Access control of personal data on Xiaomi: what to disable

Owners of devices running on the MIUI shell or HyperOS often face intrusive notifications and requests for statistics. Xiaomi ecosystem is deeply integrated into the operating system, which creates the illusion of inability to change privacy settings.

Telemetry, geolocation and application usage data are collected in the background, consuming battery power and Internet traffic. Understanding what system processes are responsible for is critical for any user who values their digital security. In this article, we will discuss specific services that can and should be restricted.

It's worth noting right away that completely disabling some components can disrupt standard features like Find Device or personalize ads.The balance between convenience and privacy is what we'll be looking for. Below are proven methods for restricting access rights.

Analysis of system data collection services

The main data collector is MSA (MIUI System Ads), which is responsible for displaying ads in system applications, and it requires constant network connection and analysis of your actions, and disabling this component is the first step to cleaning up the system from unnecessary noise.

Another important element is miui.daemon, which collects device usage statistics and sends reports to the manufacturer's servers, and while technically it helps improve the product, in practice, the user rarely benefits directly from it, while losing some privacy.

⚠️ Note: Complete removal of system packages requires root rights or use ADB, We only look at standard methods of disabling through settings.

Also worth paying attention to is the Analytics service, which tracks crash rates and feature usage. Even if you don't manually send error reports, background data collection can continue.

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Before making changes to your system settings, back up important data to avoid accidental loss of information.

Configure privacy settings in MIUI and HyperOS

Xiaomi's shell security interface is constantly changing, but the basics are the same. You need to go to Settings and find the password and security interface, and that's where the key switches are.

Inside the security menu, you should look for a privacy subsection, which often hides the possibility of disabling ad personalization, and the system may offer you an "enhanced experience," but in fact it's an agreement to collect data for targeted advertising, and it's standard practice to reject this offer.

• 🔒 Go to Settings. → Passwords and security → Confidentiality.
• 📉 Find the Advertising Services item and turn off the Advertising Personalization switch».
• 📊 In the section "Use and diagnosis" uncheck the boxes from automatic reporting.
• 🌐 Check location settings and restrict access for system applications that are not critical to it.

It's important to understand that some changes only take effect after the device is restarted. If you've changed your settings but advertising or data collection continues, try to complete the full cycle of turning off and on your smartphone, which will clear the cache of system services.

Management of special opportunities

Special attention should be paid to the section “Accessibility” – a powerful tool that was originally created for people with disabilities, but is often used by applications to gain deep access to the system. In the context of Xiaomi, services that analyze the contents of the screen may be hiding here.

If you go to Settings → Settings → Special Options → Special Options, you will see a list of all the apps that have these rights. If you see Mi Video, Mi Music or unknown system processes here, you should think about why a player should access the interface.

⚠️ Attention: Disabling the Security or System Framework service in this section can cause the phone to function unstable.

Often users install the software or antivirus applications that require these rights. On Xiaomi smartphones, this is not necessary, since the built-in antivirus already has all the necessary permissions, the presence of third-party “accelerators” only conflicts with the system and opens up unnecessary ports for data collection.

Limiting background activity and auto-start

Even if you have denied access to data, the app can try to bypass restrictions through background activity.The auto-start mechanism in MIUI allows apps to start immediately after the phone is turned on, which is often used to collect telemetry.

To control this process, open the Security app (green lightning icon). At the bottom of the screen, find the Permissions or Auto Start tool. Here is a complete list of programs that start with the system. Turn off anything that is not a messenger or alarm clock.

It is also worth checking the battery settings for each suspicious app. → App management select a specific program, go to Battery and select No Limits mode only for the right services. For others, set Battery Savings or Background Restriction».

Working with advertising ID and Mi Account

Each device has a unique advertising ID (AAID) that is used to target, which can be reset or disabled. In the privacy settings, look for Advertising ID and click Reset, which will break the link between your past activities and your current profile.

Mi Account syncs huge amounts of data, from contacts and photos to the location of the lost device. If you don’t need gallery sync or cloud backup, you’d better turn those items off manually in your account menu, leaving only the device search.

In the Cloud section, you can fine-tune what exactly is synced. Often, the default is to sync screenshots, notes and voice recorders. Disabling voice recorder sync can be critical if you're using the cloud to store important records, check this before changing settings.

Additional protection measures and FAQ

In addition to shutting down services, it is recommended to regularly check which applications have access to the microphone and camera. Modern versions of HyperOS have indicators in the upper right corner of the screen (green dots) signaling active use of these modules.

Use built-in privacy protection features such as Second Space or Application Hiding, which isolates sensitive data from your main profile, and remember to update your system, as security patches often close vulnerabilities that may have been accessed unauthorisedly.

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Regularly checking access rights and disabling unnecessary system services is the most effective way to increase privacy without losing the functionality of the Xiaomi smartphone.