How to disable access on top of other apps on Xiaomi: the complete guide

Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often encounter an intrusive system message, “Allow display on top of other apps?” that override the work interface.This feature is essential for widgets, instant messengers and floating windows, but sometimes it becomes a source of problems or intrusive advertising. Understanding how to disable on top of other Xiaomi apps will help you clean the screen of unnecessary visual noise and improve device security.

MIUI and its new version of HyperOS strictly control permissions, as they can be used by both legitimate programs and malware. If you notice that windows spontaneously pop up on the screen, or just want to limit the background activity of a particular software, you will need access to hidden or deep system settings. In this article, we will discuss all ways to manage this parameter.

We’ll look at not only standard methods through the security menu, but also advanced ways to disable system services, which are often the source of pop-up ads. Properly adjusting these settings will allow you to fully control what happens on the screen of your smartphone without sacrificing the functionality of important notifications.

What is the resolution “Above other applications” and why to disable it

Display over other apps is a special system mechanism in Android that allows the app window to overlap the current active interface. In simple words, it gives the program the right to draw its elements on top of everything you see right now: desktop, browser or game. For instant messengers, this is necessary to show incoming calls when the phone is locked or you are in another application.

But there's a downside to this coin: Many applications, especially free utilities, flashlights and cleaners, abuse this right, and they can use it to display full-screen ads at the most inopportune moment, or to covertly collect data. In some cases, malicious code masquerades as system processes, using this access to redirect users to phishing sites.

⚠️ Note: If you see a pop-up asking for permission to access an application you just installed that should not have floating windows (such as a simple calculator or voice recorder), immediately deny access. This is a classic sign of potentially unwanted software.

Disabling this feature for unnecessary services can also have a positive impact on the autonomy of the device, applications will not need to keep the process of rendering the interface in the background constantly active, which will save battery power and free up RAM, especially for low-end models of Redmi and POCO, where system resources are limited.

Basic configuration via MIUI and HyperOS security menu

The easiest and safest way to manage permissions is to use the built-in MIUI shell toolkit. Xiaomi has put these settings in a separate subsection so that users can quickly control the access of applications. First, you need to open the standard Security application, which has a lightning shield icon and is usually preinstalled on all devices of the brand.

Inside the app, find the permissions section. It may be called differently in different versions of the firmware, but the logic remains the same. You need to find the item responsible for "Special Opportunities" or "Other Permissions." This is where the switch that controls the display on top of other windows hides. The interface may differ depending on the regional version of the firmware (Global, China, EEA).

Once you log in, you'll see a list of all the programs that have or request this right. It's important to be careful and analyze each application. System services like Themes or Music can legitimately use this feature for their widgets, but third-party browsers or games don't usually need to. Disable access selectively, checking the software after each change.

To make it more subtle, you can use the settings search. Click on the magnifier icon at the top of the settings screen and type "above the others" and the system will redirect you to the desired section, bypassing long searches in the depth of the menu, which is especially useful if the menu items were renamed after the next HyperOS update.

How to disable MSA and GetApps system advertising

One of the most common reasons for intrusive ads on Xiaomi is the MSA (MIUI System Ads) and the GetApps app store. These components are built deep into the system and often have priority access to display on top of other windows. To completely get rid of banner ads, you need to limit their rights.

The disabling process requires sequential action. First, find the MSA service in the application list. If it is hidden, turn on the system processes in the settings. Once you find the MSA service, go to Other Permits and uncheck the "Master on top of other applications" box. Without this right, the service will not be able to run advertising modules on top of your desktop.

Similar actions are required for GetApps and the Browser system application, which are often the source of pop-ups with suggestions to install games or clean your phone. In the permissions menu, find these applications and force them to block the interface, which will not remove the applications, but will deprive them of the ability to be active in the background.

It is worth noting that after major firmware updates, settings may reset. periodically check the permission list to make sure that the ad modules are not accessed again. MSA perhaps only through ADB-commands if the standard menu does not give the desired result, but for most users, the restrictions on rights through the interface are enough.

Managing permissions for specific applications

Beyond system services, screen access is often abused by user applications. Social media, news aggregators, and even some games may request the right to draw over other windows for their notifications or chats. Control over these permissions is key to a clean interface. You can manage them as a group or individually for each application.

To disable access for a particular program, look for it in the general permission list. Click on the application name to reveal the detailed settings. Here you will see the "Master on top of other applications" switch to "Off" position. After that, the application will lose the ability to create floating windows, but will continue to work normally, only opening when you start.

Pay special attention to apps you have recently installed. If you start to see ads on your screen after installing a utility, the first thing you do is check the permissions. Often, these programs are disguised as useful tools, but their main purpose is to show advertising content. Removing the resolution "over other windows" for such programs instantly blocks the display of ads, even if the application itself remains installed.

If you use third-party launchers or weather widgets, make sure they have the right rights, or they may stop updating or display correctly.The balance between security and functionality is achieved through a selective approach: trust only trusted developers and well-known software brands.

Hidden settings and debugging through ADB

For advanced users who want to gain full control of Xiaomi, there is a method to disable permissions through USB debugging and the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) computer utility, which allows you to disable even those system services that are hidden from the average user in the standard settings menu.

First, you need to activate the developer mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on MIUI or HyperOS seven times. After you have become a developer, go to advanced settings and turn on USB Debugging. Connect your smartphone to your computer with a cable.

adb shell pm revoke com.miui.misys miui.permission.overlay

Using the command above (or its counterparts for specific packages), you can force the permission to display on top of other windows. However, using ADB carries risks. Incorrectly disabling critical system processes can lead to unstable interface operation, a bootloop (cyclic reboot) or loss of data. Always check the name of the package before entering a command.

💡

Use ADB AppControl on PC – it has a graphical interface and allows you to safely remove or freeze Xiaomi system applications without knowing complex commands.

This method is particularly effective for dealing with deeply integrated advertising that cannot be removed by standard means. However, remember that once you reset your settings to factory or update your firmware, all changes made through ADB will be canceled and the procedure will have to be repeated. This is a temporary but effective solution for power users.

Solving Access Problems on top of Other Applications

Sometimes users are faced with the reverse problem: they can not press a button in the application because it is blocked by an invisible layer or a frozen process. Android system for security reasons blocks clicks if the layer “above other applications” is active from an unreliable source, in which case the screen may dim or the buttons become non-clickable.

To solve this problem, temporarily disable all suspicious applications in the permissions menu. Often the culprit is Eye Protection (reading mode), third-party blue light filters or screen recording applications. Disabling these functions returns full control to the interface. After you perform the necessary actions (for example, installing an application from an unknown source), the rights can be returned.

⚠️ Note: Do not disable the system application "Settings" or "System". UI» (System UI). This will make it impossible to control your smartphone and will require a reset via Recovery Mode. MIUI.

If the problem persists even after all applications are disabled, try restarting the device in Safe Mode, which will determine if third-party software is the cause, and if the problem has disappeared in Safe Mode, then one of the applications you installed is to blame, and you need to find the culprit by eliminating the problem.

💡

The main reason for blocking buttons is the active layer from an application that the system considers potentially dangerous, and temporarily shutting down “on top of other windows” is a standard solution to this security problem.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)