Owning a Xiaomi smartphone is often accompanied not only by affordable price and rich functionality, but also by intrusive marketing within the system. Redmi 9 users regularly encounter unexpected pop-ups, banner ads in standard applications and recommendations in folders. This annoys, distracts from work and traffic, turning the use of the gadget into a test.
Fortunately, most ad integrations can be manually disabled without having to resort to complex root-right manipulations. In this article, we will detail where hidden switches hide, how to configure a private DNS to block traffic, and which system applications require special attention.
Before we start to make a big difference, we need to understand the nature of this phenomenon: the advertising subsystem in the MIUI shell (now HyperOS) is called MSA (MIUI System Ads), which is responsible for collecting data about your preferences and showing relevant content, and turning off this service is the first and most important step to comfort.
Disabling MSA System Advertising
The centerpiece of the Xiaomi smartphone ad machine is msa, which runs in the background and collects analytics, which it then uses to target ads, and to get rid of it, you have to go through several confirmation stages, because the system will prevent this from happening in every way.
To start, go to Settings, then select Passwords and Security. In the menu that opens, find Access to Personal Data. Here you will need to find the msa app in the list and put the switch to an inactive state. The system will warn you of the consequences, and the countdown timer (usually 10 seconds) will not let you press the button immediately.
When the timer runs out, press the recall button. It's important to know that it may not work the first time. Often, there's a "failed to withdraw" error, and the process has to be repeated 3-4 times in a row, this is the standard firmware behavior designed to keep the user in the ecosystem.
⚠️ Warning: After permissions are revoked, the ad won't disappear instantly; the system can save the cached ads for several more hours; the full one will only clear after the device is rebooted or the ad settings are reset.
In parallel with the MSA disabling, it is recommended to prohibit advertising personalization. To do this, go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Privacy → Advertising Services. Here you need to deactivate the option “Receive personalized recommendations.” This action breaks the link between your actions in the system and the content shown.
Cleaning up standard applications
Even after the system service is disabled, individual Xiaomi apps can continue to show promotional material. Each standard application has its own recommendation settings, which are enabled by default.
Start with Explorer and Music. Open the app, click on three dots (menu) and select Settings. Find "Get recommendations" or "Show recommendations" and turn it off. A similar situation is observed in the Security app, which often offers to "optimize" the system by showing banner ads.
The Topic app is a little more complicated. Go to profile (human icon), then to settings (cogwheel), where you turn off Popular Resources, Show Ads, and Personal References, and that will return the store to its original look without the intrusive banners on the home screen.
- 📱 Mi Browser: Open the settings (three bars) → Settings → Confidentiality and security → Delete “Personal recommendations».
- 🎵 Mi Video: Menu → Settings → Notifications → Disable “Recommendations” and “Auto-Reproduction».
- 📁 Downloads: Three dots → Settings → Show recommended content → Off.
Don't forget the Music app. In addition to general guidelines, audio ads between tracks can be streamed here, if the appropriate item is included in the settings of online services. Check the "Additional settings" section inside the app.
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If you don’t use the standard Mi Browser, simply delete it or turn it off in your app settings. Use Chrome or Firefox for greater security.
Setting up DNS to block ads
The most effective method, which works at the entire operating system level, is the use of Private DNS. This method does not require the installation of third-party software and blocks requests to known ad servers before they reach your smartphone.
To implement this method, go to Settings → Connection and Sharing (or simply "Wi-Fi and Internet"). DNS (Private DNS). The default is "Auto" or "Disabled." Select "Host Name of the provider" DNS» (or "manually»).
The most reliable and proven option is dns.adguard.com, enter this value exactly as indicated, without http or https protocols.
dns.adguard.comOnce you save the settings, the phone can lose the Internet connection for a second, and then restore it. Now all traffic going through Wi-Fi and the mobile network will be filtered, and this will remove banners in games, applications and the browser that were previously allowed by system filters.
| Parameter | Default value | Recommended value | The effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| DNS mode | Auto/Off. | Manually (Host) | Activation of filtration |
| Server address | - | dns.adguard.com | Locking down trackers |
| Application | Locally. | Globally (Wi-Fi + 4G) | Protection on all networks |
| Impact on speed | Standard. | Minor. | Accelerating page loading |
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Using Private DNS is a silver bullet against advertising that works more efficiently than any blocking applications and does not consume battery.
Notifications and folders on the desktop
Special attention should be paid to the so-called “recommendations” in folders on the desktop and in the notification curtain, which are often confused with viral activity, but this is a regular feature of the MIUI shell that can be easily deactivated.
To remove ads from your app folders, open any folder on the home screen. Click on the folder name (to call the keyboard) or the empty space next to the name to open the folder settings. In the menu that appears, find the "Promoted apps" switch and turn it off.
Now folders will only contain shortcuts to your programs, without obsessive offers to download games or subscribe, which is especially true for the Redmi 9 model, where the screen is small and every pixel of usable area is important.
As for notifications, it often hides news from Glance or Lock Screen. Go to Settings → Lock screen. Find Wallpaper Carousel or Glance for Mi and turn it off. This will remove the news feed and promotional articles from the lock screen.
⚠️ Warning: Disabling Glance can cause the lock screen to become static.If you liked the changing wallpaper, you'll have to adjust it through a standard gallery or third-party apps.
Resetting the advertising identifier
To increase privacy and reset your user profile, it is recommended to periodically clear the advertising ID, which will not remove the ads completely, but will make them less relevant and intrusive, breaking the chain of tracking your interests.
The procedure is done along the way: Settings → Passwords and Security → Privacy → Advertising Services. At the bottom of the screen, you will see the Reset Ad ID button. Click on it and confirm the action.
This is especially useful if you install and delete various applications frequently, as old identifiers can pull advertising debris from remote programs.