Xiaomi smartphone owners often face intrusive ads that appear in system applications and when unlocking the device. The NFC-enabled Redmi 9 is no exception, as the MIUI shell is set up by default to collect data and show content from partners. This can annoy users accustomed to pure Android or more private systems.
Fortunately, most of the advertising mechanisms in firmware can be manually deactivated without obtaining superuser rights. You don't have to be a programming expert to regain the comfort of using a gadget. You just need to go through several menu items consistently and reconfigure system services.
In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to block pop-ups and banners. We will touch on Mi Account settings, disabling analytics system services and hidden developer settings. A comprehensive approach will allow you to completely clean the interface of unnecessary visual noise.
MSA Disconnection: The Main Source of Advertising
The main engine of the advertising industry in Xiaomi smartphones is a system service called MSA (MIUI System Ads), which is responsible for loading and displaying banners in standard utilities. To stop the flow of advertising, you must force the component to terminate through the authorization menu.
To start, open your phone's settings and find the password and security section. You'll need to find System Services or msa in the authorization and security menu. It's important to be careful here, as the system will prevent you from turning off the function by suggesting you wait or cancel the action.
When you switch the slider to an inactive state, you'll see a 10 second countdown timer. Take your time, wait until the time ends and press the confirmation button. If you fail to turn it off the first time, repeat the procedure 2-3 times, as the company's servers may temporarily block the request.
- 📱 Go to Settings. → Passwords and security → Authorization and security.
- 📉 Find the msa service in the list and turn off the switchboard.
- ⏳ Wait for the timer to end and confirm the shutdown in the pop-up window.
- 🔄 Repeat the procedure several times if necessary to ensure a guaranteed result.
⚠️ Attention: After the service is disconnected MSA The system takes time (from 15 minutes to several hours) to update the cache and stop downloading advertising modules.
☑️ Checking the shutdown MSA
Customization and recommendations in the system
In addition to explicit advertising, MIUI uses personalization algorithms to analyze your actions, which are used to generate “recommendations” in application folders, on the lock screen and in the system launcher, and disabling these features will significantly increase privacy and reduce information noise.
First of all, you should pay attention to the settings of the desktop itself: hold your finger in the free space of the screen or use the launcher settings menu. This is the switch that is responsible for obtaining recommendations from Xiaomi, deactivating it will remove unnecessary widgets and news feeds from the application folders.
It is also important to check the “Getting Recommendations” section in the main system settings, which is often hidden in the depths of the “Passwords and Security” menu, and disabling this option prevents the system from collecting data about your preferences for targeted advertising.
And don't forget the Security app, which also broadcasts news and offers, and inside the app, you go to the settings (usually the gear icon in the corner) and find the "Get recommendations" item, which will clear the home page of the antivirus from third-party content.
Why does Xiaomi collect user data?
Cleaning of advertising identifiers and data reset
Even after you turn off the basic services, your device may still have ad IDs, unique codes that advertisers use to track your actions across different applications, and regularly cleaning or resetting those IDs helps break the connection between your device and your ad networks.
To do this, go to the privacy settings section, where you will find the Advertising button, where the reset button for the advertising ID will be available, and clicking this button generates a new random code, zeroing the accumulated profile.
It is also recommended that you clean up the data of the MIUI Daemon system application, which is a hidden service that collects diagnostic information, and although it does not directly show ads, its data can be used for analytics, and cleaning the data of this application will not harm the system, but will delete the accumulated logs.
| Parameter | Location on the menu | Recommended action |
|---|---|---|
| Advertising ID | Settings → Passwords and Security → Privacy | Reset the ID |
| MIUI Daemon | Annexes → All applications → MIUI Daemon | Clear the data and cache |
| Framework services | Applications → All Applications → MIUI Framework Services | Clear the cache |
| GetApps | Applications → GetApps → Settings | Disable notifications and recommendations |
This creates an additional barrier for ad trackers, but remember that you can't completely remove all traces of activity in a standard firmware without a deep modification of the system.
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For maximum efficiency, reset your advertising ID once a month.This won't take long, but will baffle the tracking algorithms trying to build your digital profile.
Blocking Advertising in System Applications
Xiaomi's standard apps, such as Explorer, Music, Video and Themes, often contain built-in ad modules. Even with the MSA service disabled, some interface elements may remain active. Each component requires customization.
In the Themes app, you need to go to the user profile (human icon) and turn off the “Show Ads” option in the settings. Similar situation with “Conductor”: go to the menu, select settings and remove the tick from “Receive recommendations”.
The Downloads app can also display ads as banners on top. To fix this, click three dots in the corner of the screen, select settings, and disable the display of recommended content. This will free up the screen's usable space.
- 🎨 Topics: Profile → Settings → Turn off the adverts.
- 📁 Conductor: Menu → Settings → Display → Delete the “Recommendations” box».
- 📥 Downloads: Three dots → Settings → Show recommendations (off).
- 🎵 Music/Video: Menu → Settings → Advanced settings → Disable recommendations.
It is important to understand that after updating system applications, settings may reset. Check these sections periodically, especially after major MIUI updates.
Using DNS to block at the network level
One of the most effective ways to combat advertising is to use a private DNS, which allows you to block requests to known ad servers before they reach your device. For Redmi 9, this method is especially relevant, since it does not require the installation of third-party software.
In the connection settings, look for the "Other Connections" or "Connect and Sharing" section, and it's called "Private DNS." It's the default "Auto" value, but we need to select "DNS Host Name."
The field that appears will need to enter the address of a trusted server that filters ads. The most popular and proven option is AdGuard DNS. Type the line dns.adguard.com into the field and save the settings.
dns.adguard.comAfter applying the settings, the phone may briefly lose its connection to the Internet, after which the connection will be restored. Now all requests to advertising domains will be blocked at the network level, which will speed up the loading of pages in the browser and clear the applications of banners.
⚠️ Attention: Use of third-party DNS It can cause some local services to fail or slow down the Internet if the server is overloaded. In case of problems, return the setting to Auto or Disconnected».
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Set up a private DNS is a silver bullet against advertising that works globally for all applications but requires a stable internet connection to initially connect to the filter server.
Additional measures and handling of notifications
Even after all the settings, some apps may try to send push notifications of an advertising nature, often disguised as system messages or news, and control of notifications is the last line of defense of a clean interface.
Go to notification and status settings. Go through the list of installed applications and turn off notifications for those programs that don't need them. Pay special attention to system services like MIUI Demo or Analytics if they are on the list.
You should also turn off the wallpaper carousel feature, which constantly changes the wallpaper on the lock screen and often shows advertising images, and this setting is located in the lock screen or Always on screen and lock screen.
For advanced users, it is possible to use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) to remove system applications. However, on Redmi 9 with NFC, this requires enabling USB debugging and connecting to a computer. It is a powerful tool, but it requires caution.
- 🔕 Disable notifications for unused system applications.
- 🖼️ Deactivate the “Wallpaper Carousel” in the lock screen settings.
- 📉 Check the list of apps with notification access and limit unnecessary.
- 🛠️ Use it. ADB Only if you are confident in your actions and know which packets to remove.
The comprehensive application of all the methods described will turn your Xiaomi Redmi 9 into a device free from intrusive marketing.The system will work faster and the battery will be spent more economically, as the background advertising processes will no longer consume resources.