Owning a Xiaomi smartphone is often accompanied by intrusive visual noise. Users are faced with banners in system applications, recommendations in folders and sudden pop-ups. This is not just an annoyance, but a well-thought-out business model that keeps iron prices low. However, the comfort of using the operating system should not suffer from marketing excess.
There are many ways to minimize the intrusion of ad algorithms. Some methods require a deep dive into settings, others solve the problem in a couple of clicks. It is important to understand that MIUI is a complex shell where advertising modules are scattered across different sections of the menu.
In this article, we will discuss effective methods of cleaning the interface from unnecessary content. You will learn to block system services, configure secure content. DNS-Connecting and identifying hidden parasitic apps, the result will be Android, which works exclusively for you, not advertisers.
Disabling the MSA system advertising module
The main source of intrusive offers in the shell of MIUI is the system application MSA (MIUI System Ads), which analyzes your actions and selects targeted advertising, and disabling it is the first and most important step to a clean interface.
The deactivation process doesn't always go smoothly the first time, the system can artificially delay the timer or emit network errors in an attempt to keep the user, if you're having trouble, just repeat the procedure a day later or use alternative methods to block traffic.
⚠️ Warning: If system components are disabled, Horizon widgets or news feeds may not work smoothly, and make sure you don’t actively use these features before taking drastic measures.
To perform the operation, you need to find the application in the list of installed programs, usually hidden under the name "MSA" or "Get recommendations." Go to the settings, select "Applications" and find the desired service through search.
☑️ Pre-switch check MSA
Once you find the application, click on it and select the option to disable it. If the button is inactive, first revoke all permissions. This is a critical step for the security and privacy of your data, only after you have removed all rights, the deactivation button will become available.
Set up individual advertising services
Beyond the core module, there are many built-in content-generating applications in the system: Calendar, Explorer, Cleanup and Music all have their own customizations for displaying recommendations, and ignoring these items negates all previous efforts.
Each system application requires a separate attention, and you have to go through the list of preinstalled software and manually disable items related to "receiving recommendations" or "showing ads," which takes time, but guarantees results.
Let’s take a look at the main applications where you need to remove the excess:
- 📅 Calendar: Go to the app's settings and find "Receive recommendations." Put the slider in an inactive state to remove event ads.
- 📁 Explorer: In the file manager settings menu, turn off the "Get recommendations" option.This will remove the banners with news and promotions at the bottom of the screen.
- 🧹 Clean (Safety): Click on the gear in the top right corner. Find the "Receive recommendations" section and deactivate it.
- 🎵 Music and Video: These players also have privacy sections in their settings. Remove the boxes that allow ads to be shown and videos to be automatically run.
Don't forget to check your theme settings. If you use third-party themes from GetThemes, they may contain their own ads. Returning to a standard theme often solves the problem of sudden banners on your desktop.
Why does the ad return after the update?
Blocking through Private DNS
The most effective method, which works at the entire operating system level, is to configure Private DNS. This method does not require root rights and blocks requests to known ad servers before they reach your device.
The method uses AdGuard DNS, which filters traffic by filtering out domains seen in the distribution of ads and trackers, which speeds up the loading of pages in the browser and clears applications of banners.
Instructions for setting:
- Open the settings of your smartphone.
- Go to Connect and Sharing (or Advanced Settings in older versions).
- Find the Private DNS (Private DNS) option.
- Select the “DNS provider hostname” mode.
- Enter the address: dns.adguard.com
- Save the changes.
| Parameter | Meaning | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Regime. | Host name | Manual indication of the server |
| Address | dns.adguard.com | Filtration service |
| Impact | Global | Available on all applications |
| Speed. | Tall. | Caching requests |
After settings are applied, it is recommended to restart the device. If the Internet stops working, check the correctness of the address input. An extra space or symbol can disrupt the connection. In rare cases, the provider can block third-party DNS, then the method will have to be disabled.
💡
Use the flight mode for 5 seconds after changing the DNS to reset network caches and apply the settings instantly without rebooting.
Managing Notifications and Application Access
Often the source of irritation is not the system banners, but notifications from the apps you install. Social networks, games and stores may request excessive permissions, which are used to display ads.
Controlling notifications is key to peace of mind. Android has powerful tools to manage this data stream. Feel free to turn off notifications for apps that aren't critical to operational communication.
Notice the Special Opportunities section, where malignant programs often disguise themselves as system services and gain rights to display on top of other windows, allowing them to create pop-up ads even on the desktop.
- 🛡️ Permission Manager: Check which apps have access to “Display on top of other apps.” Leave this right only for instant messengers and system functions.
- 🔔 Notification Center: Press any notification that comes in and select Settings. Turn off the display for specific categories or the entire app.
- 🚫 Blocking Ads in Chrome: In the browser, go to Settings → Confidentiality and security → Safe browsing. Turn on malware protection.
⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g., banking or instant messengers) may not work properly when background activity is limited. Add them to the exclusion list ("No restrictions") if you stop receiving messages.
Use of blockers and third-party software
If standard methods are not enough, specialized applications come to the rescue. AdGuard, Blokada and AdAway (requires root) create local applications. VPN-It's a more powerful tool than a standard private tunnel. DNS.
Installing such programs requires care. Xiaomi can aggressively kill background processes, considering them to be battery-consuming, you need to properly configure autostart and work in the background for the selected blocker.
For the correct operation of the blocker, perform the following actions:
1. Install the application from a reliable source (preferably from the official website of the developer).
2.On first launch, allow creation VPN-connection.
3. Go to the battery settings and select No Limits mode.
4. Enable auto-start for the app so that it works immediately after the phone is turned on.
Using host files through apps like AdAway is an advanced method that redirects requests to ad servers to a localhost, the most reliable way, but it requires root rights that could violate warranty.
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The combination of Private DNS and MSA shutdowns covers 95% of advertising traffic without the need to install additional software.
Diagnosis and removal of miner viruses
Sometimes pop-up ads are a sign of a device being infected. Miner viruses or Trojans can be introduced into the system through third-party APK-They don't just show banners, they use CPU resources to covertly compute.
Symptoms of infection: the phone warms up in a simple, quickly discharged, advertising appears in any application (even where it can not be, for example, in Contacts or Calculator), In such cases, standard MIUI settings will not help.
Use a built-in antivirus or a reliable scanner, such as Dr.Web Light or Malwarebytes, to diagnose the virus, perform a full scan of the system, and if a virus is found, follow the instructions for removing it.
In difficult cases, when the malicious application is not removed, it may be necessary to reset to factory settings.Be sure to save important data before that, as all information from the phone will be destroyed.