Xiaomi Redmi smartphones have long proven to be affordable devices with powerful hardware, but users often face intrusive advertising in the system. Owners of the Xiaomi Note 9 model are no exception: ad units can appear in folders, when unlocking the screen or in built-in applications. This is not just annoying, but also consumes traffic, and reduces the overall performance of the gadget.
Fortunately, the MIUI operating system on which the device is based allows you to flexibly manage most advertising mechanisms without having to obtain root or flash. In this article, we will discuss in detail all available blocking methods, from standard settings to more advanced technical solutions, you can make using a smartphone comfortable and clean.
Some users mistakenly believe that advertising is an integral part of the budget segment, which is impossible to fight. DNS-The server blocks up to 90% of the ad traffic at the network level, which is the most effective method to date.Let’s move on to the practical steps of setting up your Xiaomi Redmi Note 9.
Disabling system advertising through MSA settings
The first and most important step is to deactivate the MSA (MIUI System Ads) service, which is the system process responsible for loading and displaying banner ads in the interface, and without disabling this component, all other manipulations may not be effective enough, as the system will constantly try to download content.
First, you need to find the appropriate application in the list of installed programs. Note that the name can be written in full or abbreviated, depending on the firmware version and region. The process of disabling requires care, as the system will try to keep the user, suggesting to wait or cancel the action.
Follow the following steps to disable the service:
- 📱 Open the Settings menu and go to Passwords and Security.
- 🔍 Find the access to data and in the list of applications find msa.
- 🚫 Switch the slider to the inactive position and confirm the action by selecting Stop.
⚠️ Attention: When attempting to disconnect MSA A countdown timer will appear (usually) 10 You have to wait until it ends and press the switch button again. If it doesn't work the first time, try repeating the procedure. 2-3 successively.
Once these steps are successfully completed, the background load of the ad modules will stop, but the changes may not take effect immediately, but within minutes or after the device is restarted, which is normal behavior of the system cacheing some data.
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Disabling the MSA service is a fundamental step, without which other settings may not give a complete result of cleaning the interface.
Customize personalized recommendations and Mi Browser
The second source of annoyance is the so-called “recommendations” in standard applications such as Security, Downloads and Explorer. Xiaomi integrates news feeds and product offerings directly into the utility interface, which is often perceived by users as spam.
Start with the Security app, which is the control center of the system. Go to its settings (the gear icon in the corner) and find "Get recommendations." Make sure the switch is off. A similar operation should be done in the Downloads and Explorer app if you use them.
The standard Mi Browser browser is a major source of pop-ups and news feeds on the desktop, and it is often the main source of desktop news feeds to clean it up:
- 🌐 Open your browser and click on the profile icon or three dots in the bottom menu.
- ⚙️ Go to Settings. → Confidentiality and security.
- 🔕 Disable the options “Personalized recommendations” and “Notifications from sites».
Also worth checking is the theme settings. Sometimes the designs downloaded from Themes store contain built-in ad modules. If after installing a new theme, the ad appears on your desktop, try going back to the standard Classic or Default design.
Blocking Advertising through DNS (Private DNS)
The most radical and effective method is the use of the private function. DNS (Private DNS). This method works at the network level and blocks requests to known ad servers before they reach your smartphone.
You don't need to install third-party applications to do this, you've already built everything into the operating system, you just need to write in the address of a dedicated server that filters traffic, and it also improves security when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks.
Instructions for setting:
- Go to Settings → Connection and Sharing.
- Find the Private DNS item (may be in the "Additional" section).
- Select the DNS Host Name (or Manual) mode.
- Enter the address: dns.adguard.com
- Save the settings.
dns.adguard.comAfter saving the settings, it is advisable to turn on the air mode for 10 seconds and turn it off to reset the network connections. Now all traffic will pass through the filter server. If the Internet stops working, check the correctness of the address input - unnecessary spaces or symbols are not allowed.
| Parameter | Meaning/Action | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Type DNS | Private DNS (Private DNS) | Active. |
| Regime. | Provider host name | Selected. |
| Server address | dns.adguard.com | Introduced |
| Impact on the battery | Minimum | Safe. |
⚠️ Attention: Use of third-party DNS-servers may cause some local services or applications to fail, which block such connections. In case of problems, return the setting to Auto mode».
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If you use Wi-Fi at home, you can use the same. DNS-This will protect all devices on the network, including TVs and tablets, from advertising.
Management of Notifications and System Applications
Even after the core services are disabled, some apps may continue to send push notifications of an advertising nature, often due to inattention when first installing programs or updating system components. Xiaomi Note 9 has a convenient notification management center.
Go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Notification management. This is a complete list of apps that can display information on the screen. Go through the list and turn off notifications for those programs that do not need them, especially for system services like Mi Video, Mi Music or GetApps.
GetApps is often a hidden source of spam, and even if you don't use it, it can work in the background.
- 🛍️ Open the GetApps app.
- ⚙️ Click on the profile avatar and select Settings.
- 🔕 Remove ticks from the "Advertising push notifications" and "Automatic updates».
It's also worth checking the permissions for MIUI Daemon, which is a system component that collects statistics, but in some firmware, it may be linked to targeted ads, and limiting its background activity won't hurt your phone, but it will increase privacy.
Should System Applications Be Removed?
Resetting the advertising ID and data cleanup
Advertisers use your device’s unique identifier to track interests and serve targeted ads, and resetting that identifier breaks the link between your current activity and your accumulated profile, which won’t remove the ads completely, but will make them less personalized and intrusive.
To perform the reset, go to Settings → Passwords & Security → Privacy. Go to Ad Services. Here you will see the Reset Ad ID button. Press it and confirm the action. It is also recommended to disable the Ad Personalization option if it is active.
Additionally, it is worth clearing the cache of advertising services to remove saved banners:
- Open Settings → Applications → All applications.
- Find miuiDaemon, msa, JC (analytics service).
- Go to each of them, select Memory and click Clear (not Reset, but Cache/Data Clearing).
This procedure is especially useful if you notice that after updating the firmware, the ad reappears.Data cleanup returns services to a post-installation state, which often solves the pop-up problem.
☑️ Checklist for full cleaning
Additional measures and work with the launcher
If standard methods didn’t help get rid of banners in desktop folders completely, the problem may lie in the launcher itself. The Xiaomi Note 9 uses System Launcher, which also has its own recommendations settings.
Press your finger on an empty desktop and select Settings (or gear). Find the item associated with Wallpaper Carousel or Recommendations. Turning off the wallpaper carousel (Glance or Lock Screen) will not only remove ads from the lock screen, but also significantly save battery life, as it stops constantly loading images.
Alternatively, a third-party launcher like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher can be installed, completely replacing the standard shell and guaranteeing no built-in ads from Xiaomi, but keep in mind that this can change the way you look at menus and gesture management.
⚠️ Note: When installing a third-party launcher, the system may insist on returning to the standard. To avoid confusion, in the Home Screen settings, explicitly select the default application installed.
The combined application of all of the above methods will make your Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 a device that works exclusively for you, not advertisers.
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The combination of MSA disabling, Private DNS settings and notification cleanups gives 100% of the result in the fight against intrusive advertising on MIUI.