Owning a Xiaomi smartphone often involves intrusive visual noise. The built-in MSA (MIUI System Ads) ad system penetrates system applications, creating the feeling that the device does not belong to you, but to the marketing department. It annoys, slows down the interface and wastes traffic, turning using the gadget into a test of patience.
Fortunately, the architecture of the Android operating system in the shell of MIUI or HyperOS allows you to effectively combat this phenomenon. You do not need to be a programmer or get root rights to regain control of the clean screen. There are several layers of protection, from simple menu switches to advanced network settings.
In this guide, we'll look at all the ways we can eliminate banner ads, and we'll go from basic privacy settings to deeper network configuration changes. MSA shift DNS-The result of the server is close to 100% clean. Get ready to turn your smartphone into the perfect tool for work and entertainment.
⚠️ Note: Before making changes to system settings, it is recommended to back up important data. Although the methods described are safe, an accidental failure when system services are disabled may require resetting the settings.
Disabling personalized advertising in settings
The first step to cleaning the interface is to disable the mechanism that analyzes your actions to show targeted ads. Xiaomi formally allows the user to refuse data collection, although this option is often hidden deep in the menu.
You need to find a privacy and security section. The path may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI, but the logic remains the same. Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Privacy. There's a key switch that many people ignore.
- 🔍 Find the "Advertising Services" section or «MSA».
- 🚫 Activate the toggle “Personalized Advertising” in the “Off” position».
- ⏳ Wait for the countdown timer to expire (usually 10 seconds) and confirm the action.
- 🔄 Repeat the procedure if the system requires re-confirmation.
Once you do this, the system will stop using your OAID to select ads. However, in standard applications such as Explorer or Music, banners may still be displayed because they are part of the functionality of these programs.
Blocking Advertising Through DNS
The most effective and versatile method, running on the entire Android operating system, is to use a secure DNS. This method redirects requests to ad servers to nowhere, preventing content from loading.
You don't have to install any applications. All the settings are already built into the system. Just enter the address of a special server that filters traffic, and this solution also increases security when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks by blocking phishing sites.
How it works DNS-filtering?
To activate the function, go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Private DNS. Select the DNS Host Name mode and enter the address of one of the trusted services. After saving, try opening any application with ads - it should disappear.
- 🌐 dns.adguard.com is the most popular and reliable option.
- 🛡️ family.adguard-dns.com – Block Advertising and Adult Content.
- 🚀 dns.nextdns.io – requires registration but provides flexible customization.
⚠️ Note: If you specify the wrong host address or the server is unavailable, the Internet on the phone may stop working. DNS in the "Auto" or "Disconnected" mode».
Disabling MSA System Advertising Services
MIUI System Ads (msa) is the main source of intrusive content in the shell. Its complete shutdown requires a little more action, as the system will resist this by offering to wait or showing errors. This is a critical milestone for owners of Redmi and POCO devices.
Go to Settings → Applications → All Apps. In the upper right corner, click on three dots and select Show System Processes. Find the msa app in the list. Click on it, then select Other Permissions, and turn off all items, especially network access and autoboot.
☑️ Shutdown checklist MSA
Once you've restricted your rights, go back and find the "Disable" or "Delete" button, the system will give you an alert and start the timer for 10 seconds, press "Disable." If you failed the first time and there was an error, wait a day or try again in a few hours, the system sometimes takes time to apply the changes.
It’s also worth checking the settings of specific content-generating applications, such as the Music or Video app, which often has separate Receive Reference Tools that duplicate the MSA function, and must also be manually deactivated for maximum effect.
Set up standard Xiaomi applications
Advertising integrations are deeply embedded in standard software. Even if you turn off MSA, you can see banners in Explorer, Cleanup, or Security. Each module requires a customized approach, because the settings are not unified.
Start with the Safety app. This is the control center that most often shows pop-ups. Open the app, click on the gear in the top right corner. Find the "Get recommendations" section and turn it off. Also check the "Clean up" and "Scanner" subsections for similar options.
The File Manager is similar. Click on the menu (three bars), select Settings → About. Here you need to quickly click on the app logo several times until you have a hidden menu where you can turn off ads. In new versions of MIUI, it is easy to find the Recommendations switch in the main settings.
| Annex | The path to adjustment | What to turn off |
|---|---|---|
| Security | Settings (cogs) | Receive recommendations |
| Conductor | Settings → About the programme | Recommendations/Advertising |
| Downloads. | Three points → Settings | Showing recommended |
| Topics | Profile → Settings | Personalized recommendations |
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If you don’t use standard Xiaomi apps (like using Google Photos instead of Gallery), simply hide their shortcuts from your desktop or remove updates so they don’t consume resources in the background.
Use of blockers and third-party software
If built-in methods aren't enough, specialized applications come to the rescue, and they work like a local VPN, filtering traffic before it enters a browser or application, and it's a powerful tool, but it requires the installation of additional software.
One of the most effective solutions is AdGuard. DNS, It can cut out ads inside apps using a local certificate. HTTPS. To install the full version, you will need to download APK-file from the official website of the developer, as only a stripped-down version is available on Google Play.
- 📲 Install. APK-blocker file from a reliable source.
- 🔐 Allow creation VPN-Connection when the system is requested.
- ⚙️ Turn on the filter. HTTPS in the application settings (requires the installation of a certificate).
- 🔄 Regularly update filters for better efficiency.
Another option is to use browsers with built-in protection, such as Brave or DuckDuckGo, to surf the Internet, but blocking ads inside other applications will still require a system blocker or DNS setup, as discussed earlier.
Advanced Methods: ADB and Packet Removal
For power users who want to be perfect clean, there is a method of removing advertising packages via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires connecting a smartphone to a computer via USB and having basic command line knowledge.
First, activate Developer Mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on MIUI seven times. Then, from the "Additional" → "Development by USB" menu, plug the phone into your PC and install ADB drivers.
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.misys
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.browser
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.playerThese commands remove the system components that are responsible for analytics, browser and music service with advertising. Be extremely careful: removing critical system packages can lead to unstable phone operation or cyclical restart. Always check the name of the package before deleting.
⚠️ Attention: Use ADB-commands to remove system applications may cancel the warranty in some cases or lead to data loss if deleted incorrectly.
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A comprehensive approach combining MSA disabling, DNS setup and cleaning up standard applications allows you to eliminate 99% of advertising noise without losing the functionality of the smartphone.