Modern Xiaomi smartphones running the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS offer incredible functionality to users, but are often accompanied by intrusive information noise. The owner of a new device may find that the screen is constantly flashing from news reports, suggestions to install applications or recommendations from system services. This is not just annoying, but also significantly affects the autonomy of the gadget, causing the battery to discharge faster due to the constant activity of the screen and network modules.
Many users mistakenly believe that this can only be eliminated by installing third-party launchers or complex flashing on global versions, but the company's engineers have provided built-in control mechanisms. Competent system configuration allows you to turn your smartphone into a clean tool for work and entertainment without unnecessary visual debris. In this article, we will analyze in detail all the hidden corners of the menu where advertising switches and system alerts hide so you can enjoy the device without intrusive interference.
It is important to understand that completely disabling all notifications can lead to the skipping of really important messages from messengers or bank service applications, so the approach should be differentiated: we will remove system spam and advertising, leaving communication channels for personal communication open, such a balance will ensure a comfortable use of the Android interface, while preserving all the useful functionality of the ecosystem.
Management of system recommendations and MSA service
The main source of intrusive advertising in the MIUI interface is the MSA (MIUI System Ads) service, which analyzes your actions and generates personalized suggestions that appear in folders, desktops and system applications, and disabling this service is the first and most important step on the path to cleanliness of the interface, since it is responsible for the lion’s share of visual noise.
To deactivate ads, you need to go to the password and security settings section, where you hide the management of authorization and system services. Find Authorization and Review (or Auth & revocation in English) and find the msa line in the list. The switch next to it needs to be turned off. The system will warn you that some functions may stop working correctly, but for the average user these changes will be invisible, except for the disappearance of advertising.
⚠️ Note: When you turn off the msa service, the 10 second countdown timer may not work the first time.If the "Disable" button remains gray, just press it again without leaving the menu and the system will allow you to complete the procedure.
In parallel with the disabling of advertising, it is recommended to configure the recommendation service, which is responsible for prompts in application folders. Even after disabling the MSA, some elements can be saved if you do not remove the tick in the Receive recommendations item. This action will finally clear the folders of intrusive icons of recommended games and programs that often prevent you from finding the desired application.
Setting up the notification center and locking the screen
The lock screen on Xiaomi smartphones often turns into a news feed filled with article headlines, weather forecasts and optimization tips. To return it to a minimalist look, you need to go to the lock screen settings through the main settings menu or by long tapping on the empty desktop space.
Also, you should pay attention to the notification settings on the locked screen. In the Notifications and Status Bar menu, you can choose the display format: show the content of all notifications, hide confidential content or not show notifications at all. For maximum peace of mind, choose the option “Do not show notifications”, then when a new message arrives, the screen will only light up briefly, without showing text.
- 🔒 Privacy: Hiding the content of notifications on a locked screen protects your personal correspondence from prying eyes in public places.
- 🔋 Power savings: Turning off the screen’s constant backlight to display new emails and messages helps keep the battery powered throughout the day.
- 🧹 Clean interface: Minimalist lock screen allows you to unlock the device faster and focus on the main thing, without being distracted by news headlines.
It is also important to check the Always On Screen (AOD) settings if your Xiaomi model supports this feature. In some cases, the notification settings for AOD may duplicate or conflict with the basic lock settings, so it’s best to make sure that the Always On and Lock section does not activate unnecessary widgets.
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Use Do Not Disturb at night to completely eliminate light and sound notifications, leaving work only for emergency contacts.
Control of notifications from system applications
System applications such as Security, Cleanup, Explorer, and Music often generate their own notifications that are not critical. For example, the Security app can regularly report that the phone is working normally, or offer to speed up the system, although this is not urgently needed.
To disable these alerts, go to Settings → Notifications and Status Bar → Notification Management. In the list that opens, look for system applications. For example, for the Security app, you can turn off notifications about completion of verification or recommendations, leaving only virus alerts active.
| Annex | Type of notification | Recommendation | Way of shutdown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security | Results of scanning | Shut down. | Settings → Applications → Security → Notifications |
| Downloads. | Completion of downloading | Leave (useful) | Settings → Notifications → Downloads |
| Cleanup | Cleaning recommendations | Shut down. | Appendix Cleaning → Settings → Notifications |
| Conductor | Promotions | Shut down. | Appendix Explorer → Settings → About the program (remove ticks) |
Special attention should be paid to File Manager, which is often hidden in the About menu or in the Settings section inside the app itself, and contains the Receive Ads and Show Ads switches, which will save you from pop-ups when you open certain formats.
☑️ Checking system spam
Disabling Advertising in Standard Applications
Xiaomi’s standard apps, such as Music, Videos and Themes, are not only content playback tools, but also platforms for distributing ad integrations. In the Music app, ads can appear when you switch tracks or as banners in the recommendations section. To minimize this impact, you need to go to the application settings (usually through the three-dot or gear menu) and find the item “Receive recommendations” or “Show ads”, then deactivate it.
The Video app often offers content from partners when it launches, and its settings should also look for the section related to online services or recommendations and disable automatic preview playback or promotional material. Sometimes these settings can be hidden in the depth of the menu, for example, in the Profile → Settings → Settings section.
⚠️ Note: After updating the operating system MIUI or HyperOS, the ad integration settings in system applications can be reset to factory values.
The GetApps app store is also prone to actively promoting games and programs through notifications. If you do not use this store actively, its notifications can be completely disabled in the general settings of the system. If you use it for updates, leave only notifications about installed updates, banning (push) news and promotions.
Fine-tuning notifications for third-party apps
Beyond system trash, users often install apps that abuse the right to send notifications. Social media, games, news aggregators, and stores can flood users with hundreds of messages daily. Android provides powerful tools to manage this flow, allowing you to customize notification channels for each application separately.
Go to Settings → Notifications and Status Bar → Notification Management. Select a problem app, such as a game or news app. Here you will see a list of notification categories (channels). You can turn off Promotions, News, Reminders, leaving only Personal Messages or Important Events active, which keeps the app functional by removing information noise.
- 📉 Priority: Set your important apps high priority so that their notifications don’t get lost in the general mass and appear in a separate category.
- 🚫 Complete ban: For games and entertainment apps, it is often advisable to completely ban notifications as they rarely carry a payload.
- 📱 Floating windows: Turn off the ability to display notifications as floating windows (banners) for applications that do not require instant response.
Also worth noting is the Smart Notifications or Spam Filter feature, which can be built into the MIUI shell, which automatically sorts messages from unknown senders into a separate Spam folder without disturbing the user with an audible signal, which greatly improves the comfort of using the smartphone.
Hidden Developer Settings
Use of Do Not Disturb Mode and Schedules
For situations where complete silence is required but without the risk of missing an emergency call, Do Not Disturb mode is ideal. Unlike simple silent mode, it blocks not only sound but also vibration, and can also prevent the screen from turning on when notifications arrive, which can be set up through the control panel (curtain) or in the basic audio settings.
Of particular value is the Do Not Disturb schedule feature, which you can set up to automatically turn on at night, such as 23:00 to 07:00, or during calendar appointments. In the mode settings, it is important to add the contacts of close relatives to the exclusion list so that their calls can always reach you, even when the phone is asleep.
There is also the option to set up automatic rules in the Security app or through automation scenarios, such as the phone itself going quiet when you connect to home Wi-Fi or when battery levels become critically low, making smartphone interactions more intelligent and predictable.
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Proper use of the schedules of the mode “Do not disturb” is the best way to guarantee quality sleep and rest without having to manually switch switch switch switch switches every evening.