How to permanently disable advertising on Xiaomi: 7 proven ways

Advertising in Xiaomi smartphones is one of the most talked-about topics among the brand’s users. Even after buying a new Redmi or POCO, many are faced with intrusive banners in the settings menu, notifications from MIUI and sponsored content in system applications. The manufacturer integrates advertising modules at the firmware level, making their removal unobvious to the average user.

In this article, we will look at all possible ways to disable advertising, from basic settings to hidden developer settings to modification of system files. It is important to understand that some methods require root rights or custom firmware installation, but most solutions are available without deep technical knowledge. We will also analyze which models (Xiaomi 13T, Redmi Note 12, POCO F5, etc.) are most susceptible to inserts and how this depends on the region of the firmware.

We warn you in advance that some system notifications (such as security updates) are not recommended to be disabled, as they directly affect device security, and our goal is to remove commercial content without affecting critical features.

Basic MIUI settings: what can be turned off without root

To start with, the basics are built-in MIUI options that reduce the amount of ads by 60-70%, which are available on all modern devices (MIUI 12/13/14) and do not require any additional manipulation.

The first thing you need to do is turn off personalized ads, which collects data about your actions and shows you relevant banners.

Settings β†’ Google β†’ Advertising β†’ Disable β€œPersonalized Advertising”

Check the MIUI settings:

  • πŸ“± Notification from MIUI: Settings β†’ Notifications β†’ System notifications β†’ MIUI β†’ disable all unnecessary items (especially "Recommendations" and "Special Offers").
  • πŸ›’ Advertising in the topic menu: Settings β†’ Topics β†’ Settings (βš™οΈ) β†’ Recommendations to the topics β†’ turn off the advert.
  • πŸ“Š Analytics MIUI: Settings β†’ The phone. β†’ Open settings β†’ Analytics MIUI β†’ Deactivate data collection.

πŸ’‘

If after the disconnection, the advertisement continues to appear, restart the device - some settings apply only after the reboot.

Pay special attention to the Security app (or Security on global firmware), which is where ad modules are often hidden:

Security β†’ Settings (βš™οΈ) β†’ Receive recommendations

2. Hidden options: how to disable ads through ADB

For users willing to go beyond basic settings, there is a method to disable ads via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which does not require root rights, but involves connecting the smartphone to a computer.

You'll need:

  • πŸ–₯️ Computer with installed ADB-driver
  • πŸ“± Included debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) β†’ The phone. β†’ Version. MIUI β†’ 7 times press to activate the developer mode, then Settings β†’ Additionally. β†’ For developers β†’ Debugging by USB)
  • πŸ”Œ USB-cable (preferably original)

After connecting the device, perform in the command line:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.systemAdSolution


adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.xiaomi.midrop




adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.analytics




adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.bugreport




adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.cloudservice




adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.cloudbackup




adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.xiaomi.payment

Install Platform Tools on PC|

Enable debugging over USB on your phone |

Connect your phone to your PC and confirm trust |

Check the connection with the adb devices | command

Execute commands in order

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Importantly, after the MIUI update, these settings may reset β€” they will have to be re-used. Also, note that disabling some services (for example, com.xiaomi.payment) can disrupt Mi Pay and other financial functions.

Modification of system files (root only)

If you are ready to get root rights (for example, through Magisk), you can remove advertising modules at the system file level, this method gives 100% result, but you need to be careful - wrong actions can lead to a "brick" of the device.

The main files responsible for advertising in MIUI:

The path to the fileDescriptionCan I remove it?
/system/app/SystemAdSolutionThe main module of MIUI advertisingYes.
/system/priv-app/MiuiDaemonAnalytics collection serviceYes (but may disrupt some functions)
/system/app/MSAXiaomi Mobile Services (similar to Google Play Services)No (critical for MIUI's work)
/system/app/AnalyticsCoreMIUI's core analyticsYes.

To remove, use Root Explorer or the command via ADB root:

adb shell


su




mount -o rw,remount /system




rm -rf /system/app/SystemAdSolution




rm -rf /system/priv-app/MiuiDaemon




mount -o ro,remount /system




exit

What happens if you remove the MSA?
Deleting MSA (Mobile Services) will render most MIUI system applications, including Themes, Music, Video and even Settings, inoperable, and critical to the firmware, so it can only be frozen through Magisk, but not removed completely.

After modification of system files, it is recommended to:

  1. Clear the cache through Recovery (Wipe β†’ Cache).
  2. Reset the device.
  3. Check the operation of the main functions (calls, Internet, camera).

4. Alternative firmware: how to get rid of advertising forever

If you are not satisfied with Xiaomi’s advertising policy, you can consider installing custom firmware.

  • πŸ“± LineageOS is a clean Android without extra add-ons. Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO.
  • πŸ”„ Pixel Experience – firmware with Google Pixel interface and monthly security updates.
  • ⚑ ArrowOS – Optimized firmware with advanced privacy settings.
  • πŸ›‘οΈ DivestOS – firmware with a focus on security and removal of all trackers.

The process of installing custom firmware includes:

  1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Mi Unlock Tool (requires a Mi Account binding and a wait of 7-15 days).
  2. Installation of TWRP Recovery or other custom Recovery.
  3. Formatting the system, data, cache partitions.
  4. Install firmware and GApps (if you need Google services).

Official MIUI (Global) |

Official MIUI (Chinese) |

LineageOS|

Pixel Experience|

Another custom firmware |

I don't know. I haven't tried.

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Advantages of custom firmware:

  • 🚫 Complete lack of advertising and trackers.
  • πŸ”„ Regular security updates (as opposed to official security updates) MIUI, Support for older models is quickly stopped).
  • ⚑ Ability to fine-tune the interface and performance.

