Owners of budget smartphones like the Redmi 7A often face intrusive marketing that is built right into the MIUI shell. Manufacturers compensate for the low cost of the device by showing banner ads in system applications, folders and even while unlocking the screen.This is not only annoying, but also reduces the overall speed of the operating system.
Fortunately, there are many effective ways to minimize or eliminate this digital noise completely without obtaining superuser rights. In this article, we will look at proven blocking methods that are relevant for current firmware versions, learn how to manage system permissions and block data channels for advertising modules.
Before you get into deep customization, it's important to understand that MIUI ads are not a virus, they're a regular feature, so antivirus software is useless here. You'll need to manually change a few settings in the settings menu and maybe use third-party tools to filter traffic. Let's break down all the steps sequentially.
Disabling system advertising through MIUI settings
The first and most important step is to disable the built-in recommendation service, which is responsible for collecting data and showing promotional materials, and without doing this, all other manipulations may not be effective, and the system will continue to try to download content even if you block it in other ways.
You first need to go to the smartphone settings menu, find Password and Security or Advanced Settings, depending on the version of your interface, and there's a key switch that controls personalized offers.
You need to find the Advertising Services (or MSA) line, and if you click on it, you'll see a "Receive recommendations" slider, which you need to put inactive, and the system will warn you that some features may stop working correctly, but for the average user it's invisible.
When you turn off the slider, you'll have a 10 second countdown timer, which is an artificial delay to dissuade the user from making a decision, wait until the time ends and press the "Disable" button. If you don't work the first time, repeat the procedure.
⚠️ Attention: After the service is disconnected MSA The changes may require a complete reboot of the device or waiting for 24 hours for the cache to update.
It's also worth checking the settings of individual apps, like Music, Video, and Explorer, each of which often has a setting icon in the corner of the screen where you need to find "Get recommendations" and turn it off, which will take a couple of minutes, but will significantly clean up the interface.
☑️ Checking system settings
Blocking Advertising Through a Private DNS
One of the most powerful tools in the Android user’s arsenal is the setting of a private DNS. This method allows you to filter Internet traffic at the connection level, blocking requests to known ad servers. For Redmi 7A, this method is especially relevant, since it does not require the installation of additional applications.
To use this method, go to Settings → Connections and Sharing (or Advanced Settings). Find the Private DNS section. The default is Auto or Disabled. You need to select the option “DNS Host Name”.
In the field you enter the address of a special server that sifts out advertising traffic, the most popular and reliable option is the AdGuard service.
dns.adguard.comOnce you enter the address, click Save. If you did everything right, the status bar may display a key icon or private DNS connection notification. Now all requests to ad domains will be blocked at the network level.
What to do if the DNS is not working?
Use of the DNS-Filtering has its advantages: it works in all browsers and applications, without requiring their individual configuration. However, it is worth remembering that this method does not block Xiaomi’s own ads if they are downloaded from the same domains as system content, but significantly reduces the number of banners in third-party programs.
Management of Notifications and System Applications
Even after the basic services are disabled, some applications can continue pushing notifications with suggestions, often with standard tools like Cleanup or Security, and to get rid of them, you need to manually restrict the rights of each suspicious application.
Go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Here you will need to find system components such as MSA, Mi Video, Mi Music, GetApps (formerly Mi Store). When you go to each of them, select Notifications and uncheck all the boxes.
Pay special attention to the app Security, which is the one that most often pops up windows with tips to clear memory, which are actually disguised ads. Turn off notifications for the categories "Memory Clearing" and "Recommendations."
For applications you don’t need (like GetApps or Mi Pay if you don’t use them), you can turn off auto-runs, which will prevent them from running in the background.
- 📱 Find GetApps app in the list of installed.
- 🚫 Click on “Disable Notifications” and “AutoStart».
- 🗑️ If possible, remove updates to this app through the tri-point menu.
- 🔄 Repeat the procedure for all Xiaomi stock apps you don’t use.
This approach allows you to leave the functionality of the phone intact, but removes visual noise. You can still start the video player manually, but it will not bother you at the wrong time.
Use of third-party blockers and DNS-service
If there are not enough built-in tools, specialized blocking applications come to the rescue. 7A with standard firmware, great solutions that create local VPN-traffic-filtering tunnel.
One of the most popular tools is AdGuard, which is an open source free version that effectively filters ads in browsers and some applications. VPN-connection.
Another option is to use a browser with built-in protection, like Brave or DuckDuckGo, to surf the Internet, which will not remove advertising from the system, but will make your stay online comfortable.
| Annex | Type of work | Demands a Root. | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|
| AdGuard DNS | Private DNS | No. | Tall. |
| Blokada 5 | Local VPN | No. | Medium/High |
| AdGuard App | Traffic filtering | No (partially) | Maximum |
| Personal DNS Filter | DNS-filter | No. | Tall. |
When you install these programs, you need to watch permissions very carefully. They need to access the network and create the software. VPN-Don’t be alarmed by the system’s warning that “traffic can be controlled” is Android’s standard response to any type of traffic. VPN-services, even local services.
Resetting the advertising ID and data cleanup
Advertising algorithms use your device’s unique identifier to target content, and resetting that identifier periodically helps to “nullify” a user’s profile, making ads less personalized and intrusive.
To perform the reset, go to Settings → Password & Security → Privacy → Advertising. Here you will see the Reset Advertising ID button. Click on it and confirm the action.
Also, it is recommended to periodically clear the data of the apps responsible for marketing. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find MSA (MIUI System Ads), click Memory and select Clear (not Clear All if you are afraid of losing settings, but for MSA it is safe).
Cache cleaning also helps to get rid of already downloaded, but not yet shown banner ads.This frees up space in the memory of the Redmi 7A, which is critical for devices with a small amount of built-in storage.
⚠️ Warning: Be careful when cleaning system applications, do not clear the phone, message or contact data to avoid losing important information (MSA, Mi Video, etc.).
Regularly doing these things prevents the system from accumulating enough data about your preferences to show really annoying ads, which turns the ad impressions into random noise that is easier to ignore.
Frequent questions and additional recommendations
In the process of optimization, users often encounter nuances that require clarification. Below are answers to the most popular questions related to blocking ads on Xiaomi devices.
Many people wonder if blocking ads affects legitimate functions, most of the time it doesn't. However, if you turn off all permissions for GetApps, it will stop updating other programs, so it's better to just block notifications, leaving it access to the network.
And it's also worth mentioning the effect on the battery. Paradoxically, blocking ads can extend the life of the battery. Advertising modules are constantly hanging in memory and using the network, which drains the battery. By turning them off, you reduce the load on the processor.
💡
Use Do Not Disturb at night to make sure that no late promotional notice will wake you up.
If you have been manipulated, check to see if you have any dubious applications installed from unknown sources, often with viruses, miners or adware, entering the system along with games or modified programs.
💡
A comprehensive approach (DNS + MIUI + notification management) gives 99% of the result in the fight against intrusive marketing.