How to completely disable advertising on Xiaomi Mi 9T: a step-by-step guide

Xiaomi Mi 9T (also known as Redmi K20 in some regions) is a popular smartphone with a branded MIUI shell, which, unfortunately, is full of banner ads. Even after buying the device, users face intrusive advertising in system applications, notifications and a browser. In this article, we will analyze all the available ways to disable advertising, from standard settings to advanced methods without obtaining root rights.

It's important to understand that some of the ads in MIUI are built into the firmware level and can't be removed completely without modifying the system, but a combination of methods can minimize the appearance of the ads. We tested all the ways on the Mi 9T with the latest versions of MIUI 12/13/14 (including global and Chinese builds), and selected only those that actually work in 2026.

Why is there an advertisement on Xiaomi Mi 9T?

Advertising in MIUI is part of Xiaomi's business model, which allows the company to keep device prices low.

• 📱 System applications: “Security”, “Themes”, “Music”, “Video”, “Files” and even “Settings».
• 🔔 Push notifications: Ads in the curtain of notifications from Xiaomi services (for example, msa – Mi System Ads).
• 🌐 Mi Browser: banners on the home page and in tabs.
• 📦 Partner apps: Pre-installed services like Mi Pay, Mi Credit or GetApps.

The Mi 9T with global firmware (MIUI Global) has less advertising than the Chinese version (MIUI China), but it still has. Moreover, after updates, MIUI often resets the ad settings and the banners reappear, so it's important not only to disable them once, but also to know how to prevent them from reappearing.

Method 1: Disabling personalized advertising in MIUI settings

The easiest way to do this is to deactivate personalized recommendations, which won't take away all the ads, but it will reduce the number of ads and make banners less intrusive.

1. Open Settings → Google → Advertising.
2. Click Reset Advertising ID and confirm the action.
3. Go back to the basic settings and go to Settings → Apps → App Management → All Apps.
4. Find msa (Mi System Ads) and turn off notifications for it, and also disable auto-start.

Next, you need to disable advertising in each system application separately:

• 🛡️ Security: Settings → Security → Settings (⚙️) → Advertising recommendations → turn off the slider.
• 🎨 Topics: Topics → Profile → Settings (⚙️) → Promotional notices → turn off.
• 📂 Files: Files → Settings (⚙️) → About the programme → Advertising recommendations → turn off.

The method is limited: this method removes only a part of the ads, banners in the browser, notifications from Mi Video and other types of ads will remain, and additional actions will be required to remove them.

Method 2: Blocking Advertising via Mi Account (for global firmware)

If your Mi 9T is powered by MIUI Global (European, Russian or Indian build), you can try disabling ads through your Xiaomi account, a method that doesn’t work on all devices, but sometimes helps reduce the number of banners.

1. Open the Settings. → Xiaomi account and log in (if you haven’t already done so).
2. Go to Mi Cloud → Sync and make sure the feature is enabled.
3. Go back to the main settings and find the settings → Additionally. → Special facilities → Miui Optimization (also known as "Optimization") MIUI»).
4. Turn off the Receive recommendations slider (if there is such a item).

Then restart your smartphone. In some cases, the ads disappear after 12 to 24 hours. If the method doesn't work, move on to the next method.

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If it appears again after disabling the ad in the settings, check for MIUI updates. Often after firmware updates, the settings are reset and you need to config it again.

Method 3: Remove pre-installed advertising applications (without root)

Many banners in MIUI are preinstalled applications that cannot be removed by standard means, but can be disabled or removed with ADB (no superuser rights).

The most popular apps on the Mi 9T are:

For removal via ADB:

1. Install Platform Tools on your PC.
2. Turn on your smartphone Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times to activate the developer mode).
3. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
4. Connect the Mi 9T to your PC and type in the command line: Adb devices (your device should appear).
5. To remove the application, use the command: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.xiaomi.mipicks (replace com.xiaomi.mipicks with the desired package from the table above).

Warning: Removing system applications can lead to unstable MIUI operation. Do not remove applications with unknown packages - this can cause errors in the system.

Method 4: Blocking Advertising via DNS or VPN

If the ads appear in the browser or some applications, they can be blocked at the network level.

• 🔒 Private DNS: Use the servers dns.adguard.com or 1.1.1.3 (Cloudflare Family).
• 🌍 VPN Ad-blocking: AdGuard VPN, Blokada or NextDNS.
• 🛡️ Local Blocker: Blokada app (no root requirement).

How to set up a Private DNS:

1. Go to Settings → Connections → Private DNS.
2. Select the host name of the Private DNS provider.
3. Enter dns.adguard.com and save.

For Blokada:

1. Download APK from the official website (not from Google Play – there is a stripped-down version).
2. Set and activate the lock.
3. In the settings, select the filter lists: EasyList, EasyPrivacy and Xiaomi Ads Blocklist.

Important: Some banners in MIUI It is downloaded through system services, so DNS/VPN Not all ads are blocked, but only those that come from the Internet.

Method 5: Switch to custom firmware (for advanced users)

If you're willing to take drastic measures, you can install custom firmware without advertising. 9T:

• 📱 LineageOS – pure Android without unnecessary applications.
• 🔄 Pixel Experience – firmware with an interface like Google Pixel.
• 🚀 Xiaomi.eu – modified MIUI without advertising (but with some restrictions).

To install custom firmware will require:

1. Unlock Bootloader (officially via Xiaomi's website).
2. Install TWRP Recovery.
3. Backup the current firmware.
4. Sweep the selected custom firmware.

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Installing custom firmware will void warranty and may cause the device to run unstable.Be sure to read the manuals for a particular model before the procedure (Mi 9T is codenamed davinci).

Advantages of custom firmware:

• ✅ Total lack of advertising.
• ✅ More smooth operation of the system.
• ✅ Regular security updates.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Loss of guarantee.
• ❌ Possible bugs (e.g., a broken camera or a broken camera) NFC).
• ❌ Difficulty returning to standard firmware.

Additional Advice on Combating Advertising

In addition to the main ways, there are several auxiliary techniques that will help to minimize advertising:

• 🔄 Clean the cache of system applications (Settings) regularly → Annexes → Application management → Select the application → Clear the cache).
• 📵 Turn off auto-start for unnecessary applications (Settings) → Annexes → Auto-start).
• 🛠️ Use alternative apps: Replace Mi Browser with Google Chrome or Firefox.Install VLC Instead of Mi Video, use Google Files instead of the standard Files».
• 🔍 Check App Permissions: Many request notifications or window overlays, allowing ads to be displayed on top of other programs.

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If after all the manipulations, the ads still appear, try resetting the network settings: Settings → Connections → Resetting the settings of Wi-Fi, mobile network and Bluetooth. Sometimes this helps to reset the ad trackers.

It is also worth keeping an eye on updates. MIUI. In new versions of the firmware Xiaomi sometimes introduces additional advertising mechanisms, so after the update may need to repeat some of the actions from this instruction.

FAQ: Frequent questions about advertising on Xiaomi Mi 9T

If none of these methods worked, your Mi 9T may have a modified firmware with additional ad modules, in which case the most reliable solution would be to switch to custom firmware or contact a service center to check the device for unofficial software.