Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face intrusive advertising that appears not only in apps, but also on the lock screen or as live wallpaper.Advertising banners can pop up when unlocking the device, which causes irritation and reduces the usability of the gadget.This is not a virus, but a regular feature of the shell of MIUI or HyperOS, designed to monetize budget smartphone models.
Fortunately, the system allows you to configure content display flexibly, and you can remove wallpaper in a number of ways, from simply switching the topic to disabling system analytics services, and it's important to understand that the sources of advertising can be different: a standard theme gallery, an MSA service, or a specific application.
In this article, we’ll break down proven methods to clean up the interface from unwanted content, learn to distinguish between system advertising and third-party widgets, and get step-by-step instructions to securely configure your Xiaomi.
Before taking drastic measures, it is worth checking the basic personalization settings, and users often accidentally activate the Wallpaper Carousel, which broadcasts advertising content.
Analysis of the source of advertising on the screen
The first step is always to diagnose, because not all the bright images on the desktop or when blocked are pure ads, sometimes they're live wallpapers that require CPU resources, or news widgets that load sponsored articles.
If the ad appears immediately after the screen is turned on, the Wallpaper Carousel feature is most likely activated, a special service that replaces the static image on a slideshow with news and promotional materials, and you can turn it off in the lock screen settings.
When pop-ups block the application interface, the problem may be in newly installed software, and some third-party “optimizers” or “flashlights” are implementing their ad modules.
⚠️ Warning: If the ad appears even when the screen is off or on top of the system dialog boxes, check the list of recently installed apps. Deleting suspicious software often solves the problem faster than deep system setup.
You can use the menu of running apps to pinpoint the source, and when an ad pops up, don't close it right away, but switch to the multitasking menu, and it will show you which app is currently active.
Disconnecting wallpaper carousel in MIUI and HyperOS
The most common reason for displaying content on a locked screen is the active Wallpaper Carousel, which can be enabled by default on some global firmware, and to return a static image, you need to change the lock theme settings.
Go to Settings and select the Lock Screen section. In this menu, look for Wallpaper Carousel (or "Glance" on some versions). Inside, you'll see the "Enable Wallpaper Carousel" switch. Turn it to the Off position.
☑️ Checking the lock settings
Once disabled, the system will prompt you to select a static image for the lock screen, so you can leave a standard photo or upload yours from the gallery, which is guaranteed to remove the slideshow with news and promotions.
Some versions of the MIUI 14 shell or HyperOS may have a slightly different path. If you don't find a paragraph in the basic settings, try the Themes app. There's a Settings section in the user profile (the little man icon) where you can also manage wallpaper subscriptions.
It is important to note that a complete shutdown of the service may require confirmation via a fingerprint or password, as this is a change in system security settings.
Setup the “Themes” application and disabling recommendations
The standard Themes app is the main channel for distribution of advertising content in the Xiaomi ecosystem. Even if you do not use new wallpaper, the app can collect data and show recommendations in the feed.
To minimize advertising, follow the following steps:
- 📱 Open the “Themes” app on your smartphone.
- 👤 Click on the profile icon (humans) in the lower right or upper corner.
- ⚙️ Select the "Settings" item in the menu that opens.
- 🚫 Find the section “Additional” or “Privacy».
- ❌ Turn off the Receive Recommendations, Show Ads and Personalized Recommendations sliders».
After this, the tape will become empty and the intrusive banners will disappear. However, it is worth remembering that the Themes app is deeply integrated into the system. It is impossible to completely remove it without root rights, but deactivating advertising functions makes life much easier for the user.
If you prefer minimalism, you can simply stop using the built-in theme store and download wallpaper from trusted third-party sources, such as Google Wallpaper or specialized applications like the Wallpaper Engine.
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Use third-party launchers like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher to completely replace the standard desktop and get rid of the built-in Xiaomi ad widgets.
Blocking system advertising through MSA disabling
MSA (MIUI System Ads) is a system process that is responsible for displaying ads in embedded applications such as Explorer, Music, Video and Cleanup, and disabling this service is the most effective way to remove ads throughout the system.
The process of disabling requires care, as the system will try to “persuade” you to keep the service active. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications. Find in the list of “ms” or “MIUI System Ads”.
Click on "Disable Ads" (or "Disable MSA"), and you'll see a 10 second countdown timer, and then you'll have to click "Disable" when it's gone, and if the system asks for a reason, you'll pick any one and confirm the action, and you might have to do it 2-3 times, because MIUI is known for its persistence.
| System component | Function | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| MSA (MIUI System Ads) | Displaying advertising in system applications | You have to turn it off. |
| MDS (MIUI Daemon) | Collection of usage statistics | Recommended to disable |
| Analytics | Analytics of user data | Disconnect for privacy |
| GetApps | Xiaomi App Store | It can be turned off if not used. |
In addition to MSA, it’s worth checking the settings of individual applications, such as the Security or Cleanup app, which has its own Receive Recommendations switches, and you also need to manually deactivate them in the settings of each particular application.
⚠️ Attention: After updating the firmware settings of the service MSA Periodically check the status of this component, especially after major Android system updates or MIUI.
Using DNS to Block Advertising
A modern and effective method of combating intrusive content is the use of a private DNS. This method does not require the installation of additional applications and works at the network connection level, blocking requests to ad servers.
To set up, go to Settings → Connection and sharing (or «SIM-Maps and mobile networks. DNS» (Private DNS). Select the option "Host Name of the provider" DNS» (or "manually»).
dns.adguard.comEnter dns.adguard.com and save your settings, and then all traffic from Wi-Fi and mobile will be filtered, and this will remove not only system ads, but also banners in the browser and some games.
The advantage of the method is its versatility: it works on any device with Android 9 and above. However, if you use corporate Wi-Fi or some specific networks, the setting may conflict with the rules of access, and the Internet will stop working, in which case the DNS will need to temporarily turn off.
An alternative is to install an AdGuard or Blokada app that creates a local app. VPN-A traffic filter tunnel, which is a more flexible but resource-intensive option that can consume more battery.
What to do if the DNS is not working?
Cleaning up viruses and malware
Sometimes, “ad wallpaper” is a symptom of malware infection of the device. If the ad pops up chaotically, over all windows and even in safe mode, it is a virus-miner or advertising Trojan.
The built-in MIUI (based on the Avast or Tencent engine) can detect most threats. Run a full security check through the Security app. If the standard scanner is silent, install a proven antivirus from Google Play, such as Dr.Web Light or Kaspersky.
Often, a malicious application masquerades as a system process or doesn't have an icon to find it:
- 🔍 Go to Settings. → Annexes → All applications.
- 👀 Look for apps without a name or with a transparent icon.
- 🗑️ If you find a suspicious object without a name, delete it immediately.
In extreme cases, if you can't remove the virus, you can reset to factory settings. Before that, be sure to save important data, since all files will be deleted. This is a guaranteed way to clean the operating system from any modifications.
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Regularly checking the list of installed apps and using a private DNS is the best prevention of advertising debris on your Xiaomi.