How to disable ads on the lock screen Xiaomi: step-by-step guide

Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often encounter intrusive content that appears at the most inappropriate moments. Especially annoying when instead of beautiful wallpaper or useful information on a locked device, you see banner ads. It is not a virus or an accidental failure, but part of the company's marketing strategy, introducing system advertising into the interface of the shell MIUI or HyperOS. Fortunately, the system's software code makes it easy to deactivate this feature, returning the device to its original appearance.

The process of removing ad units requires sequential execution of several actions in different sections of the menu. You do not need superuser rights (root) or install third-party software, all settings are hidden in standard settings. The main thing is to follow the algorithm carefully, as some items can be renamed in new versions of the firmware. Below we will discuss all the necessary steps to completely clean the lock screen.

It's worth noting that after you upgrade your operating system, some settings can be reset to factory values. So if you see adverts again, just repeat the steps below. Understanding how the MSA (MIUI System Ads) service works will help you manage content on your device more effectively. We'll look at not only standard methods, but additional ways to block through application settings.

Management of MSA service in system settings

The central element in the system that drives the display of advertising content is the MSA system application, which analyzes your actions and selects the appropriate banners to display, and disabling this component is the first and most important step in the fight against intrusive marketing, and without this procedure, other settings may not have the full effect.

To start, you need to go to the application management menu. Find Settings → Applications → All applications. In the list that opens, find an app called msa (MIUI System Ads). Click on it to open the detailed management menu. Here you are interested in the option of Recommendations or Receive recommendations. Put the slider inactive. The system may require you to wait 10 seconds before confirming an action - this is a standard protection against random clicks.

⚠️ Note: If after switching the slider, the system gives an error "Can not get data" or the action is not performed, try repeating the procedure. 3-5 Xiaomi servers sometimes have difficulty processing requests to turn off ads, and persistence plays a key role here.

After successfully disabling ads in the MSA application, it is also recommended to limit its background activity. Go to the Battery and Performance or Battery Consumption section, find msa there and select the option No restrictions (so that the system does not kill the process if you decide to turn it back on) or, conversely, limit background work if you want to minimize any network requests of this service. However, the main method is precisely the switchboard in the settings of the application itself.

Setting up the wallpaper carousel (Glance)

Often users confuse system advertising with wallpaper carousel (known as Glance in some regions), which automatically changes the background image on the lock screen, adding news widgets and, of course, advertising integrations. Even if you disable MSA, Carousel can continue to show promotional materials, since it is a separate module.

To remove this source of visual noise, go to Settings → Lock screen. Find the Wallpaper Carousel (or Glance for Mi). Inside the menu, turn off the Wallpaper Carousel switch. If you want to leave the wallpaper change function but no ads, look for the option to Receive recommendations inside the same menu and deaktivate it. However, a complete rejection of the service ensures that no extraneous elements are left.

• 📱 Open Settings and select the Lock Screen section.
• 🎨 Find the Wallpaper Carousel or Glance item in the list.
• 🚫 Switch the slider Include in the off position.
• ✅ Confirm the action in the pop-up window if it appears.

It is worth noting that in some versions of MIUI and HyperOS, this service can be deeply integrated into the theme of the design. If a standard disconnect does not help, try changing the theme to a standard one (“Classic” or “Basic”) through the Themes app. Third-party themes often contain their own advertising modules that are activated when the device is unlocked.

Disabling recommendations in system applications

Ads on the lock screen are just the tip of the iceberg. The same MSA mechanisms work inside standard Xiaomi applications like Security, Explorer, Downloads and Music. They can generate push notifications that appear on the locked screen, creating the illusion of system advertising. To fully clean, you need to check the settings of each key application.

Start with the Security app. Open it, click on the settings gear in the top right corner. Find the Receive recommendations and turn it off. It's also recommended that you turn off the option to Automatically update virus databases at night if you're concerned about background activity, although it doesn't directly affect advertising. Next, go to the Downloads app, click on three dots in the corner, select Settings, and remove the tick from Show recommended content.

Don't forget the Explorer app. It also has a Recommendation clause hidden in its settings, which is responsible for showing news and promotional material on the file manager's home page. While this doesn't directly affect the lock screen, cleaning up all fronts of the ad fight ensures a cleaner user experience overall.

Limiting personalization of advertising through your Mi Account

Global ad settings are tied to your Mi Account. Even if you have disabled all local switches on your phone, the server side may still consider you the target audience for certain campaigns. Resetting your advertising ID and opting out of personalized account-level advertising is a powerful tool in the user's arsenal.

Log in to Settings → Mi Account. Select Advertising (or Advertising Services) section. Here you will see the Personalized Advertising switch. Disable it. The system will prompt you to confirm the action, warning that the ad is not going anywhere, but will become less relevant. This is partly true, but in conjunction with disabling the MSA on the device, it gives a great result. Also available here is the Reset Advertising ID option, which is useful to use periodically.

⚠️ Warning: Disabling the personalization of ads in Mi Accounts may affect some ecosystem services that use this data to match content in the theme or music store.

If you use multiple Xiaomi devices, the setting will apply to all the gadgets authorized under that account, which is convenient because you don’t have to configure each phone or tablet separately, just perform the procedure on one device or through the web version of account management, if such functionality is available in your region.

Using DNS to Block Advertising

For advanced users who want to maximize their impact, there is a method of blocking ads at the network connection level, using a private DNS (Domain Name System) allows you to filter traffic and block requests to known ad servers before they reach your smartphone, a universal method that works in all applications and browsers.

On modern versions of Android and MIUI/HyperOS shells, DNS setting does not require root rights. Go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Private DNS (the path may vary slightly depending on the OS version, sometimes in the Wi-Fi or Advanced Settings section). Select the DNS provider hostname (or Manual) mode and enter the trusted blocker address.

dns.adguard.com

This address belongs to the AdGuard service. DNS, You'll notice that the number of banner ads on free apps and browsers has decreased significantly, but be careful if you enter the address, save the settings and restart the device. DNS-The server will stop working, you may have problems with Internet access, so keep on hand the ability to return settings to automatic mode.

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Use an alternative. DNS-dns.family.adguard.com, if you want to block adult websites on your child's device, same way, but filters are stricter.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

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Integrated approach — disconnection MSA, Wallpaper carousels and use DNS-filter – guarantees complete disposal of advertising on the lock screen and in the interface Xiaomi.