Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face intrusive ads that can appear in the most unexpected places of the interface.Pop-ups overlap content, slow down the device and annoy users accustomed to pure Android. This problem is especially relevant for those who have purchased a device with a pre-installed shell MIUI or the new HyperOS, where advertising modules are embedded deep into the system.
Fortunately, there are many effective ways to block unwanted content without getting root permissions. You don't have to be a skilled programmer to set up your phone properly. You just need to go through your system and browser settings consistently, disabling specific recommendation services.
In this article, we will look at proven methods that will help you forget about intrusive banners forever. We will analyze system settings, browser features and the use of third-party banners. DNS-services for maximum protection.
Disabling MSA system advertising on Xiaomi
The main source of pop-ups is the MSA (MIUI System Ads) system application, which is responsible for collecting user data and displaying targeted advertising in standard applications such as Explorer, Music or Security. The first step to a clean interface is deactivating this component.
First, you need to go to the settings menu of your smartphone, find the Passwords and Security or Advanced Settings section, depending on the version of your firmware, then select the Access to Personal Data item, and in the list you open, you need to find the msa service and switch the slider to an inactive position.
The system will try to prevent you from doing this by running a 10 second countdown, which is a standard MIUI shell protection measure designed to keep the user in the ecosystem. After the timer has expired, press the Stop button. If you fail the first time, try repeating the procedure 2-3 times, as the server may not respond immediately.
☑️ Checking the shutdown MSA
It is important to understand that disabling the MSA does not remove the application completely, but only prevents it from accessing personal data and running advertising modules.
Setting up the standard Mi Browser browser
If you use Xiaomi's built-in browser, it's often the source of pop-ups when you browse the web. Unlike Google Chrome, it's a little deeper in the privacy settings and blockers. First, open your browser and go to the settings menu by clicking on the three bars in the lower right corner.
In the Privacy and Security section, you need to activate the Ad Block feature, and it is also recommended to enable the Tracking Protection option, which prevents the collection of data about your movements on the sites, this will significantly reduce the number of pop-up banners and redirects to questionable resources.
Why is the ad coming back?
Additionally, clear your browser cache if the ads have already accumulated. Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Clear the data. Select Cookies and Cached Images & Files. This action will remove saved scripts that can run pop-ups.
- 🚫 Adblocking – the main filter that cuts off banners.
- 🛡️ Protecting against tracking – hides your IP and digital signature.
- 🧹 Cache Clearing – deletes old scripts and cookies.
Using a private DNS to block
One of the most effective and versatile methods of dealing with pop-ups is to configure a private DNS. This method works at the device-wide level, blocking requests to known ad servers before they reach your phone.
To implement this, go to Settings of your smartphone. Search for settings, type the word “DNS” or look for the Connection and Sharing section (on some versions, Additional Settings). Select Private DNS. The default is “Auto” or “Disabled”.
You need to select the DNS Host Name mode and enter the address of a trusted ad-blocking server in the field below. The most popular and proven option is the AdGuard server.
dns.adguard.comOnce you enter the address, click Save. If the connection to the server is successful, you will see a notification. Now all requests to advertising domains will be blocked. This will also speed up the loading of pages, since the browser does not have to download heavy advertising scripts.
💡
If the Internet stopped working in some applications after turning on DNS, try changing the address to dns.familyadguard.com – it blocks advertising, but skips adult content, which is sometimes required for the operation of certain services.
Managing Notifications from Applications
Users often confuse system advertising with notifications from installed applications. AliExpress store, games, news aggregators and social networks can request permission to display notifications that look like pop-ups, control over them is in your hands.
Go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Notification management. You will see a complete list of all installed applications. Study it carefully. If you see an application that should not bother you (for example, a calculator, flashlight or game), feel free to go to its settings and turn off notifications.
| Type of application | Recommended action | Risk of shutdown |
|---|---|---|
| Messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) | Leave it on. | High (missing messages) |
| Games and entertainment | Turn it off completely. | Low (advertising only) |
| Delivery services/Taxi services | Leave it on. | Medium (you won’t see the order status) |
| Unknown applications | Disable and delete | Safe. |
Pay special attention to apps with names like Clearer, Battery Saver, or Flashlight if you install them from third-party sources, and they are often the ones who are responsible for the appearance of desktop ads. In the notification management section for such programs, you should choose No Sound mode or completely disable the display.
Blocking Ads in the Tools folder
Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones often have a folder called Tools on their desktop, and they have system utilities inside them that can also stream advertising recommendations, and you need to go to the settings of each utility separately to disable them.
Start with the Security app. Open it, click on the gear in the top right corner. Find Receive recommendations and turn it off. Also, turn off the Receive news option if it's present. This will remove banners from the main antivirus window.
Then go to the Explorer app. Click on the menu (three bars), select Settings, then About. Here you also need to find the Recommendation switch and deactivate it. Similar actions can be done for the Topics, Music and Video apps if you use them. Each of them hides a point in the profile settings or general settings that is responsible for personalized recommendations.
⚠️ Note: Do not remove system applications through ADB, If you are not sure about their purpose, removing the miui.daemon or securitycore component can lead to unstable system operation or cyclical reboot.
Search and Remove Malware Applications
Sometimes pop-ups are not from system services, but from malware accidentally installed by the user, applications often disguised as useful tools such as scanners. QR-They may not have an icon on the desktop, but they keep working in the background.
To find the hidden culprit, go to Settings → Apps → All Apps. scroll through the list carefully. Look for apps without a name or with a white icon. Also look for the installation date — if it matches the moment the ad appears, it is suspicious. If you find such an app, delete it immediately.
If you can’t remove an application from the standard menu (the Delete button is inactive), it has device administrator rights. Go to Passwords and Security → Privacy → Special Access Rights → Device administrator apps. Find a suspicious item there, uncheck the tick and confirm the action.
💡
Hidden apps often don’t have an icon in the launcher, but they show up in the “All Apps” list with an empty name. Deleting them is the quickest way to get rid of sudden ads.