Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphone owners often face intrusive ads that appear in standard apps and even on the desktop.This is not a bug, but a feature of the branded MIUI shell and the new HyperOS that monetizes budget devices. However, the system allows you to flexibly manage these settings, if you know where to look for the right switches.
Removing ads completely doesn't require superuser rights or a global flashing of the device, but you need to turn off multiple system services and change the connection settings. The key component for displaying ads is the MSA (MIUI System Ads) system application, which solves 90% of the problems. In this article, we'll look at everything from simple switches to advanced DNS settings.
Before you start setting up, make sure your device is connected to a stable Internet network, as some changes will only take effect after checking the status of licenses. It is also recommended to update all system applications through the GetApps store or Google Play to make the menu interface match the described.
Disabling MSA System Advertising
The main source of intrusive banners in folders, applications “Security” and “Downloads” is the MSA service. its turn off is the first and most important step. Go to the settings of your smartphone, select the section “Passwords and security” or “Advanced settings”, then go to the item “Access to personal data”.
In the list that opens, look for the MSA (MIUI System Ads) app. Switch the slider to "Switched Off," the system will alert you that this may affect some functions, and start a countdown timer for 10 seconds. After the time has expired, press "Switch off."
⚠️ If the first time to disable the service failed (there was an error), wait 24 You have to try again. Sometimes you have to do it again. 2-3 once in a row until the switch is locked in the off state.
In parallel with MSA, you should restrict access to data for other system services that can also broadcast content. In the same Access to Personal Data menu, find and disable the following components:
- 📱 GetApps – app store, often sends notifications about discounts.
- 📊 Analytics – a statistics collection service that can be used for targeting.
- 🔍 Mi Credit – a financial service that displays loans advertising.
- 📂 Mi Browser – If you don’t use it as your primary, limit it.
Once you do this, restart the device, which is necessary to complete background processes that may have been left in memory, and the interface will be much cleaner, although some embedded applications may still have remnants of marketing integrations.
☑️ Checking the shutdown MSA
Customization of personalization and recommendations
Even after the MSA is turned off, the MIUI shell continues to offer "recommendations" in standard utilities. These settings are scattered across different menus and need to be manually disabled in each application. Start with the desktop: pinch the empty area on the screen, click on the settings gear, and find "Recommendations."
The standard Security app (green shield icon) also hides advertising sources: Open the app, click on the gear in the top right corner, and find the Get Recommendations section. Disable this feature to stop seeing the clean-up or acceleration suggestions that often lead to ad landings.
For the Downloads app (file manager), the path may vary depending on the shell version, usually opening the app, clicking on three dots in the corner, selecting Settings, and removing the tick from Get Recommendations. If you have a global firmware installed, this item may be called Show Recommendations.
What if the “Recommendations” item is missing?
Don't forget to check the theme settings. If you're using third-party Themes, they may contain built-in ad modules. Go back to the standard theme or use only verified designs from official designers.
Blocking Advertising via DNS (AdGuard)
The most effective method, which works at the operating system level, is to use a private DNS with filtering, which does not require installing third-party applications and blocks requests to ad servers before they are loaded.
To set up, go to the Settings menu, then Connect and Share (or “Additional Settings”). DNS» (Private DNS). The default is "Auto" or "Disabled." Select "Host Name of the provider" DNS» (manually).
The resulting field must enter the server address. The most reliable and free solution is the AdGuard DNS service. Enter the following address in the line:
dns.adguard.comSave the settings. Now all traffic that goes through Wi-Fi and the mobile network will be filtered, and this will remove banners in the browser, many games and applications that do not use secure connections for advertising.
| Parameter | Default value | Recommended value | The effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type DNS | Auto/Disconnected | Provider host name | Enabling manual adjustment |
| Server address | - | dns.adguard.com | Blocking ads |
| Impact on speed | Standard. | Minimum | Websites can load a little faster |
| Security | Standard. | Elevated | Protection against phishing domains |
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After inclusion DNS Some sites or applications (e.g. banks) have stopped opening, try temporarily disabling the settings. DNS-In this case, use the alternative address: dns-family.adguard.com (blocks adult content).
Managing Notifications in the Browser
A common problem that users confuse with system advertising is spam notifications from sites, you may have accidentally allowed a resource to send notifications, and now it floods you with offers, and this is solved in the browser settings.
If you use the standard Mi Browser, open it, click on the three menu bars, then Settings → Privacy & Security → Site Settings. Here you need to check the Notifications section and deny access to all suspicious sites or clear the list completely.
For Google Chrome users, the path is different: open your browser, click three dots in the corner, select Settings → Notifications. In the Allowed list, you will see all sites that can send you messages. Click on the site and select Block or Delete.
- 🚫 Don’t click on “Your Phone is Infected” or “You Won Your iPhone” pop-ups – it’s always a hoax.
- 🧹 Clear the browser cache if the ads continue to appear as tabs.
- 🔒 Enable “Safe Browsing” in your browser settings for additional protection.
It’s also recommended to install a blocker extension if you use your browser on your phone frequently. For Chrome on Android, it could be AdGuard (via a local VPN) or Brave browser, which blocks trackers by default.
Specificity of the HyperOS shell
With the release of the HyperOS shell, which gradually replaces MIUI, the menu structure has changed a little, but the principle has remained the same: Xiaomi has strengthened the integration of services, so items may be called differently. In HyperOS, centralized advertising management is often hidden in the account profile.
Go to Settings → Mi Account (or just click on the avatar at the top of the settings). Find Ads or Ad Services. There may be a global switch that disables personalized ads across all ecosystem services.
Also, the way widgets work has changed in HyperOS, and some widgets (Horoscope, News, Promotions) are essentially ad modules, and remove them from the desktop and the Negative Screen menu (the screen that swipes to the right of the home page).
⚠️ Note: In HyperOS, data access settings may be called “Special Features” or placed in a separate “Privacy” menu. MSA, It may be hidden in the sub-menu of "Permissions Management».
If you upgrade to HyperOS and the ad reappears, check for updates to system applications. Often, with the shell update, the ad modules are updated, resetting your previous settings.
Additional sources of advertising and their elimination
There are less obvious places where marketing content may be hiding, such as the lock screen, Wallpaper Carousel wallpaper not only changes pictures, but also shows advertising logos. You can turn this off in Settings → Always on screen and lock screen → Wallpaper carousel.
Another source is desktop folders, which often have recommended apps, so to remove them, open any folder, click on the folder name (or three dots), and turn off the Recommended Apps option.
The Music and Video app are also bad ads. In Music, click on the menu, select Settings → Additional Settings, and turn off Receive Recommendations. In Mi Video, you go to profile, then to settings, and uncheck the Online Recommendations and Autostart Video boxes.
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Advertising in Xiaomi system applications is not a virus, but a setup. Consistently disabling recommendations in each application (Music, Video, Themes, Cleanup) is necessary for complete comfort.
Don't ignore the Explorer app. It also has a "Receive References" option in its settings, which is responsible for the news feed on the file manager's home page. Disabling this item will return you a clean list of files.