How to permanently remove recommended apps on Xiaomi Redmi: the complete guide

The banner ads and “recommended apps” on the Xiaomi Redmi menu are one of the most annoying features of MIUI. Even after buying a new smartphone, users are faced with intrusive advertising in the Game folder, on the desktop or in the All Apps menu. The manufacturer integrates these elements for monetization, but for most owners they become a source of discomfort: traffic is wasted, performance is reduced, and the interface looks cluttered.

In this article, we will discuss 5 Proven ways to remove recommended applications on Xiaomi Redmi – from standard settings MIUI To hidden features and radical methods for power users, all instructions are relevant to firmware versions. MIUI 12–15 (including global and Chinese builds and do not require superuser rights (root). 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10 and flagship series POCO, Where the algorithms of advertising may differ.

Why is Xiaomi showing recommended apps?

Xiaomi uses several mechanisms to display advertising and “recommendations”:

• 📦 Game folder – automatically created on the desktop and filled with games from the Mi App Store, even if you did not install them.
• 🔍 Search in the application menu – when you enter a request in the search bar, “recommended” programs from partners appear.
• 📱 Banners in settings - advertising blocks in the Settings section → About the phone or security.
• 🔄 Updates MIUI — After the firmware update, the ad may appear again even if you have disabled it.

The main reason is the monetization of the MIUI ecosystem. According to Xiaomi reports for 2023, advertising revenue in branded services amounted to more than $ 1.2 billion (about 10% of the company’s total revenue), while in China users see much less advertising than owners of global versions of firmware, this is due to local laws and agreements with partners.

⚠️ Note: Some Redmi models (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro)+) Advertising can be part of the system process com.miui.systemAdSolution, and forced shutdown without root rights will lead to failures in the launcher.

Method 1: Disabling Advertising in MIUI Settings

The easiest method is to use the built-in firmware options, which is suitable for most Xiaomi Redmi models and does not require additional manipulation.

1. Open Settings → Google → Advertising.
2. Activate the switch "Disable personalized advertising".
3. Go back to the basic settings and go to Settings → Memory → Cleanup.
4. Click on the icon. ⚙️ (gear) in the upper right corner and select "Deactivate recommendations".

On some firmware (e.g. MIUI 14 Global), the path may be different:

Settings → Special features → Additional → Disable advertising in MIUI

After you apply the changes, restart your device. The banner ads in the Game and App Search folder should disappear, but some system recommendations (such as in the Security menu) may remain.

Method 2: Delete the Game folder and hide recommendations

The Game folder is one of the main sources of intrusive advertising, and it can be deleted or hidden, but there are nuances:

• 🗑️ Delete: Clip the folder on the desktop → Select "Delete." On some models (Redmi). 10A, POCO M4 Pro) the folder will recover after rebooting.
• 👁️ Hiding: Move the folder to the hidden area of the launcher (long press) → "Hide").
• 🔧 Shutdown through ADB: For permanent removal, you will need the command: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.gameturbo

If the folder appears again, check the Game Turbo settings:

1. Open Settings → Special features → Game Turbo
2. Turn off the "Show Game folder" option.
3. Clear the data of the com.miui.gameturbo application in Settings → Applications → Application Management.

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If you have lost access to Game Turbo settings after deleting the Game folder, install any application for games (for example, Google Play Games) – the menu will return.

Method 3: Use hidden MIUI settings (code ##)

MIUI has hidden debugging menus where you can turn off advertising services, a method that works on most Redmi models, but requires caution:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the code: ##4636###
2. Go to the "Phone Information" section.
3. Click on "Show the debugging menu" (multiple clicks may be required).
4. Go back to the main menu and select "MIUI settings".
5. Find the option “Disable Advertising” and activate it.

Some devices (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G) use the following code instead of #4636##.

##7378423##

⚠️ Warning: Do not change other options in the engineering menu, especially those related to Modem or Hardware.This can lead to network loss or processor overheating.

Method 4: Disconnect via ADB (without root)

For power users, the most reliable method is to disable ad packages via Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This does not require root rights, but a PC connection is required.

First, prepare the device:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable “Debugging by USB”.
3. Connect Redmi to your computer and confirm the debugging permission.

Now run commands in the ADB terminal (for Windows, use PowerShell):

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.systemAdSolution


adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.xiaomi.mipicks




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




adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.weather2




adb shell pm hide com.miui.hybrid

After you execute the commands, restart your smartphone. If the ads come back after the MIUI update, repeat the procedure.

Method 5: Installation of an alternative launcher

If previous methods didn't work, the radical solution is to switch from the standard MIUI launcher to a third-party one, which will completely eliminate advertising, but will deprive you of some features (for example, a second space or a child mode).

The best options for Xiaomi Redmi:

• 🌐 Nova Launcher – Supports gestures, dark theme and app hiding.
• 📱 Lawnchair – an open launcher with support for Android 13+ and adaptive icons.
• ⚡ Hyperion Launcher – Optimized for performance, there is a built-in ad blocker.

Installation instructions:

1. Download the launcher from Google Play or APKMirror.
2. Install and press "Home" when requesting a launcher selection.
3. In the new launcher settings, disable the option "Show recommended applications".
4. Hide the standard MIUI launcher through Settings → Applications → Disable.

⚠️ Note: Some Redmi models (e.g. Redmi) K50) After installing a third-party launcher, Always-on Display ceases to work (AOD). To return the function, you will have to return the standard launcher.

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Alternative launchers not only remove ads, but also improve performance on weak models (for example, Redmi 9A or POCO C31), as they disable background MIUI processes.

What if the advertisements returned after the update?

After the MIUI update, many of the settings are reset and the ad reappears.

• 🔄 Turn off automatic update: Settings → The phone. → Updating the system → ⚙️ → Turn off automatic loading.
• 📥 Install updates manually: Download firmware from Xiaomi’s official website and check user reviews before installing.
• 🛠️ Use patches: Apps like MIUI Hidden Settings or QuickShortcutMaker help restore access to hidden options after an update.

If the ad returns, repeat the ADB method (Section 4) – it is most reset-resistant.

adb shell pm list packages | grep -i "miui\|xiaomi\|ad"

This command will list all packages related to advertising.

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 [name packet]

FAQ: Frequent questions about recommended apps on Xiaomi