Owners of budget and mid-budget smartphones like the Xiaomi Redmi 9 often encounter intrusive ads that overlap the desktop or appear when unlocking the device.It is annoying, distracting and, in some cases, can indicate the presence of malware.The problem lies not only in the installed applications, but also in the system services of MIUI, which are default set to display advertising content.
This requires a comprehensive approach, because simply closing one window is not enough. You need to analyze the list of installed programs, check browser permissions and disable hidden system processes. In this article, we will discuss all possible causes of pop-ups and provide detailed instructions for eliminating them, so that your Redmi 9 works cleanly and quickly.
It's worth noting that some types of advertising are part of the manufacturer's ecosystem, and others are the result of third-party developers of free applications, and understanding the source of a problem is the first step to solving it successfully, and we'll look at methods from simple menu settings to deeper system analysis.
Analysis of advertising sources on Redmi 9
Before you start taking action, it’s important to understand the nature of pop-up windows. There are two main types of ads on Xiaomi devices: system (from the shell of MIUI) and third-party (from installed applications or viruses), System advertising usually appears in standard applications such as Explorer, Security, or Music, which is less aggressive, but still interferes.
Third-party ads that can pop up at any time, even on the desktop, are often a sign of installing a junk app, such as free flashlights, memory cleaners, low-quality games or photo editing apps, and the malicious code of such programs uses special permissions to display windows on top of other applications.
Notifications from websites in the browser can also be a source of problems, and if you accidentally allow a site to display notifications, it can spam you with suggestions even when the browser is closed, and it is important to distinguish between these types, since the methods of dealing with them are radically different.
Disabling MIUI System Advertising (MSA)
The main source of built-in advertising in Xiaomi smartphones is the system process MSA (MIUI System Ads), which is responsible for collecting data and displaying banner ads in native applications, and disabling this service is the most effective way to clear the interface from embedded marketing without installing third-party software.
To start, you need to go to the network settings. Open the Settings menu, find the Password and Security section (or Advanced Settings depending on the version of MIUI). Next, select Access to Personal Data. In the list that opens, find the msa line and turn the switch to the "Switched off" position.
The system will try to prevent this from happening and will show a countdown timer (usually 10 seconds), urging you to leave the ad, you have to wait until the countdown ends and press the Turn off button. If you fail the first time, repeat the procedure 2-3 times until the system succumbs. This is the standard protection against accidental shutdown.
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If the MSA switch turns on itself again after a while, try turning off the internet (Wi-Fi and mobile data) before performing the procedure and then turn off the service.
When you turn off the MSA, you should also remove personalized ads, and go to Settings → Password & Security → Privacy → Advertising Services. You should activate the option to turn off ad personalization. This action will not remove the ads completely, but will make them less intrusive and unrelated to your interests.
Search and Remove Malware Applications
If the ad pops up on top of all windows, has a strange look, or appears at random moments, it is likely that a third-party app is to blame.On Redmi 9, such programs are often masked: they may not have icons on the desktop or the name may be empty (white).
To find the culprit, go to Settings → Apps → All Apps. scroll through the list carefully. Look for apps without an icon or with a suspicious name. Also look at the installation date — if the ad has appeared recently, sorting by installation date will help you quickly find culprit.
- 🔍 Open the list of installed apps and look for programs with an empty name or a transparent icon.
- 🗑️ When a suspicious item is detected, immediately click Delete.
- 🛡️ Check apps with “Display on top of other apps” rights in the Special Features section.
- 📉 Pay attention to the utilities “Memory Cleanup”, “Battery” or “Flashlight” – they most often contain aggressive advertising.
☑️ Virus testing
In some cases, you can't delete an application immediately because it has administrator rights. Go to Settings → Password and Security → Privacy → Special Access → Device Administrator Applications. If you see an unknown application there, uncheck it and then delete it in the usual way.
Blocking advertising notifications in the browser
Often users confuse system advertising with site notifications. If you ever clicked "Allow" on a site with questionable content, it was given the right to send you push notifications. They look like regular messages, but lead to advertising pages.
