How to permanently disable ads on Xiaomi Redmi Note 4: from system banners to push notifications

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 is still one of the most popular budget smartphones, but its owners often face annoying advertising in MIUI. Banners in settings, push notifications from Mi Browser, advertising blocks in proprietary applications - all this spoils the impression of using the device. In this article, we will discuss 5 working ways to remove ads on Redmi Note 4 once and for all, including hidden settings, ADB commands and alternative firmware.

It is important to understand that MIUI advertising comes in two types: system (built into firmware) and applications (from Mi Browser, Mi Video, Cleaner, etc.). The first can only be turned off through deep settings or firmware modifications, and the second through standard application settings. We will look at both options so that you can choose the most suitable for your version of MIUI (even if it is an outdated MIUI 8/9).

Before you start, check your firmware version: go to Settings → About → About Phone → MIUI version. It depends on what methods will work. For example, on MIUI 10+, some of the settings have been moved to other menus, and on MIUI 8 some options may not be available at all.

1. disable advertising in MIUI settings (without root)

The easiest way is to use built-in MIUI options that allow you to partially or completely hide banner ads, which is suitable for all firmware versions, but on MIUI 12+, some items may be called differently.

First, we will turn off advertising in recommendations and push notifications:

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Advanced settings → Advertising (or Settings) → Annexes → Application management → Advertising settings on new versions).
• 🔄 Turn off the “Personalized Recommendations” slider (or “Advertising Notices").
• 🚫 In the System Apps section, deactivate impressions for Mi Browser, Mi Video, Cleaner and Themes.
• 🔍 If there is no item, try the Settings path. → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Tap 7 times to unlock the developer mode, then go back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers and find the option "Disable advertising").

Next, remove the ads from the settings menu and notification panels:

1. Open Settings → Notifications and Status bar.
2. Select Notification Management and disable impressions for Msa (Mi System Ads) and MiuiDaemon.
3. Go back to Settings → Applications → Application Management, find Msa and click “Disable” (if the button is active).

⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI Disabling Msa can cause Mi Account malfunctions. If notifications from Xiaomi account stop coming after deactivation, turn Msa back on and use alternative methods.

2. Removal of ads via ADB (without root, but with PC)

If the standard settings do not help, you can use ADB-They allow you to go deeper into the system without requiring superuser rights. This method works on Redmi Note 4 with any version. MIUI, But it would require a computer and USB-cable.

First, prepare the device:

1. Enable Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About the phone and 7 times tap on the "Version" MIUI".
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate “Debugging by USB”.
3. Connect your smartphone to your PC, select the File Transfer mode and confirm the debugging permission.

Now download ADB Tools (such as the official Google package) and execute commands in the command line (Windows) or terminal (Linux/macOS):

adb shell pm hide com.miui.systemAdSolution


adb shell pm hide com.xiaomi.mipicks




adb shell pm hide com.miui.analytics




adb shell pm hide com.miui.msa.global

These commands hide (do not remove!) the system components responsible for displaying ads. If banners return after the reboot, repeat the procedure or use an alternative method:

adb shell settings put global hidden_api_policy 1

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI 12+ The pm hide commands may not work due to security limitations. In this case, try adb shell pm uninstall. -k --user 0 the name of the package, but this will delete the application completely (may affect the stability of the system).

3. Use of third-party applications (without root)

If you don’t want to mess with ADB, you can use specialized utilities that automate the process of disabling ads, the best of which are App Inspector (for package analysis) and ADB AppControl (for managing system applications without manually entering commands).

Instructions for using ADB AppControl:

• 📱 Install the app from Google Play.
• 🔌 Connect Redmi Note 4 to your PC and activate Debugging USB" (as in the previous section).
• 🔍 In the app, select a tab "ADB" and press "Connect".
• 🗑️ Search in the list of com.miui.systemAdSolution, com.xiaomi.mipicks and other advertising packages, then click "Disable" or "Delete for the user".

