Many smartphone users are faced with a situation where the device interface begins to behave intrusively. Instead of a clean desktop, you see endless offers to install games, utilities or services that you absolutely do not need. These so-called application recommendations often appear in the most unexpected places: when typing, in folders with apps, or right on the main screen. Such content not only distracts from work, but can also significantly reduce system performance by consuming resources in the background.
Fortunately, most modern shells allow you to flexibly customize the display of such content. The disabling process may vary depending on the manufacturer of your gadget and the version of the operating system. In some cases, it is enough to change a couple of settings in the menu, in others, you will need a deeper intervention in the launcher parameters. We will analyze all the main scenarios so that you can return your smartphone to its original, clean look.
Below are detailed instructions covering various interfaces from stock Android to custom shells like MIUI, One UI and ColorOS. You'll learn how to block ads in system folders, disable offers in the Google Play store, and remove unnecessary widgets from the lock screen. It is important to understand that some interface elements may have different names, but the logic of their operation remains similar.
Disable recommendations in folders and on the main screen
The most common place for uninvited guests to appear is application folders. When you open a group of icons at the bottom of the screen, the system will often load a block with the heading "Recommended" or "You may like." To remove this element, you need to go to the settings of the launcher itself. This is usually done with a long tap on the free space on the desktop.
In the menu that opens, select the item Desktop settings or Home screen settings. Here you need to look for options related to displaying content. The names may vary: Recommendations, App Suggestions, Google Feed, or Smart Assistant. Disabling these toggle switches will instantly clear folders of advertising inserts.
It is worth noting that on Samsung devices with shell One UI the settings may be hidden deeper. You will need to go to the section Home screen and find the item responsible for displaying offers. On Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones in the shell MIUI or HyperOS a similar function is often called “Get recommendations”.
⚠️ Attention: After updating the firmware, some settings may be reset to factory settings. If recommendations appear again, check this section of the menu again.
Some manufacturers integrate news feeds directly into the left side of the main screen. Swiping to the right can open Yandex.Zen, Google Discover, or your own news aggregators with advertising. If you do not use these functions, it is also better to deactivate them to save traffic and battery power.
Customizing the Google search bar and widgets
The Google search bar, usually located at the bottom or top of the screen, is a powerful source of personalized content. By default, it can suggest apps based on your activity history. To stop this, you need to change the settings of the search widget.
Click on the profile icon in the search bar or long-press the widget itself to get into its configuration. Select item Settings, then go to section General. Here you need to find the option Show recommendations or Show recommendations and set the switch to inactive. This action will hide the suggestions under the search bar.
It is also worth paying attention to the Google Discover function, which opens when you swipe from the left edge of the screen. It often contains articles and application suggestions. To disable it, go to the Google application settings, select Feed and turn off its display.
If you cannot find the search widget settings with a long press, try removing the widget from the screen and adding it again from the widget menu - sometimes this resets the custom offer settings.
Owners of devices with pure Android may encounter the fact that the search bar cannot be disabled. In this case, you can replace the standard launcher with a third-party one, for example Nova Launcher or Lawnchair, which provide full control over the appearance of the interface and do not show intrusive recommendations.
Removing offers in the Google Play store
The Google Play application store is the main distribution channel for recommendations. Even if you have disabled them on the desktop, the store itself will actively offer new software. To reduce the degree of intrusiveness, you need to set up notifications and personalization within the store itself.
Open the application Play Market, click on the profile icon in the upper right corner and select Settings. In the section General find the item Notifications. Here you can turn off notifications about new apps, games, and special offers. This will prevent notification icons with advertising from appearing in the curtain.
Next, you should limit the collection of data for personalization. In the same settings menu, find the section Recommendations or Personalization. Disable the option to allow your browsing and installation history to be used to create a feed of suggestions. This will make the results less relevant, but also less intrusive.
| Offer type | Where it is disabled | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|
| Discount notifications | Play Store Settings → Notifications | Informational only |
| Recommendations in the feed | Play Store Settings → Personalization | Reduces data collection |
| Auto-update games | Play Store Settings → Auto-update | Saves traffic |
| Offers in folders | Launcher settings → Recommendations | Clears the interface |
Remember that it is impossible to completely remove all advertising from the store, since this is its business model. However, turning off notifications and personalization will significantly reduce the amount of visual noise.
☑️ Check store settings
Clearing the lock screen from ads
The lock screen is another popular place to place advertising content. Manufacturers often include by default the "Wallpaper Carousel" or "Lock History" function, which, every time the screen wakes up, shows new pictures with sponsor logos or offers to install applications.
To get rid of this, go to Settings smartphone, then to the Wallpaper and style or Lock screen. Find the item responsible for changing the wallpaper. On Xiaomi it is Wallpaper carousel, on Samsung - Background service pictures, on Realme and Oppo - Lock log. Simply disable this feature and the lock screen will become static.
