Xiaomi Android Pop-up Ads: How to Get Rid of It Once and For All

Pop-up ads on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphones are one of the most annoying user problems, and even on new MIUI devices, banners can appear in unexpected places: in the notification curtain, on the desktop, in the browser, or even on top of running applications, for two reasons: either embedded MIUI ad mechanisms or virus programs that have penetrated the system.

In this article, we will discuss 7 working methods to remove ads on Xiaomi without root rights - from disabling system notifications to deep cleaning of malware. All methods are tested on the current versions of MIUI 14/15 (Android 13/14) and are suitable for models Redmi Note 12/13, POCO X5/F5, Xiaomi 13/14 and others. If you are tired of intrusive banners - read on and choose the appropriate option.

Why is there a pop-up ad on Xiaomi?

Before you remove ads, it’s important to understand the source of the ads, and there are three main reasons for this on Xiaomi smartphones:

1. MIUI system advertising is built-in banners from Xiaomi that are displayed in the settings menu, on the lock screen or in branded applications (Mi Browser, Mi Video, Themes).
2. Notifications from third-party apps – many programs (especially from Google Play or third-party sources) request permission to display ads in the curtain, often games, launchers or “optimizers”.
3. Viruses and malware – if ads appear on top of all windows (even in games or instant messengers), this is a sign of infection, such banners often lead to fraudulent sites or suggest installing suspicious APKs.

To accurately determine the source, pay attention to the appearance of banners:

• 📱 Systemic advertising MIUI — usually in Chinese/English, offers themes, games or services to Xiaomi. Appears in the settings menu or on the lock screen.
• 📲 App ads - banners in Russian, advertise other programs (e.g., "Your phone is infected! Install Cleaner Pro").
• ⚠️ Viral ads – pop up on top of all windows, often with warnings like “Your account is blocked!” or “You won your iPhone!".

If you see the latter option, do not click on banners and immediately go to the section on virus removal, otherwise it will help to disable system notifications or clear the cache.

Method 1: Disabling system advertising in MIUI (without root)

Firmware MIUI It's the default ad that shows ads in its services. To remove it, you have to deactivate a few settings. MIUI 12/13/14/15:

Detailed step-by-step instructions:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Find the MIUI version and tap it 7 times in a row (you will be notified "You became a developer").
3. Return to the main settings menu and go to Settings → Additional → Special features.
4. Turn off the options: 🔄 Receive recommendations (responsible for banners in the settings menu). 📢 Advertising Notifications (removes ads in the curtain).

Reboot the phone.

After these actions, banners in:

• 🔧 Settings menu (for example, in the "Battery" or "Storage" section").
• 📱 On the lock screen (if there were offers from Xiaomi).
• 🎨 In the Themes app (advertising themes and wallpapers).

⚠️ Note: On some models (POCO F4, Redmi Note 11 Pro+) The item "Advertising Notices" may be called Personalized Ads or hidden in Settings → Notifications → Additionally.

Method 2: Clear notifications from third-party applications

If the ad comes in the form of notifications (in the curtain), it comes from one or more installed applications to find and disable the culprit:

1. Open Settings → Notifications → Recent notifications.
2. Check out the list of apps that have recently sent notifications: 🎮 Games (especially with suspicious titles like Super Cleaner Pro"). 🔍 "Optimizers" or "accelerators" (e.g, DU Speed Booster, Clean Master). 📱 Launchers (desktop shells).

turn off notifications

Settings → Applications → Application Management

Clear the cache

Clear the data

If you are not sure which app is to blame, use Safe Start Mode:

1. Press the switch off button on the lock screen.
2. Hold your finger on the item “Switch off” – a suggestion will appear to go to Safe Mode.
3. Confirm and wait for the reboot.

Only system applications are running in safe mode, and if the ads are gone, it's one of the programs you installed that's to blame, and you take turns removing them until you find the culprit.

💡

To quickly find junk apps, sort the list into Settings → Apps by installation date. Often viruses are disguised as harmless utilities with names like System Update or Android Helper.

Method 3: Blocking Ads through Google Settings

What many people don't know is that Google also displays personalized ads through Google Play and Google Ads, to turn them off:

1. Open Settings → Google → Google Services → Advertising.
2. Activate the option to disable personalized advertising.
3. Click Reset Advertising ID (this will delete your data for targeted advertising).

You can also limit access to advertising on Google Play:

1. Open Google Play Store → tap on the profile avatar → Settings.
2. Select General → Personal Guidelines and disable the option to Improve Recommendations with App Data.

To remove the virus:

Step-by-step:

1. Download antivirus from Google Play: 🛡️ Malwarebytes (free version). 🛡️ Dr.Web Light.

⚠️ Note: Do not install antiviruses from unknown developers – some of them contain advertising modules themselves!

Run a full system scan.

Adware

RiskWare

Trojan

Settings → Applications → Browser → Storage → Clear cache / data

Reboot the phone.

If the antivirus does not find viruses, but the advertising remains, check the list of device administrators:

1. Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Device Administrators.
2. Remove any suspicious apps (e.g. Device Admin, Android Helper).

Method 5: Blocking Advertising via DNS (for Advanced Ads)

If you don’t want to install additional apps, you can block ad servers at the DNS level, which will help remove banners in the browser and some applications.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Connections and Sharing → Private DNS.
2. Select the host name of a private DNS and enter one of the addresses: 🔒 dns.adguard.com (blocks ads and trackers). 🔒 1dot1dot1dot1.cloudflare-dns.com (Cloudflare with blocking malicious sites).

Save the settings and restart the phone.

After the change of DNS, the ads will disappear in:

• 🌐 Browser (Chrome, Mi Browser).
• 📱 Some apps (for example, YouTube or TikTok will have fewer banners).

⚠️ Attention: Change DNS It can slow your Internet connection down by 5 to 10 percent, and if speed is critical, use this method only when you're connected to Wi-Fi.

Method 6: Resetting settings to factory (extreme case)

If none of these things work, you'll have to completely reset your phone, which will delete all the data, but it's guaranteed to clear the system of viruses and unnecessary applications.

How to reset:

1. Save important data (photos, contacts, messages) to your computer or to the cloud.
2. Open Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Choose to erase all data and confirm the action.
4. After rebooting, set your phone up as new without restoring your backup (it may contain viruses).

To avoid re-infection:

• 📥 Install apps only from Google Play.
• 🔍 Before installing, read reviews and check with the developer.
• 🛡️ Use an antivirus (such as Malwarebytes) to check regularly.

💡

Factory reset is the only way to guarantee that you will remove deeply embedded viruses, but only use it if other methods have not worked.

Method 7: Use of alternative firmware (for experienced)

If you're willing to take drastic measures, you can install custom firmware without advertising.

• 📱 LineageOS – pure Android without unnecessary applications.
• 📱 Pixel Experience – firmware with Google Pixel interface.
• 📱 Xiaomi.eu – modified MIUI Advertising free (only for supported models).

Warning: Installing custom firmware requires:

• 🔓 Unlock the bootloader (Bootloader).
• 📱 Custom recaveri installations (TWRP).
• 💻 Knowledge of working with ADB and Fastboot.

If you are a beginner, it is best to reach out to power users on the 4PDA or XDA-Developers forums. Mistakes can lead to a phone "brick" (breakdown).

FAQ: Frequent questions about advertising on Xiaomi