Pop-up Ads on Android Xiaomi Redmi: How to remove once and for all

Pop-up ads on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones are one of the most annoying features of MIUI firmware. Even after buying a new device, users are faced with intrusive banners in the settings menu, notifications and system applications. The reason lies in the aggressive monetization of the brand shell, which integrates advertising modules at the system level. But the good news is that you can turn off this advertising without root rights and third-party programs – you just need to know the right settings.

In this article, we’ll look at all possible sources of advertising on Redmi (including Note 12 Pro models).+, Redmi 10, Redmi A2 We also provide unique blocking methods that are not found in standard instructions, you will learn how to clean the system from advertising viruses, disable personalized Google ads and block notifications from suspicious applications. We pay special attention to hidden settings MIUI, which the manufacturer does not advertise.

Why does Xiaomi Redmi have a pop-up ad?

The main source of advertising on Xiaomi Redmi is the MIUI firmware itself. Xiaomi embeds advertising modules in system applications such as:

• 📱 Launcher (main screen) – banners in the search bar and widgets;
• ⚙️ Settings - advertising in the sections "Subjects", "Security", "Cleaning up";
• 📁 Conductor – Advertising blocks when opening folders;
• 🔍 Search – Sponsored links in the results;
• 📲 App Vault – Advertising in swipe to the left on the home screen.

Advertising may also be due to:

• 🦠 Viral applications installed from unverified sources;
• 📢 Push notifications from legitimate applications (such as games or social networks);
• 🔄 Google Advertising that is uploaded via Google Play.

⚠️ Note: If the ad appears even in the locked state of the screen, this is a sign of infection with the adver virus, in which case you will need a complete cleanup of the system (instructions in the section below).

Method 1: Disabling Advertising in MIUI Settings (official method)

The easiest way to remove ads is to use the built-in MIUI settings. However, Xiaomi hides these options deep in the menu so users can’t easily find them.

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Press the MIUI version 7 times to activate the developer mode.
3. Return to the main settings menu and select Additional → Special features.
4. Scroll down and find Get Recommendations - turn off this switch.

Next, go to:

• Settings → Applications → Application Management → Three dots (menu) → Show all processes;
• Find the msa (Mobile Services Analytics) and Analytics applications.
• For each of these, select Limit Background Activity and Disable Notifications.

Activate Developer Mode |Disable "Receive recommendations" |Limit msa and Analytics|Reboot phone-->

⚠️ Attention: After update MIUI Some of the settings may be reset. Check them after each update!

Method 2: Removing Virus Applications and Cleaning the System

If the ads appear as pop-ups on top of all the apps, your Redmi is likely infected with an adver virus, which masquerades as system services (e.g. com.android.system) and is difficult to remove by standard methods.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Sort the list by installation date (Three dots → By installation date).
3. Remove any suspicious apps, especially those with type names: 🚨 Fast Cleaner, Super Battery; 🚨 Weather Forecast (unless you install it yourself); 🚨 System Update (if not an official update).

Security → Scanning

If the virus is not removed:

1. Install Malwarebytes from Google Play and do a deep scan.
2. Use ADB to force removal: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.example.virus (replace com.example.virus with the virus packet found through adb shell pm list packages).

Every day | Once a week | It used to be, but it was removed |Never-->

Method 3: Blocking Advertising via DNS and VPN

One of the most effective ways to combat advertising is to redirect traffic through a blocking DNS or a filtered VPN, which will cut off the ad servers at the network level.

Method 1: Changing the DNS

1. Go to Settings → Connections and Sharing → Private DNS.
2. Select the host name of the private DNS provider.
3. Enter one of the addresses: 🔒 dns.adguard.com (AdGuard DNS); 🔒 1dot1dot1dot1.cloudflare-dns.com (Cloudflare); 🔒 doh.securedns.eu (SecureDNS).

Save and restart the phone.

Method 2: Using a VPN with ad blocking

Install one of the applications:

• 🛡️ AdGuard (there is a free version with restrictions);
• 🛡️ Blokada (open source, blocks trackers);
• 🛡️ 1.1.1.1: Faster Internet (from Cloudflare).

After installation:

1. Activate the VPN in the application settings.
2. Enable the option to Block Ads or DNS Filter.
3. Add custom rules to block Xiaomi domains: ||miui.com^$important ||ad.xiaomi.com^ ||tracker.ai.xiaomi.com^

💡

If some applications (e.g. banking) have stopped working after changing the DNS, return the standard DNS settings or add those applications to the VPN exceptions.

Method 4: Turning off personalized Google ads

Xiaomi uses not only its own ad networks, but also Google's services to serve targeted ads, to turn them off:

1. Open Settings → Google → Advertising.
2. Activate the switch to Turn off personalized advertising.
3. Click Reset Advertising ID (this will make your profile anonymous to advertisers).

In addition:

• 🔍 B Settings → Annexes → Google Play Services disable permission to Show on top of other apps;
• 📱 B Settings → Accounts. → Google disable synchronization of Web and app activity.

This won’t remove all ads, but it will significantly reduce the number of targeted banners that are displayed based on your activity.

Method 5: Replacing system applications with alternatives

Many of the built-in MIUI applications contain ads that cannot be disabled through settings, and the solution is to replace them with third-party counterparts:

To replace the application by default:

1. Install an alternative from Google Play.
2. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
3. Find a standard application (such as Explorer) and click Disable.
4. When you next open the file manager, select the new program as the default application.

⚠️ Note: Some system applications (such as Settings or Phone) cannot be replaced. ADB (see next section).

Method 6: Advanced settings through ADB (for power users)

If standard methods don't work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB) to deep-disable ad modules, which requires connecting your phone to your computer, but it has the maximum effect:

Step 1: Preparation

• 🖥️ Install. ADB Tools on PC;
• 📱 On the phone, activate Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI (7 taps and Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB;
• 🔌 Connect Redmi to your computer and confirm your trust in the device.

Step 2: Follow the commands in ADB (one at a time):

adb shell pm hide com.miui.systemAdSolution


adb shell pm hide com.xiaomi.joyose




adb shell pm hide com.miui.analytics




adb shell pm hide com.miui.miservice




adb shell pm hide com.xiaomi.mipicks

Step 3: Reboot your phone.

These commands hide (not remove!) the system applications responsible for displaying ads. If you need to return them, use:

adb shell pm unhide com.miui.systemAdSolution

💡

ADB-The method works on all versions MIUI, But after a phone reset or firmware update, the settings may reset.

What to do if the advertisement remains?

If after all the manipulations, the advertisement continues to appear, check the following points:

• 🔄 Update. MIUI to the latest version - sometimes in new assemblies remove especially intrusive advertising modules;
• 🧹 Reset your phone to factory settings (pre-make a backup!);
• 🛡️ Install custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience or LineageOS) where there are no built-in ads;
• 📞 Contact Xiaomi for support – if the phone is warranty, they can help remotely (though they don’t guarantee the removal of ads).

If you decide on a custom firmware, consider:

• 🔓 You will need to unlock the bootloader (officially via the Xiaomi website);
• 📲 All data will be deleted;
• 🔄 Updates will have to be installed manually.

FAQ: Frequent questions about advertising on Xiaomi Redmi