Disadvantages:

  • ⚠️ Loss of official warranty (if the device is under warranty).
  • πŸ“± Possible bugs with camera, sensors or wireless modules (depending on model).
  • πŸ”‹ Incorrect firmware can lead to a "brick".

5. Regional features: why Chinese firmware has more advertising

Many users have noticed that the Chinese version of MIUI has a lot more advertising than the global or European version, which is due to Xiaomi’s business model in China, where smartphones are sold at a minimal price and profits are generated by advertising and services.

Comparison of firmware by the number of advertisements:

Type of firmwareAdvertising in settingsAdvertising in annexesAnalytics gathering
Chinese (CN)⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Global (Global)⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
European (EEA)⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Indian (IN)⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you bought a device with Chinese firmware (Redmi K60, Xiaomi 13, etc.), but want to upgrade to the global version, you can do this in two ways:

  1. Official – via Mi Unlock Tool and installation of global ROM (requires unlocking the bootloader).
  2. Unofficial – through custom firmware such as Xiaomi.eu (does not require unlocking, but deprives you of the ability to use the software). OTA-update).

πŸ’‘

Xiaomi.eu is a modified global MIUI with remote advertising, themes support, and weekly updates. It doesn’t require root, but installs via TWRP.

Warning: when you switch from Chinese firmware to global, all data will be deleted, and note that some features (such as Mi Pay or Mi Roaming) may not work properly on informal firmware.

6.Blocking apps: Do they work on MIUI?

Many users try to combat advertising with third-party blockers such as Blokada, AdGuard or NetGuard. However, on MIUI, their effectiveness is limited due to the deep integration of ad modules into the system.

What can be blocked with these applications:

  • 🌐 Browser Advertising (if you use Mi Browser or Chrome).
  • πŸ“± Banners in some third-party applications (e.g., in games).
  • πŸ“Š Analytics trackers (Google Analytics, Firebase, etc.).

What can't be blocked:

  • ❌ Advertising in system settings (com.android.settings).
  • ❌ Banners in apps Topics, Security, Mi Video.
  • ❌ Notification from MIUI on β€œspecial proposals".

For maximum efficiency, it is recommended that:

  1. Use AdGuard in local VPN mode.
  2. Add to the blacklist domains: tracker.miui.com api.ad.xiaomi.com data.mistat.xiaomi.com sdkconfig.ad.xiaomi.com
  3. Disable battery optimization for AdGuard (in battery settings).

πŸ’‘

If you continue to see ads after installing the blocker, try changing the DNS to 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare) or 9.9.9.9 (Quad9) in your Wi-Fi/mobile network settings.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When trying to remove ads, users often make mistakes that lead to the opposite effect, such as more banners or system failures.

Error 1: Disabling all notifications from MIUI

⚠️ Warning: If you completely disable notifications from com.android.settings, you will stop receiving important security update alerts. Instead, only disable advertising channels: "Recommendations", "Special Offers", "Mi Community".

Error 2: Delete the MSA without backup

As mentioned earlier, MSA (Mobile Services) is critical to MIUI, and removing it without a backup can lead to a bootloop, if you do, first:

  • Create a backup copy through TWRP.
  • Make sure you have access to fastboot for recovery.
  • Use Magisk to freeze the module instead of completely removing it.

Mistake 3: Use of irrelevant ADB-team

The command lists for disabling ads through ADB are often outdated. For example, MIUI 14 stopped working commands to disable com.miui.analytics, as Xiaomi moved some of the features to other packages. Always check the relevance of commands on the XDA Developers or 4PDA forums.

Error 4: Install custom firmware without compatibility check

Not all custom firmware works equally well on different models, for example, the Pixel Experience may not support the camera on the Redmi Note 10 Pro due to proprietary drivers.

  • Check the list of supported devices on the official firmware website.
  • Check out the user reviews of your model in the forums.
  • Make sure that the firmware is updated (up-to-date builds come out at least 1 time in 2 months).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

❓ Why After Updating MIUI The commercial reappeared?
When you update the system, some settings are reset and packets that are disabled through ADB can be reactivated. To avoid this: Before updating, back up the list of disabled packets (adb shell pm list packages -d). After updating, re-apply the ADB commands. Use Tasker or MacroDroid to automatically disable ads after rebooting.
❓ Can you turn off advertising without rooting and ADB?
Yeah, but not completely. MIUI (The ones described in the first section reduce the amount of advertising on the 60-70%. For complete removal, either ADB-The alternative is to use XiaomiADBFastbootTools (GUI-interface ADB), which simplifies the process of disabling ads without manually entering commands.
❓ Why not? POCO There are fewer ads than Redmi?
Linear devices POCO They're initially positioned as "clean" from advertising, because they're focused on the international market. MIUI for POCO (starting POCO X3 NFC) Some of the ad modules are back. To minimize banners: Install the firmware xiaomi.eu (special build for the new product). POCO Disable "Personalized recommendations" in the settings POCO Launcher.
❓ How to Check Which Apps Show Ads?
Use the Packet Capture app (requires root) or NetGuard to monitor network activity. Pay attention to connections to the domains: *.ad.xiaomi.com *.mistat.xiaomi.com *.tracker.miui.com Also in Settings β†’ Annexes β†’ App management sort traffic programs – those that consume a lot of data in the background are often associated with analytics and advertising.
❓Legal: Does the Ad Disabling Violate Xiaomi’s User Agreement?
Technically, yes. MIUI's user agreement states that ads are part of the ecosystem and may be considered a violation. However, in practice: Xiaomi does not block devices for disabling ads. The guarantee is maintained if you do not receive root and install custom firmware. In Europe and the United States, users have the right to disable trackers and ads under GDPR and CCPA. If you are concerned about legal consequences, use the official MIUI settings without ADB and root.