Getting Recommendations in Xiaomi – What is it and How to Manage It?

Why Xiaomi suggests “getting recommendations”?

If you've ever gone into a Xiaomi device's settings -- whether it's a smartphone, a Mi TV, or even a smart lamp -- you've probably come across the "Get recommendations" option, which is vague, and many users don't understand what's behind it: a useful service or another way to collect data? In fact, the feature is linked to the personalized prompts that Xiaomi generates based on your behavior.

In this article, we will look at how the recommendation mechanism in the Xiaomi ecosystem works, what data is used to do this, and most importantly, how to turn off or fine-tune this feature if it bothers you (MIUI), PatchWall and smart devices (Mi Home) because the logic of the work there is different.

Spoiler: In some cases, recommendations do make life easier (e.g., they suggest useful MIUI features you didn't know about), but sometimes they turn into annoying ads.

What is “Get Recommendations” in Xiaomi Smartphones (MIUI)?

In smartphones running MIUI (Xiaomi firmware), the “Receive recommendations” option is usually hidden in the Mi Account settings or in the “Special features” section, which is designed to analyze your actions (which apps you run, which settings you change) and suggest:

• 🔍 Optimization tips: for example, a suggestion to turn on power saving mode if the battery is draining too quickly.
• 📱 App recommendations: a selection of programs from the Mi App Store that you may like (based on installation history).
• ⚙️ Settings tips: notifications like “You rarely use gestures – want to return navigation buttons?».
• 📢 Promotional offers: sometimes promotions from Xiaomi slip in the recommendations (for example, discounts on Mi Band or Redmi Buds).

Important: MIUI’s recommendation system works locally (on the device itself) and on Xiaomi’s servers, which means that some of the data (like the list of installed apps) is sent to the cloud for analysis, and if you’re confused, you can turn it off, as we’ll explain below.

Example of work: if you use Google Maps frequently but have not activated the Traffic Saving mode in your settings SIM-map, MIUI It might give you a notification, "You use navigation a lot. Turn on mobile data savings to save up to 30 percent of traffic." Useful? Yes. Intrusive? Sometimes.

How Xiaomi TV Recommendations Work (Mi TV/PatchWall)

In Xiaomi TVs (Mi TV series, Redmi TV), the recommendation system is integrated into the PatchWall shell, a proprietary launcher that replaces the standard Android TV. Here the logic is different: instead of analyzing behavior in settings, PatchWall focuses on content:

• 🎬 Personalized content rows: Blocks of movies, TV shows or videos from YouTube, Prime Video, Netflix appear on the home screen based on your browsing history.
• 🔄 References to sources: if you often watch IPTV, The system may suggest adding new channels or switching to a more stable player.
• 🎮 Game Tips: If a gamepad is connected, PatchWall can display game recommendations from Google Play.
• 📺 Broadcast reminders: for example, a notification of the start of a match of your favorite football team (if you have previously watched the sport).

PatchWall features more aggressive recommendations than MIUI, because Xiaomi monetizes TVs through service-affiliated programs (Amazon Prime, Disney+ Hotstar in India) and displays banner ads directly on the home screen. You can't turn it off completely, but you can hide unnecessary rows or reset your browsing history.

Where to look for settings? Go to Settings → Accounts and Security → Mi Account → Content recommendations. Here you can turn off personalization or choose which services (such as YouTube or Netflix) can influence recommendations.

Recommendations in Xiaomi Smart Devices (Mi Home)

In the Mi Home smart home ecosystem, the Get References option is responsible for automation and tips on how to use gadgets.

• 💡 For Yeelight lamps: a suggestion to set up an on/off schedule if you often forget to turn off the lights.

Unlike MIUI and PatchWall, the recommendations here are less intrusive and more often really useful. For example, if your Mi Air Purifier has been running at maximum power for 5 hours, the Mi Home app may suggest switching to Sleep Mode to save power.

How to manage recommendations? Open the Mi Home app, go to Profile → Settings → Notifications → Device recommendations. Here you can turn off tips for individual gadgets or completely.

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If the Mi Home recommendations seem useless, try updating the device’s firmware first. Often newer versions add more accurate analysis algorithms (for example, for motion sensors or cameras).

