wallpaper Carousel, which is activated by default, is responsible for displaying content in folders. These services collect data about your preferences to show relevant but annoying banners.
And the ads can come from pre-installed apps like the Mi Browser browser or the Security app. They have their own notification settings that often duplicate system recommendations. Understanding the source of the problem helps to effectively deal with it. If you just close the folder, the process won't stop, you need to influence the root of the problem.
💡
MIUI advertising algorithms are often updated, so after a major firmware update, the privacy settings should be checked again.
It's important to note that completely removing system components without knowledge can lead to unstable smartphone operation. So we'll only use standard shutdown methods. System services can be stopped or restricted in the background, making them inactive. It's a safe way that doesn't violate the device warranty.
Disabling MSA and Advertising Services
The first and most important step is to deactivate MIUI System Ads (MSA), which is the process that is responsible for loading and displaying advertising content in all corners of the interface, including folders. First, you need to access advanced authorization settings. Go to the Settings menu, then select Password and Security.
In the list that opens, look for Access to Personal Data or Authorization & Revoke, which shows a list of all system services that have access to your data, find a component called msa in the list. The switch next to it should be active. Click on it to turn it off.
The system will give a warning that some features may stop working correctly. Don't pay attention to this, because for the basic functionality of the phone, this service is not critical. Press the Revoke button. Note that the button can become active only after 10 seconds of waiting. If you fail the first time, repeat the procedure several times.
☑️ Checking the shutdown MSA
After successfully disabling the MSA, it is also recommended to limit background activity of this process. Go to Settings → Applications → All apps. Find msa in the list, go to Battery and select No Limits option, and then in the Other Permissions menu, disable display over other windows. This will create a double barrier for advertising.
Configure the display of content in folders
Even after you turn off the ad, you may still have app recommendations in the folders that the system thinks you should install. To remove this block, you need to change the settings of the launcher itself. Press and hold your finger on the empty desktop space to enter edit mode. In the lower right corner, click on the Settings gear.
In the desktop settings menu, find the Recommendations or Content Center. This switch is responsible for the Recommended Applications block, which appears at the bottom of the open folder. Move the switch to the Off position. Immediately after that, when you open any folder, you will only see the installed program icons.
If you have a global firmware version installed, the path may be slightly different. Look for More within the desktop settings. There may be Get content recommendations. It also needs to be deaktivieren. In some versions of MIUI for Redmi 9, this setting is hidden inside the Folder.
What to do if folder settings are not saved?
It’s worth mentioning that in some regions, settings can be called differently. If you don’t find an exact match, look for any mention of the words Recommendations, Suggestions or Hot apps. Disabling these features greatly speeds up folder opening, since the phone doesn’t need to download additional content from the network.
Managing Notifications from System Applications
Users often confuse the recommendations in folders with push notifications from Xiaomi system applications. Security, Cleanup and Explorer applications can send messages suggesting to clear memory or speed up the phone, which look like ads. To get rid of them, you need to go to the settings of each such application separately.
Open the Security app. Click on the gear in the upper right corner. Find General Settings or General settings. Find and disable Receive recommendations. You should also scroll through the list below and disable all ad-related switches, such as Advertising or Hot apps.
A similar procedure is required for File Manager. Go to its settings, select Settings → About the application (or Settings in the menu immediately), find the Recommendation and turn it off, which will prevent pop-ups when you view files.
| Annex | The path to adjustment | What to turn off | The effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security | Settings → General | Receive recommendations | No pop-up ads for cleaning up |
| Conductor | Settings → About the annex | Recommendations | Clean file interface |
| Downloads. | Settings → About the annex | Show recommendations | Lack of news in downloads |
| Music. | Settings → Advanced | Receive recommendations | No track ads. |
Don't ignore the Downloads and Music app. They're also sources of noise. In MIUI 13/14, these settings can be hidden in the About submenu, which you can access by quickly clicking 7-10 times on the app version, but more often than not, just find "Receive recommendations" in the basic settings.
Disconnecting Wallpaper Carousel and Glance
Another source of visual debris on Redmi 9 is the Wallpaper Carousel, which changes the wallpaper on the lock screen and shows news and ads. To turn it off, go to Settings → Wallpaper. Select Wallpaper Carousel.
In the menu that opens, find the switch to Turn on the wallpaper carousel and deactivate it. Confirm the action in the pop-up window. Now, when you lock the screen, you will display the static image you have selected, without unnecessary logos and texts.
In global firmware versions, Glance performs a similar function: Pathway to shut it down: Settings → Lock screen. Find Glance for Xiaomi or Wallpaper with recommendations and turn it off. This will return the standard view of the lock screen.
⚠️ Warning: Once the wallpaper carousel is turned off, the automatic image change function will stop working. If you liked the opportunity to see new photos every day, you will have to manually change the wallpaper in the gallery.
Some users have noted that once Glance is disabled, artifacts may remain on the lock screen in the form of "Explore" text, which is solved by completely restarting the device. Press and hold the power button, then select "Switch off" or "Reboot".
Resetting the launcher settings as a last resort
If manually disabling all options didn’t help and recommendations in folders on Xiaomi Redmi 9 continue to appear, you can try resetting the launcher settings. This will return the desktop to factory status, but will not delete your personal data, applications or contacts. However, the location of the icons will have to be reconfigured.
To reset, go to Settings → Apps → All Apps. Find System Launcher (or System Launcher) in the list. Click on it and select Clean at the bottom of the screen. From the menu that appears, select Clear All or Clear Data.
After that, the desktop will reboot, and you'll see the standard icons as they were when you first turned on the phone, you'll have to recreate folders and place widgets, and all the hidden ad settings that might have stuck will be reset.
💡
Resetting launcher data is a radical, but often the only way to remove deep-seated interface bugs when other methods don’t work.
Keep in mind that after resetting the launcher, you will have to reconfigure the controls, the desktop grid and the font size. Theme settings may also be lost if you used third-party design. It is recommended to take screenshots of the app layout before resetting to quickly restore the familiar structure.
Additional measures to clean up the system
To consolidate the result, it is recommended to disable the personalization of advertising in your Xiaomi account. Go to Settings → Xiaomi account → Advertising. If there is no such item, try to find it through Password and Security → Privacy → Advertising Services. Turn off Personalized Advertising.
You should also check your browser settings. If you use Mi Browser, go to its settings and turn off all notifications and recommendations. The best thing to do is to install an alternative browser like Chrome or Firefox and make it the default browser, which will reduce the amount of system advertising associated with web surfing.
⚠️ Warning: Don't install questionable Play Market cleaners that promise to remove ads. On Android, they are often the source of pop-ups themselves and can steal your data.
Check the installed list regularly. Sometimes the ads come from programs you accidentally installed along with other software. Removing suspicious apps with names like Flashlight, Clearer, or Battery Saver often solves the problem of unexpected banners.