Ownership of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones is often overshadowed by intrusive marketing content that appears in the most unexpected places on the interface. Users are faced with banner ads in standard applications, pop-ups after memory clearing, and even recommendations in system folders. This is a consequence of the company’s business model of keeping hardware costs low by monetizing the software experience.
Fortunately, the modern MIUI shell and the new HyperOS provide enough tools to minimize or completely eliminate this stimulus without the need for root rights. The deactivation process does not require deep technical knowledge, but it is important to consistently go through all the key areas of settings, since there is simply no single “Switch off all” button in the system.
In this article, we will take a closer look at each source of digital noise and provide the right algorithms to block it, so you can customize the system so that it works exclusively for you, not for advertisers.
Disabling the MSA System Service
At the heart of Xiaomi’s advertising ecosystem is the MSA (MIUI System Ads) service, which is responsible for collecting user habits and displaying targeted offers across the interface, and disabling this component is the first and most important step in the fight for a clean screen.
To start, you need to go to the phone’s settings menu and find the password and security section. In some versions of the firmware, the path may differ slightly, but the logic remains the same for all Redmi Note devices and flagships.
Find Access to Data or Permissions and find msa in the installed application list. Switch the slider to an inactive state. The system will warn you that a shutdown may affect the operation of some services, and will suggest waiting 10 seconds before confirming.
⚠️ Attention: When you press the "Disable" button, the timer will start automatically. If after 10 seconds the confirmation button has not activated or disappeared, just repeat the procedure.
After successful MSA disabling, it is also recommended to find GetApps (Xiaomi app store) in the list of applications and limit its background work if you do not use this directory, which will prevent notifications of discounts and new games.
☑️ Checking the shutdown MSA
Configuring standard system applications
Even after the main ad module is disabled, individual system utilities can continue to show promotional materials, each with its own hidden settings that need to be adjusted manually to achieve maximum effect.
Start with the Security app, which is often used as a gateway to promote games and services. Open the app, click on the settings gear in the top right corner. Here you should find the "Receive recommendations" section and deactivate it. It's also worth turning off the "Virus Notifications" option if you're annoyed by periodic pop-ups that aren't critical.
Then we move to Explorer, and it also hides the Receive Recommendations switch in its settings, and turning it off will remove the news feed that is displayed by default on the file manager's start screen.
Don't forget the Themes app. This is one of the most ad-packed sections. Go to the user profile (human icon), select Settings, and disable "Show ads" and "Personal recommendations," which will clear the store interface of intrusive banners.
💡
Once you have set up all applications, completely close them through the running task menu so that the changes take effect immediately, without restarting the device.
Cleaning the desktop and widget tape
The MIUI and HyperOS shell integrates various information streams into the desktop and lock screen by default, which often contain advertising inserts, and you can remove them through the launcher settings themselves.
Click on the empty area on your desktop and select Settings. In the menu that opens, look for the Widget Ribbon (or Google Discover, depending on the region) section, where you can turn off the news feed to the left of the home screen, where you often find promotional articles and offers.
Also worth noting is the Wallpaper Carousel, which is a service that changes the image on the lock screen and offers clickable content. To get rid of it, go to Settings → Lock screen → Wallpaper Carousel and turn off this feature, which not only removes ads, but can also positively affect the autonomy of the device.
In some versions of the firmware, the Tools folder may have a Recommended folder that is automatically created, and delete this folder manually by dragging the apps from it to the desktop, and delete the folder with a long tap.
Mi Browser and Third-Party Alternatives
Xiaomi’s standard browser is one of the main sources of advertising traffic, aggressively promoting news feeds and affiliate services, and is difficult to cure completely, but it can be minimized.
Open your browser, go to settings (three bars or dots), select Privacy and Security, find Receive References and turn off all news and personalization switches, and it is also recommended that you select Empty Page instead of News Feed in the homepage settings.
However, the most effective solution would be to abandon the Mi Browser in favor of cleaner alternatives, with the market offering a variety of browsers that respect user privacy and do not embed ad units into the interface.
Among the best alternatives for Redmi devices are:
- 🦊 Mozilla Firefox – supports the installation of extensions to block ads at the browser level.
- ⚡ DuckDuckGo is privacy-focused and does not collect data about search queries.
- 🚀 Brave – has a built-in powerful ad blocker and trackers.
Installing an alternative browser and assigning it to the default application will completely solve the problem of intrusive news and banners when surfing the Internet.
Comparison of Ad Blocking Methods
There are several approaches to solving the problem of advertising noise on Xiaomi Android devices, ranging from simple internal settings to using third-party software, and understanding the differences will help you choose the best strategy.
Below is a table comparing the main methods of combating advertising by effectiveness and complexity of implementation:
| Method | Efficiency | Difficulty | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSA shutdown | Tall. | Low. | Safe. |
| Set-up of applications | Medium | Low. | Safe. |
| Private DNS | Very high. | Medium | It can slow down some websites. |
| Third-party blockers | Tall. | Tall. | Resources required |
As you can see from the table, the combination of disabling system services and using DNS-However, it is worth remembering that aggressive blocking can disrupt some legitimate services, such as displaying ads in the own applications of Xiaomi partners.
💡
The combined approach (system settings + DNS) ensures 95% of the interface is clean without the need for complex interference with firmware code.
Using Private DNS to block the world
The most powerful tool available to Android users without root rights is Private DNS (Private DNS) configuration, which allows you to filter Internet traffic at the connection level by cutting off requests to known ad servers before they reach your device.
To implement this method, go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Private DNS. The default is Auto mode. Select the option “DNS Provider Host Name” (or “Manual”) and enter a trusted filter address. One of the most popular and trusted services is AdGuard DNS.
dns.adguard.comEnter this address in the box and save the settings. After that, all applications, including browsers, games and system services, will try to download ads through this filter, which will return an empty response instead of an advertising banner.
⚠️ Note: When using a third party DNS-Some sites or applications may stop loading correctly or work slower.If you notice problems connecting to specific services, temporarily return settings. DNS in the "Auto" or "Disconnected" mode».
This method is particularly effective for blocking ads in free apps and games where you can’t turn off impressions through system settings, but it won’t remove Xiaomi’s own ads, which are stitched into the system’s resources and don’t require access to external servers.