How to remove application recommendations on Xiaomi Redmi

Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones offer users great value for money, providing powerful hardware for the money available. However, for a low cost, you have to pay attention to intrusive advertising that is built into the MIUI shell at the system level. Many owners notice that after unlocking the screen or in the Tools folder, unwanted offers to download games or install questionable applications appear.

These pop-ups and widgets aren’t just annoying, they waste traffic and reduce the overall performance of the device. Fortunately, the company’s engineers have left the option to disable most of these features, although sometimes these settings are hidden quite deep. In this article, we’ll detail all the known ways to remove app recommendations on Xiaomi Redmi so that your phone only works for you.

The process of cleaning the interface from unnecessary "junk" does not require root rights or complex manipulation of the code. It is enough to go through several menu items consistently and turn off the corresponding switches. We will look at both standard methods through settings and more advanced options for those who want to achieve perfect system cleanliness.

The Nature of System Advertising in MIUI

The ad modules in MIUI and HyperOS work through a dedicated system service, often called MIUI System Ads, which collects data about your preferences and displays targeted ads in standard applications, and understanding how this mechanism works helps to combat its manifestations more effectively.

In addition, recommendations can come from individual system applications, such as Explorer, Music or Downloads, each with its own personalization settings that are activated by default, and disabling only one component may not be complete, so a comprehensive approach is needed.

⚠️ Note: Complete removal of system components through ADB Use only proven methods of disconnecting through settings or secure commands.

It’s important to distinguish between in-front ads and notifications from the apps you install. If you see a banner in the notification curtain, check which app sent it. Often users confuse Xiaomi’s system recommendations with aggressive ads from third-party free programs that were accidentally installed.

Disabling MSA Service and Personalization

The first and most important step is to deactivate the main advertising recommendation service, which blocks the data flow that is used to select content, so you need to go to the settings menu and find the password and security section.

Inside this section, you should look for the authorization and security item where the MSA switch is located. After it is turned off, the system will ask you to wait 10 seconds, then prompt you to confirm the action. If you failed to turn it off the first time, try repeating the procedure several times - servers may not respond instantly.

In parallel, it is recommended to turn off the recommendation function at the very beginning of the setting path, usually this switch is in the Password and Security section and is called Get recommendations, and turning it off significantly reduces the number of pop-ups in the system interfaces.

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If the MSA switch doesn't turn off, turn on the internet and try again.The service requires a connection to confirm the disconnect.

Configure the Tools folder and desktop

One of the most annoying features of the MIUI shell is the Tools folder, which is automatically created on the desktop and filled with advertising widgets. Fortunately, you can get rid of them by changing the launcher settings, and you need to press and hold your finger in the free space of the screen or on the folder itself.

In the menu that appears, select settings or simply find the Receive References switch inside the folder settings. Once you turn off that, the ad tiles will disappear, and the folder will become a regular storage for your utilities, which returns a clean view to the home screen.

Also worth checking is the settings of the desktop itself. The launcher settings menu often hides options for Wallpaper Carousel or Glance. These services constantly change the wallpaper on the lock screen and show news or advertising, and completely disabling them will save you from random clicks when you unlock your smartphone.

Keep in mind that weather and news widgets built into standard themes can also stream advertising content.Substituting a standard theme for a more minimalist or third-party one from the GetThemes store can be a great solution.

Cleaning Standard Apps from Advertising

Xiaomi system applications such as Explorer, Downloads, Music and Video have their own built-in recommendation display mechanisms. To remove them, you need to go to the settings of each application separately. Usually the desired switch is in the About section or in the settings menu inside the application itself.

For example, in Explorer, you need to go to settings and find Receive recommendations. In Downloads, a similar option may be called Show Recommended Content. Disabling these features makes working with files clean and fast, without unnecessary banners.

In the Security app, which is also system-based, ads can appear in the Cleanup section or when viruses are scanned, and you should also look for personalization settings and disable all items related to receiving tips or news.

After doing this, the interface of standard utilities will become much cleaner. However, remember that after a major firmware update, some settings may reset, and the procedure will have to be repeated.

Using DNS to Block Advertising

A more advanced method of combating advertising is the use of private DNS. This method does not require the installation of third-party applications and works at the network connection level, blocking requests to ad servers. This is one of the most effective ways to remove application recommendations on Xiaomi Redmi globally.

To set up, go to Settings -> Connection and Sharing -> Private DNS. Select the DNS Provider Host Name mode and enter the dns.adguard.com address. Once saved, the phone may require a reconnection to the network.

dns.adguard.com

This method blocks ads not only in the system, but also in the browser and in many applications, but be careful: some sites or applications may stop working correctly if they rely on ad trackers for analytics.

⚠️ Attention: When in use DNS-Some sites may not open if you have access issues, return the settings. DNS auto-mode».

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AdGuard DNS is a silver bullet against advertising that works throughout the system without installing unnecessary programs.

Blocking through developer and ADB settings

For power users who want to get the most out of it, there are USB debugging and computer blocking methods. With the help of ADB (Android Debug Bridge) utility, you can completely remove or freeze advertising packages that cannot be disabled by standard means.

First, activate the developer mode. To do this, go to Settings -> About Phone and quickly click on the MIUI build number seven times. Then, in the advanced settings, turn on "Debugging over USB."

Connecting the phone to your computer, you can execute a command to remove the mda service (advertising demon):

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.mda

It is also recommended to remove or freeze the com.miui.analytics package, which is responsible for collecting analytics.Be extremely careful when using ADB commands: removing critical system components can lead to a cyclical reboot of the device.

If you are not sure of your actions, it is better to limit the software methods of disabling through settings. ADB is only justified if the standard methods no longer help after the next update.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)