Also check the notification settings on the lock screen. Sometimes application recommendations come in the form of regular notifications from system services. Go to Settings → Notifications → Manage notifications. Find services with names like "MSA" (on Xiaomi), "Push service" or "Recommendations" and block them from showing notifications.
⚠️ Warning: Disabling the wallpaper carousel service will return a static image. If you like to change the background often, you will have to do it manually through the gallery.
Some Huawei and Honor models have the “Theme Store” function, which can also be integrated into the lock screen. It is recommended to check the theme settings and disable automatic loading of content if such an option is present.
What is MSA on Xiaomi?
MSA (MIUI System Ads) is a system service responsible for displaying advertising in the MIUI interface. Disabling it requires additional actions through the permission settings and may require turning off the Internet for 10 seconds during the process.
Specifics of disabling on different brands
Each manufacturer of Android smartphones implements the recommendation mechanism in its own way. There is no universal “Disable all” button, so it is important to know the features of your model. Below are the key differences in the approaches of popular brands. On devices, the bulk of recommendations are concentrated in the service and on the main screen. Disabling
On devices Samsung the bulk of recommendations are concentrated in the service Bixby and on the main screen. Shutdown Google Discover and turning off the page Bixby Home (swipe left) solves 90% of problems. It is also worth going into the application Galaxy Store and disable marketing mailings in its settings.
Smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO require the most careful configuration. In addition to disabling recommendations in folders and the wallpaper carousel, you need to go to the system settings, find the section Passwords and security → Access to personal data and revoke consent from the service msa. This is a system advertising module that will continue to work without this action.
Devices Realme, Oppo, OnePlus (ColorOS/OxygenOS shell) often have a built-in aggregator of news and applications, which is activated by swiping to the right. In the desktop settings you need to disable the item -1 screen or Smart Assistant. Also check the application Phone Managerwhich sometimes sends push notifications with tips on cleaning and installing games.
On Xiaomi devices, it is critical to revoke consent from the msa service in the privacy settings, otherwise advertising may return even after disabling visible switches.
If you are using a smartphone from Google Pixel or Motorola with pure Android, the situation is the simplest. There is no built-in system advertising, and all recommendations come exclusively from Google applications, which are configured centrally through the account.
Additional measures and use of ADB
In cases where standard settings do not help get rid of particularly aggressive system applications, you can use a more advanced method - disabling components via ADB (Android Debug Bridge). This method requires connecting your smartphone to your computer and having basic command line skills.
First, you need to activate developer mode. Go to Settings → About phone and click 7 times on the item Build number. Then in the menu For developers enable USB debugging. Connect your phone to your PC and run the command to remove or freeze advertising packages.
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.bbdadb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.misys
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.facebook.katana
Commands will vary depending on the brand and the specific package you want to remove. For example, to disable the Xiaomi recommendation service, the package com.miui.msa.globalis used. Be extremely careful: disabling system components necessary for the operation of the phone may lead to system instability.
⚠️ Warning: Using ADB to remove system applications may void the warranty or cause the device to become bricked if an error occurs. Use this method only if you understand what you are doing.
An alternative to manually entering commands is to use special utilities like Universal Android Debloater. They provide a graphical interface to safely disable pre-installed software. Before starting the procedure, be sure to make a full backup of your data.
Is it possible to return something deleted via ADB?
Yes, if you used the uninstall command with the --user 0 flag, the application is not physically removed, but only hidden for the current user. Resetting to factory settings will return everything to its place.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why do recommendations appear again after disabling?
This may happen after updating the system or a specific application. Manufacturers often reset privacy settings during major Android updates. Also, some services tend to reactivate if you accidentally click on a banner. It is recommended to periodically check the launcher settings.
Does disabling recommendations affect the speed of the phone?
Yes, disabling background processes responsible for collecting data and displaying advertising (such as MSA or Google Discovery) has a positive effect on performance. The smartphone uses less RAM and CPU time, which is especially noticeable on budget models.
Is it safe to disable system applications through settings?
Disabling switches in the settings menu (for example, “Recommendations” or “Wallpaper Carousel”) is completely safe. This is standard functionality provided by the developers. The risk only arises when using ADB to remove critical system components that are not intended to be disabled by the user.
Is it possible to completely remove ads from Android without root access?
It is difficult to completely remove all advertising, since they are integrated into many free applications. However, you can completely remove intrusive interface suggestions without obtaining superuser rights, using the methods described in this article. system recommendations and intrusive interface suggestions can be done entirely without gaining root privileges using the methods described in this article.
What to do if there is no option to disable recommendations in the menu?
In some regions or on specific firmware versions, these items may be hidden. In this case, changing the region in the phone settings (for example, to India or Singapore, where the legislation is stricter on advertising) or installing a third-party launcher will help.