Owners of the popular Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ smartphone often encounter intrusive banner ads that appear in standard applications and the MIUI interface. This is not a bug, but built-in monetization, which is active by default on all devices of the brand. However, the system provides fairly flexible tools for those who appreciate a clean user experience without unnecessary visual noise.
The process of deactivating advertising modules requires a series of settings in different sections of the menu. MSA (MIUI System Ads) is the main service that broadcasts content, but it is not the only one. To achieve maximum effect, you need to go through several system components, including the browser, bootloader and application manager.
In this guide, we will look at all the available ways to clean the interface of your gadget. We will discuss both standard methods through settings, and more advanced options for power users. Disabling the MSA system service is a key step without which other actions may not be effective. Follow the instructions carefully so that you do not miss any hidden switch.
Disabling the MSA system advertising service
The first and most important step is to deactivate the main system component responsible for displaying ads. msa (MIUI System Ads) works in the background and constantly requests permission to access the network to download new banners.
First, you need to go to the hidden login menu. Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Access to personal data. In the list that opens, find msa and switch the slider to an inactive position. The system will warn you of the possible consequences, but for the average user, they will not.
⚠️ Warning: When the slider is turned off, a countdown timer will appear for 10 seconds. Don't press the Cancel button, wait for the time to end and confirm the action with the "Disable" button".
Often, the first time you turn off the service is not possible due to software bugs MIUI. If you see an error message or a timer is reset, try to repeat the procedure 3-4 times in a row. Usually on the 3rd or 4th attempt, the system still allows you to disable msa. This is a well-known feature of the protection of the ad module.
After successful deactivation, it is recommended to restart the device, which ensures that all background processes associated with advertising identifiers are completely stopped, in some cases, it may be necessary to turn off the Internet for a couple of minutes immediately after the reboot, so that the service does not have time to sync with the server.
Setting up the standard Mi Browser browser
The second source of annoyance is often Xiaomi’s built-in browser, which even if you don’t use it can display notifications and news widgets on your desktop, and to minimize its impact, you need to change your privacy and notification settings.
Open the Mi Browser app and go to the settings menu (three bars in the corner). Find the Privacy and Security section. You need to turn off the "Receive recommendations" and "Notifications" option. This will remove the news feed and pop-up messages.
- 🚫 In the "Notifications" section, uncheck the "Receive news and video notifications" box".
- 🔒 Enable the "Blocking Pop-Up Windows" mode to protect against aggressive advertising on websites.
- 📉 Disable Personalized Recommendations in the privacy section so that the browser stops collecting data about your interests.
If you prefer to use third-party solutions such as Chrome or Firefox, you can completely disable the display of the browser widget on the desktop. To do this, press your finger on the widget and select "Delete" or hide it through the desktop settings, which will free up space and remove unnecessary information noise.
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Use browsers with built-in ad blocker, such as Brave or Firefox with add-ons, to avoid having to manually configure each site.
It’s also worth checking the browser permissions in the general system settings. Go to Apps → All Apps → Mi Browser → Other permissions. Make sure background actions and displays on top of other windows are prohibited. This will prevent ad windows from appearing, even if you accidentally launch the app.
Cleaning the "Security" application and the loader
The Security app on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ is the control center of the system, but also a source of periodic advertising integrations. When scanning the phone or cleaning up memory, there are often suggestions to install additional games or applications.
To remove these banners, open the Security app and click on the gear icon in the top right corner. In the settings menu, find the Receive recommendations and turn it off. This action will hide the ad blocks in the virus scanner and cleaner interface.
☑️ Checking security settings
Special attention is required by the Quick app finder component, which offers to run mini-apps or games when searching in the global search bar. To turn it off, go to Settings → Desktop → Search (or “Search in the System”).
Inside the search menu, find the Recommendations switch and deaktivate it. It’s also helpful to disable the display of news cards from aggregators (like Google Discover or Yandex) if you don’t use them, making the search quick and clean, without unnecessary visual debris.
| System component | The path to adjustment | What's off? | The result |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSA | Passwords and security | Access to personal data | Stopping System Advertising |
| Mi Browser | Browser settings | Receive recommendations | Clean news feed |
| Security | The gear in the appendix | Receive recommendations | No banners when scanning |
| Loader | Settings → Search | Recommendations | Clean search without ads |
Once you do this, your smartphone interface will be much cleaner, but some apps, like Music or Video, have their own ad integration settings that are also worth checking out.
Disabling Advertising in Standard Applications
Xiaomi’s multimedia apps (Music, Video, Themes) also contain ad modules. In the Themes app, ads can appear on the home screen and in the recommendations section. To disable them, go to the user profile (human icon) and click on the settings icon.
In the theme settings menu, look for Show Ads or Get Recommendations and uncheck the box. Similar procedure is required for Video and Music apps: go to their settings via the side menu and turn off all options related to online content and recommendations.
⚠️ Warning: Disabling recommendations in the Mi Video app may restrict access to the online directory of movies, leaving only the local player function.
File Manager also has ad settings that are relevant to the application: Open the menu (three bars), select Settings → About the application (or just Settings), find the "Recommendations" section and turn off receiving promotional materials, which will remove banners that sometimes appear when you open folders.
Hidden conductor settings
Remember that app updates can bring back old settings. Check these sections periodically after major MIUI updates. Automatic app updates are best configured via Wi-Fi to be able to monitor changes.
Using DNS to Block Advertising
One of the most effective methods that works at the operating system level is to configure a private DNS. This method does not require installing third-party software and blocks advertising requests before they reach your Redmi Note 12 Pro+.
Go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Private DNS. The default is “Auto.” Select “Host Name of DNS Provider” and enter the address of a trusted blocker. A popular and proven option is the address:
dns.adguard.comOnce you type in the address, click Save. The system will check the connection. If done correctly, the ads will disappear not only in the browser, but also in many free apps and games that use standard ad networks, which also increases page load speed.
- 🚀 Speeds up the loading of web pages by blocking heavy advertising scripts.
- 🛡️ Increases privacy by hiding your actions from advertising trackers.
- 📉 Reduces traffic consumption because advertising content is not loaded.
It is important to understand that this method may disrupt some applications that require ads to function (such as some games or services with a paid subscription that disables ads), in which case the DNS will have to be temporarily returned to Auto mode.
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DNS is a “silver bullet” that removes up to 90% of all ads in the system without having to manually disable system services.
Advanced Methods: ADB and Debugging
For power users who want to securely remove ad components, there is a method of using the command line ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to remove or freeze system applications that cannot be removed by standard means.
You will need a computer, a cable. USB and the debugging on USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → 7 times to press the version MIUI, Then the advanced settings. → For developers → Debugging by USB). You need to install a package on your computer. ADB tools.
Connect your phone to your PC and enter a command to remove the msa packet:
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.msa.globalYou can also remove the analytics components and advertising services of the browser:
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.analytics
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.browser⚠️ Attention: Use ADB Removal of critical system components can lead to unstable system operation or a "bootloop" (cyclical reboot!
This method is irreversible without resetting settings or re-installing packets. Use it only if you understand what you're doing. For most users, the methods described in the previous sections are sufficient.