How to Remove False Notifications on Xiaomi: The Complete Guide

Do you see suspicious notifications about “viruses”, “lottery wins” or “system updates” on your Xiaomi, Redmi or Poco? These messages appear even when you haven’t installed any new apps? Chances are your smartphone has been attacked by false notifications — one of the most common problems on devices with MIUI firmware. Unlike regular spam, such alerts are often disguised as system messages, which makes them especially dangerous.

In this article, we will look at where fake notifications on Xiaomi come from, how they differ from real system alerts, and most importantly, how to disable them once and for all. MIUI, We're going to focus on some of the things that help block spam, and radical things like resetting or flashing. X5 And Xiaomi 13, where the problem is most common, and if you've tried standard methods before and nothing has worked, you'll find solutions that aren't written about in the official documentation.

Why are there false notifications on Xiaomi?

The main reason for the emergence of fake notifications is malicious applications that have penetrated the system, and they can get to the device in different ways:

• 📱 Third-party APK-Installing programs from unverified sources (not from Google Play or Mi App Store) is a major risk, especially when the versions of popular apps are hacked.
• 🔗 Phishing links. Clicking on suspicious links to SMS, Messengers or social networks can automatically download malicious code.
• 📦 Built-in viruses in firmware. Rarely, but there are cases where false notifications appear after an update MIUI through informal channels.
• 🎯 Promotional SDK. Some legitimate applications (especially games or utilities) use aggressive ad libraries that display notifications on behalf of the system.

Distinguish a fake notification from the present can be on several grounds:

Important: False notifications often mimic messages from Mi Security or Google Play Protect, requiring an "urgent security update" or "delete viruses." These system alerts never contain direct links to downloading files.

Method 1: Verification of installed applications

The first step in combating fake notifications is to audit installed programs, and many malicious utilities disguise themselves as harmless applications (calculators, flashlights, memory cleaners) to find them:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Show System Processes.
3. Sort the list by installation date (Last) – often viruses are hidden among newly added programs.
4. Pay attention to apps with suspicious names: 🚨 System Update (if you have not updated the software) 🚨 Clean Master or similar "optimizers" 🚨 Apps with random letter sets (com.xyz.abc)

If you find a suspicious app:

1. Click on it → Delete (if the button is inactive, stop first).
2. If deletion is blocked, go to Settings → Special Options and check if the application has administrator rights.
3. Safe Mode may be required to remove completely (click the off button → Safe Mode).

Method 2: Block notifications in MIUI settings

If a malicious application cannot be removed or is hidden too well, you can manually disable its notifications. MIUI has two layers of alert management:

Level 1: General Notification settings

1. Go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Notification management.
2. Turn on the filter to show all applications.
3. Scroll through the list and find suspicious programs: 📛 Icons without a name (just a white square) 📛 Applications with zero notifications in history but with allowed alerts 📛 Names such as Android System or Service Host (if there are several of them)

Disable notifications

Level 2: Hidden system notifications

Some malware is registered as a system service, and to find it:

1. Activate Developer Mode (7 times click on the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone).
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find the item Do not limit background activity and check if there are unknown applications.
4. Turn off background activity for suspicious programs.

💡

If there are too many unknown apps on the notification list, take a screenshot and check the names through a Google search. Often, APK can be found in specialized forums.

Method 3: Using Mi Security to scan

The built-in Mi Security app (or Security on Russian firmware) has tools to look for malware, but it doesn't always work effectively.

1. Open Security. → Scan.
2. Select a Deep Scan (can take 10-15 minutes).
3. Once you've finished, check the Threats section. Even if no viruses are found, pay attention to the threat: 🔍 High-risk applications (even if they are not removed) 🔍 Advertising – It is often overlooked 🔍 Unusual permissions for legitimate programs (e.g. access to the software) SMS flashlight)

If Mi Security does not find threats, but notifications continue to appear:

• 🔄 Update virus databases manually (Settings) → Updating the bases).
• 🔄 Try alternative antiviruses (Malwarebytes, Kaspersky), but delete them after checking - the constant operation of the third-party antiviruses can conflict with the security of the virus. MIUI.

Method 4: Radical methods - resetting and flashing

If none of the previous methods worked, we'll have to resort to radical measures, from the mildest to the hardest.

1. Resetting settings to factory

This will delete all user data, but it will save the firmware.

• 📱 Make a backup copy through Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset.
• 📱 Remember the Mi Account details – after the reset, you will need confirmation.
• 📱 Make sure you have access to SIM-Card (required to be unlocked).

The dump itself:

1. Settings → About the phone → Resetting settings.
2. Choose to erase all data.
3. After restarting, do not restore data from the backup – it may contain a virus.

2. Flashing through Fastboot

If the virus is embedded in the firmware (which is extremely rare), only a complete reinstallation of MIUI will help:

1. Download the official firmware for your model from the Xiaomi Firmware website.
2. Unpack the archive and connect the phone to your PC in Fastboot mode (clip Volume Down + Power when the phone is off).
3. Use the Mi Flash Tool for firmware (instructions are available on 4PDA).

💡

Resetting helps 90% of the time, but if a virus has damaged system files, you may need to flash it. After any of these procedures, don't install apps for the first 2-3 days - see if notifications return.

⚠️ Warning: Fastboot Flashing removes warranty and can lead to device blink if the wrong version is selected MIUI. For models with a locked bootloader (Redmi Note 11, Xiaomi 12 and later) will need to unlock through the Mi Unlock Tool, which takes up to 720 hours of waiting.

How to Prevent False Notifications in the Future

To minimize the risk of re-infection:

• 🛡️ Disable the installation from unknown sources: Settings → Annexes → Special access → Install unknown applications. Disable permission for all browsers and file managers.

Use two-factor authentication

Mi Account

Don't download. APK-file

APKMirror

Update MIUI regularly

For additional protection:

• 🛡️ Install NetGuard (no root) to block Internet access to suspicious applications.
• 🛡️ Enable Google Play Protect (Settings) → Google → Security).
• 🛡️ Periodically check the list of applications with administrator rights (Settings) → Passwords and security → Administrator rights of the device).