How to completely disable advertising on Xiaomi Mi 9: a step-by-step guide

Advertising on Xiaomi Mi 9 smartphones is one of the most annoying features of MIUI firmware, which the manufacturer has integrated into system applications. Even after buying the device, users encounter banners in the settings menu, Mi Browser browser, launcher and notifications. The reason lies in the monetization of the ecosystem: Xiaomi compensates for the low price of devices through advertising displays. However, it can be disabled - both partially through settings and completely using additional tools.

In this article, we will discuss all the working methods for the Mi 9 (cepheus model), including hidden MIUI settings, ADB locking, and alternative solutions for root-right users. It is important to note that some methods may differ depending on the firmware version (for example, MIUI 12/13/14) and regional build (global, Chinese, European).

If you just bought the Xiaomi Mi 9 on the secondary market or upgraded your firmware, the ads could come back — that’s fine. The manufacturer periodically resets the monetization settings after updates. Our instructions are relevant for all versions of Android 9-12 that the device supports.

Before you start, check the current version of MIUI: go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. This will help avoid errors when choosing a method. We also recommend backing up important data – some methods require resetting or manipulating system files.

1. Disabling Advertising through the standard MIUI settings

The safest and easiest way to do this is to use the built-in MIUI options, which are suitable for users who don't want to get too deep into technical details or risk system stability, but keep in mind that this method doesn't eliminate ads completely, it just reduces the amount of advertising.

Here are the settings that need to be changed:

• 📱 Advertising in the Settings menu: go to Settings → Memory. → Settings (cog in the upper right corner) → Turn off "Recommendations." In some versions, the path may look like Settings. → Additionally. → Recommendations.
• 🌐 Mi Browser: Open your browser, click on three dots at the bottom → Settings → Additionally. → Advertising and news → Turn off all switches.
• 📱 Launcher (main screen): clamping the empty space on the screen → Home screen settings → Delete "Appendix recommendations".
• 🔔 Notification from MIUI: Settings → Notifications → System notifications → Disable "Recommendations" and "Msa" (Mobile Services Analytics).

After these changes are implemented, the ads in the system applications should disappear, but banners in Mi Browser and some stock utilities (for example, Mi Video or Music) may remain.

⚠️ Note: In Chinese versions MIUI (for example, MIUI CN) Some menu items may be missing or otherwise named. If you don't find the "Recommendations" option, try changing your phone region to India or Europe in your Mi Account settings.

2. Blocking advertising through ADB (without root rights)

If standard settings don't work, the next step is to use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to disable the system applications responsible for displaying ads without getting root permissions, and the advantage of the method is that it is reversible: you can always return the settings back.

The work will require:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and tool ADB (You can download from the official Android website).
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on Mi 9: Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Press 7 times to activate Developer Mode, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

When all is done, execute the following commands in the terminal (command line) in order:

adb shell


pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.systemAdSolution




pm uninstall --user 0 com.xiaomi.midrop




pm uninstall --user 0 com.android.browser




pm hide com.miui.analytics




pm hide com.xiaomi.joyose




pm hide com.miui.msa.global

These commands remove or hide apps responsible for analytics, advertising, and some Xiaomi stock services. Once executed, restart your phone. Ads should disappear from most system menus.

⚠️ Note: Removing system applications through ADB If you have problems after manipulation, return the applications with the command: cmd package install-existing com.miui.systemAdSolution (replace the package name with the desired one).

3.Use of third-party apps to block ads

If previous methods have failed or you're looking for a more flexible solution, you can use third-party utilities that block ads at the network level or system processes without requiring deep firmware changes.

1. Blokada (without root) – an application that creates local VPN-It's a tunnel and a filtering ad request, it doesn't require root rights, it works at the level of the Internet. DNS.

• ✅ Pros: ease of setup, support for custom blocklists, low battery consumption.
• ❌ Cons: It may conflict with others VPN-services, does not block advertising in some system applications MIUI.

