How to Turn Off Advertising on Poco F3: The Complete Guide

Poco F3 smartphone owners often face intrusive advertising notifications that appear in system applications and the MIUI interface. This is a fee for the affordable cost of the device, but the situation can be corrected without obtaining root rights. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to completely remove ads on Xiaomi Poko F3, disabling system marketing services and personalized recommendations.

The process of deactivating the ad loop requires several actions to be performed in sequence in different settings sections. You will have to change the security settings, updates and applications themselves to achieve a clean interface. We will look at each step in as much detail as possible so that you can enjoy the operation of the smartphone without unnecessary visual noise.

Before you start settings, make sure your device is connected to a stable Internet network. Many switches responsible for recommendations and personalization require online status checks before changing their status. Without a network connection, you may encounter an error "failed to receive data", which will block further actions.

MSA Disconnection: The Main Source of Advertising

The main generator of advertising traffic in the MIUI shell is the MSA (MIUI System Ads) system application, which collects data about your preferences and shows banners in folders and when you unlock it, and to get rid of it, you need to find the appropriate item in the authorization menu and turn it off.

Go to the Settings menu, then select Password and Security. In the list that opens, look for Access to Personal Data or Authorization and Security. In the list of system applications, find the msa bar and put the slider in an inactive position. The system will warn you of the consequences, but it is necessary to remove ads.

⚠️ Warning: When you try to disable the msa, the countdown timer may show 10 seconds. Don't press the "disconnect" button right away, wait until the time ends, otherwise the process will have to start again.

If you fail to turn off the service the first time, repeat the procedure 3-4 times in a row, a common feature of the shell that tries to keep the user in the advertising ecosystem, and after successful disabling, the ads in folders and system notifications should disappear.

📊 Did you manage to shut down? MSA first-time?
Yeah, it was a quick fix.
I had to try it a few times.
I didn’t find this option in the settings.
I have a different version of MIUI.

It is important to understand that disabling msa does not remove the application completely, but only prevents it from collecting data and showing content. In some cases, after a major firmware update, settings may reset, so it makes sense to periodically check the status of this service.

Setting up the “Security” application and cleaning

The built-in antivirus and security optimizer is another channel for broadcasting ad offerings. By default, it includes news and promotion recommendations that pop up when you scan the system. To clean this interface, you need to have deep customization of internal settings.

Open the Security app and click on the gear icon in the top right corner of the screen. In the settings menu, find the Receive recommendations and turn it off. It is also recommended to go to the Cleanup subsection and remove the tick from the "Show ads after cleaning" box if this option is available in your firmware version.

  • 🛡️ Turn off the risk notice when installing applications from unknown sources if it interferes with the installation.
  • 🧹 Remove the tick from the "Recommendations" item in the "Memory Cleanup" section».
  • 📉 In the Battery section, disable the display of energy saving advertising tips.

After making changes to the Security settings, it is recommended that you completely close the application through the running process menu and open it again, which will allow new configurations to apply. Now, with a quick cleaning of RAM, pop-ups with product offers will no longer bother you.

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Check the Security section periodically after the MIUI update, as new firmware versions may return ad settings to factory defaults.

Remove advertising in the application “Downloads” and “Conductor”

System utilities for working with files in MIUI are also full of advertising modules. When you open Downloads or Explorer, users often see a "Recommend You" block that is filled with links to games and applications, you can remove this element through the hidden settings of each application separately.

For Downloads, the algorithm is this: open the app, click three dots in the corner, select Settings. Find Show recommended content and deactivate it. A similar procedure is performed for Explorer: menus, settings, About section or immediately the Receive recommendations switch.

If you're actively using the built-in Mi Browser browser, you also need to clean it up. Go to your browser settings, Privacy and Security, and turn off all personalization and newsfeed items, which will significantly speed up your browser and remove visual debris.

⚠️ Note: In some regions, the firmware names of items may differ.Look for keywords such as "Recommendations", "Promotions" or "Personalized services».