App Inspector is suitable for analyzing hidden advertising modules:

• 🔍 Open the application and select "System applications".
• 📊 Sort the list by "Size" or "Name".
• 🚫 Look for packages with the words ad, analytics, msa, mipicks – they can be disabled through the ADB AppControl.

The advantage of this method is a visual interface that makes it easier to work with ADB. However, some packages can be protected from disabling - in this case, only root or custom firmware will help.

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If some features (such as themes or cloud storage) have stopped working after disabling ad packages, return them back through the same utility. Usually, only com.miui.systemAdSolution and com.xiaomi.mipicks are enough to disable.

4. Install custom firmware (for advanced users)

If you’re willing to take drastic measures, custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience) will remove all ads from the system completely, a method that requires unlocking the bootloader and installing TWRP, but produces 100% results without returning banners after updates.

Step-by-step:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Mi Unlock Tool (requires a binding Mi Account and wait 72-360 hours).
2. Install TWRP, a customized Recovery for the firmware of alternative software. For Redmi Note 4 (codenamed mido), the official version will fit.
3. Download the firmware: 📱 LineageOS (Pure Android without Advertising). 📱 Pixel Experience (like the Google Pixel interface). 📱 Xiaomi.EU (MIUI Advertising-free and Chinese-based).

Please.

TWRP

⚠️ Warning: Unlocking the bootloader and firmware custom software resets all data and may result in a loss of warranty.On some versions of the Redmi Note 4 (Especially Chinese) after unlocking, Widevine stops working. L1 (no HD into Netflix/YouTube).

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Custom firmware is the only way to get rid of MIUI ads forever, but it requires technical skills. If you're not sure, use root-free methods.

5. Disabling Advertising in Xiaomi Branded Apps

Even if you remove the system ads, some Xiaomi apps (e.g. Mi Browser, Mi Video, Cleaner) will continue to display banners.

Mi Browser:

• 🌐 Open your browser, tap on "⋮" (menu) → Settings → Additionally".
• 🔄 Turn off “Personalized News” and “Recommended Content".
• 🚫 In the Privacy section, deactivate "Mi Cloud Sync" (sometimes it loads ads).

Mi Video / Mi Music:

• 🎬 Open the application, go to "Settings" → About the programme".
• 🔄 Turn off "Recommendations" and "Notifications".
• 📵 Ban Internet access: Settings → Annexes → Mi Video → Mobile data and Wi-Fi.

Cleaner / Security:

• 🧹 Open up Security, tap on "⚙" (setting) → Notifications".
• 🚫 Turn off “Advertising Notifications” and “Optimization Tips".
• 🗑️ Remove the app cache: Settings → Annexes → Cleaner → Warehouse → Clear the cache.

On some versions of MIUI 8/9, the Cleaner app has a hidden option: go to Settings → About and tap 5 times according to version. The Debug menu will appear, where you can turn off ads completely.

6. Alternative methods: from Hosts to DNS

If the previous methods didn't work, you can block the ad servers at the network level, and it won't remove the banners from the system, but it won't load new ones.

Method 1: Editing a Hosts file (requires root or ADB):

• 📄 Download the ready-made hosts file with ad blocking.
• 🔧 Through the Root Explorer or ADB Replace the standard file along the way. /system/etc/hosts.
• 🔄 Reset the device.

Method 2: Using a private DNS (without root):

• 🌐 Go to Settings. → Connections → Private DNS.
• 🔧 Select "Supplier Host Name" and type in: dns.adguard.com (AdGuard) DNS) 1.1.1.3 (Cloudflare Family)
• 🔄 Save and restart your smartphone.

Method 3: Ad-blocking applications:

• 🛡️ Blokada (works without root, blocks at the level) VPN).
• 🚫 AdGuard (there is a local mode) VPN" for MIUI).
• 🔒 NetGuard (blocks access to advertising domains).

⚠️ Attention: MIUI 12+ Some ad blocking apps (e.g. Blokada) may conflict with system services. If notifications stop working after installation, add the app to the Battery and AutoRun exceptions.

FAQ: Frequent questions about disabling ads on Redmi Note 4