How to permanently disable floating windows on Xiaomi Redmi Note 10: the complete guide

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 is one of the most popular mid-range smartphones, but many users are faced with intrusive floating windows: ads in MIUI, notifications from apps and system prompts. These pop-ups not only distract, but can slow down the device. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to turn them off, from standard settings to hidden firmware functions.

It is important to understand that the source of floating windows can be both system services MIUI (for example, msa or Mipush) and third-party applications that have received permission to display on top of other windows. We will look at both options, including methods for users without root rights and with them. If you have already tried to disable advertising through Settings → Memory → Cleanup, but windows continue to appear – this guide is for you.

Why do floating windows appear on the Redmi Note 10?

The pop-ups on the Redmi Note 10 fall into three categories, each requiring a different approach to shutting down:

• 📱 Systemic advertising MIUI: banners in the settings menu, hints about new features, suggestions to install applications from Xiaomi.Source: msa (Mobile Services Analytics) and Mipush.
• 🔔 Notifications from apps: floating windows from instant messengers (such as WhatsApp or Viber), games and social networks that are displayed on top of the screen.
• ⚙️ Service prompts: System messages about low battery charge, Wi-Fi connection or software updates.

The main problem is that Xiaomi has integrated advertising mechanisms deep into firmware, and even after resetting to factory-built floating windows can come back in a few days, due to the operation of com.xiaomi.mipicks, which automatically downloads advertising materials.

Interesting fact: Chinese versions of MIUI (like China ROM) have significantly less advertising than global firmware, due to local legislation banning intrusive advertising on system interfaces.

Method 1: Disabling Advertising in MIUI through Settings

The easiest method is to use built-in firmware options, which is suitable for users who have floating windows appearing in standard applications (Browser, Music, Themes).

Go to Settings → Memory → Clean up and follow the following steps:

1. Click on the gear icon in the upper right corner.
2. Turn off the Recommendation slider (this hides suggestions to install apps).
3. Return to the main Settings menu and select About Phone → MIUI version. Tap the MIUI logo 7-8 times to activate the developer mode.
4. Return to Settings → Additional → Special Options → Advertising and turn off all sliders.

This method removes up to 70% of system advertising, but does not block floating windows from third-party applications, for example, if you have AliExpress or TikTok installed, their notifications will still pop up.

Turn off "Recommendations" in the Cleanup menu |

Deactivate Advertising in Special Opportunities |

Remove Mi Video, Mi Music, Mi Browser|

Update MIUI Up to the latest version (there are fewer ads in new firmware)-->

Method 2: Block permissions for applications

If floating windows are coming from specific apps (such as Facebook, Instagram or games), you must manually prohibit them from showing over other windows.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app that shows pop-ups (like the Google Play Store).
3. Click Permissions → Additional → Show over other windows.
4. Choose to forbid or ask each time.

To massively disable permissions, use the filter:

• 🔍 In the top search bar, enter the display over the top – the system will show all applications with this resolution.
• 🚫 Turn off permission for all unnecessary apps (especially for games and social media).

💡

If after disabling the permission, the application stopped working correctly (for example, does not show notifications about calls in messengers), return the setting to the "Allow" state.

Note that some system applications (e.g., com.miui.systemAdSolution) do not have an interface to disable permissions, and can only be blocked through ADB or root permissions.

⚠️ Warning: Disabling permissions for system applications (e.g. com.xiaomi.mipicks) may cause disruptions MIUI. Before changes, back up your data through Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

Method 3: Using ADB to Deeply Disable Advertising

If standard methods don’t work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a tool for debugging Android devices, which does not require root rights, but requires connecting your smartphone to your computer.

First, prepare the computer:

1. Download and install Google’s Platform Tools.
2. Turn on Redmi Note 10 to debug USB: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times), then Settings → Additional → For developers → Debugging by USB.
3. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.

Now run commands in the command line (or Terminal on Mac/Linux):

adb shell pm hide com.miui.systemAdSolution


adb shell pm hide com.xiaomi.mipicks




adb shell pm hide com.miui.analytics




adb shell settings put global hidden_api_policy 1

These teams:

• 🛡️ Disable system services responsible for displaying advertising.
• 🔧 Unlock the hidden API, This allows you to suppress advertising mechanisms.

