How to remove all Xiaomi ads from MIUI 12: all ways (including hidden ones)

Why MIUI 12 shows ads and can it be turned off forever?

Xiaomi’s MIUI 12 shell is known not only for its striking design and useful features, but also for the intrusive ads that appear in the settings menu, on the lock screen, in system applications and even in notification panels. The manufacturer integrated firmware-level ad units to monetize cheap smartphones – but for users, this has become a real headache.

Unlike the newer versions (MIUI 13/14), where some of the ad mechanisms have been simplified or removed, MIUI 12 requires a comprehensive approach. It's not enough to turn off a couple of switches -- ads are sewn into system services like msa, MiuiDaemon, and even standard applications like Browser or Music. The good news is that completely removing ads is possible without root rights, but you'll need a combination of methods, from hidden settings to ADB commands.

In this article, we will discuss all the working methods, including those that Xiaomi does not advertise. Importantly, some methods may differ depending on the regional firmware (global, Chinese, European) and the smartphone model (Redmi Note 9 Pro, POCO X3, Mi 10T, etc.).

Method 1: Disabling personalized advertising in MIUI settings

The most obvious and safest method is to deactivate ad services through the settings menu, which won't take away all the ads, but will reduce the number of ads by 30 to 50 percent. MIUI 12:

1. Open Settings → Xiaomi Account (if not authorized, skip this step).
2. Go to Mi Account → Account settings → Advertising personalization.
3. Turn off the “Personalized Recommendations” slider.
4. Return to the basic settings and open Settings → Additional → Special Options → Notifications and Status bar.
5. Deactivate the “Recommendations” option (if any).

These actions will disable targeted ads, but not system banners in the Security, Themes or Cleanup menu.

Disable "Personalized recommendations" in your Xiaomi | account

Deactivate "Recommendations" in special features |

Check the "Notifications" section for advertising channels |

Reboot the smartphone after the changes-->

Method 2: Block ads through hidden MIUI menus (without ADB)

Xiaomi hides some of its advertising settings from users, but they can be accessed through an engineering menu or special combinations, which works on global and European firmware MIUI 12:

1. Open the Security app (shield icon).

2. Go to Settings (⚙) → About the programme.

3. Tap 5 times in a row according to the application version (for example, 12.0.5.0). the message will appear "Developer Mode activated".

4. Return to the main Security menu and open Settings → Advertising (this item will appear only after activation of the mode).

5. disable all sliders associated with "Advertising Notices" and "Personalization".

For POCO models (e.g., POCO X3 NFC), the path may be different:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → About the phone and tap 7 times according to the version MIUI, to enable the developer mode.
• 🔧 Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
• 🔍 Find the option “Disable Advertising” MIUI» (Some of the firmwares call it msa_global_oversea).

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If the Ads item doesn’t appear after 5 taps, try updating the Security app via Google Play or clearing its cache in the app settings.

Method 3: Using ADB to Deeply Disable Advertising

If previous methods failed, you'll have to connect to your smartphone via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), Google's official tool that allows you to disable system applications and services without rooting. Importantly, the wrong ADB commands can disrupt MIUI — follow the instructions strictly by step.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS.
• 📋 Installed Xiaomi drivers (download from the official website).
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).
• 🛠️ Google’s Platform Tools tool (download here).

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on the developer mode on your smartphone (see the previous section) and activate Debugging over USB in Settings → Additional → For developers.
2. Connect your phone to your PC and select File Transfer mode.
3. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (Linux/macOS) in the folder with Platform Tools.
4. Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices If the device is displayed – go further.
5. Follow the commands one by one (copy and paste unchanged): adb shell pm hide com.miui.systemAdSolution adb shell pm hide com.miui.analytics adb shell pm hide com.xiaomi.midrop adb shell pm hide com.miui.cleanmaster put adb shell settings global hidden_api_policy 1 These commands disable the main advertising modules, including msa (Miui System Ads).

