Owners of the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite smartphone often face intrusive advertising that appears in system applications, desktop folders and even in the browser. This is the result of the MIUI proprietary shell, which monetizes free devices through advertising integrations. However, knowing the right paths to hidden settings, you can completely rid your gadget of visual noise and return it to the original purity of the interface. In this article, we will examine in detail all known methods of blocking advertising, from simple switches to advanced DNS settings.
The process of disabling advertising modules does not require obtaining superuser rights or flashing the device. All the necessary actions can be performed in the standard settings menu, although some options will have to be searched. It is important to understand that the MIUI advertising system (MSA) is deeply integrated into the shell, so one switch to completely remove is not enough. You will need to perform the sequence of actions described below to block all channels of advertising content.
Before you make any changes, make sure your device is connected to a stable Wi-Fi network or mobile Internet, as some settings require checking server statuses. It is also worth noting that after updating the firmware, some parameters can be reset, so knowing these instructions will allow you to quickly return the comfort of using your smartphone at any time.
Disabling MSA Service and System Recommendations
At the heart of Xiaomi’s advertising ecosystem is MSA (MIUI System Ads), which is responsible for collecting data about your actions and showing relevant ads. The first step to a clean interface is to turn off this service. To do this, go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Access to personal data. In the list that opens, find msa and turn off the slider opposite it.
The system will try to convince you to keep the service active by running a countdown of 10 seconds, you need to wait until the timer ends and click the "Revoke" button. If you failed to revoke the permission from the first time, repeat the procedure 3-4 times - this is the standard behavior of system protection. After successful withdrawal of access, the ads in system folders and applications should be significantly reduced or disappear completely.
In parallel with disabling MSA, you need to remove personalized recommendations that often appear on your desktop and in folders. Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Privacy → Advertising Services. Here you should deactivate the option “Get recommendations” and click “Clear IDs.” This action will reset the accumulated advertising profile of your device.
⚠️ Note: After disabling the msa service, some features of the widgets or Mi newsfeed may not work properly or stop updating because they depend on the same servers.
Customization of personalization and security services
The next important step is to disable recommendations in standard applications like Security, Download, and Explorer. Start with the Security app, which often shows banner ads when scanning the system. Open the app, click on the settings gear in the upper right corner, and find the Receive Recommendations item.
Next, you can set up the desktop and theme itself. Click on the empty space on your desktop and select Settings. Find the Recommendations section and turn off the Receive Cards function. It’s also worth checking the theme settings: open the Themes app, go to profile, and select Settings, where you also need to uncheck the “Show Ads” or “Personal Recommendations.”
Don’t forget about the Mi Browser system browser and the Downloads app. In your browser, go to the menu (three bars) → Settings → Privacy and Security → turn off Personal Guidelines. In the Downloads app, click three dots in the corner → Settings → Disable Recommended Content. These actions will remove annoying banners from commonly used utilities.
☑️ Checklist of ad-shutdown
Using DNS to Block Advertising
One of the most effective methods that works at the network connection level is to configure a private DNS. This method allows you to block requests to known ad servers even before they reach your Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite smartphone. To implement this method, go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Private DNS.
From the menu that opens, select the option “DNS Host Name” (or “Manual”) and enter the address of a trusted server that blocks ads. The most popular and proven option is dns.adguard.com. Once you enter the address, click “Save.” Now all requests to ad domains will be redirected to nowhere, which will significantly clear the traffic.
Using a third-party DNS has its advantages: it blocks ads not only in the system, but also in many applications and games where built-in MIUI blockers may not work. However, it is worth remembering that if the DNS server stops responding, you may have problems accessing some sites, in which case it is enough to return the DNS setting to Auto mode.
⚠️ Attention: When using private DNS Some local services or applications linked to specific ad networks may stop functioning or may cause connection errors.
Alternatives DNS-server
Disabling Notifications and Marketing Newsletters
Even after the main services are disabled, Xiaomi can continue to send push notifications with offers, news and promotions. To get rid of them, you need to go to the notification settings. Go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Marketing notifications.
Also check your individual application settings. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find system apps (e.g., “Mi Video”, “Mi Music”, “Themes”) and go to Notifications. Carefully review the list of categories and disable those labeled as “Advertising”, “Advertising” or “Recommendations”.
Pay special attention to Get Apps. This is the Xiaomi app store that sends discount notifications often. Open the app, go to My Profile → Settings, and turn off all notifications. If you don't use this store, you can simply uninstall or disable it in the app settings.
MIUI also has a hidden wallpaper carousel feature that blocks the screen with advertising images. To turn it off, go to Settings → Always on screen and lock and find Wallpaper carousel. Turn off this feature so that the lock screen only displays time and date.
Permits and Auto-Run Management
Controlling which apps can run automatically and what permissions they have is an important part of fighting unwanted content.Some apps may use the permissions they receive to display ads even in the background. Go to Settings → Apps → Permissions and check which apps have access to “Map on top of other windows.”
Disable this access for all suspicious or unnecessary system utilities. Also, limit the auto-run of applications. In the Security menu, find the Permissions tool → Auto-Start. Leave auto-run only for messengers that need to work constantly (Telegram, WhatsApp), the rest are better off to save resources and reduce the activity of advertising modules.
To clean it up, you can use the developer mode, turn it on by clicking on the MIUI version seven times in the About Phone section, then in the advanced settings, find the USB Debugging and turn it on, which will allow future computer utilities to fine-tune the system if standard methods are not enough.
| System component | The path to adjustment | Action. | The result |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSA Service | Passwords and security → Access. | Withdraw access | Blocking the main advertisement |
| Personalization | Passwords and security → Advertising | Disable recommendations | Resetting advertising ID |
| Network filter | Connection → Private DNS | Enter dns.adguard.com | Network-level locking |
| Wallpaper carousel | Lock screen → Carousel | Turn it off. | Clean lock screen |
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If after all the settings, the ads in the browser remained, try installing the blocker extension (for example, uBlock Origin) in the mobile browser or changing the browser to Firefox with AdGuard installed.
Cache cleanup and reset ad settings
After making all the changes, it is recommended to clear the cache of system services to remove saved ads that may have been downloaded earlier. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find the Advertising Services (or msa) app and click Clear → Clear Cache. A similar procedure is worth doing for the Themes and Security app.
In some cases, if the ad continues to be disturbing, a complete reset of the advertising ID can help. To do this, click the “Clear ID” button on the Advertising Services menu (as discussed earlier). This action is equivalent to installing a new advertising ID, and the old accumulated data about your preferences will be deleted.
If you notice that after the system update, the ad reappears, repeat the procedure for revoking access for msa. MIUI firmware updates often return standard privacy settings to factory values, which requires repeated user intervention. Regularly checking these settings after major updates is a good habit for the Xiaomi owner.
⚠️ Note: Clearing the data (not just cache) of system applications can cause them to reset to factory settings, so use this option with caution.
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A comprehensive approach that includes disabling MSA, configuring DNS, and cleaning notifications ensures that 99% of ads in MIUI are removed without the need for flashing.