Owning a Xiaomi smartphone or sub-brands Redmi and POCO is often marred by intrusive visual noise. MSA's built-in system algorithms (MIUI System Ads) regularly show banner ads in standard apps, when unlocking screens, and even in desktop folders. It's not a bug, but part of the company's monetization, allowing it to sell devices at a competitive price.
Fortunately, modern versions of MIUI firmware and the new HyperOS allow the user to independently manage this data stream, which does not require obtaining super-user rights or flashing the device, but requires care, since the settings are scattered across different menu sections, and in this guide we will discuss all known ways of blocking.
It's worth noting that removing ads completely requires a holistic approach, and turning off one option in the settings will not work because different system components are responsible for different types of notifications. The main source of advertising is msa.miui.eng.miui.com, which is a priority. Let's start cleaning the interface.
Disabling MSA System Advertising
The first and most important step is to deactivate the main system service that is responsible for displaying ads, which runs in the background and collects data about your actions to target banners, without it, other manipulations may not be effective.
To start, you need to go to the settings section, where passwords and authorization are managed, and there's a key switch hidden here that users often ignore. Find passwords and security, and select Access to Personal Data. In the app list that opens, find msa and turn off the slider.
The system will alert you that after shutdown, some functions may not work properly. This is a standard warning that you can ignore. You will have to wait 10 seconds, after which the recall button will become active. Press it to complete the process.
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If the “Revoke” button is inactive or gives an error, try switching the Internet (from Wi-Fi to mobile network) and try again in a couple of minutes.
After successful permission revocation, it is recommended to restart the device, which is necessary to ensure that the changes take effect at the level of all system processes. If the msa service is activated again, repeat the procedure 2-3 times until the system saves the settings.
Setting up the Security Application
The second most important source of annoyance is the built-in Security app, which is the one that shows advertising recommendations when scanning the system, cleaning up memory or checking for viruses, and you can remove this visual debris through the internal settings of the application itself.
Launch the Security app and click on the gear icon in the top right corner of the screen. In the menu that opens, find Receive recommendations and move the switch to the inactive position. This action will remove banners from the scanner's home page.
Next, check the cleaner settings. In the same app settings menu, find the Cleanup section. There may also be an option to Receive recommendations that you need to disable, which will prevent advertising from appearing when you finish cleaning the cache.
☑️ Checking the application Security
It is important to understand that the security application is deeply integrated into the system. MIUI. It can't be removed by standard methods without losing functionality, so setting the parameters correctly is the only safe way. APK-manual files, this can lead to unstable work.
Cleaning the desktop and folders
Ad blocks often appear in folders on your desktop when you put multiple app icons into a group, a feature called App Carousel, or just recommendations, that loads up suggestions for installing new games and utilities.
To get rid of this, open any folder on your desktop that has ads. Click on the folder name to go to name editing. Next to the text input box, you'll see a Recommended Switch. Turn it off, and the ad tape will disappear.
Another source of banners is the wallpaper carousel lock screen, and if you unlock your phone and you see beautiful pictures with brand logos and text, it's active. Go to Settings → Wallpaper → Wallpaper carousel and turn off the function.
Also, check the settings of the desktop itself: Hold your finger on the blank space of the screen or pinch it with two fingers, then go to the settings (cogwheel) and find the option to Receive recommendations and make sure it's off, which will remove unnecessary sentences in the widget tape or when swiping.
⚠️ Warning: Disabling the Wallpaper Carousel will return a static picture or a standard gallery when the screen is locked, but will eliminate intrusive promo materials.
Blocking Advertising in System Applications
Xiaomi’s standard suite of apps also includes built-in ad modules: Music, Video, Explorer, and Downloads can all display banners, each taking seconds to set up, but greatly improving the user experience.
Consider the main applications and ways to disable advertising in them:
- 🎵 Music: Open the app, click on the menu (three bars), select Settings → Advanced settings and disable Advertising.
- 🎬 Video: Go to profile or settings, find Settings and uncheck Online Recommendations or Get push notifications.
- 📁 Explorer: Click on the menu, select Settings → About the app (or just Settings inside the menu) and turn off Get recommendations.
- 📥 Downloads: In the Downloads app, click three dots in the corner, select Settings and turn off Receive Recommendations.
Some users also encounter ads in the Themes app. To remove them, go to the profile (the person in the corner), click on the settings (cogs), and turn off the Show Ads setting. This can also speed up the theme store.
After completing all the actions, it is recommended to clear the cache of the modified applications. Go to Settings → Apps → All applications, find the configured application, select Memory and click Clear. This ensures that the old ad scripts do not remain in memory.
Comparison of methods of disabling advertising
There are several approaches to combating advertising content on Xiaomi devices, which vary in implementation complexity, efficiency and skill requirements, and below is a table to help you choose the best method for your case.
| Method | Difficulty | Efficiency | Risks. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disabling MSA in Settings | Low. | High (90%) | Minimum |
| Setup of each application | Medium | High (95%) | Absent. |
| Use of DNS (Private DNS) | Low. | Medium (blocks part) | Could slow down the internet |
| Removing System Applications (ADB) | Tall. | Maximum (100%) | High (possible breakdown) |
The Private DNS method deserves a special attention. You can go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Private DNS and prescribe the address dns.adguard.com. This will block ads in many applications and browsers at the network level, but may conflict with some local services.
Using ADB (Android Debug Bridge) to completely remove system components is a technique that requires connecting the phone to a computer and entering special commands. A code error can lead to a device building, so beginners should be limited to software settings.
⚠️ Attention: Use of third-party DNS-servers may cause the inability to connect to some public Wi-Fi networks that require authorization via a browser.
Frequent problems and their solution
Even after careful setup, users may face a return of ads, often due to automatic updates to system components or resets after a major firmware update to HyperOS, in which cases a rediagnosis is required.
If the ad reappears, check the list of installed apps. Often, free programs from Google Play or third-party stores are accompanied by miner viruses or ad modules on the phone, browse the list of recently installed apps and remove suspicious ones.
Also worth paying attention to notifications from Chrome or other browsers. Sites may request permission to display notifications that the user accepts as system advertising. Go to the browser settings, Site Settings → Notifications and disable display for all sites.
What to do if the advertisement is not removed?
In rare cases, resetting your advertising ID settings helps. Go to Settings → Passwords & Security → Privacy → Ads and click Reset Ad ID. This won’t take away the ads completely, but it will reset the accumulated profile, which sometimes “breaks” the display algorithms.
Concluding recommendations
Getting rid of Xiaomi ads takes time and care, but the result is worth it: your smartphone will work faster and the interface will be clean and pleasant, the main thing is not to miss a single item in the instructions, since the advertising modules are scattered throughout the system.
Remember that with each update MIUI or HyperOS, the location of some switches may change. If you do not find the item described, search by settings (laptop of the screen) and type in keywords like "advertisements", "recommendations" or "msa".
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Regularly checking your settings after major system updates is the only way to keep your phone ad-free in the long run.
Now that you know how to remove ads on Xiaomi, you can enjoy the full functionality of your device without unnecessary visual noise.Use the knowledge responsibly and share it with friends who also own the technology of the brand.