Modern Xiaomi smartphones have a powerful shell MIUI It's not without the one big drawback that even HyperOS has, which is intrusive advertising, which is in system applications, in the browser, even when you're using third-party software. DNS-filtering that blocks requests to ad servers at the network level.
Using AdGuard DNS allows you to cut off advertising traffic before it hits your screen. This does not require installing heavy applications that consume battery, since the setup is done at the system level through the DNS-over-TLS protocol. In this article, we will discuss all the nuances of connection and possible difficulties.
It takes only a few minutes to activate the protection, and you'll notice the results instantly, and the Internet will load faster, the banners will disappear, and the traffic will be spent more economically, so let's look at how to properly integrate this tool into your device.
What is Private DNS and how does it work for Android?
Private technology DNS (private DNS) It was introduced in Android 9 Pie and became the standard for encryption. DNS-Unlike the old methods, it uses a protocol. TLS, This makes your queries invisible to the ISP and protects you from domain name swapping. On Xiaomi devices, this feature is built deep into the system.
When you type in a site address or an app tries to download content, the phone sends a request to the domain name server. If you've assigned an AdGuard address, the server checks that domain on its database. If the domain is labeled as an ad or tracker, the server returns a blank response, and the ads simply don't load.
It works globally for the entire device. You don't have to configure each browser separately. Whether it's Chrome, Yandex Browser or built-in browser. MIUI — They will all use the same thing you do. DNS-This provides comprehensive protection without unnecessary actions on the part of the user.
⚠️ Note: When using third-party DNS-servers make sure you trust the server owner, as he sees the history of your visits to sites. DNS It is positioned as a service that does not store user logs.
What is the difference between DNS and VPN?
Step-by-step: activation through system settings
The most reliable and easy way to connect protection is to use the built-in Android menu, which requires no root rights and works consistently on all current versions of Xiaomi firmware.
First, open the main settings menu on your smartphone. Find the section that connects to the Internet. Depending on the version of the MIUI shell or HyperOS, the names of the items may vary slightly, but the logic remains the same.
You need to find Private DNS (or Private DNS) and the default option is Auto or Disabled, switch to DNS Host Name (or Manual) and enter a special server address.
☑️ Checking before setting up
To work filtering advertising, you must enter the following address in the input field:
dns.adguard.comOnce you enter the address, click the Save button. The system will check the server's availability. If the address is entered correctly, the connection will establish, and you will see the key icon or the words "Connected" in the status bar (not on all models).
Alternative methods and server addressing
The standard dns.adguard.com address blocks ads and trackers, but developers have other servers with advanced functionality, and you can choose the one that works best for your tasks, such as blocking adult sites or only malware.
Below is a table with the main addresses that you can prescribe in the Private DNS settings on your Xiaomi. Choose the one you want and copy it to the settings field.
| Type of filtration | Server address (Hostname) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Standard. | dns.adguard.com | Blocking Advertising, Trackers and Phishing |
| Family | dns-family.adguard.com | Ad Blocking + Content 18+ |
| No filtration. | dns-unfiltered.adguard.com | DNS encryption only, without blocking |
Using DNS-over-TLS through these addresses ensures that your ISP cannot substitute the DNS server response, especially in public Wi-Fi networks where data security is at risk.
If you decide to change servers, just re-enter the settings and replace the hostname with a new one. The changes take effect instantly, and you don't usually need to restart the device.
Configure through the official AdGuard app
While system setup is effective, it's limited by the protocol, and for more flexible management, you can use the official AdGuard app for Android. VPN-Tunneling through your filter.
After installing the application, you will need to give him permission to create VPN-It's not real. VPN, It's coming to another country, and it's a local interface for packet filtering. DNS-defense.
In the application you can select a specific DNS-You can add your own server from a list, and the advantage of the app is that it allows you to log requests, and you can see which domains are being blocked in real time.
⚠️ Note: Simultaneous use of system private DNS and VPN-Applications (including AdGuard) VPN) If the app doesn't start, turn off Private. DNS Android-based.
Extended filters are also available in the app that do not support standard DNS, for example, Cosmetic filtering removes empty spaces left after removing banner ads on web pages.
Solving common problems and errors
Sometimes after switching on DNS-The filtering of the Internet may stop working or work unstable, most often due to the fact that the selected server is not available or blocked by your ISP, in which case, try switching from Wi-Fi to mobile Internet to check the Internet.
Another common problem on Xiaomi is its aggressive energy saving system, which can kill the background processes that drive the network connection, go to the battery settings and find the app if you're using a third-party client, and select No Limits mode.
If you typed in dns.adguard.com, but the system says "Did not connect", check that it is spelled correctly. The address should not have http:// or https:// prefixes, only a clean domain name.
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If the internet is gone after setting up your DNS, temporarily disable Private DNS (set Auto or Retraction) to restore access, and try to re-enter the address by carefully checking each letter.
It is also worth considering that some applications (for example, banking or corporate) can block work if non-standard applications are detected. DNS-settings VPN-In such cases, an exception must be made.
Impact DNS-Filter speed and battery
Many users fear that constant address verification will slow down the smartphone; in practice, using DNS-over-TLS has little impact on page load speed; on the contrary, by blocking heavy ad scripts, websites often open faster.
Battery consumption is minimal when using a system Private DNS, because it's a native function of the operating system. It doesn't keep the processor active all the time. Filters can use a little more power because of the background.
But the traffic savings can be substantial: Advertising and videos in apps can consume up to 30 percent of mobile traffic, and blocking them not only saves money, but also reduces the load on the smartphone’s radio module, which indirectly prolongs the battery life.
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System Private DNS is the “gold standard” for Xiaomi: it is free, secure, does not require the installation of excess software and practically does not affect the autonomy of the device.
It is worth noting that in some rare cases, when the ad server coincides with the domain of the useful service, the site may cease to function, in which case the DNS should be temporarily disabled.