How to permanently disable recommendations on the lock screen Xiaomi: a detailed guide

The lock screen on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often turns into a field for advertising, news feeds and app recommendations — even if you never consented to it. The manufacturer has integrated this feature into the MIUI shell as a way of monetizing, but for users it is more often a source of annoyance. Unnecessary banners are not only distracting, but also consume battery power, as the system constantly loads content in the background.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can disable recommendations, from standard settings to hidden developer settings. The instructions are relevant for MIUI 12, 13 and 14 (including global and Chinese versions), as well as for most models, from the budget Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 13 Ultra. If you’re tired of intrusive ads on a locked screen, read on.

Why do recommendations appear on the lock screen?

The recommendation feature is embedded in MIUI's default firmware, running through msa (Mobile Services Framework) and miui.analytics, which collect data about your actions and show "personalized" content, and these are the main reasons why unnecessary elements appear:

• 📱 Version. MIUI: In the global firmware (MIUI Global) less advertising than in Chinese (MIUI China, but it still exists. MIUI 13/14 Many users have noticed an increase in the number of banners.
• 🔄 Sync with your Xiaomi account: If you are logged in to Mi Account, the system automatically uploads recommendations based on your activity on other services (for example, Mi Browser or Mi Video).
• 📦 Pre-installed apps: Services like Mi Music, Mi Game Center, or Themes are integrated into the lock screen and can display their notifications.
• 🌍 Regional settings: In some countries (e.g. India, China) ads on the lock screen are more common due to Xiaomi’s partnerships with local services.

It's important to understand that recommendations are not just notifications, they can include:

• 📢 Advertising games and apps (even if they are not installed).
• 📰 News headlines from Mi Browser or partners (e.g, UC News).
• 🎵 Offers to listen to music or watch videos.
• 🎮 Invitations to games from Mi Game Center.

Most of these elements can't be swiped or closed -- they stay on screen until the phone unlocks, and fortunately, you can turn them off, and we'll show you how.

Method 1: Disabling recommendations through standard MIUI settings

The easiest method is to use the built-in system settings, which are suitable for most users and do not require root rights or technical skills.

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to Lock Screen (or Lock and Protect in some versions).
3. Find Notifications on the lock screen (may be called Lock screen Content).
4. Turn off the sliders next to:

• 🔴 Recommendations (or Recommendations in English version).
• 📰 News (if there is such a point).
• 🎵 Mi Music or Videos (if they are active).

If your MIUI version does not have an explicit recommendation clause, try the following path:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search bar, enter msa (without quotes).
3. Select the app com.miui.msa.global (or com.xiaomi.msa).
4. Click Disable (if the button is active) or Stop.

After these actions, the recommendations should disappear, but some banners may remain – they are removed in other ways (see below).

Notifications from Mi Browser are disabled

Has the msa process stopped in application settings?

Reload the phone to apply changes

Checked the lock screen for remaining banners-->

Method 2: Use the "Do Not Disturb" mode

If recommendations keep popping up, you can block them through Do Not Disturb (DND) mode, which doesn't remove banners completely, but hides them from the lock screen.

1. Open Settings → Notifications and Status bar.
2. Choose Not to Disturb.
3. Activate the slider Enable.
4. Click the Rules and add a new rule with parameters:

• 🕒 Time: Set Always (or select the interval when you don't want to see recommendations).
• 🔕 Type: Select Block All Notifications.
• 📱 Exceptions: Add only critical applications (e.g. Phone or Messages) to the exceptions).

Once you have these settings, the lock screen will be cleaner, but important notifications (calls, SMS) will remain, and the downside is that it hides all notifications, not just ads. If you need to selectively block only recommendations, read the next section.

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If after activating the Do Not Disturb mode, important notifications (for example, from messengers) disappeared, go back to the rule settings and add the necessary applications to the exceptions.

Method 3: Disconnect via application settings (for power users)

Some recommendations are generated by specific system applications, which can be manually disabled, but be careful that incorrect actions can disrupt the phone.

To disable these applications:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search bar, enter the packet ID (see the table above).
3. Select the app you find and click Disable (or Stop if the disconnect is not available).
4. Confirm the action in the dialog window.

⚠️ Warning: Disabling com.miui.msa.global may cause Mi Account, cloud backup, and some system features to crash. If you have problems after the shutdown, return your settings to the backup.

If the Disable button is inactive, the application is protected by the system, in which case only deletion via ADB will help (see Method 5).

Method 4: Reset the lock screen settings to factory

If previous methods failed, you can return the lock screen to factory settings, which will remove all user settings (wallpaper, widgets, password), but also reset unnecessary recommendations.

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Find Resetting (or Restore and Reset)
3. Select Reset the Lock screen settings (not to be confused with a full phone reset!).
4. Confirm the action by entering a password (if required).

After discharge:

• 🔄 Lock screen settings will return to factory settings (including wallpaper and animation).
• 📵 Recommendations and ads will disappear, but may reappear after another update. MIUI.
• 🔒 You will need to reset the unlock (PIN, graphical key).

⚠️ Warning: If you use a Smart Lock (automatically unlocked in trusted locations), its settings will also reset. remember or record your trusted devices and locations in advance.

This method does not remove system applications, so recommendations may return over time.To permanently resolve the problem, consider disabling through ADB (Method 5).

Method 5: Removing recommendations via ADB (for advanced users)

If standard methods don't work, the radical way is to remove system packets via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires connecting the phone to a computer and executing commands in the terminal, and the advantage of the method is that it permanently removes the source of recommendations, not just hides them.

What you'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and tool ADB (You can download from the official website of Android Developers).
• 📱 Included Debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times, then return to Settings → Additionally. → For developers).
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect the phone to your computer and allow debugging over USB.
2. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB.
3. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices should appear the name of your device.
4. Follow the instructions to remove unnecessary packets (one by one):

adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.msa.global


adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.xiaomi.gamecenter.sdk.service




adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.android.browser




adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.videoplayer




adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.android.themes

Once you've done the commands, restart your phone. The recommendations on the lock screen should disappear forever.

⚠️ Note: Deleting system packages may cause some functions (such as themes or cloud services) to work in an unstable way. If problems arise after deleting, restore the packages with the command: adb shell cmd package install-existing com.miui.msa.global (replace the identifier with the desired one).

This is the most effective method, but it requires caution, and if you are not sure about your actions, you should turn to simpler methods (1-4).

Additional tips: how to avoid returning recommendations

Even after disabling, recommendations may reappear after the MIUI update or reset. To prevent this from happening, follow these tips:

• 🔄 Turn off automatic updates MIUI: Go to Settings. → The phone. → Update the system and deactivate Autoboot option.This will prevent unexpected updates that can bring back ads.
• 📥 Do not install updates "over the air" (OTA), If the description mentions "personalization improvements" or "new widgets." Often it hides the return of recommendations.
• 🔒 Use alternative launchers: Install a third-party launcher (like Nova Launcher or Lawnchair) and disable the system launcher MIUI Launcher. It won't take recommendations off the lock screen, but it will reduce the number of recommendations elsewhere.
• 🛡️ Block the domains of advertising through DNS: In the settings of Wi-Fi or mobile network, set a user DNS (For example, 1.1.1.1 from Cloudflare or 94.140.14.14 from AdGuard.

If you notice that the recommendations returned after the update, repeat the steps from Method 1 or 5. It is also useful to periodically check the list of active applications in Settings → Apps and stop suspicious processes.

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The most reliable way to get rid of recommendations for good is to remove system packages through ADB. However, this requires caution and can affect the stability of the phone.

FAQ: Frequent questions about recommendations on Xiaomi lock screen