How to remove recommendations in Xiaomi Redmi: full instructions

Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often experience intrusive content that appears in system folders, browsers, and even app interfaces, a phenomenon known as microsystem ads (msa) that is designed to monetize budget devices by providing personalized offers.

Fortunately, the modern MIUI shell and the new HyperOS provide flexible tools to fine-tune the interface. You don't have to have superuser rights or install third-party launchers to get your desktop clean. You just need to go through key settings sections consistently to block most ad integrations.

In this article, we will take a look at the algorithm that will help you clean up the interface from unnecessary debris. We will look not only at standard switches, but also at hidden settings that often go unnoticed. The correct system configuration will allow you to enjoy the speed of your smartphone without distractions.

Disabling personalized advertising in the system

The first and most important step is to deactivate the service responsible for collecting your preferences and serving targeted ads. This system service runs in the background and analyzes your actions. To stop this process, you need to go to the Settings menu → Passwords and Security → Privacy → Advertising services.

Here you'll see the Personalized Ads switch, which when you turn it off, the system will stop using your data to match content, but it's important to understand that the amount of ads may not decrease instantly, but they will become less relevant, and that's a basic level of protection that needs to be set up right after you buy it.

⚠️ Warning: After disabling this feature, it may take up to 10 seconds for the system to confirm your decision.Do not close the settings window ahead of time, otherwise the changes will not apply.

In addition, check your settings for specific applications. In the same privacy section, look for “Special Permissions” and make sure that no application has access to your activities unnecessarily, which will help reduce the amount of statistics collected.

💡

Check this section periodically after major system updates, as privacy settings may be reset to factory values.

Removing recommendations from desktop folders

One of the most annoying features of the MIUI shell is the appearance of the Recommended box at the bottom of the open application folders, which automatically prompts you to install games or utilities based on your behavior, and fortunately, you can turn it off directly in the launcher interface.

To do this, open any folder on your desktop that has applications. At the bottom of the screen, right above the program names, a line will appear called "Recommended." Click on it and a switch will appear on the right. Put it in an inactive state to hide the block forever.

If the switch doesn't show up right away, try pulling the app list down slightly or opening another folder. In some versions of the firmware, you have to click on the folder name to open it completely, and then look for recommendations settings. Once you turn off one folder, the changes will apply to all the others.

It is worth noting that new versions of HyperOS have changed the folder algorithm and recommendations may be made less frequently, but for users of older versions of Android and MIUI 12-14, this instruction remains relevant and necessary.

Setup of widget tape and lock screen

The left-hand desktop bar, known as the "Widget Ribbon" or "App Vault," is often overflowing with news cards and banner ads from Xiaomi partners. To clear this space, swipe to the right of the home screen and click on the settings button (usually a gear or three dots in the corner).

In the menu that opens, turn off all news sources such as Yandex.News, Google Discover, or your own Mi Video and Mi Music services if you don’t use them, and remove Quick Access and Recent Apps cards by either making the tape empty or deleting it completely.

The lock screen can also stream advertising content through the Wallpaper Carousel feature. To remove this, go to Settings → Always On Screen and Lock Screen → Wallpaper Carousel and turn off the feature. This will return a static image and remove unnecessary swipes for unlocking.

After cleaning the tape, your smartphone will boot faster, since the system will not need to download content from the network every time you turn on the screen, and this will also positively affect battery consumption in standby mode.

Cleaning System Applications: Security and Downloads

Xiaomi's standard utilities, such as Security, Downloads and Explorer, often contain built-in ad modules. In the Security app, ads can appear when you scan the system or clear the memory. To fix this, open the app, click on the settings gear in the top right corner.

In the settings menu, find the “Receive recommendations” or “Recommendations” section and turn off this item. Similar actions should be done in the Downloads app (three-point menu → Settings → Show recommended) and in the Explorer.

Pay special attention to the Themes app, which is the main source of visual noise: go to the user profile (human icon), select Settings, and disable all items related to personalization and recommendations, this will remove banners from the search results and the main menu of the theme store.

These steps will take no more than five minutes, but will significantly improve the user experience, and system applications will work cleaner and faster without distracting you from third-party offers.

Blocking Advertising in Mi Browser

Xiaomi’s standard browser is known for its aggressive policy of displaying news and advertising. If you continue to use it, you need to do a deep setup. Open your browser, go to the menu (three bars) and select Settings.

Find the Privacy and Security section, where you activate the ad blocker and disable notifications from sites, and in the News Feed section, select Off so that the browser's home page remains empty.

An alternative solution is to install a third-party browser, such as Firefox or Brave, which are initially focused on protecting privacy, but if you prefer the standard solution, regular cleaning of cache and cookies will help reduce the amount of intrusive content.

Remember that the browser has access to a large number of permissions. Check if it is not authorized to send notifications in the general settings of Android, and if necessary, limit its capabilities.

Using DNS to block advertising at the network level

The most effective way to combat in-app and system advertising is to use a private DNS with filtering function. This method does not require the installation of additional programs and works at the network connection level. To set up, go to Settings → Connection and General Settings → Private DNS.

In the window that opens, select the mode “Host Name of the DNS provider” and enter the address dns.adguard.com. After saving the phone can lose the connection to the Internet for a second, and then reconnect with the protection already turned on.

This method blocks requests to known ad servers, making it impossible to load banners in many apps and games, but be careful: some legitimate services may stop working correctly if they use the same domains for analytics.

⚠️ Attention: If, after activation, DNS Some apps or sites have stopped working, temporarily disable this feature, or try an alternative address, such as family.cloudflare-dns.com.

Use of the DNS-Filtering is an advanced but very effective way, and it's particularly useful for users who don't want to install third-party blockers that consume battery life.

💡

a combination of system settings and DNS-Filtering allows you to remove up to 95% of all advertising in the interface Xiaomi.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)