How to permanently disable pop-up ads on Xiaomi phone: from MIUI to root rights

Pop-up ads on Xiaomi smartphones are one of the most annoying features of MIUI firmware, which the manufacturer stubbornly does not want to remove even in new versions. Banners in the settings menu, advertising notifications from system applications, intrusive tips about “useful” services – all this not only distracts, but also eats traffic, slows down the phone. Worse, even after resetting to factory settings, the ad returns in 1-2 weeks, as sewn into system applications.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can do it, from basic MIUI settings to radical ADB and root-rights techniques. It’s important to understand that some solutions will require technical skills, and the wrong actions can lead to unstable phone performance, but if you’re willing to spend 10 to 15 minutes, you can get rid of advertising forever — without buying a premium firmware or changing your device.

Why is there so much advertising on Xiaomi and can it be removed?

MIUI was originally designed as a customized Android-based shell, where Xiaomi monetizes users with built-in advertising, from the budget Redmi to the flagship Xiaomi 14.

• 📱 System applications: Security, Themes, Music, Video, Downloads.
• ⚙️ Settings menu: banners in the About Phone section, hints about new features.
• 🔔 Notifications: Advertising from Mi Browser, GetApps, Mi Video.
• 🌐 Browser and launcher: Mi Browser launch page, widgets on the home screen.

Can we remove the ads altogether? Yes, but with reservations:

• ✅ Partly through the settings MIUI (Remove 60-70% of banners).
• ✅ Completely - only with help ADB root rights (requires unlocking the bootloader).
• ❌ It is impossible if you use Xiaomi services (for example, Mi Cloud or Mi Pay).

⚠️ Attention: After update MIUI Some of the ads may come back. It is recommended to disable automatic firmware updates in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.

Method 1: Disabling personalized advertising in MIUI settings

The easiest and safest way to do this is to deactivate personalized recommendations, which won't eliminate all ads, but will significantly reduce the number of banners in system applications.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Google → Advertising.
2. Click Reset Advertising ID and confirm the action.
3. Go back to the basic settings and go to Settings → Privacy → Special Permissions → Personalized recommendations.
4. Turn off the slider Personalized recommendations.
5. Reboot the phone.

This method works on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models with MIUI 12 and later, but it does not block ads in the Themes, Security and GetApps apps – they require additional actions.

Method 2: Manual disabling of advertising in system applications

Many banners are created by Xiaomi system utilities, which can be disabled manually, but you have to dig into the settings of each application.

List of problematic applications and how to configure them:

Once you turn off, restart your phone, and if some apps (like GetApps) aren't in use, you can turn them off completely:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an unneeded app (such as Mi Pay or Mi Credit).
3. Click Disable (not "Delete" as it is system software).

⚠️ Warning: Disabling apps Security or Topics may cause disruptions MIUI. It is better to limit the disabling of notifications.

💡

If apps are no longer updated in GetApps after disabling ads, use Google Play or alternative stores like APKMirror.

Method 3: Using ADB to Deeply Disable Advertising

If manual settings didn’t work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a debugging tool that allows you to turn off system components without root permissions. This method works on all Xiaomi phones with an unlocked bootloader.

Step-by-step:

1. Download ADB Tools and unpack the archive.
2. Turn on Developer Mode on your phone: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version.

Settings → Additional → For Developers

USB debugging

ADB

adb devices

(A device with a serial number must appear).

adb shell pm hide com.miui.systemAdSolution


adb shell pm hide com.xiaomi.midrop




adb shell pm hide com.android.browser




adb shell pm hide com.miui.player




adb shell pm hide com.xiaomi.gamecenter.sdk.service

Reboot the phone.

These commands disable the main MIUI advertising modules. If you want to return everything back, replace hide with unhide.

Method 4: Install custom firmware (for advanced)

If you're willing to take drastic measures, you can install custom firmware without advertising.

• 📱 Xiaomi.eu – modified MIUI Advertising-free and Chinese-based.
• 🤖 LineageOS or Pixel Experience – “pure” Android without a shell MIUI.
• ⚡ ArrowOS – light firmware with minimalist design.

Installation process:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (requires a Mi Account binding and waits 7-15 days).
2. Install TWRP Recovery (the instructions for each model are different – look for XDA Developers).
3. Download the firmware (for example, from Xiaomi.eu) and transfer it to your phone.
4. Load to TWRP, backup and run the firmware.

⚠️ Note: Installing custom firmware will void warranty and may result in a device blink. Before the procedure, check the firmware compatibility with your Xiaomi model (for example, Redmi Note 10 Pro and Redmi Note 10 Pro Max have different firmware!).

💡

Custom firmware like Xiaomi.eu is updated weekly and contains all the features of the original MIUI, but without advertising and unnecessary Chinese services.

Method 5: Blocking Advertising via DNS or VPN

If the previous methods seem complicated, you can block Xiaomi ad servers at the network level.

• 🌍 Change of change DNS on 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare) or 9.9.9.9 (Quad9).
• 🔒 VPN Ad-blocking (e.g. AdGuard) VPN or Blokada).
• 🛡️ Local blocker (AdGuard app or DNS66).

Instructions for changing the DNS:

1. Go to Settings → Connections and Sharing → Private DNS.
2. Select the host name of the private DNS provider.
3. Enter dns.adguard.com or one.one.one.one.one.
4. Save and restart the phone.

To block through AdGuard:

1. Download AdGuard from Google Play.
2. Enable the DNS Protection module and select the AdGuard DNS server.
3. Activate HTTPS Filtering (Certificate settings required).

This method blocks not only Xiaomi ads, but also banners in the browser, games and third-party apps. However, it will not help against built-in notifications from GetApps or Themes.

What if the advertisements returned after the update?

Xiaomi regularly updates MIUI, and sometimes the ad modules return even after they are turned off.

• 🔄 Turn off automatic updates in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system → Settings (⚙️) → Auto-update.
• 📵 Freeze system applications through ADB Titanium Backup (requires root).
• 🔍 Check out the new versions. MIUI in forums (for example, 4PDA) before installation.

If the update is already installed and the advert is back:

1. If you use ADB, run commands again – some packages may have been updated.

💡

After each major MIUI update (e.g., version 13 to version 14), the ad modules may return.

FAQ: Frequent questions about advertising on Xiaomi