Owning a modern smartphone from Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO is always a balance between advanced features and aggressive monetization policies. Built-in advertising can annoy even the most patient users, appearing in system applications, browser and when unlocking the screen. Fortunately, the architecture of the shell MIUI and HyperOS allows you to manage these processes with enough flexibility without the need for super-user rights.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the mechanisms by which the operating system broadcasts advertising content and show you how to effectively neutralize them. You will learn which system services are responsible for displaying banners, how to properly adjust privacy settings and what additional steps will help make your device use as clean as possible. Disabling advertising is not just a matter of aesthetics, but also a way to improve the speed of your gadget and save traffic.
Before we make any changes, it is important to understand that some features may be renamed in new firmware versions, but the logic remains the same. We will look at current methods for 2026-2026, which are tested on a wide range of devices. Complete disabling of the MSA system service is a key stage without which other settings may not be effective.
Disabling the MSA System Advertising Service
The centerpiece of the Chinese manufacturer’s device advertising ecosystem is MIUI System Ads, often referred to as msa, which collects data about your actions and initiates the display of personalized banners across different sections of the interface, and to limit its impact, you need to change the authorization settings in the corresponding menu.
Go to the Settings menu, then select Passwords and Security (in some versions of Additional). Find Authorization and Review (or Access to Personal Data). In the list that opens, find the msa line and switch the switch to the "Switched Off" position, the system will alert you to the consequences and start a countdown timer for 10 seconds, after which you will need to confirm the action.
⚠️ Warning: If you fail to turn off the service the first time and you get an error message, don't panic. This is the standard system defense response. Wait a few minutes or restart the device, then repeat the procedure - on the second or third attempt, the restriction usually takes effect.
After successfully disabling msa, the number of pop-ups in standard utilities should be significantly reduced, but to maximize the effect, it is also recommended to disable related services such as Mi Video, Music and GetApps if you do not use them, which will completely isolate the advertising modules from accessing your data.
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Before disabling system services, make sure you have a stable internet connection, as a revocation request must be sent to the manufacturer’s servers.
Setting up privacy and advertising settings
In addition to directly blocking msa, it is critical to change global personalization settings. The system by default collects usage statistics to improve advertising offers, but the user has the right to prohibit this process through a hidden menu of advertising identifiers.
From the Settings menu, go to Passwords and Security and select Privacy. Scroll down to Advertising Services. You need to turn off Receive Recommendations. Then click Reset Advertising ID. This operation generates a new random ID, breaking the link to the previously collected user profile.
Also check your settings in Advanced Settings → Developer (if enabled) or in the standard menu Passwords and Security → Privacy → Special permissions → Change system settings. Make sure suspicious applications are not given excessive permission to change system settings, which is sometimes used to implement advertising modules.
Regularly checking these settings is essential, as after major MIUI or HyperOS updates, privacy settings can be reset to factory values.
Cleaning Standard Apps from Advertising
Even after the global service is disabled, some embedded applications can continue to show content unless their internal settings are changed, such as Explorer, Music, Video and Security, each with its own recommendation switch.
Consider the algorithm of actions for the most advertising-loaded applications:
- 📁 File Manager: Open the application, click on three menu bars, select Settings → About the program, click on the folder icon. 5-6 once until the hidden settings menu appears.
- 🎵 Music (Mi Music): Go to the App Settings, find the Advanced Settings section and uncheck the Receive Recommendations box.
- 🎬 Video (Mi Video): In the profile menu or settings, find Settings → General and disable Online Recommendations.
- 🛡️ Security: Click on the gear in the upper right corner, find the switch Get recommendations and deactivate it.
It is important to note that the interface of these applications may vary depending on the regional version of the firmware (Global, EEA, China).If you do not find these items, try updating the applications through the GetApps store or Google Play, as new versions of the menus often change.
☑️ Verification of system applications
Don’t ignore these settings, as these are the channels that most often broadcast intrusive content, and locally configuring each application creates an additional layer of protection that works even if global settings fail.
Blocking advertising in the browser and system
The built-in Mi Browser browser is another source of information noise. It often offers news and promotional articles on the homepage. To get rid of this, you need to go to your browser settings (three bars → Settings), select the Home page and disable the display of news cards or select Classic mode.
However, a more effective method is to use third-party solutions or change the DNS-servers, private servers. DNS It allows you to filter traffic at the connection level by blocking requests to known ad servers. It's a universal method that works for all applications at once.
To set up a private DNS, go to Settings → Connection and Sharing (or Wi-Fi) → Private DNS. Select the DNS Host Name option and enter the address:
dns.adguard.comSave settings. All requests for ad domains will now be blocked at the network level, which can significantly speed up the loading of pages in the browser and remove banners in games and applications that use standard ad networks.
⚠️ Attention: Use of third-party DNS-servers may cause some local services to fail or slow down the connection if the server you select is far from your region».
What if the Internet stopped working after the DNS change?
Comparison of methods of disabling advertising
The best way to fight advertising depends on your technical skills and the desired result. Below is a table comparing the effectiveness of different methods.
| Method | Difficulty | Efficiency | Risks. |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSA shutdown | Low. | High (systemic) | Minimum |
| DNS setup (AdGuard) | Medium | Very high. | Possible Network Conflicts |
| Disconnection in the annexes | Low. | Medium (local) | No. |
| Removal via ADB | Tall. | Maximum | High (system failure) |
The safest and most recommended approach for most users is the combined approach: disabling msa plus setting up DNS. This gives an excellent result without the need for deep intervention. Deleting system packages via ADB (Android Debug Bridge) is worth leaving to experienced users, as the error can lead to a “brick” of the device.
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Combination of service shutdown MSA use DNS-filtering blocks up to 95% of all advertising in the system.
Removing system components via ADB (for advanced)
For those willing to go further, there is a method of forced removal of ad packages using a computer and the ADB utility. This method requires the activation of the USB debugging mode and the presence of a PC. It allows you to physically delete the apk files responsible for advertising, such as com.miui.misys or com.android.browser (if you plan to replace).
The process is as follows: connect your smartphone to your PC, enable debugging over USB, run the command line on your computer, and type a command to remove a particular packet, such as to remove the analytics service:
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.analyticsThis is a radical method that removes the component from the user space completely, making it impossible to run it. However, when you reset the settings to the factory remote applications will return. In addition, inexperienced removal of system packages can lead to unstable interface operation or cyclical reboot.
Use this method only if you know exactly what the deleted package is responsible for. There are many ready-made scripts and utilities (for example, Xiaomi). ADB/Fastboot Tools that automate this process and have warnings about critical components.