What data does Xiaomi collect for recommendations?

To generate personalized tips, Xiaomi analyzes the following data types (depending on the device):

Critical: Even if you turn off Receive References, some of the data will still be collected to run basic functions (e.g. synchronizing notifications between devices), and you can only completely disable the collection of information by rejecting Mi Account, but then you will lose access to cloud services (e.g., phone search or backup).

In 2023, Xiaomi said that the data of users from the EU is stored on servers in Germany and Ireland in accordance with the GDPR. However, for Russia, Ukraine and other CIS countries, the rules apply – the information can be processed on servers in Singapore or India.

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Disabling recommendations does not stop the collection of telemetry (for example, system errors or firmware data).To be completely anonymous, you will need to abandon Mi Account and use custom firmware.

How to disable or adjust recommendations?

If you’re tired of Xiaomi’s tips, here are the step-by-step instructions for different devices:

📱 For smartphones (MIUI 12/13/14):

Additionally, you can prohibit the display of advertising in system applications:

1. Go to Settings → Special Opportunities → Advertising.
2. Turn off the option of “Personalized Advertising”.
3. In the same menu, click “Reset Ad ID” – this will reduce the number of targeted banners.

📺 For TVs (Mi) TV/PatchWall):

To reduce the number of content recommendations:

1. Press the Home button on the remote to open PatchWall.
2. Go to Settings → Accounts and Security → Mi Account → Content Recommendations.
3. Turn off “Personalized Recommendations” and “Partner Recommendations.”
4. Return to Settings → Applications → App Management and clear the data for PatchWall (this will reset your browsing history).

🏠 For smart devices (Mi Home):

To disable automation tips:

1. Open the Mi Home app.
2. Go to Profile → Settings → Notifications.
3. Turn off “Device Guidelines” and “Automation Tips.”
4. For individual gadgets (such as Mi Robot Vacuum), go to their settings and turn off Smart Tips.

Attention! On some devices (such as Mi Band or Mi Smart Clock), the Receive Recommendations option can be hidden deeper. If you don't find it on the menu, check the About or Additional section in the gadget's settings.

What happens if you turn off the recommendations?

Many users fear that disabling this feature will disrupt the device, and in fact, the effects are minimal:

• ✅ Pluses: 🚫 Disappeared annoying notifications about “useful” functions. 🛡️ The amount of data collected will decrease (though not completely). ⚡ Battery consumption will be reduced slightly (on smartphones), as background processes of behavior analysis will stop.
• ❌ Cons: 🔍 You may miss out on really useful tips (for example, about a new feature in the app). MIUI, life-simplifier). 📺 PatchWall will make content rows less relevant (the top in popularity will show, not your preferences). 🏠 Mi Home will no longer receive notifications about optimal settings (for example, a reminder to change the filter in the air purifier).

Importantly, disabling recommendations does not affect the basic functions of the device, software updates or security, but simply makes interaction with Xiaomi’s hardware less “smart” but more private.

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If you turned off the recommendations, but after a while you wanted to return them, just clear the cache of the Mi Account app (on your smartphone) or restart the TV, and the system will start collecting data again.

Alternative ways to manage recommendations

If you don’t like how Xiaomi handles your data, but don’t want to completely abandon the recommendations, try these methods:

• 🔄 Reset history: In MIUI Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management → Services MIUI → Storage and clear the data. In PatchWall, reset your browsing history in your account settings.
• 🔒 Restricting access to data: B MIUI Turn off permissions for Mi Account in Settings → Annexes → Permissions (e.g. access to location or contacts).
• 🌐 Use alternative launchers: Install on TVs ATV Launcher or Wolf Launcher ADB, bypass PatchWall.
• 🛠️ Bastom firmware: On smartphones you can install LineageOS or Pixel Experience to get rid of Xiaomi services completely.

Attention! Installing third-party firmware or launchers can lead to loss of warranty and unstable operation of the device.

There's another life hack for Xiaomi TVs: if you don't like PatchWall recommendations, but you don't want to lose functionality, just turn off the Internet on the TV itself (in network settings). Bolzość recommendations come from the servers, and without communication they will disappear. However, this will also turn off updates and streaming services.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi recommendations