How to get rid of advertising on Xiaomi Poco M3

Budget smartphone owners often encounter intrusive content that can overlap the desktop or suddenly appear in the interface. The Poco M3 model, which runs on the MIUI shell, is no exception to this rule, since aggressive monetization is part of the manufacturer's strategy. Many users perceive this as a malfunction of the device, when in fact it is a software setting that can be changed.

Advertising integrations are built deep into system applications and services, making removing them unobvious to the average user. However, there is a proven algorithm for eliminating marketing noise from the interface. In this tutorial, we will go through all the available methods, from basic settings to advanced solutions.

It's important to understand that turning off ads not only improves the visual experience, but also improves the performance of the device. Background processes responsible for loading banners consume RAM and battery power. So comprehensive cleaning of the system is not just a matter of aesthetics, but also a way to extend the autonomy of your Poco M3.

Disabling System Advertising through MSA

At the heart of Xiaomi’s advertising ecosystem is the MSA (MIUI System Ads) service, which is responsible for collecting user data and displaying targeted banners in standard applications, and the first step in the fight for a clean interface should be to disable this component.

First, you go to the settings menu and find the password and security section, which hides access to the management of system authorizations, find an app called msa in the list, and put the switch inactive, and the system will warn you that a shutdown may affect the operation of certain functions, but for the average user these changes will be invisible.

Note that the first time you turn off the service, you may not be able to. Often times the countdown timer (usually 10 seconds) ends and the "Disable" button becomes inactive again. This is not a bug, but a shell safety mechanism. Just try 3-5 times in a row until the system accepts your request.

⚠️ Attention: After the service is disconnected MSA Some system widgets, such as Horizon or News Feed, may stop updating or displaying content.

In parallel with MSA, it is recommended to check the settings of the application miui daemon. It is a system service that can also collect usage statistics. Although it is not always directly related to advertising, its deactivation in conjunction with MSA gives a cleaner result. Don't be afraid to experiment with these settings, since they do not affect critical communication functions or calls.

Configuring the built-in MIUI applications

Even after the main service is disabled, individual apps can continue to show recommendations and promotional materials. Each standard Xiaomi app has its own hidden settings that must be configured manually to achieve full effect.

Start with the Security app, which is often the main source of memory-cleaning or acceleration pop-ups. Go to the app’s settings (usually through a three-dot menu in the corner) and find “Get recommendations.” Disable it, and uncheck “Automatically update virus bases” if you want to save traffic, even though it’s not directly related to advertising.

Then go to the standard file manager and the Themes app. In the Topics, you need to open a user profile and remove all ticks associated with personalized recommendations in the settings. In the file manager, the algorithm is similar: look for the About section or the settings where the Recommendations toggle is hidden.

Don’t forget the standard Mi Browser if you use it. It’s often full of news feeds and notifications, and you’ll need to find the Privacy and Security section in its settings and disable any items that contain the words “Personalization,” “Advertising,” or “Notifications.”

Also worth checking is the Music and Video app, which often have autoloads of promo content enabled by default, and disabling these features will make the interface of these apps minimal and fast, which is especially true for the Poco M3 with its Snapdragon 662 processor.

Managing personalized advertising

There's a separate setup layer that collects your interests to create an advertising profile, and even if you turn off banner displays, the phone can continue to send your location and preferences to the company's servers, and to stop that, you need to change your privacy settings.

Go to the basic smartphone settings and find the "Passwords and Security" section. Inside you are interested in the "Privacy" subsection. Here you should find the "Advertising Service" (or "Advertising Services") item. In the menu that opens, you should deactivate the "Personalized Advertising" switch.

Immediately after that, the "Reset Ad ID" option will become active. Pressing this button generates a new random ID, breaking the link between your current browsing history and future promotional offers.

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Regular resetting of an advertising ID (once a month) not only increases privacy, but can also prevent the formation of a stable user profile, on the basis of which the most intrusive advertising campaigns are built.

In the same settings section, you should pay attention to the "Use and Diagnostics" item, which collects data about crashes and phone usage, although it is technical information, its transmission also consumes traffic and battery, and disabling this item does not affect the stability of the system, but adds another layer of privacy.

It’s important to note that these settings can be reset after major operating system updates. After each update to a new version of MIUI or Android, it makes sense to quickly go through these points and make sure that all the switches are in the right position.

Disabling notifications from system services

One of the most annoying forms of advertising is pop-up notifications that appear in the notification curtain: they can advertise games, apps from the GetApps store or discounts on affiliate services, blocking such messages requires a personalized approach to each source.

The most common source of these messages is the system applications "Security", "Downloads" or "Install packets". To block them, go to "Settings" → "Notifications and Status Bar" → "Notification Management".

For applications such as Package Installer or"MAB" (MIUI Advertising Board must completely ban the display of notifications, this will not disrupt the system, as these notifications do not carry critical information about the status of the phone.

Pay special attention to the Downloads app, which is where you often get notifications that "your phone is slow" or "viruses are found," which is a classic marketing ploy, and disabling notifications for this app will solve the problem.

If you use a Poco Launcher, check the Cards widget or the tape to the left of your desktop, and the Recommended Apps option may be enabled, which should also be deactivated.

Using DNS to Block Advertising

The most effective method that works at the level of the entire device is to change the device. DNS-This method allows you to block advertising requests even before they reach the browser or application. M3 This method is especially relevant, since it does not require root rights and install third-party software.

In modern versions of Android (a Poco) M3 It works on the current version) there is a built-in function "Private" DNS" (Private DNS). She's encrypting. DNS-And it allows you to use third-party servers that block ads. One of the most popular and reliable services is AdGuard. DNS.

To set up, go to Settings → Connection and Sharing (or Wi-Fi and the Internet). Find Private DNS. The default is Auto or Disabled. Select DNS Host Name (or Manual) and enter:

dns.adguard.com

After saving the settings, the phone can lose the connection to the Internet for a second, and then restore it. The effect becomes noticeable almost instantly: ads disappear in browsers, the number of banners in free games and applications decreases.

⚠️ Attention: When using private DNS Some applications (such as carrier services or enterprise networks) may stop working properly if they require specific applications. DNS-In that case, the requests. DNS You will need to temporarily disconnect.

The advantage of this is that it's global, so you don't have to configure each application separately. DNS-filtering cannot remove ads that are sewn directly into the application interface (native advertising), but will cut off most external downloaders.

Comparison of methods and effectiveness table

There are many ways to deal with intrusive content, and not all of them are equally effective in different situations: some methods take time, others take technical knowledge. Below is a comparison table that will help you choose the best strategy for your case.

As you can see from the table, the combination of methods gives the best result. disabling MSA and setting up applications is mandatory for every Xiaomi owner. Using DNS is a powerful addition that solves the problem in the browser and games.

For advanced users, there is another method, removing system applications via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to completely remove advertising modules, but requires a connection to a computer and entering commands, which is not recommended for beginners, since an error can lead to unstable system operation.

If you're not confident, limit yourself to the first three: they're safe, reversible, and they take away 95 percent of all ads.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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A comprehensive approach, including disabling MSA, setting up notifications and using DNS, is the only reliable way to completely get rid of advertising on Xiaomi Poco M3 without losing the guarantee and stability of the system.