Owners of Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones often face intrusive ads that appear in the most unexpected places of the interface. MIUI, the manufacturer’s proprietary shell, uses advertising integrations as a way to reduce the final cost of the device, which is especially true for popular models like the Redmi Note 9 Pro. Users notice banners on the lock screen, in application folders, in the “Conductor” and even after the calls are completed.
Fortunately, the developers have left it to users to manage these settings themselves, even though they have hidden them deep enough in the system menu. Disabling ads does not require obtaining super-user rights or flashing the device to the global version if you are already using current software. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the steps necessary to completely clean the system from marketing noise.
The deactivation process will take no more than 10-15 minutes of your time, but the result will significantly improve the comfort of using the gadget. We will consider disabling the msa system service, setting up personalized recommendations and cleaning specific applications. It is critical to follow all the steps consistently, since disabling one source does not block other channels of advertising broadcast.
Disabling system advertising through MSA settings
The main source of intrusive banners in the system is the MSA (MIUI System Ads) service, which is responsible for collecting data on user behavior and showing relevant advertising in the interface, and without disabling this service, other settings may not have the full effect.
First, you need to go to the Mi Account login menu. Go to Settings → Mi Account. If you are not logged in, the system will ask you to log in, but this is not always necessary to turn off ads, but having an account makes it easier to synchronize settings. Next, you should find the item responsible for advertising and privacy.
In the menu that opens, look for Advertising or Advertising Services, where the Receive Recommendations main switch is located, and before turning it off, the system can show a countdown timer (usually 10 seconds) and suggest leaving it on, arguing that content is personalized.
☑️ Checking the shutdown MSA
After a successful shutdown, it is recommended to restart the device so that the changes take effect for all system processes. Sometimes you need to repeat the procedure 2-3 times, since Xiaomi servers can try to return the setting to its original state when the connection is unstable.
Removal of advertising from the lock screen (Wallpaper Carousel)
The Redmi Note 9 Pro lock screen ads are most often broadcast via the "Glance" feature, a service that automatically changes the background image and shows news feeds or banner ads when the screen wakes up, which many users confuse with a virus, but it is a regular shell feature.
To get rid of this, go to Settings → Lock screen. In this menu you will find the wallpaper carousel item. When you click on it, you will see the wallpaper carousel switch. It must be deactivated. After that, only a static image or a standard watch will remain on the lock screen.
⚠️ Warning: After you turn off the wallpaper carousel, you will no longer update your background images automatically. If you want to save the change of pictures but remove the ads, you need to find the "Recommendations" item in the carousel settings and turn it off, leaving only the background change.
Additionally, check the theme settings. Sometimes ad units can be embedded in third-party themes downloaded from Themes. If the problem persists, try switching to a standard Classic or Default theme and checking the lock screen again.
In some versions of MIUI, settings can be spaced. If you don't find a lock screen item, look at Settings → Wallpaper → Wallpaper Carousel. The path may vary slightly depending on Android version (10 or 11) and firmware version.
Customization of personalization in system applications
Even after the main MSA service is disabled, individual applications can continue to display ads if they have their own recommendation settings, including standard utilities: Explorer, Music, Video, Cleanup and Security.
Let’s take a look at how to clean up the most popular apps:
- 📁 Explorer: Open the application, click on three menu bars, select Settings → About the application and disable the item Get recommendations.
- 🎵 Music: Go to Settings → Additionally, and remove the tick from Show Advertising and Receive Recommendations.
- 🛡️ Security: Click on the gear in the corner, find the Receive recommendations section and deactivate it».
Don’t forget to check the Downloads and Themes app. The Themes app often has ads hidden in the “Recommended” section. Go to the user profile (human icon), then to Settings and disable all items related to personalization and auto-update.
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If you can't find settings inside a particular app, try pinching the app icon on your desktop, select About, and see if there's a Notifications item there. Often, you can turn off ads by simply preventing the app from sending notifications.
Disabling Advertising Identifiers and Personalization
To increase privacy and reduce targeted advertising on Android and MIUI, there are advertising ID settings, and resetting or disabling this ID breaks the link between your actions and advertising profiles.
Go to Settings → Password and Security → Privacy. At the bottom of the list, find Advertising Services. You need to switch the Ad Personalization slider to the off state. You should also click Reset Advertising ID.
This procedure does not remove ads completely, but makes them less relevant and intrusive as the system stops using your search and visit history to match banners, an important step for those who value their digital privacy.
| Parameter | Where to find out. | Action. | The result |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSA Service | Mi Account → Advertising | Turn it off. | Systemic advertising will be lost |
| carousel | Lock screen | Turn it off. | Clean lock screen |
| Recommendations | Settings → Password and security | Reset your ID. | Reducing targeting |
| Annexes | Conductor, Music, etc. | In the app settings | Clean utility interface |
Blocking Advertising through DNS (Advanced Method)
If standard methods don’t help or you want to block ads in all apps, including browsers and games, the way to do this is to use a private DNS.
You don't need to install third-party apps. Go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Private DNS. The default is "Auto" or "Disabled." Select the DNS Host Name (or "Manual").
In the box that appears, type in the address: dns.adguard.com. Click Save. Now all traffic from your Redmi Note 9 Pro will be filtered through AdGuard servers that cut off known ad domains.
⚠️ Attention: Use of third-party DNS It may slightly increase ping in online games or slow down page loading if the servers are congested.If you notice problems with Internet speed, return the setting to Auto mode».
It also helps hide ads on YouTube (though not always) and in many free apps that don’t use their own secure channels for advertising.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is it safe to turn off the MSA? Is the phone going to break?
Why does the ad switch switch switch switch on itself again after switching off?
Will ads disappear in third-party apps (like Facebook or games)?
Do I need to reset to factory settings if the ad isn’t being removed?
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Integrated approach including shutdown MSA, Cleaning of application settings and use DNS-The filter ensures that 99% of advertising junk is removed from your Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro.
After doing all of these things, your Redmi Note 9 Pro will be much cleaner and more enjoyable to use, the system will stop distracting you with pop-ups, and the battery will be spent more economically, as the ad modules will no longer consume the CPU and network resources in the background.