Owning a Xiaomi or Redmi smartphone is often a trade-off: users get powerful hardware at an affordable price, but have to put up with intrusive ad integrations in system applications. Especially annoying is the appearance of banners and pop-ups in the standard Gallery, where a person expects to see only their personal photos and memories. In 2026, content display algorithms have become even more aggressive, requiring the owner of the device to have a deep understanding of privacy settings.
Ads are built deep into the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS, so simply removing an application is impossible without losing the functionality of your media viewing. However, there are a number of proven methods to minimize or completely eliminate visual noise. You don't need to have superuser rights or reflash the device, just consistently perform several actions in the system settings menu.
This article is a comprehensive guide to help you regain control of the interface, and we will look at both regular ways to disable personalization, as well as more advanced methods to block system services responsible for (push) advertising content. Careful follow-up of the instructions will make using the gallery comfortable and safe.
Disabling personalization of recommendations in settings
The first and most obvious step is to stop receiving personalized recommendations, which allows the system to analyze your photos and show relevant promotional offers or third-party content in the Discover or Recommendation tab. To disable this, you need to open the Gallery app and go to settings.
In the top right corner of the screen, look for a three-dot icon or a gear that represents a menu. In the list that opens, select Settings. Here you are interested in the section related to getting recommendations or personalizing content. Often called Get Recommendations or Personalized Recommendations. Put the switch in an inactive position to prevent the app from collecting data for targeted advertising.
⚠️ Note: Once this feature is disabled, the "Detect" or "Tape" tab may disappear or stop updating. This is normal system behavior, meaning that the channels for the transmission of advertising content are blocked.
You should also check the settings of your Mi Account if it is tied. Global privacy settings may also include clauses that allow interest-based advertising to be displayed. Disabling these options reduces the number of pop-ups, but does not guarantee that all banners will disappear completely, as some are stitched at the system services level.
Blocking the MSA (MIUI System Ads)
MSA (MIUI System Ads) is the main system component responsible for displaying ads in all built-in applications, including Gallery, Explorer and Menu. Complete deactivation of this service is the most effective way to get rid of intrusive banners. The process of disabling requires care, as the system can resist this action.
To start, go to the basic smartphone settings and find the "Passwords and Security" section. From the list, select "Data Access" or "App Manager" (depending on the shell version). In the application search, type in the acronym msa. When you find the MSA system application, click on it and select the "Disable Ads" option or simply turn off the network access slider.
When you try to shut down, the system will show a countdown timer (usually 10 seconds) and suggest that you confirm the action. Don't give up after the first attempt: often the system will give an error or write that the action cannot be performed. In this case, you need to repeat the shutdown procedure 3-5 times in a row, once the slider remains off, the advertising should stop coming.
☑️ Shutdown algorithm MSA
It is important to note that in some regions or on newer versions of HyperOS, the service name may be changed or hidden. If you can't find msa, try searching for apps that say "Ad service" or "System Service." There is also a method of disabling through ADB (Android Debug Bridge) that requires a connection to a computer but gives a 100% guarantee of results.
Clearing the data and cache of the Gallery application
Sometimes banner ads get stuck in the app cache or are saved as temporary files, continuing to appear even after changing privacy settings. In such cases, you need to force the data and cache of the Gallery system component to be cleaned. This action is safe for your photos, since they are stored in a separate storage.
Go to your smartphone settings, select Apps and search for Gallery. Go to Storage. Here you will see two buttons: Clear cache and Clear all data. You should first click on cache cleanup, and if the problem persists, then clean all data.
Once you clean the gallery, reopen it. The system may ask for permission to access photos and location. Read permission requests carefully: location access is not usually required for the gallery unless you use the map's image display function. Opting out of permissions also increases privacy.
| Action. | Impact on data | Need to reconfigure |
|---|---|---|
| Clearing the cache | Safe, photos are not deleted. | No. |
| Clearing the data | Safe, only the application settings are removed | Yes, we need to re-authorize. |
| Removal of updates | Safe, returns the old version | Yes, an update may be required. |
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Periodic cleaning of the Gallery cache (every 1-2 months) helps not only to remove advertising, but also to speed up the application when viewing heavy albums.
Disabling Mi Video and other related services
Advertising in the Gallery often comes indirectly, but through related services such as Mi Video or Mi Music, which have access to media files and can stream advertising content to the Gallery interface through system widgets or overlays. If you do not use standard Xiaomi players, their functionality can be safely limited.
Search the app list for "Mi Video" (or Mi Video). Go to the app settings and find "Receive recommendations" or "Online resources." Turn off all switches associated with online content. It's also helpful to disable auto-launch this app so it doesn't work in the background.
A similar procedure is worth doing for the Music and Themes app. Themes often hides the settings for notifications about new wallpapers or ringtones that can be displayed as banners. A comprehensive approach to configuring all system applications gives the best result.
⚠️ Note: When disabling system applications, do not use the "Delete" button if available, use the "Disable" function or simply disable network access so as not to disrupt system integrity.
Using DNS to Block Advertising
One of the most radical and effective methods is to use a private DNS with ad filtering, which works at the device-wide level, blocking requests to known ad servers, including those used by Xiaomi services, without requiring the installation of third-party applications that may themselves contain ads.
Go to the connection settings (Wi-Fi and Internet). Find "Private DNS" (usually in the advanced settings). Select "DNS Host Name" (or "Manual"). In the field that appears, enter the address of a reliable filter, for example: dns.adguard.com. Save settings and restart the smartphone.
dns.adguard.comAfter you reboot, check the Gallery, if the ad is gone, it's a good method, but you should keep in mind that aggressive filtering can sometimes block useful features, such as previewing videos in messengers or downloading interface elements, in which case DNS can be temporarily disabled.
What to do if the Internet stops working?
Frequent Questions and Problems When Removing Advertising
Even following the instructions, users may encounter nuances that depend on the specific smartphone model (Redmi Note 12, Xiaomi 13, Poco F5) and the firmware version. Below are answers to the most common questions that will help solve the difficulties.
Often, users are worried about whether the shutdown will affect the stability of the phone, and blocking MSA and disabling recommendations are standard features of Android and MIUI/HyperOS, so they do not cause crashes, and the only consequence is the lack of advertising content, which is our goal.
It is also important to understand the difference between global firmware (Global) and Chinese (CN) – Chinese versions have traditionally been more advertized, and the methods to combat it may differ, and in some cases, Chinese versions are left with a global firmware re-flash or specialized scripting.
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The combination of methods (disabling MSA + Private DNS) gives a 99% guarantee of no advertising in the Gallery and other Xiaomi system applications.