Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often face intrusive banners that appear in system interfaces and even when using third-party applications. For the Redmi 9 Pro model, which runs on the MIUI shell, this problem is especially relevant, since the company’s marketing policy involves displaying advertising content to compensate for the low cost of the device. However, there are many effective ways to minimize or completely eliminate this digital noise, regaining the comfort of using the gadget.
In this article, we will discuss proven blocking methods that do not require superuser (Root) rights. You will learn how to disable the msa system service, configure DNS and optimize the operation of standard applications. The most effective method is a comprehensive disabling of the MSA service in combination with a lock at the DNS level. Following these instructions will help you make the interface clean and fast.
Disabling the MSA System Service
The main source of banner ads in the MIUI shell is a system service called MSA (MIUI System Ads), which is responsible for downloading and displaying advertising materials in standard utilities. To block it, you need to find the appropriate item in the authorization settings. It is important to understand that the disable button can be inactive the first time, and the system will have to “persuade” several times.
To start, go to the settings menu and find the password and security section, and you'll need to find the item associated with the Mi Account authorization. Once you log in, you'll be presented with a list of services that have access to your account. Find the msa string in the list and put the switch inactive. The system will alert you to the consequences, but for the average user, they are not critical.
⚠️ Warning: If a countdown timer appears after the first press of the "Disable" button (usually 10 Wait until it ends and press the button again. Often you need to turn off and turn on the switch. 3-5 once in a row before the system allows the service to be permanently deactivated.
After successful disabling of msa, it is also recommended to limit the background activity of associated processes, this will prevent the service from trying to restart itself on its own. Go to the application settings, find the MSA in the list of all programs and forcefully stop the process, and also clear its cache. This action will consolidate the result and free the device's RAM.
☑️ Checking the shutdown MSA
The effectiveness of this method is that you are working on the root of the problem, not just hiding its manifestations. MIUI is a complex system, and simply removing shortcuts will not help. Only completely deactivating the msa service ensures that the ad modules will no longer receive commands to display content. If after rebooting the smartphone, the ad returns, repeat the disabling procedure again.
Blocking Advertising through Private DNS
Current versions of Android, including those on the Redmi 9 Pro, support the Private feature DNS (Private DNS). This tool allows you to redirect everything. DNS-Device requests via a secure server that can filter traffic, and using special addresses, you can block requests to known ad servers at the entire operating system level, which covers both browsers and applications.
To set up, go to the Connection Settings section. The path may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI, but it is usually located at Settings → Connection and Sharing → Private DNS. In the menu that opens, select the option “Host Name of the DNS Provider” (or “Manual”). In the field that appears, you need to enter the filter server address. One of the most popular and reliable options is dns.adguard.com.
Once you enter the address, save the settings. The system will check the availability of the server, and if you successfully connect to the top of the screen, the corresponding icon may appear or the possibility of entering incorrect data simply disappears. AdGuard DNS automatically cuts off requests to domains known as advertising sources and trackers. This greatly speeds up the loading of pages in the browser and reduces traffic consumption.
What happens if Private DNS doesn’t work?
Using Private DNS is an elegant solution that does not require additional software installation, but it is worth considering that some free applications may stop working correctly if their monetization is tied to the display of ads. In such cases, the function can be temporarily disabled. For most users, this method is the “gold standard” of protection against intrusive content.
Set up standard Xiaomi applications
In addition to the global msa service, each standard Xiaomi application has its own advertising settings.Conductor, Music, Themes, Security and Downloads can all broadcast banners. To achieve complete cleanliness, you need to go through the settings of each utility individually. It will take a few minutes, but the result is worth it.
Start with the Security app. Open it, click on the gear in the top right corner, and find "Receive recommendations." Turn off this option. Next, go to the Topics app. Click on the user profile, then click on the settings and turn off "Receive recommendations" and "Show ads." Similar actions are required for the Downloads app: in the settings menu, remove the tick from "Receive recommendations."
