How to permanently remove ads on Xiaomi: proven ways with 4PDA

Advertising in Xiaomi smartphones has become one of the most annoying features of MIUI firmware — it pops up in the settings menu, on the lock screen, in system applications and even in notification panels. 4PDA forum users have been collecting working methods to turn it off for years, but with each update MIUI ways change, and some stop working. In this article, we have collected the latest solutions of 2026, including hidden settings, modifications of system files and alternative firmware — all that really helps to get rid of intrusive advertising forever.

It’s important to understand that Xiaomi doesn’t officially provide the option of completely disabling ads in standard settings. All of the methods below require either deep system intervention or the use of third-party tools. Some of them can lead to a bootloop ( looped reboot) or data reset, so make sure to back up through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset. If you’re not sure about your actions, it’s best to focus on the safe ways from the first sections before you start.

Why Xiaomi is showing ads and can it be removed legally

Since 2018, Xiaomi has been actively monetizing its MIUI firmware through embedded advertising.

📱 System applications (Browser, Music, Video, Files)
⚙️ Settings menu (sections Topics, Security, Wallpaper)
🔔 Notification panels (advertising games, promotions, services Xiaomi)
🔒 Lock screen (banners with offers)

Officially, the company attributes this to “personalized recommendations” to improve the user experience, but in practice, ads are shown even to those who have disabled all available options in the settings. Legally, it can only be removed in part by disabling Personalized Recommendations and Interest-Based Ads in Settings → Privacy → Advertising Services. However, this does not guarantee the complete disappearance of banners.

On the 4PDA forum, users found that even after disabling all options, ads continue to show because of:

🔄 Hidden system services (com.miui.systemAdSolution, com.xiaomi.mipicks)
📦 Pre-installed apps (Mi Browser, GetApps, Mi Video)
🔗 Updates MIUI, slack-off

⚠️ Note: Disabling ads through system files (hosts, build.prop) may disrupt Google Play and Mi Account services. TWRP Or make a backup through adb backup.

Method 1: Disabling Advertising through the standard MIUI settings

Before you resort to radical methods, try to disable ads legally, which works on all Xiaomi models (including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11), but does not guarantee a 100% result.

Steps:

Go to Settings → Privacy → Advertising Services.
Turn off the options: 🔘 Personalized recommendations 🔘 Interest-based advertising

Settings → About the phone

MIUI version

developer-style

Settings → Additional → For Developers

USB debugging

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.systemAdSolution

This method disables the main ad module, but banners can remain in the Mi Browser and GetApps apps. Removing them will require manual disabling via ADB (see next section).

📊 Which advertisements annoy you the most?

In system applications

On the lock screen

Notifications.

Settings menu.

Method 2: Remove Advertising through ADB (without root)

If standard settings don’t work, the next step is to disable ad packages via ADB. This method doesn’t require root rights, but you need to:

🖥️ Computer with installed ADB-Drivers and Platform Tools
📱 Included Debugging by USB phone-on
🔌 Cable USB Type-C (preferably original)

List of commands to disable advertising services:

adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.analytics


adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.xiaomi.mipicks




adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.android.browser




adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.bugreport




adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.player




adb shell pm hide com.miui.systemAdSolution

After completing the commands, restart the phone. The ads should disappear from:

🎵 Mi Music and Mi Video
🌐 Mi Browser (to be replaced by Google Chrome)
📊 System notifications and panels

⚠️ Warning: Disabling com.miui.analytics may disrupt Mi Cloud and contact sync.If you need these features, skip this command.

☑️ Preparation for ADB-team

Install Platform ToolsEnable debugging over USBConnect the phone to the PCCheck the connection (adb devices)Make a data backup

Done: 0 / 5

Method 3: Editing the hosts file (blocking ad servers)

One of the most effective ways is to block ad servers through a hosts file, which works even without root, but requires permission to write to the system partition. If you have Magisk or TWRP, follow the instructions:

Steps:

Download the current hosts file with ad blocking for MIUI (updated to 4PDA).
Copy it into the root of the phone’s internal memory.
Install Systemless Hosts via Magisk or use TWRP to replace the original file along the /system/etc/hosts path.
Reset the device.

If you don’t have root, you can try replacing hosts with ADB:

adb shell


su




mount -o rw,remount /system




cp /sdcard/hosts /system/etc/hosts




chmod 644 /system/etc/hosts




mount -o ro,remount /system




exit

This method blocks the phone from communicating with Xiaomi’s ad servers, but can cause problems with:

🔄 Updates MIUI (They'll stop downloading)
📱 Some System Applications (Themes, Security)
🌍 Geolocation Services (if Google servers are blocked)

What if the phone doesn’t turn on after editing hosts?

If after replacing the hosts file, the device went to bootloop, download to the TWRP and recover the original file from the backup. TWRP No – reset via Fastboot: fastboot erase system (data will be lost!).

