Ownership of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones is often overshadowed by intrusive marketing content that is built into the shell of MIUI and the new HyperOS. Users face banners in system applications, recommendations in folders and even pop-ups after unlocking the screen.This is not a bug, but a well-thought-out business model of the company that allows you to sell devices at a low price, offsetting costs by showing advertising materials.
Fortunately, most of the irritants can be manually deactivated without superuser rights, and the process requires sequential access to multiple settings menus, because there is no single “Switch Off All” button in the system, and disabling advertising IDs and analytics services will not only clean the interface, but also potentially speed up the gadget, reducing the workload on the processor.
In this article, we’ll break down a detailed action algorithm that will help you turn your smartphone into a pure tool for work and entertainment, and we’ll cover both the standard MIUI settings and the deeper DNS blocking methods that are relevant for all versions of Android.
Basic MSA Service Setup and System Recommendations
At the heart of Xiaomi’s advertising ecosystem is MSA (MIUI System Ads), which is the system process that loads and displays most banners in standard utilities, and to limit its impact, you need to find the service in the application list and disable recommendation receipt.
Go to Settings, then select Passwords and Security (or Advanced Settings depending on the shell version). Find Access to Personal Data. In the list that opens, find the msa string and put the switch to an inactive state. The system will alert you to the consequences of a shutdown and start a countdown timer for 10 seconds.
⚠️ Attention: After disconnection MSA Some features related to personalizing content in the Mi browser and the theme may stop working correctly or display current offers.
If the switch is not pressed the first time or returns to its original position, try again 2-3 times. This is a known feature of service protection. Also in the same menu, you should check the availability of GetApps and MIUI Daemon, limiting their access to data if you do not use the branded app store.
Cleaning Standard Applications: Security, Explorer, Downloads
System utilities in the MIUI shell often contain built-in promotion modules. Start cleaning with the Security app, which is the main hub for system maintenance. Open the application, click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Settings.
In the settings menu, find the Receive recommendations section and turn it off. Then go back to the main menu of the Security app and check the Cleanup, Antivirus and Battery sections, each of which may have its own recommendation switcher, which you need to deactivate separately.
A similar procedure should be done with the Explorer application. Open it, click on the menu (three bars), go to Settings → About the application (or just Settings) and find Receive recommendations. Disabling it will remove banner ads that may appear when you view files.
Don't forget the Downloads app. It also tends to show news and suggestions. Go to its settings through the menu and turn off Show recommended content. This action will make the downloaded files list clean and functional.
☑️ Checklist for cleaning system applications
Setting up the lock screen and the themes of design
One of the most annoying types of ads is the lock screen image and news carousel, known as the wallpaper carousel. Not only does it consume traffic, it can accidentally open ad pages when it is unlocked. To turn it off, go to Settings → Always on screen and lock screen.
Find the wallpaper carousel and turn it off. If you want to leave beautiful wallpaper but remove ads, inside the carousel settings you can select "Do not receive content", but completely disable it is more reliable. Also check the settings of the theme itself: go to the theme app, click on the user profile and select Settings.
In the themes menu, turn off the following options:
- 📢 Get recommendations – removes banners in the theme store.
- 🔄 Auto-update – prevents hidden downloads of new items that may contain ads.
- 🔍 Personal recommendations – disables your preference analysis for targeted advertising.
⚠️ Note: After changing the theme or updating it, some ad settings may reset.
And I'm going to mention the Tools folder on the desktop, and it often has a Recommended folder or something like that, and to remove it, just hold it with your finger and drag it into the basket or click the cross to delete it, and that action will permanently remove the labels of the recommended apps.
Removing Advertising in Mi Browser and Mi Video App
The standard Mi Browser browser is one of the main sources of advertising traffic. If you use it, you need to do a deep setup. Open the browser, click on three dots (menu) and go to Settings.
In the Privacy and Security section, turn on pop-up blocking. Next, find Receive notifications and turn it off so that sites can’t send you spam. At the bottom of the settings, the News Feed or Quick access item often hides – you also need to turn it off so that the start page is clean.
Mi Video is also packed with ad inserts. Go to the App Settings (usually available via profile or menus), find the Online Services section or Get recommendations and deactivate all the switches. This will remove banners from the player interface and homepage.
Alternative browsers
Blocking Advertising Through DNS (Method for Advanced Advertising)
The most effective way to remove ads from the entire system, including many apps and games, is to use a private DNS, which redirects requests to known ad servers to nowhere, making it impossible to download banners.
To set up, go to Settings → Connection and Sharing (or Additional Settings → Private DNS). Select the DNS Host Name (or Manual) option. In the box that appears, enter the address:
dns.adguard.comSave the settings. Then it's recommended to restart the device. This method doesn't require third-party software, and it works at the network level. It's effective against most types of advertising, but it can conflict with some corporate networks or specific applications.
| Parameter | Meaning/Description | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|
| Address DNS | dns.adguard.com | Blocks advertising domains |
| Input method | Provider host name | Global network setting |
| Reboot. | Required. | Application of new rules |
| Compatibility | Android 9+ | It runs on MIUI and HyperOS. |
If some websites or apps stop opening after DNS is turned on, just return the DNS setting to Auto or Disabled. This is a safe experiment that won't harm the device.
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Use it. DNS-filters only from trusted sources. DNS-Servers can see your queries, so choose trusted services like AdGuard or NextDNS.
Managing notifications and push-mailing
Even after disabling system advertising, apps can continue to send push notifications with suggestions. To combat them, you need to manage permissions for each application individually. Go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Application Notifications.
Go through the installed software list. Pay special attention to system services: MIUI Music, Mi Video, GetApps, Themes. For these, it is better to completely disable notifications or leave only critical ones. For third-party applications (stores, games, news), turn off notifications if you do not use them constantly.
Also check your Mi Account settings. Sometimes Xiaomi sends news about new products and promotions directly to your device. Go to Settings → Mi Account → Account Settings (or General Settings) and turn off receiving marketing messages.
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A comprehensive approach to cleaning up your smartphone from advertising requires disabling the MSA, setting up the DNS, and manually checking each app’s notifications, and only a combination of these methods will give the perfect result.