Xiaomi smartphone owners often encounter intrusive banners that appear in system applications. MIUI 12 offers a variety of features, but aggressive marketing can annoy users. Complete removal of ads requires several actions in the system settings. It will not take long, but will make using the device much more comfortable.
Ad integrations are built deep into the shell, so simply removing apps won't help. You need to pinpoint the services that display content. In this article, we'll look at all the known blocking methods that are relevant for current firmware versions, and you can customize your smartphone as it was originally designed, without unnecessary visual noise.
Before you start, make sure you have a stable Internet connection. Some settings require synchronization with the server to take effect. If you're using a global firmware version, the steps may be slightly different from the Chinese version, but the logic remains the same. Let's start cleaning the interface out of the redundant.
MSA Disconnection: The Main Source of Advertising
The main source of intrusive offers is the MSA (MIUI System Ads) system application, which analyzes your actions and selects advertisements. Disabling this service is the first and most important step. Without this point, other settings may not have a full effect.
To start, go to your device's settings menu, you need to find the partition that handles passwords and security, the path may vary slightly depending on the regional version, but it's usually in the basic settings of the system, look for Authorization and Security, or Passwords and Security.
Within this menu, look for Data Access or Permissions. This lists all system and user applications that have access to the network. Find an app called msa. Switch the slider opposite it to an inactive position. The system will alert you that this may affect some functions and start a countdown of 10 seconds.
⚠️ Attention: When you press the shutdown button, you may see a window with a timer. Wait until the countdown ends and confirm the action again. Sometimes you need to press "disable" several times in a row, as the system tries to keep the service active.
After the successful MSA shutdown, the number of ads in standard applications like Explorer or Music will drop dramatically. However, some embedded widgets may still display recommendations. That's fine, because they're run by individual modules, which we'll look at next, and the main thing is that the main stream of data is blocked.
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If the phone is unstable after the MSA is turned off, just turn on the resolution back, which will safely return the system settings to their original state.
Set up personalized recommendations
Even after you turn off MSA, you still have mechanisms to get recommendations based on your interests. MIUI 12 uses algorithms to offer content in folders and on the desktop. To completely clean the interface, you have to stop the system from collecting data about your preferences.
Go back to the main settings menu and select Passwords and Security. Go to Privacy. Here you are interested in Advertising Services. This menu has the Ad Personalization switch. Turn it off. This action will reset your advertising ID.
Next comes an important step that is often overlooked: In the same password and security menu, find Special Opportunities (or Availability) and find Receive Recommendations. Remove the tick from this section, which will prevent the system from offering you apps and games based on usage analysis.
- 🚫 Turn off data collection on the use of targeting applications.
- 📉 Reset the advertising ID to clean up the accumulated profile.
- 🔒 Disable location access for advertising services in privacy settings.
These actions will dramatically improve your digital hygiene, and the system will stop creating interest profiles, which are useful not only for removing banners, but also for protecting personal data, so that the algorithms will not know what exactly you like to watch or buy.
Cleaning up Xiaomi’s standard apps
System utilities such as Explorer, Downloads, Music and Video often contain built-in ad units. Even when the MSA is disabled, they may still have switches that display recommendations. Each module requires customization.
Start with the Security app. Open it, click on the settings gear in the top right corner. Find Receive recommendations and turn it off. Also, go to Clean up inside settings and remove the checkmark from Get recommendations. This will remove banners that appear after scanning the system.
Next, we'll do the Download app. Open it and click three dots in the corner of the screen. In the settings menu, find the Recommendations Show switch and deactivate it, which will clear the interface of offers to download games or other applications.
The Themes app is similar. Click on the user profile or three menu bars, go to settings. You turn off Personal Recommendations and Show Ads, and then the theme store will look much cleaner and the banners will disappear from the directory's home screen.
☑️ Verification of system applications
Don't forget to check the Music and Video app, and their settings often hide points about getting recommendations and displaying banners, and the logic is the same everywhere: look for the settings section and remove anything related to recommendations or ads.
Removing Advertising in Mi Browser
Xiaomi’s standard browser is one of the main sources of pop-ups and news feeds.It often offers news and articles that are effectively disguised ads.Tunesting this app is critical to comfortable surfing.
Open your browser and go to settings through the bottom menu or sidebar. Find the Settings section of the main (or Start Page Settings) where you need to turn off all switches related to news, video recommendations and popular sites. Leave only the search bar and shortcuts.
Also, in the general browser settings, look for Privacy and Security. Make sure that pop-up lock is enabled, which will help avoid accidental clicks on advertising sites when visiting resources with aggressive marketing.
| Parameter | Where to find out. | Action. |
|---|---|---|
| News feed | Main settings | Shut down. |
| Video recommendations | Main settings | Shut down. |
| Notifications | Settings → Notifications | Banned |
| Pop-ups | Confidentiality | Lock down |
If you don't use a standard browser, you can simply delete or disable it. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find Mi Browser and select Delete. This will free up space and guarantee that the source of the ads will be removed.
Alternative browsers
Blocking Advertising in System Folders
In MIUI 12, folders on the desktop may contain a "Recommended" section, and there are icons of the applications that the system advises you to install, which annoys many users, especially when the folder automatically changes its appearance.
To remove this item, open any folder on your desktop. Click on the folder name to open the edit menu. In the window that opens, you'll see the Recommended Switch. Put it inactive. Now the folder will only contain the shortcuts of the applications you put there.
You should also pay attention to the Wallpaper widget, which can periodically change the image and display advertising slogans on the locked screen. Go to Settings → Wallpaper, select the wallpaper carousel and turn it off if you do not need it. Or in the carousel settings, remove the tick from the Receive Content item.
- 📁 Open any application folder on the desktop.
- ⚙️ Click on the folder name to enter edit mode.
- ❌ Turn off the switchboard "Recommended applications".
This simple setup will bring the visual style of folders back to the classic look. No more random icons of games or stores that you didn't install. The interface will become predictable and clean.
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Disabling recommendations in folders is a purely cosmetic edit, but it significantly improves the perception of the interface and removes unnecessary clicks.
Using DNS to Block Advertising
There is a more advanced method that allows you to block ads at the network connection level, using a private DNS (Private DNS) helps to cut off advertising requests before they reach the screen of your smartphone, this method is effective not only in MIUI, but in any application.
To set up, go to Settings → Connection and General Settings (or just Connection). Find Private DNS. The default is "Auto." Select the DNS Host Name (or "Manual") option.
In the input box that appears, you need to write down the address of the server that filters traffic. One of the most popular and reliable services is AdGuard.
dns.adguard.comSave the settings. Now all traffic that goes through Wi-Fi and the mobile network will be checked for ad domains, and if the server finds a request to a known ad network, it will simply cut the connection, and the banner will not load.
⚠️ Attention: Use of third-party DNS This can cause some applications that are tied to specific ad networks for the functionality to fail. If you notice problems with the Internet, return the settings. DNS (c) meaning "Auto" or "Disconnected".
This method also improves security by blocking access to phishing and malicious sites. However, it is worth remembering that it is not a panacea. Ads that are sewn directly into the application code (native advertising) can still appear, since it comes from the same domain as the main content.