Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face intrusive ads that appear in system applications, folders and even when unlocking the screen.This is a fee for the affordable cost of devices, as Xiaomi monetizes some of the MIUI software through advertising integrations. However, there are many ways to minimize or completely eliminate this digital noise, returning the phone to its original clean interface.
In this article, we will take a closer look at all the available methods of combating advertising, from standard privacy settings to deeper system manipulation. It is important to understand that completely disabling all advertising modules requires care, but the result is worth it – your smartphone will work faster and will not be distracted by unnecessary notifications.
Before we take action, we need to understand the scale of the problem. The MIUI shell ads are built into not only the browser, but also Explorer, Music, Security, and even the settings menu. The key element of the system is the msa service (MIUI System Ads), which blocks most ad downloads. We will go through each item so that you can choose the best cleaning scenario.
Basic Privacy Setup and MSA Service
The first and most important step is to disable the system ad service, and it is the msa component (MIUI System Ads) that is responsible for receiving and displaying banner ads in native applications, and without it, the rest of the settings may not be effective as the service will constantly try to download new content.
To start, you need to go to the smartphone settings menu. Find the Password and Security section and select Access to Personal Data. From the app list that opens, find msa and put the slider inactive. The system will warn you that some features may stop working correctly, but for the average user this impact is minimal.
⚠️ Attention: After the msa service is turned off, a 10 second countdown timer will appear. The Cancel button may not be immediately noticeable, it is usually located in the corner of the screen.
After a successful shutdown of the service, it is recommended to restart the device. This is necessary in order to ensure that all background processes associated with the advertising modules are finally stopped. If you failed to disable msa from the first time and the system gave an error, try repeating the procedure 2-3 times - Xiaomi servers sometimes temporarily block requests for disconnection.
Individual configuration of system applications
Even after the main service is disabled, some embedded applications can continue to show recommendations and promotional materials. Each application has its own hidden settings that need to be checked separately, which takes a little time, but guarantees a comprehensive cleaning of the interface.
Start with the Security app. Open it, click on the settings gear in the top right corner, and find Receive recommendations. Make sure the switch is off. The same procedure you need to do in the Explorer app: go to the menu, select Settings, and turn off receiving recommendations.
Pay special attention to the Music and Video app. In Music, go to the settings, select Advanced Settings, and turn off Ads. In the Mi Video app, go to profile, then to settings, and uncheck the boxes for Online Recommendations and Receive Notifications for New Videos.
☑️ Checklist for app cleanup
Don’t forget to check your theme settings as well. If you’re using standard Xiaomi themes, they may contain ad units on the lock screen. Go to the Themes app, click on the profile, and select Settings where you can turn off personalized recommendations.
Setting up Mi Browser and Alternatives
Xiaomi’s standard browser is often the main source of annoyance due to the abundance of news feeds and pop-ups. It is difficult to completely get rid of advertising in it, but you can significantly reduce its amount by changing several privacy parameters.
Open your browser and go to settings via the menu (three bars). Find the Privacy and Security section. You need to turn off the following options: Personalized recommendations, Notifications and Get News. It is also recommended to clear the browsing data to reset the accumulated advertising profile.
However, the most effective solution is to install an alternative browser. Modern browsers such as Brave, DuckDuckGo or Vivaldi have built-in ad blockers that work at the system level better than any settings inside the Mi Browser.
| browser | Blocking ads | Speed of operation | Privacy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Browser | Weak. | Medium | Low. |
| Chrome | Medium (extensions needed) | Tall. | Medium |
| Brave | Built-in (High) | Very high. | Tall. |
| Firefox | Through addons | Tall. | Tall. |
If you are not ready to give up the standard browser, try using Incognito mode for everyday surfing or install the AdGuard extension if the browser version allows it.
Disable Personalization and MSA through DNS
One of the most effective and safest methods of blocking ads is using a private DNS filtered, which requires no root rights and works at the device level, cutting off connections to ad servers before they even reach the screen.
Go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Private DNS. Select the option “Host Name of the DNS provider” and type in the address: dns.adguard.com. Save settings. Now all traffic on your smartphone will pass through AdGuard filters, which will block most banners in apps and browsers.
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Using a private DNS not only removes ads, but also speeds up page loading, as the browser does not need to load heavy ad scripts.
This method is particularly effective for blocking ads in free games and apps, where pop-ups block the entire interface. If some apps or sites stop working after DNS is turned on, you can always return the setting to Auto or Disabled.
Removing System Applications Through ADB
For advanced users who want to maximize results, there is a method of removing advertising components through a computer and debugging by ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to physically remove the system packages responsible for advertising, without obtaining superuser rights.
First, you need to activate the developer mode. Go to About Phone and quickly click on MIUI 7 times. Then, in the advanced settings, turn on "Debugging USB." Connect the phone to your computer, install drivers and the ADB platform.
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.msa.global
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.analytics
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.browserExecuting these commands will remove the advertising, analytics and standard browser service. ⚠️ Warning: Be extremely careful when removing system packets. Removing the wrong components can lead to unstable system operation or cyclical reboot. Always check the name of the package before entering a command.
If you accidentally delete something superfluous, don't panic. All changes made through ADB with the --user 0 flag are reversible. Just execute the factory data reset command, and the remote system applications will return to their place in a factory state.
How to return remote applications?
Third-party launchers as a radical solution
If the built-in techniques don’t seem effective or complex enough, you can go the other way – replace the standard MIUI shell with a third-party launcher, which will completely change the visual style of the smartphone and ensure that ads are removed from the desktop and in folders.
Popular launchers like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher completely ignore Xiaomi’s ad system settings. They don’t have built-in ad modules and provide a clean, customizable interface. Once the launcher is installed, it will become the default main screen.
Using a third-party launcher also gives access to more flexible customization of gestures, animations and icons.You will no longer depend on MIUI updates that can bring back ad features.This turns a budget phone into a personalized high-end device.
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Replacing the standard launcher is not just a cosmetic change, but a complete departure from the Xiaomi advertising ecosystem, giving full control over the interface.
It’s worth noting that some features specific to MIUI (such as one-hand gestures or certain widgets) may work differently or not in third-party launchers. However, for most users, the benefits of a clean interface outweigh these minor inconveniences.