When you restart the device, the floating windows from MIUI should disappear. If you want to return everything back, use the command:

adb shell pm unhide com.miui.systemAdSolution

⚠️ Attention: Teams ADB They may conflict with updates MIUI. After a major firmware update (for example, with a MIUI 12 on MIUI 13. you will have to repeat the procedure.

Method 4: Remove system applications without root

Some floating windows are shown due to pre-installed Xiaomi apps that cannot be removed by standard means. Uninstallation will require Universal Android Debloater (works through ADB).

Download the utility from GitHub and follow the instructions:

1. Connect Redmi Note 10 to your PC and activate debugging over USB.
2. Run universal-android-debloater.jar (Java 8+ required).
3. In the list of applications, find and mark for removal: 🗑️ com.miui.analytics – analytics collection (shows ads) 🗑️ com.xiaomi.mipicks - a recommendation service 🗑️ com.miui.systemAdSolution – System Advertising 🗑️ com.miui.bugreport – sending reports (may show notifications)

Uninstall selected

Once these packets are removed, the floating windows from MIUI will disappear forever, but some features (such as sync with Mi Account) may not work properly. If you notice a crash, restore the applications through the same utility (Restore button).

Method 5: Set up a firewall to block ads

If floating windows are caused by network requests (such as banners in a browser or games), you can block them at the DNS level or through the firewall, and applications like NetGuard or Blokada can do this.

Instructions for Blokada:

1. Download Blokada from the official website (not from Google Play – there is an outdated version).
2. Launch the application and grant permission to create VPN-connection.
3. Enable the ad blocking (Enable slider).
4. Go to Hosts. → Manage lists and add lists: 🔒 Adaway (blocks ads in apps) 🔒 Energized Protection (filters trackers)

To block specific domains (e.g., Xiaomi ad servers):

1. Go to Blokada to Hosts → Custom list.
2. Add the following lines: 0.0.0.0 ad.mi.com 0.0.0.0 data.mistat.xiaomi.com 0.0.0.0 sdkconfig.ad.intl.xiaomi.com

This will block most of Xiaomi’s advertising requests, but it won’t affect the basic functions of the smartphone, and the main advantage of the method is that it works without root and does not require complex manipulation.

💡

Blokada firewall blocks ads at the network level, so floating windows won’t even appear in games and browsers, but this won’t help against local notifications (such as from instant messengers).

Method 6: Flashing on custom firmware (for advanced)

If all previous methods have failed, the radical solution is to install custom firmware without advertising.

• 📱 LineageOS – pure Android without unnecessary services.
• 📱 Pixel Experience – firmware with interface from Google Pixel.
• 📱 Xiaomi.eu – modified MIUI Advertising free (but with all functions supported).

The installation process requires unlocking the bootloader and using TWRP.

1. Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (you need a Mi Account tied to the phone).
2. Install TWRP for mojito (you can download it on the official website).
3. Download the firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.eu for Redmi Note 10) and transfer it to the memory card.
4. Load into the Recavatorie (Power buttons) + Vol Up and stitch ZIP-file.

Advantages of custom firmware:

• ✅ No system advertising and floating windows.
• ✅ More opportunities to customize the interface.
• ✅ Faster security updates.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Loss of warranty (if the bootloader is unlocked).
• ❌ Risk of "bricking" in case of firmware error.
• ❌ Certain functions (e.g, IR-blaster) may not work properly.

⚠️ Note: Check the compatibility of the version with your Redmi Note 10 model before firmware is installed. For example, the firmware for mojito (global version) is not suitable for mojitoin (Indian version).

What to do if the floating windows return

Even after all the manipulation, the ads and pop-up notifications can reappear.

• 🔄 Update MIUI — New firmware versions can restore remote services.
• 📥 Installation of new applications – some programs (for example, UC Browser or Clean Master automatically ask permission to display over other windows.
• 🔧 Resetting settings - after resetting all permissions are returned to the factory.

To prevent the return of floating windows:

1. Check the list of apps with permission Show over other windows regularly.
2. Turn off automatic MIUI update in Settings → About Phone → System Update.
3. Use App Ops (permissions management app) to block background activity of advertising services.

If windows appear from a specific application (such as AliExpress), try:

• 📵 Disable notifications for this application in Settings → Notifications.
• 🗑️ Uninstall the application and install a modified version of it (e.g. AliExpress Lite without ads).

FAQ: Frequent questions about floating windows on Xiaomi