Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face a situation where a standard gallery instead of viewing photos begins streaming videos or showing banner ads, this is due to the built-in MIUI algorithms and the new HyperOS shell, which by default activate the function of “Hot Videos” or “Reels”. For many users, this becomes an annoying factor, especially if they are accustomed to a clean interface and minimalism.
The problem is not only aesthetic discomfort, but also traffic consumption, as well as increased power consumption of the processor when the background loads content. Fortunately, the Android system in conjunction with the shell from the Chinese manufacturer allows you to flexibly adjust these parameters. In this article, we will discuss all the known ways to disable intrusive recommendations, from simple switches in the menu to more advanced methods through system settings.
It's worth noting that the menu layout may vary slightly depending on the firmware version and the region for which the device is released. However, the overall logic of the system remains the same. We'll look at current methods that work on modern versions of MIUI 13, MIUI 14 and the latest HyperOS. Prepare for the fact that you will have to go through several menu items to completely clean the interface.
Analysis of the source of recommendations in the system
Before you start disabling functions, you need to understand which component of the system is responsible for their appearance. In most cases, the source of the garbage is not the gallery itself, but a service plugin called MSA (MIUI System Ads) or the built-in Glance module, which collects data about your preferences and uploads content to the corresponding widgets.
Users often confuse recommendations in the "Mi Video" feed with content in the gallery, but the mechanisms are similar. The system seeks to keep your attention by offering an endless tape of short videos. System services can automatically activate after a major firmware update, even if they were previously disabled.
It's important to distinguish between program recommendations that you can turn off in settings and banner ads that you can implement at the account level. If you see a video right after you unlock the screen or in folders, that's Glance's job. If the content appears when you open the Gallery app on the Video tab, that's the work of the internal Hot Videos module.
- 🎥 Hot Videos – built-in aggregator of short videos inside the gallery.
- 📢 MSA — Systems service responsible for advertising and analytics in the shell.
- 🔒 Glance – a service of locking the screen and news feeds on the desktop.
- 📂 Content Center – a content center that can duplicate gallery functions.
⚠️ Warning: A complete shutdown of system services can cause some widgets or news feeds to run unstable, so it is recommended to disable only specific recommendation features rather than forcefully removing system applications.
Disable Hot Videos through Gallery Settings
The easiest and safest way to remove video recommendations is to use the app's built-in settings, which don't require root rights or a computer connection, but you need to find a switch that activates or deactivates the content stream, and in the latest versions of the shell, this item can be hidden quite deeply.
To start, open the Gallery app and go to the Videos or Recommendations tab. Usually, the top or bottom corner of the screen is the settings icon, often indicated by a gear or three dots. When you click on it, you will be taken to the Content Management menu. Here you will find an item called Hot Videos, Reels or Recommended Videos.
Once you find the right switch, turn it off. The system can request confirmation of the action, saying that you will not receive interesting offers. Be bold. Some versions of MIUI also require you to turn off autoplay so that the videos do not start themselves when you scroll through the tape.
☑️ Checklist of disconnection in the annex
If the standard path didn't work, try clearing the app's cache. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Gallery. Select Clear and then Clear the cache. This will reset temporary files that could have cached old recommendation display settings.
What happens if the switch returns to its original position?
Setup of system services and MSA
A deeper level of control over advertising and recommendations is in the system’s security and privacy settings. MSA (MIUI System Ads) is a key element of Xiaomi’s ecosystem that translates ads into system applications. Although it is not directly responsible for content in the gallery, disabling it often reduces overall “information noise” levels.
To access these settings, go to the Settings menu, then select Passwords and Security (or additionally depending on version). Find Personal Data Access or Special Features. Find the msa process and disable the slider. The system will insist on leaving things as they are, claiming that it will make the services worse.
You will need to wait for the countdown timer (usually 10 seconds) and confirm the shutdown.This process may require a repetition of 2-3 times, as the server may not accept the request the first time due to poor connection or server errors. If you see a message "failed to disable", just try again.
| Parameter | Recommended value | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|
| Receive recommendations | Off. | Reduces the amount of advertising |
| Personalized advertising | Off. | Stops collecting taste data |
| Auto-reproduction | Only through Wi-Fi/Off | Saving traffic |
| Notifications to MSA | Forbidden. | Removes pop-ups |
Also, check out Mi Account settings, and in the Privacy section, make sure that the Receive References box is removed, a global setting that affects all of the company's services, including the browser and theme store.
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Useful tip: After the MSA service is disabled, it is recommended to restart the device so that the changes take effect at the level of all background processes.
Managing Notifications and Application Permissions
Video recommendations often come in the form of simple push notifications that disguise themselves as system messages, and to prevent them from appearing, you need to configure the application rights in detail, first of all, the application is Gallery, Security and Explorer.
Go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Notification management. Search the Gallery app in the list. Here you need to be careful: do not turn off notifications completely, otherwise you will not see, for example, birthday reminders in the photo. You need to find notification categories with names like Recommendations, Hot Videos, Marketing or News and disable them from displaying.
Pay special attention to the application System Services Mi (or MIUI Daemon), which is often responsible for background loading. In its notification settings, you can also find unnecessary items associated with content offers, disabling these items will not disrupt the phone, but only make it more relaxed use.
- 🔔 Categories: Carefully review all notification subcategories for each system application.
- 🚫 Block: Use the “Block All” feature only for applications you don’t need.
- ⚙️ Special Rights: Check the display rights over other windows for suspicious processes.
It is important to understand that system updates can return these permissions, and after each major update, HyperOS or MIUI, it is recommended to re-visit the notification settings.
⚠️ Warning: Do not disable critical system notifications such as Sync or Security, as this may result in data loss or phone malfunctions.
Use of Developer Mode and ADB
For advanced users who want to get rid of recommendations, there is a method of using USB debugging and the command line ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to remove or freeze system components responsible for content that cannot be removed by standard methods.
To start, activate Developer Mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly press 7 times on MIUI Version (or OS Version). Then go to Additional → For Developers and turn on USB Debugging. Connect your phone to your computer and install ADB drivers.
Using the adb shell pm list packages command, you can find packages related to advertising and video, usually containing the words daemon, analytics or miui in the title.
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.misysHowever, using this method requires caution: disabling the wrong system packages can lead to a "bootloop" (cyclical reboot) or the inoperability of important functions, such as the camera or the application store. ADB make a complete backup of the data.
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The main conclusion: The use of ADB gives maximum control, but requires high qualifications and carries risks to the stability of the system.
Alternative solutions and third-party galleries
If Xiaomi’s built-in gallery continues to annoy with its functionality, despite all the settings, the most radical and effective solution will be to install a third-party app to view photos. Modern alternatives work faster, have no advertising and do not require unnecessary permissions.
One of the best options is Google Photos, which is already pre-installed on many devices, and it has powerful search and sorting algorithms, but it doesn't impose video content. Another great option is Simple Gallery Pro (or its forks, since the original app was bought and changed), an open source application that is completely devoid of access to the Internet, which means it can't physically download ads.
Also worth considering is the F-Stop Gallery or A Gallery, which allows you to flexibly configure folder displays, hide system directories, and have a user-friendly interface. Once you install an alternative gallery, Android can suggest you choose the default app to open images. Choose a new app and click Always.
- 📸 Google Photos: Better Cloud Integration and Object Search.
- 🛡️ Simple Gallery: Complete privacy, no internet and no advertising.
- 🎨 F-Stop: Professional Sorting and Tagging Tools.
Using third-party software not only removes recommendations, but also often speeds up the smartphone, since lightweight applications consume less RAM than the overloaded system analogues from Xiaomi.