Owners of Xiaomi smartphones, particularly the popular Redmi Note 7, often face intrusive advertising that appears in standard applications and the system interface. This is not a coincidence, but the result of a system component called MSA (MIUI System Ads), which is activated by default to broadcast advertising content and collect data on user preferences, which can annoy and slow down the device.
Fortunately, the MIUI architecture allows you to deactivate this module without obtaining superuser rights (Root). The shutdown process is simple enough if you know which menus to go to. Full MSA shutdown is possible only after a few attempts, since the system will suggest waiting 10 seconds before confirming an action. In this article, we will discuss a step-by-step algorithm of actions that will help you clean the interface of unnecessary "junk".
Before you start settings, it is worth understanding that turning off the advertising module will not damage the health of your Redmi Note 7.On the contrary, it will free up some of the RAM and reduce the load on the processor. Next, we will take a detailed look at each step of the procedure, so that you do not have difficulty finding the right switches in the menu.
What is MSA and why is it needed in MIUI?
MSA is an acronym for MIUI System Ads. It's a system application built into Xiaomi's MIUI shell, and its primary purpose is to manage the display of banner ads in regular applications like Explorer, Music, Themes and Security. Many users mistakenly believe that ads on the system are a virus, but in fact it's a legitimate, though undesirable, firmware feature.
In addition to displaying banners, the service collects anonymized statistics on app usage so that algorithms can pick up more relevant ads. For a budget device like the Redmi Note 7, which is often used as the main working tool, constant background data collection processes can be noticeable, disabling this component gives the user full control of the device.
It's worth noting that you can't completely remove a system application without root rights, but you can effectively "muffle" it. Once you turn off all the switches and stop working through the application settings, the MSA will stop running automatically, a safe procedure that doesn't violate warranty or affect the stability of the phone's core functions.
Redmi Note 7 Preparation for Settings Change
Before you make changes to system settings, make sure your device is ready for the procedure. First, check your Internet connection. Since MIUI settings often sync with the server when critical settings change, a stable Wi-Fi or mobile network connection is imperative. Without the Internet, the switches may not activate or return to their original state.
It is also recommended to close all running heavy applications, which will help avoid possible interface lags during the transition between the settings menu.Although the process of disabling advertising does not require a reboot, free RAM on the Redmi Note 7 will ensure smooth operation.
It is important to understand that different versions of the MIUI shell (whether 11, 12, 13 or 14) may have slightly different locations, but the logic of the menu structure remains the same for all Xiaomi devices. If you do not find the item right away, carefully check the adjacent sections or search by settings.
Disabling Advertising through Mi Account Settings
The first and most important step is to globally disable personalized ads in your account settings, and that's where the main switch is, which tells the system that you don't want to see promotional offers, and without doing that, all further actions may be less effective.
To start, open your smartphone's Settings menu. Scroll down to the bottom and find About Phone, or go straight to Passwords and Security, depending on the version of the interface. We need a privacy section. In modern versions of MIUI, the path often looks like: Settings → Passwords and Security → Privacy.
Inside the Privacy section, look for Advertising Services (or Advertising) and click on it, and you'll see a switch called Personalized Advertising that needs to be put into an inactive state, and the system will warn you that the ads are not going anywhere, but will become less relevant, and that's the standard wording that you just need to check and confirm the action.
⚠️ Warning: After turning off this switch, the system may require you to wait 10 seconds before confirming.This is an artificial delay introduced by Xiaomi developers to complicate the process of rejecting ads".
Once you successfully disable this menu, you should also check the Special Features → Accessibility Services section. Make sure there are no suspicious services with names that contain the words "Ads" or "Marketing" that could be installed along with the updates. Although the main control is in the privacy section, additional verification will not be unnecessary.
Managing permissions for MSA applications
The next step is to work directly with the MSA system application, and we need to find it in the list of all installed programs and deny it access to the network and other functions of the phone, which is a critical step that actually blocks the ability to download advertising content.
Go to Settings → Applications → All Apps. In the upper right corner of the screen, click on the three-dot icon and select Show System Processes. This action will open access to hidden Android and MIUI services that are not normally visible to the user. In the list that opens, find an app called msa (the full name may be MIUI System Ads).
Click on the name of the application to enter its management menu. Here you are interested in Other Permits or just Permissions. You need to turn off all available permissions, especially access to the Internet, Wi-Fi and Data. Without access to the network, the application will not physically be able to download the banner advertising.
What if the "msa" item is not on the list?