To solve a problem in a standard Chrome browser (or MI Browser), go to the settings. Click on three dots in the corner of the screen, select Settings → Site Settings → Notifications. Here you will see a list of sites that are allowed to send notifications. Just delete any suspicious or unknown addresses from the list of allowed addresses.
An alternative and more reliable way to use DNS This allows you to filter traffic at the system level without requiring heavy antivirus installation. In the phone settings, find the Connection and Sharing (or Wi-Fi) section. DNS (Private DNS).
dns.adguard.comEnter this address in the private DNS settings field and save it. This action will redirect all requests to known ad servers to nowhere. The effect will be noticeable immediately: ads will disappear in browsers and in many free applications. However, it is worth remembering that when using public Wi-Fi networks (in cafes, airports), such a DNS can block the authorization page, so it sometimes has to be disabled.
What if the ads didn’t disappear after the DNS change?
Comparison of blocking methods
There are many ways to combat unwanted content, but not all of them are equally effective for a particular Redmi 9 model. Below is a table comparing the main methods by their effectiveness and complexity of implementation.
| Method | Efficiency | Difficulty | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSA shutdown | High (systemic advertising) | Low. | Minimum |
| Private DNS (AdGuard) | Medium/High | Low. | Could slow down the internet |
| Deletion of applications | High (viruses) | Medium | Loss of software functionality |
| Antivirus programs | Medium | Low. | Battery consumption |
As you can see from the table, the combination of disabling MSA and using Private DNS gives the best result with minimal time.
Setup of the built-in blocker in MIUI
The MIUI shell on Redmi 9 has its own powerful locking tool that many people forget about. It's in the standard Safety app (green zipper icon). Open it and find the Blocker section.
Inside the blocker menu, go to the settings (cog icon) where you can turn on ad blocking for the browser and some applications, and it is also recommended to activate Site Blocker by adding known advertising domains there if the automatic mode misses some of them.
⚠️ Warning: Do not install multiple antivirus apps at once.They can conflict with each other, cause malfunctions in the Redmi 9 and significantly speed up battery drain.
Additionally, the blocker settings have a "Schedule Lock" or "Do Not Disturb" function, which can be useful but do not solve the problem of advertising completely. URL-Addresses that are updated by the cloud.
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The integrated use of the built-in MIUI blocker and the MSA service shutdown eliminates 90% of all ads on Redmi 9 without the need for root rights.
Prevention and safe use
After cleaning your phone, it’s important to follow simple digital hygiene rules so that the problem doesn’t come back. First of all, don’t install apps from unknown sources. In Android, these are files with the.apk extension downloaded from forums or third-party sites. Google Play Protect and Xiaomi’s built-in scanner usually cope with basic threats, but human factor remains the main risk.
Read carefully the permissions the app requests when installing. If a simple calculator requests access to contacts, geolocation, and SMS sending, this is a clear sign of malware. Cancel installation of such programs immediately.
- 🚫 Don’t click on the bright banners “Your phone is infected!” in the browser – this is a false advertisement.
- 📲 Install apps only from the official Google Play store or GetApps.
- 🔄 Regularly update the system and applications through the Settings menu → The phone.
It's also helpful to check the installed list periodically, and if you see an application that you haven't used in months, or one that you don't remember installing, you'd better delete it.
Can you get rid of Xiaomi ads forever?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why does advertising appear even after the app is removed?
Is it safe to turn off the MSA service on Redmi 9?
How to remove advertising in the “Conductor” application?
Do I need to install an antivirus if there is already an advertisement?
⚠️ Warning: If after all the manipulations, the ad continues to appear and blocks the device, you may need a complete factory reset.Be sure to back up important data before doing so, as all files will be deleted.
Compliance with these guidelines will allow you to enjoy using the Xiaomi Redmi 9 without unnecessary visual noise. Regular checking of settings and attentiveness when installing new software is the best protection against intrusive advertising in the future.