2. AdAway (requires root) is a powerful ad blocker that modifies the hosts file on the device. Effectively removes banners in the browser, games and system utilities.

• ✅ Pros: high efficiency, regular updates of block lists, support for custom rules.
• ❌ Cons: requires root rights, if incorrectly configured, it can break access to some sites.

To install AdAway:

1. Get root rights (for example, through Magisk).
2. Download AdAway from the official website or F-Droid.
3. Launch the application and click "Download files and apply".
4. Reboot the phone.

Important: After installing AdAway, some MIUI system updates may reset the hosts file. To avoid this, disable automatic firmware updates or use Magisk to protect system files.

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If after installing the ad blocker, some sites (for example, banking services) stopped opening, add them to the whitelist in the application settings.

4. Manual removal of advertising modules (for advanced users)

This method is suitable for those who are willing to risk system stability for the sake of removing ads completely. It involves manual editing of system files and requires root rights or custom recovery (TWRP).

Main steps:

1. Install TWRP and back up the /system partition.
2. Using a root-access file manager (such as Root Explorer) go to /system/priv-app/.
3. Remove or rename the following folders (take backups!): Analytics (responsible for collecting statistics and displaying ads) Msa (Mobile Services Analytics) MiuiDaemon (MIUI background processes)

/system/build.prop

ro.miui.has_real_bl=true

This will disable system integrity checks, which can restore deleted files.

Reboot the phone.

After this action, the ads should disappear from all system menus, including Settings and Security.

• 🚨 Mi Account and cloud services may be affected.
• 🚨 Some features (such as Find Device) may stop working.
• 🚨 After updating MIUI change may be reset.

5. Alternative firmware: switching to custom MIUI or AOSP

If you are annoyed not only by advertising, but also by other features of MIUI (for example, aggressive battery optimization or background process limitations), it is worth considering installing custom firmware. There are several options available for Xiaomi Mi 9:

To install custom firmware, it is necessary:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Mi Unlock tool (the process takes up to 72 hours).
2. Install TWRP or other custom recovery.
3. Make a full backup of the current firmware.
4. Switch the selected firmware and GApps (if you need Google services).

Detailed firmware instructions for the Mi 9 can be found on the XDA Developers forums or in Xiaomi Telegram channels, remember that installing custom firmware is warranty-free and can lead to data loss.

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Custom firmware like LineageOS or Pixel Experience completely removes advertising, but requires unlocking the bootloader and installing via TWRP. This method is only suitable for advanced users, ready for possible bugs.

6. Additional tips: how to avoid the return of advertising

Even after a successful disabling of the ad, it may reappear after the MIUI update or reset. To prevent this from happening, follow these guidelines:

• 🔄 Turn off automatic updates MIUI: Go to Settings. → The phone. → Updating the system → Three dots in the upper right corner → Settings → Deactivate "Automatic loading".
• 📦 Freeze unnecessary system applications with Titanium Backup or App Quarantine (root required) to prevent them from being updated and reactivated again.
• 🔧 Check your settings regularly: after major updates, Xiaomi may reset monetization settings. Make a habit of going to Settings once a month → Memory. → Recommend and disable all unnecessary.
• 🛡️ Use alternative apps: Replace Mi Browser with Chrome or Firefox, and Mi Music with Spotify or VLC. This will reduce the number of places where advertising can be displayed.

If you notice that the ad has returned after the update, try repeating the steps from Section 2 (ADB) or Section 3 (third-party blockers).It is also helpful to keep track of firmware updates on thematic forums - users often share ways to bypass new ad mechanisms.

Critical information: In the latest versions of MIUI 14, Xiaomi has added protection against disabling ads via ADB. If the commands from Section 2 do not work, try first to run adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.systemAdSolution, and then restart the phone in safe mode (press the power button → "Reboot in Safe Mode").

FAQ: Frequent questions about disabling ads on Xiaomi Mi 9