Sometimes in new versions. MIUI It can be called something else or hidden. Try searching inside the app menu. If the search doesn't work, maybe your firmware version has an ad module integrated into the system's "Security" or "Downloads." In this case, focus on disabling recommendations in folders and account settings.> Also in the app menu MSA Find AutoStart and make sure it's turned off, and this will prevent service from starting immediately after you turn on your phone. After you've set all the settings, go back and press Stop (or Close) to end your current session. Disabling recommendations in folders and system applications Even after disabling the main module MSA, some interface elements MIUI They may continue to show recommendations. Most of the time, it's the folders on the desktop and the Downloads app. To get clean, you have to go through each of these places. Start with the folders on the desktop. Open any folder where you have grouped apps. At the bottom of the folder, you often see the line "Recommended Apps." Click on it, and in the menu that opens, turn off the Receive Recommendations switch. This operation must be repeated for each folder on all screens of your Redmi Note 7: 📂 Explorer: Open the application, click on the menu (three bars), select Settings → About the program and disable the item Get recommendations. 🎵 Music: Go to Settings → Additionally, and turn off the option to display advertising. 🛡️ Security: Click on the gear in the corner, find the Receive recommendations section and deactivate it. Also check the cleaning and antivirus settings inside the app. 🎨 Topics: Go to Profile → Settings and disable Personal Recommendations and Advertising Display. Don't forget to also check the Downloads app. Click on three dots in the corner, select Settings, and remove the tick from Show Recommended Files. The comprehensive approach ensures that no corner of the system is left over by marketing algorithms.comparing ad blocking techniques There are several approaches to combating intrusive content on Xiaomi devices. Users can choose between standard disabling of settings, using third-party software or radical methods like flashing. Below is a table comparing the effectiveness of these methods for the Redmi Note 7 model. Method complexity effectiveness of risk disconnection MSA in the settings Low High (90-95%) Minimum use DNS (AdGuard) Medium Medium (can break sites) Medium (loss of speed) Global Installation ROM High Maximum High (loss of warranty) Root rights and removal Very High Full Critical (brick) As you can see from the table, a regular shutdown through settings is the safest and most reasonable balance between effort and result. DNS-Filtering can be a good addition, but it affects the entire system and can slow down the opening of web pages. Installing another firmware or obtaining root rights is only justified for experienced users who are willing to risk the device's performance. 7 switch-off MSA And the setting of permissions is enough for comfortable use. The system continues to work steadily, receiving security updates, but without annoying visual noise. Frequent problems and their solution In the process of disabling advertising modules, users may encounter certain difficulties. For example, the switch can spontaneously turn back on after a while. This often happens after a major update to the MIUI system. In this case, the procedure must be re-run, since the updated configuration files can reset user preferences to default values. Another common problem is the inability to click the Stop button in the MSA application menu. It may be inactive (gray). ⚠️ If after all the manipulations, advertising in applications (for example, in games or browser) remains, it is not the fault MSA. The system module is only responsible for advertising in the interface. MIUI. Advertising inside third-party apps and websites is blocked by other mechanisms, such as a built-in browser blocker or a separate blocker app. MSA Notifications from some system applications, such as the theme store or the Music app, have stopped coming in, which is normal behavior, as these notifications are often classified as advertising notifications by the system. If you are interested in notifications about new tracks or discounts, the relevant items can be left on by selectively adjusting the notification categories. 💡If you accidentally blocked Internet access for an important system component and something stopped working, just go back to the permission settings of that application and turn the network back on. This will safely restore functionality. Results and performance impact MSA On the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7, it’s not just a way to remove visual noise, but also a real-world optimization of the device’s performance. Budget processors like the Snapdragon 660 in the Note 7 are sensitive to background activity. The ad module is constantly querying servers, analyzing your actions, and preparing to show content that consumes the CPU and battery resources. After completing all these steps, you will notice that the interface has become more responsive. Micro-twitches will disappear when opening folders, and battery consumption in standby mode should decrease. This is especially noticeable on older batteries, where every percentage of the charge counts. 💡Shutdown MSA — This is a mandatory procedure for any Xiaomi owner, which increases data privacy and slightly speeds up the smartphone without risk to the system. Now your Redmi Note 7 is configured as clean as possible. MIUI, Check system updates regularly, because sometimes after updates, privacy settings can be reset and you have to repeat them. Is it safe to completely disable Xiaomi system processes? Yes, it is the process that is disabling that is the case. MSA (MIUI System Ads is safe. It's a service for advertising only. However, be careful about other system processes that you don't know the names of, disable only what you're sure of, or follow proven instructions specifically for ad modules. Will the ads in the games and the browser disappear after these settings? MSA Remove only system advertising in the interface MIUI (Advertising in the browser (Chrome, Mi Browser) and in the free versions of games will remain, as it is controlled by the applications and advertising networks themselves (Google AdMob, Yandex, etc.). DNS-filters or extensions. Should I reflash the phone if I'm out? MSA Did it work? 99% of the time, you don't need to flash it back. If you're still adverts, you've missed a point in your app settings (e.g., you haven't turned off recommendations in Downloads or Security). ROM It might help if you have a Chinese version, but it's a complicated process. MIUI - Can you bring the ads back. For major system updates (e.g., switching from MIUI 12 to 13), settings can be reset to factory settings, so after each major update, it is recommended to check the status of the Personalized Ads switch in the privacy settings.