How to delete recommendations in the folder Xiaomi and MIUI

Owners of MIUI shell-based devices and its successor HyperOS often face aggressive marketing policies. The smartphone, which is initially positioned as a budget or mid-budget solution, turns into a platform for displaying banner ads after the first turn on. Recommendations appear in application folders, in the notification curtain and even in system settings, annoying the user and consuming traffic.

The problem lies in the MSA (MIUI System Ads) system service, which is responsible for targeted advertising, but is not the only culprit. The various Hot Apps widgets and algorithmic news feeds in folders often work independently, requiring a comprehensive approach to disabling them. In this article, we will discuss proven methods to clean the interface of digital garbage.

It is worth noting that the complete removal of system components can lead to unstable operation of the device, so we will use safe methods of disabling through settings and ADB-This will preserve the warranty and functionality of the smartphone, returning the user to full control over the appearance of the interface.

The Nature of Intrusive Advertising in MIUI and HyperOS

To effectively combat a problem, you need to understand the source of the problem: Xiaomi’s ad engine is deeply integrated into the operating system, it analyzes your actions, frequently used apps and location to offer relevant content, but for most users, this “relevance” is only a way to monetize free software.

The main source of annoyance is desktop folders, and when you collect a few icons into a group, the system automatically adds a recommendation block to it, and inside it, you see the icons of the apps that the algorithms think you should like, and you can't remove that block with a standard swipe without first getting the system ready.

There is also a separate service that displays cards in folders, which can be called differently depending on the firmware version and region, but is most often hidden under the system names of packages, and locking one component may not work if another data collection module is active.

• 📢 MSA — The main advertising service that collects statistics and shows banners.
• 📂 CardApp or Daemon – components responsible for widgets in application folders.
• 🌐 MIUI Daemon – background process that synchronizes data with Xiaomi servers.

⚠️ Note: Before making changes to system settings or use ADB We strongly advise you to create a complete backup of data. Errors when removing system packets can lead to a cyclical restart of the device.

Understanding the architecture of ad units allows for point-by-point action, and instead of blindly turning everything off, we will deactivate specific services responsible for visual noise, which is especially true for users who value minimalism and speed.

Basic configuration of system parameters of confidentiality

The first and safest step is to use the built-in tools of the system. Xiaomi provides users with the ability to opt out of personalized advertising, although this option is often hidden in the depths of the menu.

To do this, go to Settings, then select Passwords and Security. In the list that opens, look for Access to Personal Data or Authorization and Security. You will need to find the msa switch and put it inactive. The system will persistently warn about the possible consequences, suggesting that you wait 10 seconds before you try again.

Once you disable the MSA, you need to stop personalizing ads on other services, go to the Mi Video, Music, and Explorer settings, and each of these apps has a "About Program" or "Settings" section that says "Receive recommendations." It needs to be deactivated.

• 🔒 Turn off Receive recommendations in the theme settings.
• 🛑 Prohibit the use of data for security advertising.
• 📉 Reset the Advertising ID in the Privacy section.

These actions will not remove ads completely, but they will significantly reduce the amount of ads you use, and the system will stop tailoring content to your interests, which will make the ads less intrusive, although not completely disappear, and this is a basic level of protection that is available to everyone without root rights.

Removing recommendations widgets from application folders

The most prominent part of the problem is the recommendations inside the desktop folders. Even after the MSA is disabled, this block can remain. To remove it, you often need to change the region of the device or use special commands. Try first changing the region in the settings Additional -> Region to a country where the ads are less aggressive, such as the United States or India.

If the region change doesn’t work, you need to remove or freeze the system application that handles the cards. In different versions of MIUI, it can be called CardApp, Daemon or have a name like com.miui.contentcatcher. Access to these hidden features will require the use of a computer and the ADB tool (Android Debug Bridge).

The process is as follows: connect your smartphone to your PC, open the command line, and type a command to delete the packet. For example: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.contentcatcher. Be extremely careful when entering the packet name, as an error can lead to the removal of an important system component.

⚠️ Note: Removing system packages through ADB Make sure you remove the ad module, not the critical service of the system.

Once you've done the command, reboot your device. Folders should clear the intrusive blocks, leaving only shortcuts to your applications. If the result doesn't work, you can try to find an alternative service name in the list of installed applications by sorting them by system.

Using ADB for deep cleaning of the system

For advanced users who want to get rid of advertising junk completely, ADB is the most effective method: it allows you to delete or freeze applications for the current user without affecting the system partition recovery.

First, you need to activate the developer mode. To do this, seven times click on the build number in the About Phone section. Then in the Additional USB Debugging menu, connect the smartphone to the computer and confirm the connection on the device screen. Now you are ready to work with the command line.

Below is a table with the main packages that can be safely removed or frozen to remove ads and recommendations:

To remove, use the command: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 packet name. If you want to just disable the application without deleting, use the command adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 packet name. The second option is preferable, since it allows you to easily return everything back with the command pm enable.

Using graphical shells for ADBs, such as ADB AppControl or Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools, can make the process much easier: These programs have packet databases and mark safe to delete, reducing the risk of error for inexperienced users.

Alternative solutions and third-party launchers

If you think it's too difficult or risky to mess with system settings and ADB, there's a more radical but effective way to replace the standard launcher, and installing a third-party shell completely changes the visual style of the device and eliminates all the built-in MIUI widgets.

Popular launchers like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Lawnchair offer flexible folder configurations, where you decide what groups of apps will look like, and no algorithmic recommendations will appear there by definition, which also often speeds up the smartphone, since third-party shells are lighter than native ones.

• 🚀 Nova Launcher – the benchmark of customization and performance.
• 📱 Microsoft Launcher – Great integration with the Windows ecosystem.
• 🌿 Lawnchair – Minimalist launcher in the style of Pixel.

However, it is worth remembering that replacing the launcher does not disable the background data collection processes of the system itself. MSA advertising service will continue to work if it is not disabled through the settings described in the previous sections, so the combined approach gives the best result.

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After installing a new launcher, click the Home button and select Always for the new shell. To return a standard launcher, simply uninstall the third-party app or select it in the default application settings.

Some users also resort to installing global firmware versions on Chinese devices or custom builds (LineageOS, Pixel Experience), which requires unlocking the bootloader, which is officially allowed by Xiaomi, but makes it difficult to use banking applications due to security checks.

Preventing Advertising in the Future

Once the system is cleaned successfully, it is important to maintain the result. When you update your firmware or reset your settings, all changes can be returned to factory values. Regularly check the list of authorized applications after major MIUI or HyperOS updates.

Also, be careful when installing new apps from GetApps, which often offers "recommended" programs that are actually ad integrations, and use Google Play Store or proven alternatives like F-Droid.

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Comprehensive cleaning requires disabling the MSA, removing widgets through ADB, and preferably changing the launcher for full control of the interface.

Keep an eye out for security updates, but beware of major UI updates that can bring back remote components. There are forums in the Xiaomi user community that promptly publish lists of new ad packages for each firmware version.