Xiaomi’s Poco lineup has traditionally offered users superior value for money, but for an affordable price, owners have to put up with intrusive marketing that is embedded right in the MIUI shell, a phenomenon called system advertising that can appear in the most unexpected places on the interface.
Owners of the Poco X3 Pro often encounter banner ads in standard applications such as Music, Conductor or Security, and advertising notifications can pop up on the desktop or when unlocking the device, which significantly reduces the comfort of using the gadget.
Fortunately, Xiaomi engineers have left users with the ability to manage these processes themselves. Getting rid of intrusive content requires a sequence of actions, since there is no single “Switch Off All” button, and in this article we will discuss all the available methods, from simple settings to advanced blocking methods.
Disabling system advertising through MIUI settings
The first step in the fight for a clean interface will be to deactivate the MSA (MIUI System Ads) built-in advertising service, which is responsible for loading and displaying most banners in system applications, and first you need to find the appropriate switch in the authorization and security menu.
Go to your Poco X3 Pro Settings and go to Password and Security, and you will need to find Access to Personal Data, and in the list that opens, find the msa bar and put the switch to the inactive state, and the system will warn you of the consequences, but it is necessary to turn off the ads.
Note that the first time you turn off the service, the mechanism of protection sometimes requires confirmation of action several times in a row, if you see a countdown timer, just wait for it to end and try to turn it off again.
⚠️ Note: After disabling the msa service, some personalization functions may not work properly, and Card widgets may stop updating.
Then you need to check the settings of each system application separately. Advertising integrations are often scattered across different menus. For example, in the Explorer app, you need to click on the menu (three bars), select Settings and turn off Receive Recommendations. Similar actions are required for the Music, Video and Downloads applications.
Using DNS to block ads across all apps
One of the most effective methods that allows you to remove advertising not only in the system, but also in third-party browsers and games, is to change the system. DNS-This method does not require the installation of additional software and works at the network connection level.
To implement the method, go to Settings → «Connection and Sharing. Find the section "Private" DNS-The default is "Auto." You have to select "Host Name Provider" option. DNS» and enter the address of a special server that filters advertising traffic.
dns.adguard.comEnter the specified line carefully, without unnecessary spaces and symbols. Once you save the settings, Android will begin to redirect all requests to known advertising servers through the AdGuard filter, which allows you to block banners even before they are downloaded to the screen of your Poco X3 Pro.
The advantage of this method is that it's versatile, and it works in almost all applications where web content is displayed. DNS-In rare cases, the response speed of the network may decrease slightly, although on modern communication channels it is almost imperceptible.
What to do if the DNS is not working?
Configure notifications and recommendations in system utilities
Even after MSA is disabled, some apps may continue to send push notifications asking you to install games or watch news, settings often hidden deep within the app menu and requiring manual adjustments.
Special attention should be paid to the Security app. This is the central hub for managing the system, and it is through this that advertising content is most often broadcast. Open the application, click on the settings gear in the upper right corner. Here you need to find and disable the option "Receive recommendations." It is also useful to disable "Advanced settings" → "Receive statistics" to stop collecting information about your actions.
The situation is similar in the Themes app: Go to the user profile (human icon), select Settings, and uncheck the boxes "Show ads" and "Personal recommendations" that will clear the directory of intrusive banners.
☑️ Verification of system applications
Don't forget to use Cleanup in the security app. Often, after scanning the system, a Clean button appears, and next to it, a banner ad appears. To remove it, click on the gear in the corner of the cleaning screen and turn off the "Receive recommendations" option.
Managing Advertising Permits and Personalization
Xiaomi, like many other tech giants, uses your preferences to target ads, and to minimize this effect, you need to limit data collection and reset your advertising ID.
Go to Settings → Password & Security → Privacy. Go to Special Permissions and select Ads. Here you will see your advertising ID. Click Reset Ad ID and then activate the Turn off Ad Personalization switch. This will not remove the ads completely, but will make them less relevant and intrusive.
It’s also worth checking the list of apps that have permission to display over other windows. Go to Settings → Apps → Permissions → Display on top of other apps. Carefully review the list. If you see suspicious programs or system utilities that don’t need it (like a calculator or voice recorder), it’s best to disable that right for them.
It's important to understand that a complete ban on personalization can make advertising more chaotic, but it won't diminish, and the main purpose of this is to protect your privacy.
Comparison of blocking methods: efficiency and complexity
There are many ways to deal with advertising debris, but not all of them are equally effective for the Poco X3 Pro. Some methods require technical knowledge, others are available to any user. Let's compare the basic approaches.
| Method | Efficiency | Difficulty | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSA shutdown | Tall. | Low. | Minimum |
| Private DNS | Very high. | Low. | Absent. |
| Set-up of applications | Medium | Medium | Absent. |
| Third-party blockers | Tall. | Medium | Battery consumption |
As you can see from the table, the combination of disabling MSA and using DNS gives the best result without the need to install additional software. Manually configuring each application takes time, but provides a deep cleaning of the interface.
Using third-party blocking apps like AdGuard (full version) or Blokada is also effective, but they require constant running in the background, which can increase the battery consumption of the Poco X3 Pro.
⚠️ Warning: When installing third-party blockers from unknown sources, always check the digital signature of the application.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is it safe to turn off the msa service completely?
Will the ads return after the MIUI update?
Will this method help to remove advertising on YouTube?
Can I remove system applications that show ads?
💡
A comprehensive approach combining MSA disabling, DNS setup and manual application cleaning allows you to completely get rid of advertising on Poco X3 Pro without losing warranty and functionality.
To sum up, the Poco X3 Pro remains a great device even with the manufacturer’s aggressive marketing policies. Knowing where the switches are hidden will make it easy to turn into a handy tool without unnecessary visual noise. Regularly checking the settings after updates will help keep the interface clean throughout the life of the smartphone.