Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face intrusive behavior of the MIUI or HyperOS operating system. One of the most annoying elements of the interface is the Game folder, which, when opened, instead of quickly accessing applications, shows a catalog of offers, banners and recommendations for installing new software. This not only distracts, but also consumes traffic, and can also reduce the overall performance of the device due to background processes.
Fortunately, the Chinese manufacturer’s Android shell system allows you to flexibly configure this component. You can completely deactivate the display of advertising content, leaving only the functional purpose of the folder – quickly launching installed entertainment. In this article, we will look at all the available methods, from simple switches in settings to deeper methods through hidden menus.
Note that menu items may vary slightly depending on the firmware version and region, but the logic of the Game Center system application (or Game Center) remains the same for most modern models. Follow the instructions consistently to achieve the desired result and clear the interface of visual noise.
Disconnection through Game Center settings
The easiest and safest way to get rid of intrusive offers is to use the app's built-in settings, which don't require superuser rights or a computer connection. First, look up a folder on your desktop called Game or Game Center and open it, and in the upper right corner you'll see a profile icon or gear that opens the control menu.
Once you log into the management menu, you need to find the section that's responsible for personalizing content. In different versions of the shell, it can be called "Recommendations," "Resources" or "Receive recommendations." This is where the switch that blocks the loading of advertising cards hides, and it's important to do this step, because simply removing the shortcut from the desktop does not turn off the background service.
If you can’t find the right item, use the following sequence of actions, which is relevant for most current versions of MIUI:
- 🎮 Open the Game folder and click on the profile icon in the corner of the screen.
- ⚙️ Go to Settings (cog icon) inside the menu that opens.
- 🚫 Find the "Recommendations" item and translate the slider to the "Off" position».
- ✅ Also turn off the option “Show Ads” or “Personalized Recommendations” if available separately.
After these steps are completed, the folder must stop downloading external content. However, in some cases, the system may require re-confirming or restarting the device to apply the changes. If the sliders return to their original position, a deeper cleaning of the application data may be necessary.
⚠️ Warning: After the operating system update, the settings may reset. Check this section periodically, especially after major firmware updates, so that the ad does not reappear.
⚠️ Warning: Don’t confuse disabling recommendations with removing the Game Center app itself. Removing the system component can lead to incorrect game mode and a lack of performance optimization in heavy games.
Clearing data and resetting the application
Sometimes, standard switching of switches does not have an immediate effect because of cached data, in which case the effective measure is forced clearing of the system application data, which will return the Game Center settings to factory settings by removing all temporary files and cache, including downloaded advertising modules.
To do this, go to the basic smartphone settings. You need to find the Apps section, then select All Apps. In the list, find the Game Center or Game Center. If you find it difficult, use the search bar at the top of the screen. Inside the app menu, click the Clean button and select Clear All or Clear Data.
Once the data is cleaned, the folder on the desktop may look like a new one. You'll need to reconfigure the icons, but the promotional recommendations will disappear because the cache responsible for displaying them has been deleted, which is especially useful if the interface is slow or freezes when you open the folder.
☑️ Post-cleaning inspection
You have to understand that data cleanup is a radical, but often necessary, measure that doesn't delete the games that are installed on the phone, but only resets the launcher and the game center settings, and your game saves will also remain intact, as they are stored separately.
Using hidden settings through search
The MIUI shell contains many hidden features that can be accessed through global search. If you can't find an ad-off point on the menu, try using the search bar in your phone's settings. This method often allows you to get to the right switch faster, bypassing the complex paths of menu nesting.
Open your smartphone’s Settings and find the search box at the top of the screen. Type in the keywords “Recommendations,” “Advertising,” or “MSA.” The system will provide you with the available options for settings that match the request. Choose the item related to personalization or advertising services.
In the menu that opens, you can see a list of services that are responsible for displaying content. Find msa (MIUI System Ads) or similar. Turn off the Receive References switch. The system will warn you that some features may stop working, but for the average user this is not critical.
| Search parameter | What's opening | Action. |
|---|---|---|
| Recommendations | Personalization settings | Turn off the slider |
| MSA | Systemic advertising | Withdraw consent |
| Playground | Application settings | Clear the data |
| Personalization | General Advertising Settings | Ban tracking |
The use of search is especially relevant for newer versions of HyperOS, where the menu structure has been significantly changed compared to the classic MIUI. The search query ignores changes in the interface and leads directly to the system switch.
What to do if the search does not find the settings?
Disabling MSA Service and Personalization
Advertising recommendations in Xiaomi system applications, including Game Center, are often handled by the MSA (MIUI System Ads) service, which allows you to remove ads not only in games, but also in other system applications such as Explorer, Music and Themes.
To turn off the service, go to Settings → Passwords & Security → Access to Personal Data. In the list, find the msa app. Turn the switch off. The system will start counting down (usually 10 seconds), after which it will require confirmation. Click "Cancel."
After disabling the MSA, it is also recommended to disable the personalization of ads in your Mi Account. To do this, go to your account settings and find the Ads and Privacy section. Turn off the Personalized Ads option there, which will prevent you from collecting your preferences to generate targeted offers.
Keep in mind that a complete shutdown of system services may affect some widgets or news feeds, but the basic functionality of the phone, including calls, messages and game launches, will remain fully operational, an action that is safe for system stability.
Setting up the game mode (Game Turbo)
The Game Turbo, an overlay that appears during game launches, is also worth noting. Although it is not a direct part of the Game folder on the desktop, these components are closely related. The Game Turbo setup can also help reduce the number of notifications and pop-ups that are often confused with recommendations.
Inside the Security app, find the Game Turbo section, which allows you to turn off the display of the floating window with offers during the game, which is often perceived by users as part of an intrusive advertisement for the game folder.
You can also customize performance for specific games here. Make sure your favorite apps don’t include features that require a constant connection to Xiaomi servers to download optimization profiles if you want to isolate your device from the network as much as possible.
Game Turbo's smart setup allows you to create a clean gaming environment, so you can remove frame rate or temperature widgets if you don't need them, leaving the screen as clean as possible, and this is especially important for small-screen devices where every pixel counts.
⚠️ Attention: Disabling optimization services in Game Turbo can lead to a decrease in performance in heavy games. FPS, Return the default settings for specific applications.
Solving Advertising Return Problems
Users often complain that after a while after the switch is off, recommendations return, which can occur due to automatic updates of system components or resetting when you change the region, and to prevent this, you need to block automatic updates of system applications through Google Play or the GetApps store.
Go to the app store settings, search for App Auto Update and select Never or set exceptions for Xiaomi system components. Also check if the region has changed in the phone settings. Some regions (such as India or China) have more aggressive default ad display policies.
If nothing works, you can use an alternative launcher.Installing a third-party launcher like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher will completely ignore Xiaomi's standard Game folder. You can create your own folders where advertising content simply won't load.
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Use an alternative launcher if standard methods don’t work. It radically changes the interface and completely eliminates dependence on Xiaomi system folders.
As a last resort, you can consider installing a global firmware version if you are using a Chinese version of the device. Global firmware usually contains fewer advertising modules and has stricter privacy settings that comply with European law.
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A comprehensive approach, including disabling MSA, cleaning up data and customizing personalization, ensures that ads disappear completely in the long run.