The Music and Video app also hides advertising settings. In Music, click on the menu, select settings and turn off "Show ads." In the Video app, go to profile, then to settings, and find the Online Services section where you want to turn off recommendations and personalized ads. Remember to also check the Explorer settings by turning off "Recommendations" there.
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If you can't find the Downloads app on your desktop, search the settings or the Tools folder. In some versions of MIUI, it's hidden in the back of the menu.
A systematic approach to customizing each MIUI component allows you to create a single environment without visual debris. Redmi 9 Pro has enough performance to work without background loading of advertising modules, which will also have a positive impact on battery life.
Cleaning notifications and push messages
Users often confuse the interface with push notifications from different services. On Redmi 9 Pro, many apps default to allowing notifications to be displayed, which may contain ad content. To control this flow, you need to manage permissions for each application or use built-in cleaning tools.
Go to the notification settings and select "App Notifications." Here you'll see a full list of programs that have the right to display messages on the lock screen or into the curtain. Go through the list and turn off notifications for those applications that don't need them, especially for games, stores and news aggregators, and this will help get rid of pop-up banners at the top of the screen.
Also worth paying attention to Mi Pay and Mi Credit if they are active in your area. These services often send promotional offers. Their notifications can also be turned off in the general menu of notification settings. In addition, the Security app has a "Clean Up" feature that sometimes suggests removing "ad files", but be careful: this often hides just cache files.
| Annex | The path to adjustment | What to turn off |
|---|---|---|
| Security | Settings (cogs) | Receive recommendations |
| Topics | Profile → Settings | Receive recommendations, Advertising |
| Downloads. | Settings (three dots) | Receive recommendations |
| Music. | Menu → Settings | Showing ads |
| Conductor | Settings | Recommendations |
Controlling notifications is not just a matter of aesthetics, but also security: Phishing links often come via push notifications from obscure apps, and regularly reviewing the list of permitted apps will help protect your personal data from leaks and scams.
Browsers and content blockers
Even if you cleaned the system, ads can stay in the browser. The standard Mi Browser browser is known for its aggressive policy in this matter. The best solution would be to install an alternative browser with built-in protection, such as Brave, DuckDuckGo or Firefox with the addition of uBlock Origin.
If you prefer to stay in the Xiaomi ecosystem and use a standard browser, it can be significantly "tamed." Open the browser, go to settings (three bars → Settings). Find the "Privacy and Security" section and turn on the "Ad Block" option. It is also recommended to disable "Receive notifications" and "Personalized recommendations" in the same menu.
Use of specialized blockers such as AdGuard (as a standalone application, not just a single application) DNS), It can be even more profound. It's an application that creates locality. VPN-The Redmi 9 Pro, with its RAM, is a tunnel and filters traffic before it enters the browser or application.
It is important to distinguish between in-browser and in-app ads. Browser blockers will not help if a banner pops up in a game or calculator. So the combination of "clean browser + system lock MSA + Private DNS" is the most reliable strategy. Don't rely on just one method of protection.
Additional measures and resetting of advertising identifier
To improve the effectiveness of the blocking, it is recommended to periodically reset the device’s advertising ID. This does not disable the ads completely, but resets the accumulated profile of your interests, making the advertising impressions less targeted and therefore less effective for marketing algorithms. This also increases your digital privacy.
To reset, go to settings, then to Passwords and Security → Privacy → Advertising Services. Here you will find the Reset Ad ID button. Confirm Action. This menu also allows you to disable ad personalization, although this option may be hidden or not fully functional in global firmware.
⚠️ Warning: Do not install dubious applications from unverified sources that promise “acceleration” or “complete ad blocking.” Often, these programs themselves are the sources of viruses and miners that will slow down your Redmi 9 Pro more than any system advertising.
A comprehensive approach that includes system, DNS and browser configuration makes Xiaomi a convenient tool without intrusive marketing. MIUI is a flexible shell, and when properly configured, it can compete with clean Android. Check system updates regularly, as new versions of MIUI can change the path to settings, new sources of advertising or, conversely, new tools to block them.
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Removing ads completely requires a combination of methods: disabling MSA, configuring DNS, and manually cleaning each system application.