After completing the commands, restart the smartphone. Advertisements should disappear from:

• 📱 Settings menu (Themes, Security, Cleaning).
• 🔔 Notification panels.
• 🔍 System applications (Weather, Calendar).

Pop-up banners in settings |

Advertising notices in the curtain |

Advertising in apps (Music, Browser)|

All of the above.-->

Method 4: Removing Advertising in Standard Xiaomi Apps

Even after disabling system advertising, it can remain in pre-installed applications: Mi Browser, Mi Music, Mi Video, Themes.

If the application does not allow you to turn off advertising (for example, Mi Browser in Chinese firmware), it can:

• 🚫 Disable via Settings → Annexes → Application management → [Name of name] → Shut down.
• 🗑️ Remove with help ADB: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.android.browser (replace com.android.browser with the desired application package).

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Removing system applications through ADB is safer than using root rights, as it does not affect system partitions, but after resetting, the applications will return.

Method 5: Blocking Advertising via DNS or VPN

If the ads continue to appear (for example, in Mi Browser or when connecting to Wi-Fi), it can be blocked at the network level.

1.Amendment DNS-server:

• 🌐 Open the Settings. → Wi-Fi.
• 🔗 Tap on the current network. → Change the network → Additionally. → Settings IP.
• 🔢 Select "Static" and enter DNS: AdGuard DNS: 176.103.130.130 and 176.103.130.131 Cloudflare Family: 1.1.1.3 and 1.0.0.3

2. Using a VPN with ad blocking:

• 🛡️ Install AdGuard, Blokada or NextDNS from Google Play.
• 🔄 Activate Ad Blocking in Settings VPN.
• ⚡ Turn it on. VPN Check if the ads in Mi Browser and notifications have disappeared.

These methods block ads at the traffic level, but do not affect the system banners in MIUI 12.

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If some websites (such as banking sites) stop opening after changing the DNS, return the standard DNS or add them to the exceptions in the AdGuard settings.

Method 6: Switching to custom firmware (for advanced)

If none of these methods worked, the radical solution is to install custom firmware without advertising, which is a last resort, because it requires unlocking the bootloader and potentially disqualifies warranties. MIUI 12:

• 📱 Xiaomi.eu – modified MIUI no advertising, no support OTA-Update. Download here.
• 🤖 LineageOS or Pixel Experience – “clean” Android without branded services Xiaomi.
• ⚡ ArrowOS – light firmware with minimalist interface.

Warnings before firmware:

⚠️ Attention: Unlocking the bootloader will reset all data on the phone. Create a backup through Settings → Additionally. → Backup or Mi Cloud Backup.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi Note 8 Pro, POCO F2 Pro) unlocking the bootloader requires waiting 7-15 days after the Mi Account is linked.

Instructions for installing Xiaomi.eu:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official tool.
2. Download the firmware Xiaomi.eu for your model (for example, miui_HMNote9ProEU_22.1.12 For the Redmi Note 9 Pro).
3. Install it through TWRP (Castom Recovery).
4. Run Wipe Dalvik/Cache after the firmware.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When trying to remove ads, users often face problems, and here are the most common solutions:

• 🔄 Advertising returns after update MIUI → Before updating, repeat the steps with ADB or disable automatic updates in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 🚫 Teams don't work. ADB → Check if the debugging is included USB Try the adb kill-server command and reconnect the device.
• ⚠️ The smartphone stopped turning on after disabling system applications → Restore them through ADB: adb shell pm enable com.miui.systemAdSolution
• 📵 Notifications from banking applications disappeared after the shift DNS → Add bank domains to the whitelist in AdGuard settings or return standard ones DNS.

If none of the methods worked, check:

• 🔍 Regional firmware: on Chinese versions MIUI 12 more ads and more difficult to remove.
• 📦 Availability of updates: sometimes Xiaomi adds new ad modules in fresh patches.
• 🛠️ Conflict with other SEOs: Disable Greenify, Battery Saver, and similar utilities before using ADB.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions