Redmi Note 5 smartphones are well-deservedly considered a classic of the budget segment, offering excellent specs for an affordable price. However, one of the main features of the MIUI shell, which often annoys users, is intrusive advertising. It can appear in system applications, when you unlock the screen or even in the form of pop-ups on the desktop. It is not just visual noise, but a system function that generates revenue for a company, but it can and should be disposed of for comfortable use.
Device owners often wonder why ads appear on their device even when they haven’t installed suspicious software, because in firmware for the global market and China, these mechanisms are built deep into the system. Fortunately, Xiaomi engineers have left the ability to manually deactivate most ad services without having to obtain superuser rights or flash the device.
In this guide, we will look at all the known ways to eliminate intrusive marketing. We will look at disabling system services, setting up browsers and cleaning up potential viruses. Follow the instructions carefully, as some steps require accurate hitting on menu items, the result will be a clean system that works faster and does not distract the user on trifles.
MSA Disconnection: The Main Source of Advertising
The main driver of MIUI advertising is the MSA (MIUI System Ads) system application, which collects data about your actions and generates personalized offers. To block the flow of banners, you need to revoke consent to the service, which is the most effective method, which removes up to 90% of all advertising debris.
First, you need to go to the phone's settings menu. Find the Password and Security section and scroll down to the Personal Data Access section. In the app list that opens, find msa and put the slider inactive. The system will alert you to the consequences, but they are not critical to the average user.
⚠️ Warning: When the slider is turned off, a countdown timer (usually 10 seconds) will appear. Don't try to close the window right away, wait until the countdown is over and press the recall button. If you press earlier, the action will not persist.
Sometimes you can't shut down the service the first time because of server errors or unstable connections, so try repeating the procedure 3-5 times in a row. If the system says "failed to withdraw", just try again in a few minutes. It's also worth checking if the Internet is turned on at the time of withdrawal of consent, since the request is sent to the server.
☑️ Checking the shutdown MSA
Setup of system applications and tools
Even after the MSA is disabled, some built-in utilities may continue to show recommendations, including the Security, Music, Themes and standard Explorer apps, each with their own privacy settings that need to be checked separately for maximum effect.
Start with the Security app. Open it, click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Settings. Find the Receive Recommendations section and turn it off. Then go to the Topics app, open the profile, and in the settings also tick the Display Ads or Personal Recommendations box.
- 📱 In the Downloads app: Open the menu and turn off "Show recommended content".
- 🎵 In the Music app: go to the settings and turn off the option "Receive recommendations".
- 📂 In the Explorer application: select settings and remove the tick from the item "Receive recommendations".
Remember that MIUI interfaces can vary slightly depending on the firmware version. If you don't find the exact name of the item, look for synonyms with the word "Recommendations" or "Advertising." These settings are spread across different corners of the system so that the user can't turn them off in one fell swoop, but consistent verification ensures that the interface is clean.
Why is the ad coming back?
Removing Advertising in Mi Browser
Xiaomi's standard browser is known for its aggressive advertising policies, and unlike system services, ads are built into the news feed and the homepage, which is difficult to completely remove, but you can minimize the impact by disabling notifications and news widgets.
Open your browser and click on the profile icon or three menu bars. Go to Settings -> Privacy and Security. Here you need to find Personal Guidelines and deactivate it. Also, go to the homepage settings and turn off the display of news blocks.
However, the most radical and effective solution is to abandon the use of a standard browser in favor of third-party solutions: installing Chrome, Firefox or Brave will not only eliminate advertising in the application, but also increase overall security when surfing the Internet, since these browsers have more powerful built-in filters.
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Use DNS with an ad blocker, such as dns.adguard.com, in your Wi-Fi and mobile settings, and this will remove ads from many apps and browsers without installing additional software.
Blocking Advertising When Unlocking the Screen
One of the most annoying features is the appearance of banner ads on the lock screen, a feature called the Wallpaper Carousel, which periodically changes the wallpaper and displays news headlines or promotional offers every time the screen is turned on.
To get rid of this, go to Settings -> Screen Lock. Find the Wallpaper Carousel section and turn it off completely. If you want to leave the picture change but no ads, you can try to configure the sources, but the easiest way is to just turn off the switch.
Also check the theme settings. Some third-party themes downloaded from Themes store may contain embedded ads. If you notice pop-ups after installing a new theme, try returning a standard Classic or Default theme and see if the problem goes away.
| source of advertising | Where to turn off | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Systemic (MSA) | Password and security | Medium |
| browser | Browser settings | Low. |
| Lock screen | Screen locking | Low. |
| Appendices (Music, Themes) | Settings for each application | Tall. |
Search and Remove Viral Applications
If the ads pop up randomly, over other windows or as notifications from unknown apps, your Redmi Note 5 is likely to have a malware attack, often disguised as useful utilities such as flashlights, memory cleaners, or simple games.
First, go to Settings -> Apps -> All Apps. Carefully review the list. Search for apps without a name, without an icon or with a suspicious name (character set). Often viruses hide at the bottom or at the top of the list. If you find such a "shell" immediately delete it.
⚠️ Note: If the application is not removed through the standard menu, it may have administrator rights -> Device administrators and uncheck the suspicious item before deleting.
To automatically search for threats, use the built-in scanner in the Security app. Run a check and wait for it to be completed. If the built-in antivirus does not find anything, but the advertising continues, it is recommended to install a proven antivirus from Google Play, for example, Dr.Web or Malwarebytes, and conduct a deep scan of the system.
Using DNS to block the world
There is a method that allows you to cut off ads at the network connection level without having to dig deep into the settings of each application, which is using a private DNS with filtering. The method is especially effective for blocking ads in games and free applications that are not related to the Xiaomi system.
To set up, go to Settings -> Connection and Sharing (or Wi-Fi). Find a Private Item DNS (Private DNS). Select the "Host Name Provider" option DNS" And you can type in the address: dns.adguard.com. Save the settings and restart the phone.
Once enabled, all traffic on your Redmi Note 5 will pass through AdGuard filters, not only removing banners, but also protecting you from going to fraudulent sites. However, it is worth remembering that in rare cases, this can slow down page loading speeds slightly or disrupt some specific applications.
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Integrated approach including shutdown MSA, customization of applications and use DNS-filter, guarantees complete elimination of advertising on Xiaomi.