It is worth noting that after disabling the recommendations in Downloads, the old ad cached in memory can be displayed for a while longer, it will disappear after the first cleaning of the app cache or rebooting the device, and you should not panic if the banners are left immediately after switching the tumbler.

Disabling personalization in system services

MIUI has a separate service that collects usage statistics for targeted advertising, called MIUI Daemon or simply Services and Feedback, which is critical to complete privacy and lack of targeted offers.

In the settings menu, look for Password and Security, then Access to Personal Data. In the list, look for Service and Feedback (or miui.daemon). Disable data access. It's also worth checking the Privacy section in the general settings and disabling the User Experience Improvement Program.

ServiceLocation on the menuAction.Impact on the system
msaPassword and securityShut down.Removes the main advertisement
Services and feedbackPassword and securityShut down.Stops collecting statistics
Receive recommendationsApplication settingsShut down.Cleans the utility interface
Auto-reproductionMusic/VideoShut down.Stops auto-starting rollers

After doing this, your Poco F3 will become significantly cleaner, and the system will stop analyzing your actions to form an advertising profile, which will not only improve visual perception, but can also have a positive impact on battery life, as background data collection processes will be stopped.

☑️ Checking the ad-off

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Setting up the theme and lock screen

The lock screen in Xiaomi smartphones is often used to display wallpaper carousels with ad integrations. If you unlock beautiful pictures with captions and buttons, it can be easily disposed of through the theme and lock screen settings.

Go to Settings → Always on screen and lock screen. Find wallpaper carousel and turn it off. If you want to leave the wallpaper change but remove the ads, inside the carousel settings, you need to find the "Get content" or "Recommendations" switch and deactivate it.

It’s also worth checking the themes installed. Some third-party themes from the Mi Themes store may have built-in ads in the notification curtain or menu. If you notice suspicious activity after changing the design, return the standard Classic or Default theme and check if the problem has gone away.

What to do if the advertisement remains?
If the banners are still there after all the manipulations, try resetting your advertising ID settings. Go to Settings → Password and Security → Privacy → Advertising Services → Reset your advertising ID. This will create a new ID that is not associated with your browsing history.

Additional methods: DNS and special applications

If standard methods have not been able to completely clean the system, you can use a more advanced way, which is network-level locking. DNS-server on the device allows you to cut off requests to known advertising domains even before they hit the screen of the smartphone.

To do this, go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Private DNS. Select the option “Host Name of the DNS Provider” and type in the address: dns.adguard.com. Save settings. This method blocks ads not only in the system, but also in many applications and browsers.

dns.adguard.com

Using third-party blockers like AdGuard or Blokada also yields great results. VPN-But you have to keep in mind that the constant operation of such programs can slightly increase battery consumption, although on Poco. F3 With its Snapdragon 870 processor, it will be almost invisible.

⚠️ Attention: When using private DNS Some applications (such as banking or enterprise) may stop working properly or require a shutdown. DNS. In this case, return the settings to automatic mode.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Does disabling ads affect smartphone warranty?
No, changing the software settings within the MIUI menu, including disabling system services and advertising, is not a breach of warranty obligations.
Do I need to check my phone if the ads are not gone?
99% of the time, you don't need to flash it back. If you have any ads left, check if you have installed a third-party malware app, and try resetting your network settings or doing a full factory reset (with data saved).
Can the MIUI update bring the ads back?
Yes, after a major update to Android or MIUI, the system settings can be reset to factory settings, in which case the procedure for disabling msa and other services will have to be repeated.
Is it safe to type dns.adguard.com?
Yes, it is a public and trusted traffic filtering service that does not share your personal data with third parties, but only blocks requests to ad servers.

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Comprehensive shutdown of all advertising sources (MSA, recommendations, DNS) provides maximum comfort of using Poco F3 and improves system performance by stopping background processes.