How to remove ads in games on Xiaomi: the complete guide

Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphone owners often face intrusive ads that appear at the most inopportune moment, especially when pop-ups block gameplay or pop up immediately after the app is closed, not a system bug, but a built-in MIUI and HyperOS feature designed to monetize the affordable cost of devices.

Fortunately, most advertising mechanisms can be manually deactivated without getting root rights. You don't have to be a programming expert to clean the interface. We'll look at proven ways to get rid of banners in games and system applications, returning the phone to its original cleanliness.

Before you start setting up, it is important to understand that some system components are responsible for collecting data and displaying content.Switching off these services is safe for the stability of the gadget, if you act according to the instructions.In some cases, you may need to access the network, so make sure that your connection is stable.

Disabling the MSA system service

The main source of intrusive advertising in the shell of MIUI is the system application msa (MIUI System Ads), which analyzes your actions and selects advertisements, the first step to a clean screen will be to deactivate it through the authorization settings.

To start, you need to go to the smartphone settings menu. Find the Password and Security section or Fingerprints, Face data and screen lock, depending on the firmware version. Next, select Access to Personal Data. In the list that opens, find the msa string and turn off the switch next to it.

⚠️ Attention: When you try to shut down msa, the system can warn you several times about possible consequences and even show a countdown timer. This is a psychological technique, just wait for the timer to end and confirm the action again.

After a successful shutdown, the changes will not take effect immediately. Xiaomi takes time to synchronize settings. It is recommended to wait 10-15 seconds before proceeding to the next steps. If the switch is back in its original position, try again - this is the normal system reaction.

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If the msa switch is constantly back in the "On" position, try to turn off the Internet for 10 seconds during the shutdown procedure.

Setting up the "Security" application

The built-in Security app on Redmi and Poco phones also contains modules to show recommendations. Even if you have disabled msa, this component can continue to generate pop-ups.

Launch the Security app (green shield icon). Click on the gear icon in the top right corner of the screen to open the settings menu. Here you are interested in General Settings. Find the option to Receive recommendations and deactivate it. This will remove the promotional offers when scanning the phone.

Then go back to the main menu of the Security app and select the Cleanup tool. Click on the settings icon (cog) in the upper right corner of this section. Make sure the Show Ads After Cleaning switch is off. This will prevent banners from appearing every time you clean the cache.

Advertising personalization management

MIUI and HyperOS have a separate service for targeted advertising that works independently of msa. It collects data about your preferences to show more relevant ads. Disabling this service does not remove ads completely, but makes them less personalized and often less frequent.

Go to Settings on the main menu of the phone. Scroll down to Password and Security. Select Privacy, and then look for Advertising Services. You need to turn off Ad Personalization.

This menu may also include a recommendation or Receive recommendations, and make sure that all switches in this block are in the “Off” position, which will limit the collection of data about your location and the history of using apps for advertising purposes.

Disabling Advertising in System Applications

Advertising modules are built into not only games, but also standard utilities such as Explorer, Music, Video and Downloads, and to achieve complete comfort, you need to check the settings of each of these applications separately.

Let’s look at the main places where banners are hidden:

• 📂 Explorer: Open the app, click on the menu (three bars) → Settings → About the application. Turn off the option to Receive recommendations.
• 🎵 Music: Click on the menu → Settings → Advanced settings. Remove the tick from Show Ads and Receive recommendations.
• 🎬 Video: Go to Profile → Settings → Additional settings. Turn off Online Recommendations and AutoRun Video.

Also, remember to check the Downloads app. Often, after downloading the file, a tab with news and ads appears there. Go to the app settings (three dots in the corner) and turn off Show recommended content.

⚠️ Note: After updating the firmware, the settings in the system applications may reset to factory values. MIUI.

Blocking through DNS (Method for Advanced)

If standard methods didn't completely remove ads in games, you can use network-level blocking. Domain Name System (DNS) allows you to redirect requests to ad servers to nowhere. This works effectively in all applications, including games.

To do this, go to the Settings. → Connection and Sharing (or Wi-Fi). Find a Private Item DNS-server (Private) DNS). Select the hostname of the provider DNS and enter the address in the field: dns.adguard.com. Save the changes.

This method does not require third-party applications and works at the system level, however, if you use public Wi-Fi networks with authorization (for example, in cafes or airports), a temporary DNS shutdown may be required to successfully log in.

Comparison of blocking methods

There are several approaches to solving the problem of advertising, each method has its advantages and disadvantages depending on your phone model (Xiaomi Mi 11, Redmi Note 12, Poco F5) and the version of the operating system.

The most balanced option is a combination of disabling msa and using Private DNS.This provides comprehensive protection without the need to install heavy software.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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A comprehensive approach, including disabling MSA, configuring system applications and using Private DNS, ensures that there is no advertising in 99% of cases.