How to remove ads on Xiaomi: the complete guide

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often encounter intrusive banners that appear in system applications and on the desktop.This feature of the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS allows the company to sell devices at a competitive price, but for many users, constant notifications become a serious irritant. Fortunately, the modern version of the Android operating system provides enough tools to minimize the amount of advertising to minimize or completely disable it.

In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available ways to clean the interface from marketing noise. MSA, configure the built-in browser and block pop-ups in standard utilities_privacy_ parameters will return your gadget the original speed and aesthetic appearance.

Before we make any changes, it’s important to understand that some features may be called differently depending on the firmware version.We’ll look at current ways for current versions of MIUI 14 and HyperOS. Disabling the MSA system ad service is a key step that eliminates up to 80% of intrusive banners in the interface.

Disabling the MSA system service

The main source of advertising in the Xiaomi ecosystem is the MSA (MIUI System Ads) service, which is responsible for collecting data about your preferences and showing relevant offers in application folders, music player and Explorer, and to block its work, you need to find the appropriate item in the authorization settings menu.

Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Access to Personal Data. In the list that opens, find msa and put the switch to an inactive state. The system will warn you of the consequences and prompt you to wait 10 seconds, after which you need to click the “Cancel” button.

Often, the first time you can not revoke access due to server errors, in which case, try to repeat the procedure 3-4 times in a row, if the button remains inactive, check the stability of the Internet connection or temporarily change the DNS.

• 🔍 Find the msa component in the list of applications.
• ⏱️ Wait for the countdown to end in 10 seconds.
• ✅ Click the "Cancel" button to confirm the action.

⚠️ Attention: After disconnection MSA Advertising will not disappear instantly. It is recommended to completely restart the device to take effect.

Setup of the built-in browser Mi Browser

Xiaomi’s standard browser often becomes a source of push notifications and homepage newsfeeds. To turn it into a clean surfing tool, you need to manually disable several personalization features. This will take no more than a minute, but will greatly improve the experience.

Open your browser and go to the settings menu by clicking on the three bars in the bottom corner. Select Settings → Notifications and disable all sliders related to recommendations and news. It is also worth clearing the app cache through the application management system menu.

To completely get rid of the news feed on the browser's home page, go to the Home section and select the "Classic" option or simply turn off the display of cards. This will return the browser to a minimalist look.

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If the built-in browser continues to be annoying, install an alternative like Chrome or Firefox and make it the default browser in your system settings.

Cleaning the application "Security" and "Conductor"

Security and Explorer system ulites also contain advertising modules that are activated when you scan memory or open files. In the Security app, ads usually appear as banners under Cleanup or Antivirus.

To remove banners, open the Security app, click on the gear in the top right corner, and find Receive recommendations. Transfer the switch to off. The same procedure is done in the Explorer app through the settings menu.

Some users choose to remove updates to these apps or replace them with third-party counterparts like Files by Google or Total Commander.This is a radical but effective method that also frees up the device's internal memory.

• 🛡️ Open the Security app.
• ⚙️ Go to the settings through the gear icon.
• 🚫 Turn off the option "Receive recommendations".

⚠️ Note: Do not remove the System Applications "Security" and "Conductor" completely through ADB, If you're not sure what you're doing, it can disrupt other functions of the system.

Blocking Advertising in Folders and on the Desktop

Even after MSA is disabled, the "Recommended Apps" recommendations may remain in the application folders, which are controlled separately in the launcher settings, and is responsible for the appearance of icons of popular games and programs in folders where there are already installed applications.

Go to Settings → Desktop. Find the section associated with folders or wallpaper carousel. Turn off Recommended Apps. Now, when you open folders, you'll only see the shortcuts of installed programs.

Also worth checking is the Wallpaper Carousel settings. This is a service that changes wallpaper on a locked screen and often shows advertisements. You can turn it off from the Settings menu → Always on screen and lock.

If you use widgets, beware: some standard widgets (such as Music or News) may download content from advertising sources, replace them with neutral clocks or calendars.

Using DNS to block at the network level

One of the most effective methods of combating advertising is the use of a private DNS. This method does not require the installation of additional applications and works at the device level, blocking requests to ad servers.

Go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Private DNS. Select the option “Host Name of the DNS Provider” and type in the address: dns.adguard.com. Save settings.

After settings, many apps and sites will stop showing banners because requests for ad domains will be blocked, but it is worth considering that in rare cases this can lead to incorrect display of some sites.

dns.adguard.com

Resetting the advertising identifier

To increase privacy and reset the accumulated profile of advertising interests, it is recommended to periodically clear the advertising ID. This will not remove the advertising completely, but will make it less personalized and intrusive.

Find the passwords and security section in the settings → privacy → advertising services. Here you can see your current identifier and click the Reset Advertising ID button.

Also on this menu, it is useful to disable the option "Personalized Ads" that will prevent Xiaomi from using your data to select targeted ads.

• 🔒 Go to the Privacy section.
• 🗑️ Click "Reset the advertising ID".
• 📉 Turn off personalized advertising.

⚠️ Attention: Regular reset of the ID may temporarily affect the relevance of search results in some services Google and Yandex.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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A comprehensive approach, including disabling MSA, configuring DNS and cleaning system applications, guarantees maximum comfort using the Xiaomi smartphone.