Owning a Xiaomi smartphone often involves a constant flow of information that can be both useful and intrusive. Many users experience a situation where work is interrupted by a sudden banner with a news or an offer to install an app, which is not only annoying, but also reduces productivity, causing distractions from important things.
MIUI and its new version of HyperOS have powerful notification management tools, but standard settings are sometimes hidden in the depths of the menu or disguised as system functions. To completely remove the interfering elements, you need to go through several stages of configuration, affecting both system services and specific applications.
In this article, we’ll take a look at all the available ways to block pop-ups, learn to distinguish between important alerts and information noise, and understand how to set your smartphone up so that it only bothers you when it’s really necessary.
Basic Notification Configuration for Applications
The first step to a clean screen is to manage permissions for installed programs, which are the ones that most often generate pop-ups, and first you have to go to the main menu settings and select the Notifications section, and here's a complete list of applications that can display information on the lock screen or in the curtain.
You need to analyze this list carefully. Often users install apps that default to permission to display pop-up notifications. Turn off this option for instant messaging, where instant response is important, but keep it active for social networks or news aggregators if you don't want to miss messages.
So, you should pay special attention to the "Sound" and "Vibration" settings, and even if you hide the visual display, the sound may remain. In the control menu of a particular application, find the Sound switch and deactivate it, which will keep it quiet even if the application tries to get your attention.
- 🔔 Open the settings of a particular application and find the item "Important notifications", turning it off if the messages are not critical.
- 🚫 Use the “Do Not Disturb” function in the notification curtain to temporarily hide all banners.
- ⚙️ Check the “Special Features” section for permissions for third-party launchers that may duplicate notifications.
⚠️ Warning: By disabling notifications for banking applications or delivery services, you risk missing the confirmation code or order status information.
There is also the ability to fine-tune notification types within some apps, such as Telegram or Viber, where you can separate notifications from channels, leaving only private messages, through the app's settings, in the Notifications and Sounds section.
Removal of banner ads and MSA services
One of the main reasons for the unexpected windows on Xiaomi is system advertising, often the responsibility of MSA (MIUI System Ads) service for displaying it, and turning it off is a key stage in the struggle for a clean interface. Find the word "Advertising" in your search for settings or follow the path Password and Security → Authorization and Opt-out.
In the list of services, find msa and press the switch to deactivate it. The system will ask you to wait 10 seconds before confirming an action, so that you do not accidentally turn off an important system component, although in this case it is safe.
What happens if the MSA is turned on?
In addition to MSA, check the settings of the built-in Mi Browser browser and the Security app, which are often the sources of push notifications with news and offers. Go to the settings of these applications (through three dots in the corner or in the general settings of the system) and find the section Receive recommendations or Notifications, then turn them off.
- 🛡️ Disable “Get recommendations” in the Security app to remove ads for viruses and debris.
- 🌐 In Mi browser, disable notifications from sites you may have accidentally allowed previously.
- 📱 Check the Downloads app, as it can also show pop-ups about the download completion.
It is important to understand that completely disabling system components can affect the operation of some functions, but in the case of advertising modules, the risks are minimal.
Setting up the curtain and lock screen
Even if the apps are configured correctly, information can still appear on a locked screen or in a deployed curtain. These areas are managed in a separate section in the settings. Go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar.
You can choose the display format here, for example, the notification format option allows you to switch from detailed text display to just the name of the app, which is useful for maintaining privacy when the phone is lying on a desk in a public place.
Special attention should be paid to setting up the lock screen. If you don't want to see the preview of messages while the phone is locked, find the appropriate switch Show on the lock screen and turn it off. Now, to see the message, you have to unlock the device.
| Setup parameter | Where to find out. | Shutdown effect |
|---|---|---|
| Banners | Application notification settings | The message does not pop up over other windows. |
| Sound. | Sound and vibration settings | The phone is silent when the message arrives. |
| Lock screen | Lock screen settings | The text of the message is hidden on the screen turned off |
| Indicator | Notification settings | LED or screen blinking is not activated |
You can also set the behavior of the status bar in this section, so you can hide the icons of the apps that sent the notifications, leaving the screen as clean as possible, and this is especially true for users who prefer minimalism in the interface.
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If you want to quickly hide all notifications without configuring each application, use Do Not Disturb mode, which can be activated through the control center or set up automatic turn on on schedule (for example, at night).
Blocking pop-up windows in the browser
Often the problem is not system notifications, but advertising windows that open while surfing the Internet. Chromium-based browsers installed on Xiaomi have built-in blockers, but they need to be activated manually.
Go to your browser settings (e.g. Chrome or Mi Browser) and look for the Privacy and Security section. There should be a pop-up lock. Make sure the switch is in the active position.
Also, check site-specific permissions. Sometimes the user allows the site to display notifications and then forgets about it. In the browser settings, go to Site Settings → Notifications and review the list of allowed resources. All suspicious or unknown domains should be deleted or blocked.
- 🚫 Enable "Ad Blocking" in your browser settings to prevent pop-ups.
- 🔒 Regularly clean site data and cache to reset the accumulated permissions.
- 🌐 Install a third-party browser with built-in blocker if the standard one fails.
If pop-ups continue to appear even after cleaning the browser, it is possible that the phone has been hit by adware, in which case it is recommended to scan the device through the Security application or install an antivirus from a well-known manufacturer, for example, Kaspersky or Dr.Web.
⚠️ Warning: Never click Allow on sites that promise winnings or require virus testing.This is the most common way to infect your phone with advertising junk.
Use of "Do Not Disturb" and Profiles
For a temporary solution to a problem where you need complete silence and concentration, Do Not Disturb mode is ideal. Unlike a simple silent mode, it completely hides visual notifications and blocks incoming calls (except for selected contacts).
You can activate it through the side curtain or in the Sound and Vibration → Do Not Disturb. Here you can configure exceptions: for example, allow repeated calls from one number for 5 minutes or skip calls from contacts from the Favorites group.
Newer versions of HyperOS have Modes, and you can create a Job or Sleep profile that automatically turns off all but the most important notifications, and you can switch between profiles with a single touch, which is very convenient.
☑️ Configuring the concentration mode
Using a schedule for Do Not Disturb is a great habit. Set up automatic on from 23:00 to 07:00 so that nightly messages from group chats do not wake you up or glow on the screen.
Hiding notifications in the second space
Second Space allows you to create an isolated environment on your phone with your apps and settings. This can be useful if you want to completely separate work and personal notifications, or if you need to run an app that requires access to contacts but you don’t want to give it access to the main database.
Switching between spaces, you only see notifications from an active profile, so if there's active correspondence in the main space and silence in the second, you can focus on tasks in the second space without being distracted.
You can configure the second space in Settings → Second Space, and once created, you will get a separate desktop and notification settings set, independent of the main profile.
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Sharing notifications across the Second Space is a radical but effective way to isolate sources of irritation by creating digital hygiene for different areas of life.