Method 4: Install custom firmware (complete removal of advertising)

The most radical, but also the most reliable way is to install alternative firmware. 4PDAs are popular.

📱 MIUI Pro (modified) MIUI free of advertising and unnecessary applications)
🤖 LineageOS or Pixel Experience (pure Android without branded Xiaomi services)
⚡ Xiaomi.eu (unofficial) MIUI with off-the-click advertising and optimizations)

Installation process:

Unlock Bootloader through the official Xiaomi tool (requires a Mi Account binding and a wait of 7 days).
Install TWRP Recovery for your model (instructions are on 4PDA in device themes).
Download the firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.eu for the Redmi Note 11 here).
Go to TWRP, make Wipe → Format Data and run the firmware.

Advantages of custom firmware:

✅ No advertising at all (including hidden banners)
⚡ Higher productivity (Bloatware removed)
🔄 Regular security updates

Disadvantages:

❌ Loss of warranty (if you don't return the stock firmware)
⚠️ The risk of brick (turning the phone into a brick) when you make an error
🔌 Possible problems with Widevine L1 (Full. HD Netflix)

💡

Before installing custom firmware, check its compatibility with your model in the 4PDA forum. For example, the firmware for the Redmi Note 10 Pro will not be suitable for the Redmi Note 10S due to different processors.

Method 5: Using Magisk Modules to Block Ads

If you don’t want to install custom firmware, but you have root (via Magisk), you can use special modules:

Module	What's blocking	Reference (4PDA)
Disable_Miui_Ads	System Advertising, Mi Browser, GetApps	Download
MIUI Debloater	Remove unnecessary applications and services	Download
AdAway	Blocks advertising domains through hosts	Official website
Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools	Manages Ad Disabling Without Manual Commands	XDA

Installation:

Download the module in.zip format.
Open Magisk Manager and select Modules → Install from Storage.
Select the downloaded file and wait for the installation.
Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Note: AdAway module may conflict with Google Pay and banking applications due to changing the hosts file. NFC, Use alternatives like Blokada (works without root).

Method 6: Alternative launchers and workarounds

If you don’t want to interfere with the system, you can simply hide the ads by:

🏠 Third-party launchers (Nova Launcher, Lawnchair – they replace the standard desktop) MIUI, frequent-market).
🛡️ Advertising Blockers (Blokada, DNS66 — They work without root, but require adjustments VPN).
📵 Mobile Internet Disconnection for System Applications (via Settings) → Annexes → Permits).

Example of Blokada setup:

Download Blokada from the official website (not from Google Play – there is a stripped down version).
Launch the application and activate the lock.
In the settings, select the Energized Protection lock list (it includes Xiaomi ad domains).
Reboot the phone.

This method doesn't remove ads completely, but it reduces the amount of ads, and the main advantage is that it doesn't require rooting and it doesn't break the system.

💡

Third-party launchers and ad blockers are the safest way to go, but they won’t remove banners from system menus (such as theme settings).

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When trying to disable ads, users often face problems:

Mistake.	Reason.	Decision
adb: device unauthorized	Unconfirmed USB access	The phone will be asked for debugging permission - confirm it.
Advertising returns after MIUI update	The update has reset the hosts settings or ADB-team	Repeat the shutdown procedure or roll back to the old firmware version.
bootloop after editing build.prop	Error in file syntax	Restore the original build.prop via TWRP.
Google Pay is not working after blocking ads	Modules like AdAway are breaking SafetyNet	Use MagiskHide or remove the module.

To avoid problems:

🔄 Always backup before changing system files.
📋 Check the commands. ADB on relevance (on the 4PDA There are lists for each version MIUI).
🔍 Use proven sources to download firmware and modules.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

❓ Can you turn off ads on Xiaomi without rooting and ADB?

Yes, but not completely. Only a fraction of the banners are removed through standard settings (Advertising Services), and it takes at least ADB or third-party blockers like Blokada to remove them completely.

❓ Why did the updates stop working after the ad was turned off? MIUI?

Chances are you blocked Xiaomi servers via hosts. To return updates, delete the lines with update.miui.com and api.io.mi.com domains from the file.

❓ How to return standard applications after they are deleted ADB?

Follow the command: adb shell cmd package install-existing <application package> For example, to return Mi Browser: adb shell cmd package install-existing com.android.browser

❓ Are these methods working on POCO redmi?

Yes, all of these are good for POCO and Redmi, as they run on MIUI. The exception is some POCO models on Android One (like the POCO X3 NFC) that don't have ads in the first place.

❓ Can you turn off the ads forever, or will they come back after the reset?

If you’ve used ADB or hosts, the ads will come back after you’ve completely reset or updated MIUI. You need custom firmware or Magisk modules to have a permanent effect.