Poco X3 smartphones (including the NFC and Pro versions) have earned a reputation for being powerful, with great value for money. However, owners are often annoyed by the intrusive marketing built into the MIUI shell on which the system is based.
Fortunately, the company’s aggressive policies can be counteracted by regular means without having to use complex code manipulation or super-user rights. Disabling ads requires you to do multiple actions in different settings sections, since there is no single “Switch Off All” button in the system. In this article, we will detail each step that will allow you to return a clean interface.
Before you start, it’s important to understand that some of the system processes responsible for displaying content may require confirmation of actions. Xiaomi periodically changes the location of items in updates, but key services remain unchanged. MSA and personalize.
MSA service shutdown is the main source of banners
The centerpiece of the advertising ecosystem in the MIUI shell is the MSA (MIUI System Ads) service, which collects data about your actions and generates targeted offers that you see in folders and the interface, and to block it, you need to find the appropriate item in the authorization and account menu.
Go to your phone's settings and find the password and security section, and you'll need to find "Access to Data" or "Authorization and Security." In the system services list, find msa and turn off the slider next to it. The system will warn you that some of the features may not work properly after you turn off, but it doesn't matter to the average user.
⚠️ Attention: When you try to disable the msa service, the system may display a countdown timer (10 seconds) several times and require re-confirmation. Don't give up after the first attempt - press "Disable" again until the action is completed.
If you can't find the service in the general list, search by settings. Type in the search bar "msa" or "advertising" to quickly go to the desired menu. After successfully disabling, restart the device so that the changes take effect and the cache of the ad modules cleared.
☑️ Checking the shutdown MSA
Customization of personalization and advertising recommendations
In addition to the system service, the personalized recommendation mechanism is responsible for displaying content, it analyzes your preferences and offers apps or news, and in order to remove ads on Poco X3, you need to prevent the system from using your data for this purpose, this is done in the section associated with the Mi Account.
In the settings menu, look for passwords and security, and then go to Access to Data, where it's important to disable not only MSA, but other services like Mi Credit, Mi Video, and GetApps if you don't use them, but the key is to disable personalization in your Mi Account profile.
- 📱 Go to Settings. → Passwords and security → Access to data.
- 🔒 Find the item Personalization of advertising and uncheck the box.
- 🚫 Turn off the “Receive recommendations” option in the system settings.
You should also check the settings of your Mi Account. Go to profile, select About Mi Account, and find the Ads and Privacy section, where you need to disable all sliders related to personalization, which will significantly reduce the number of intrusive offers in system interfaces.
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If you don’t use the GetApps store, delete it or turn off notifications in your app settings, as it is often the source of push ads.
Cleaning the browser and system applications
Xiaomi’s standard browser and Security app often become pop-up sources. Even if system advertising is disabled, these apps can show news feeds and promotional materials, and customizing these components requires special attention.
To start, open the Security app. Click on the gear in the top right corner to enter the settings. Find the Receive References item and turn it off. This will remove banner ads from the main antivirus and accelerator window. Next, go to your browser settings.
In Mi Browser, click on the three dots in the bottom bar, select Settings → Privacy & Security. You need to turn off Personal Guidelines and Notifications. It is also recommended to clear your browser cache through the Privacy menu → Clear Data to remove accumulated advertising tracks.
| Annex | The path to adjustment | What to turn off |
|---|---|---|
| Security | Settings (cogs) | Receive recommendations |
| Mi Browser. | Settings → Confidentiality | Personal recommendations |
| Conductor | Settings → About the programme | Receive recommendations |
| Music. | Settings → Advanced settings | Showing ads |
Also, check the settings of the Themes app. In the user profile (human icon), find the settings item and turn off the display ads and personal recommendations. This will remove banners from the design store.
Why do you need access to data?
Managing Notifications from System Services
Even after the core services are disabled, some system applications may continue to send notifications that visually resemble ads, often from MIUI Daemon, Analytics or Google's built-in services, and notifications are monitored through the Application Manager.
Go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Notification management. scroll down to system applications. Find Analytics and completely stop it from sending notifications. Similar actions should be done for the Downloads and Packet Installer app if they bother you with pop-ups.
⚠️ Warning: Be careful when disabling notifications from Google Play Services or Mi Cloud system services. Only disable items that are explicitly marketing related (such as “Recommendations”), not sync or security related.
Also worth checking is the Recommended section in the notification settings. In some versions of MIUI, there is a separate switch that allows apps to show “interesting” notifications. Make sure it is put inactive, which will prevent annoying plaques from installed games and utilities.
Disabling Advertising in Folders and on the Desktop
One of the most annoying features of the shell is the appearance of advertising icons in folders on the desktop, usually when a folder contains several applications from a single developer or simply popular services, the system automatically loads the “recommended” applications.
To remove this feature, open any folder on your desktop. Click on the folder name to open the settings menu (some versions have to click three dots or just keep your finger on the title for a long time). Find the Recommended Apps or Promoted Apps switch and turn it off. After that, the folders will only contain the icons you added.
Also, the Glance widget may appear on the desktop, which constantly changes the lock background and shows the news. To turn it off, go to Settings → Lock Screen → Wallpaper Carousel and turn off the feature. This will also remove periodic notifications for new images.
If you use a Poco Launcher, check its settings. In the “Advanced” or “General” section, there may be a section responsible for showing news or advertising in the feed to the left of the desktop (Google Discover or Mi Video), disabling this item will make the swipe to the left cleaner or return the standard Google feed without unnecessary visual noise.
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Advertising in folders is not a virus, but a regular MIUI function that can be disabled in the settings of each individual folder or globally in the launcher settings.
Using DNS to block ads in apps
There is a more advanced but effective method of combating advertising that works at the network connection level, using a private DNS allows you to block requests to known ad servers before they reach your Poco X3.
To set up, go to Settings → Connection and Sharing (or “Additional Features” depending on version) MIUI). Find the item "Private" DNS» (Private DNS). Select the option "Host Name of the provider" DNS» And you can type in the address: dns.adguard.com.
dns.adguard.comOnce you have setups, the phone may need to reboot or reconnect to Wi-Fi, a method that blocks most ads in free apps and games, as well as in the browser, but it is worth considering that in rare cases, some legitimate services may be slower if their domains mistakenly enter the DNS provider’s blacklist.
- 🌐 This method works for Wi-Fi and mobile networks simultaneously.
- 🛡️ Trackers and analytics are blocked in apps.
- ⚡ No need to install additional APK-file.
⚠️ Note: If, after the inclusion of a private DNS If you stop working on the Internet in some applications, return the settings DNS Auto or off mode, this can happen on corporate networks or when you use specific carriers.