Owners of MIUI-enclosed smartphones often face an intrusive interface that is overflowing with ad units. One of the most annoying elements is the recommendation bar that appears on the app menu or desktop. This feature, officially called “Recommended Apps” or “Card UI,” is designed to make it easier to access ecosystem services, but in practice only takes up useful space and distracts attention.
Fortunately, the system allows you to flexibly manage the display of this element. You don't have to have superuser rights or reflash the device. You just need to configure the launcher and system services settings correctly. In this article, we'll look at all the known ways to deactivate ad lines and widgets that are embedded in the default interface.
It is worth noting that the location of the switches may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI and the firmware region (Global, China, EEA).However, the overall logic of the system remains the same for all devices of the brand, we will consider both standard methods through settings and deeper ways to block system processes.
The nature of the appearance of the advertising line in the interface
The recommendation line is not a random bug, but part of the company’s marketing strategy, and it’s integrated into the system launcher and activates automatically when you first launch a smartphone or after a major software update. The main goal is to promote applications from the GetApps store and partner services.
Technically, the MSA system process (MIUI System Ads) and the Cards module in the launcher are responsible for displaying this block, and they load content from the network, and if you notice that the string appeared suddenly, there was probably a background update of system components.
⚠️ Note: Complete removal of system files responsible for advertising through ADB or root rights may cause the launcher to operate unstable. Use only the safe shutdown methods described below.
Understanding that it's a separate software module, rather than a part of the kernel, allows us to effectively combat it, and we don't delete critical files, we just turn off their display and activity.
Disconnection through launcher settings
The easiest and safest way to remove an intrusive string is to use the built-in interface settings, which works on most current versions of the shell, and you'll need to do a few sequential actions in the settings menu.
First, go to Settings for your smartphone. Find a section that can be called Desktop or Home. In some versions of MIUI, these options are hidden inside the More menu or are accessible through long-term clicking on the free desktop space.
Inside the desktop settings section, look for Card UI or Recommended Applications, which is the switch that makes the extra line with widgets and ads appear. Move the slider to the "Off" position.
- 📱 Open the desktop settings through a long press on the screen.
- 🔍 Find the "Cards" or "Recommendations" section».
- ❌ Remove the box from the item "Show recommendations».
- ✅ Check the results by returning to the main screen.
If the standard path does not lead to success, try an alternative option through the settings of the application itself "Security" or "Conductor", where these settings can also be duplicated depending on the firmware version.
☑️ Checking the launcher settings
Blocking the MSA system service
Even if you remove the visual bar, the msa background process can continue to consume traffic and battery while trying to download content. To completely clear the system of advertising, it is recommended to limit (permissions) of this service.
Go to Settings → Applications → All Apps. In the upper right corner, click on three dots and select “Show System Processes.” Find a program called msa in the list.
Inside the app menu, you need to turn off all permissions, especially network and location access, then find the “Disable Ads” button (if active) or simply force the process to stop, which will interrupt the system’s ability to show you any promotional offers.
What to do if the “Disable” button is inactive?
It is important to understand that after major MIUI updates, the settings may reset and the service will be activated again, so it makes sense to periodically check the status of this process.
Comparison of methods of advertising removal
There are several approaches to solving the problem of obsessions: some users prefer minimal intervention, others are willing to go further for the perfect result. Let's compare the effectiveness of the different ways.
The table below compares the main methods of dealing with the line of recommendations, and pay attention to the risks and the necessary preparation for each of them.
| Method | Difficulty | Efficiency | Risks. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launcher settings | Low. | Medium | Absent. |
| MSA shutdown | Medium | Tall. | Minimum |
| Blocking through DNS | Medium | Tall. | Blocking of useful services |
| ADB-team | Tall. | Maximum | Possible Bootloops for Errors |
For most users, the best solution is to combine the first two methods, which provides a clean interface without having to connect to a computer.
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A comprehensive approach (settings + locking MSA) gives the best result without the risk of damage to the system.
Using a private DNS to block
Modern versions of Android, including those on Xiaomi, allow you to use the “Private” feature. DNS» (Private DNS). This method blocks ad requests at the network level, preventing the phone from connecting to advertisers’ servers.
Go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Private DNS. Select the DNS Host Name (or Manual) mode. The blocker address must be entered in the input box, such as dns.adguard.com.
Once you save the settings, the phone will reconnect to the network, and all requests to known advertising domains will be blocked, which will help remove not only the recommendation line, but also banners inside some applications and browsers.
- 🌐 Open the connection settings.
- 🔒 Select “Private” DNS».
- ✍️ Enter the address dns.adguard.com.
- 💾 Save and check the internet.
If some applications (such as banking or streaming services) stop working after DNS is enabled, temporarily disable this feature or add exceptions to your router settings if you can.
Advanced Methods: ADB and Debugging
For power users who want to securely remove the recommendation bar and related services, there is a method of using ADB (Android Debug Bridge) that requires connecting a smartphone to a computer.
First, activate Developer Mode. To do this, go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on MIUI 7 times. Then turn on Debugging via USB from the “Additional” menu.
Connect your phone to your PC, install drivers and ADB. You can use the command line to remove the packets that are responsible for advertising, but be very careful: removing the wrong components can lead to a cyclical reboot.
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.misys
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.ads⚠️ Attention: Teams ADB A mistake in the name of the package can make the phone inoperable.
If you are not confident in your abilities, it is better to limit yourself to the software blocking methods described in the previous sections: data security and system stability are more important than the absence of one ad line.
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Before using ADB, make sure to make a full backup of important data to the cloud service or computer, as the risk of data loss during a deep modification of the system always exists.