How to turn off pop-up chat on Xiaomi: the full guide

Xiaomi smartphone owners often encounter intrusive interface elements that appear at the most inopportune moment, such as an ad offer, a pop-up from a video player, or a security system notification that overrides app content, and it is especially annoying when a strange chat or window flies over games or while watching videos.

The nature of these windows varies from embedded ads in system applications to aggressive notifications from preinstalled services like Mi Video or GetApps. To regain comfort, you need to pinpoint the source of the problem. Most of the time, it's not a virus, but a standard MIUI or HyperOS firmware behavior that can be configured flexibly.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible pop-up options, learn to distinguish between system ads, security notifications, and floating window widgets, go through the hidden settings that even experienced users often overlook, and make a plan of action to completely clean the interface of garbage.

Identification of the source of the pop-up window

The first step is always to diagnose. You can't just blindly turn off services without understanding what's causing the system to react. A pop-up chat can be a recommendation window from a Security app or a banner ad in your browser.

Notice the top of the pop-up, and often the small print shows the name of the app or service. MSA (MIUI System Ads, if the window resembles a support dialogue or suggests installing an antivirus, it may be the result of third-party software.

⚠️ Warning: If the pop-up says your phone is infected and suggests calling a number or downloading an app, do not follow the links.

To determine exactly what application is causing a window to appear, and immediately open the process menu. Depending on the version of the shell, you will see an active application in the background. It also helps to observe the behavior of the system: whether a window appears when a particular application is launched or randomly at any time.

System windows often have a standard MIUI design, while malicious scripts can mimic system messages but have grammatical errors or strange fonts.It is critical not to confuse Security's system notification with a real threat.

Disabling MSA Advertising and System Notifications

The most common source of pop-ups is MSA (MIUI System Ads), which is responsible for showing advertising recommendations in system applications and on the desktop, and disabling this service is the first step to a clean interface.

To deactivate ads, go to the Settings menu and select Password and Security. In the list that opens, look for Access to Personal Data (or "Authorization and Privacy"). This list shows all system components that have access to your data.

Find msa on the list and turn off the slider, the system will alert you that some features may stop working, and will start a countdown timer for 10 seconds.

However, one MSA disablement may not be enough: Advertising modules are often duplicated in other system applications.For example, the Explorer or Downloads app may have its own recommendation switches.

Also worth checking is the Security app settings. It often hides 5 virus alerts or memory cleanup suggestions inside, which look like pop-up chats. Go to the Security app, click on the gear in the corner, and turn off "Receive recommendations" and "Security Notices."

Managing Floating Windows and Multitasking

Sometimes people mistake the shell for advertising, and Xiaomi has a convenient floating window system that allows you to run an app in a small window over another window, so if you accidentally open a window like this, you can easily close it or fold it.

A floating window usually has a thin bezel and control buttons in the corners. To close it, touch the cross. If the windows open by themselves, check the multitasking settings. Go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Floating Windows.

You can set the behavior of the system when you fold applications, and some users accidentally activate a mode where the applications don't close, but fold into a little buck on the screen, which can create the illusion of a constantly hanging chat.

Notice the Sidebar feature, which allows you to quickly open applications in floating mode, and if the panel is activated accidentally when you touch the edge of the screen, it can lead to unexpected windows.

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To prevent the sidebar from popping out accidentally, reduce the sensitivity of the screen edge in the display settings or turn off the panel itself in the menu 'Advanced settings'.

Set up notifications in Mi Video and GetApps

Two of the most aggressive sources of pop-up content are the GetApps app store and the Mi Video video player, which like to notify users about new products, promotions and updates, creating the effect of constant dialogue with the system.

To disable notifications in GetApps, open the app, go to the profile (human icon) and select Settings. Find the Notifications section and uncheck all ticks, especially those related to "Recommendations" and "Promotions."

The situation is similar in the Mi Video app: Open the video player, go to My (or profile), then to Settings. You are interested in Online Services or Notifications. Turn off Push notifications so that the video stops opening automatically in the floating window.

⚠️ Warning: After updating the firmware, the notification settings in the system applications may be reset to factory ones. Periodically check these sections to ensure that the ads do not return.

Also, you should limit the background activity of these applications. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find GetApps or Mi Video, select Battery and set a background activity limit. This will prevent you from running ad modules when you are not using these programs.

If you don't use these services at all, you can turn them off completely. In the app management menu (where the Start button is), select the "Disable" option, which will hide the icon and prevent the application from running any processes.

Blocking advertising in the browser and applications

Often, pop-up chat is just a web ad that opens in the background tab of your browser or in a low-quality app. Browsers like Mi Browser or Chrome can show push notifications from sites you accidentally subscribe to.

To clear your Chrome subscriptions, go to Settings → Site Settings → Notifications. Check the list of permitted sites and delete any suspicious addresses. In Mi Browser, the path is similar to: Settings → Privacy and Security → Ad Blocking.

Turn on the built-in ad blocker in the browser. This will significantly reduce the number of pop-ups when surfing the Internet. It is also recommended to install a third-party blocker, such as AdGuard, if the built-in tools are not enough.

Some applications require special permissions to display on top of other windows. Check which programs have access to the "Master on top of other applications" feature. Path to setup: Settings → Privacy Protection → Special features (or in search of settings type "on top of others").

Disable this access for all applications that don’t need it (for example, messengers need it for video calls, but the calculator does not).

Using DNS to block advertising at the network level

The most effective way to get rid of pop-up ads throughout the system is to use a private DNS filtered, which requires no application installation and works at the network connection level.

Go to Settings → Connection and Sharing (or “Additional Settings” → “Private DNS”). Select the “DNS Provider Host Name” mode and type in the address: dns.adguard.com.

dns.adguard.com

Save the settings. DNS-Your phone’s queries will be processed through AdGuard servers, which automatically filter out known ad domains, which will help remove ads not only in the browser, but also in many apps and games.

It’s important to understand that this method can slow down the initial connection to sites, but in general, the Internet becomes cleaner and safer. If a site or application stops working correctly, you can always temporarily disable DNS, returning the setting to Auto mode.

⚠️ Note: When using a third party DNS Make sure you enter the address correctly. A mistake in one character can result in a complete lack of access to the Internet.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Integrated approach including shutdown MSA, Configure notifications for specific applications and use DNS-filter, guarantees complete elimination of pop-up ads on Xiaomi.