How to disable analytics in Xiaomi: a step-by-step guide

Many Xiaomi smartphone users are facing intrusive advertising and the company’s desire to collect data about the device’s use. MIUI, the manufacturer’s proprietary shell, does contain many built-in services that send statistics to servers by default, which can be a concern for those who value their digital privacy and want to speed up the gadget.

Fortunately, the system provides tools to limit this fee. Disabling analytics not only increases privacy, but often positively affects battery autonomy. In this article, we will take a detailed look at all the hidden menus and switches that will help you regain control of your device.

The setup process does not require superuser rights or firmware re-flashing. All actions are performed by standard Android operating system tools with add-ons HyperOS or MIUI. Let's look at the main steps of optimization.

Basic privacy settings in MIUI

The first step to digital hygiene is to turn off the standard switches that developers have hidden in the back of the menu. System analytics is enabled by default on all devices released in recent years. To change that, you need to go to Settings → About Phone → All settings.

Here, you can find Usage Statistics or Improve User Experience. In some firmware versions, this path may look like Settings → Passwords & Security → Privacy. It is important to look carefully at all subsections, as the names may vary depending on the region.

Turn off the sliders associated with sending error reports and diagnostic data. System diagnostics often collect information about frequently used applications and crash rates. While this helps developers fix bugs, for the average user, this feature carries only the risk of data leakage.

Please note the following settings that need to be deactivated:

• 📊 Participation in the Improvement Program – the main channel of telemetry transmission.
• 📉 Automatic reporting – sends data when apps crash.
• 📍 Geolocation Services – Check if the location history is being transmitted.
• 📡 Wi-Fi and Mobile Data – Turn off network scanning to improve accuracy.

Disabling MSA Service and Advertising Identifiers

One of the most annoying features is the MSA (MIUI System Ads) service, which is responsible for displaying ads in system applications. To turn it off, go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Access to data.

In the list, find the msa app and uncheck it. The system will try to dissuade you by running a countdown timer for 10 seconds. After the time has expired, press Call Back. If the first time failed, repeat the procedure 2-3 times until the switch turns gray.

It is also worth revoking permissions from other system services such as Mi Browser, GetApps and Mi Video, which will prevent collection of data about your browsing habits.

Also, don’t forget to disable ad personalization in Settings → Passwords & Security → Privacy → Advertising. Activate the option to Disable Ad Personalization. This won’t eliminate ads completely, but will make them less intrusive and relevant to your interests.

⚠️ Note: After disabling the msa service, ads in system folders and applications may not disappear immediately.

Managing Permits for System Applications

Deep customization involves control over every application. In MIUI, many system utilities have redundant rights. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications and start auditing.

Pay special attention to the applications Security, Downloads, Explorer and Music. In their settings, find the Access to Data section and prohibit Internet use, this will prevent any data from being transferred to the external network.

For applications that need the Internet to work (such as a browser or store), use the Background Activity Limit feature, which will allow the program to work only when it is open on the screen.

List of applications that often need to restrict access to the network:

• 🔒 Security – can work without the Internet if you don’t use cloud databases.
• 🧹 Cleaning – local function, does not require connection.
• 📁 Conductor – transferring data about files to the cloud is not necessary.
• 🎵 Audio player works with local files.

Setting up Mi Account and Cloud Services

The centerpiece of the ecosystem is Mi Account, where if you use a company's cloud services, the data is automatically synchronized, and for maximum privacy, it's recommended that you disable synchronization of unused categories.

Go to Settings → Mi Account → Cloud, where you can choose which data to upload to the server, and turn off synchronization of gallery, voice recorder and notes if you are not actively using them.

Also worth checking is the Security section inside your account, make sure features you don't use, such as device search, are not enabled if you're sure the phone isn't going anywhere, and two-factor authentication, on the contrary, should be enabled to protect your account.

💡

Use a Google account or local storage to store photos and contacts, which will reduce your reliance on Xiaomi servers and make it easier to switch to a different smartphone brand in the future.

Using Developer Modes for Debugging

For advanced users, hidden developer menus are available. To activate them, you need to click on the build number 7 times in the About Phone section, and then a new option will appear in the settings menu Additional or Advanced Settings.

Inside the developer section, find the USB Input or Debugging subsection, where you can turn off USB data transfers, and look for log-in items.

It's important not to turn off critical debugging processes if you don't understand their purpose. System logging can be helpful in troubleshooting, but in everyday use it's best to minimize it.

⚠️ Note: Changing the settings in the For Developers section can cause some features to work in an unstable way.

Blocking Advertising through DNS and Third Party Solutions

The most effective way to cut down on analytics and network-level advertising is to use a private DNS. This method requires no application installation and works for the entire system. Go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Private DNS.

Select the DNS Host Name mode and enter the address of the trusted blocker. A popular option is dns.adguard.com. Once saved, the phone will begin filtering requests to known ad servers.

This method also helps to speed up the loading of pages in the browser, as it blocks the loading of heavy banner ads. AdGuard DNS regularly updates the databases of malicious domains.

dns.adguard.com

If standard methods don’t work, you might want to consider installing specialized blocking apps like Blokada or AdGuard (full version). VPN-traffic-filtering tunnel.

It is a system without root rights.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)