How to remove ads on Xiaomi Redmi Note 5: the complete guide

Xiaomi smartphone owners often face intrusive ads that appear in the most unexpected places: when unlocking the screen, in system folders or even during calls. For Redmi Note 5 users, this problem is especially relevant, since the device operates on the basis of the MIUI shell, which is set by default to show advertising content from the MSA service.

Fortunately, embedded ads can be completely turned off without having to do complicated root-rights manipulation or device reflashing. You don't need to be an IT expert to do this. All the necessary settings are open source, although the developers have hidden them deep enough in the menu. In this article, we'll break down a step-by-step algorithm of actions that will help you make the Redmi Note 5 interface clean and free of unnecessary visual noise.

It is worth understanding that disabling advertising may require disconnecting from the Internet at some stages or using third-party services. DNS-We'll look at all the available methods, from standard system settings to more advanced ways to lock through the system. DNS. Each step will be described in as much detail as possible so that you can follow the instructions with confidence. MSA (MIUI System Ads, which is the first and most important step.

Disabling system advertising through MSA settings

The first and most logical step is to deactivate the service that collects data and displays ads, which is called MSA and is built into the default firmware, and to find it, you need to open the settings of your Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 and go to the section on passwords and security.

The interface of the settings may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI, but the logic remains the same: you need to find "Authorization and Security" or simply "Security." Inside this section, you can find a list of system applications that have access to various functions of the phone, and that's where the ad-blocking switch is located.

The shutdown process may require several attempts. The system will try to convince you to leave things as they are, suggesting that you wait 10 seconds before you try again. Don't give up, wait for the timer to expire and press the "Disable" button again. Usually, on the second or third attempt, the MSA service stops working.

After a successful shutdown, you'll notice that the number of pop-ups has decreased significantly, but it's not the only source of stimuli. There may be other services in the system that also require your attention to completely clean the interface.

Customize personalized recommendations and Mi Apps

Even after the main service is disabled, the components responsible for “personalized recommendations” remain in the system, these settings are often hidden under innocuous names like “Receive recommendations” or “Recommended applications”, which are responsible for the appearance of banner ads in folders on the desktop and in the menu.

To remove these elements, you need to go to the settings of each system application that supports advertising, most often this applies to standard Xiaomi tools such as Themes, Music, Browser and Explorer, and in each of them you need to find the About or Settings section, where the recommendation switch is hidden.

⚠️ Note: In some firmware versions, the Get Recommendations switch may be hidden. If you don't see it right away, try turning off the internet on your phone before entering the app's settings - this sometimes causes the system to display hidden options.

Pay special attention to the app Security, which is where you often get notifications about viruses or junk files, which are actually disguised ads, and go to the settings of this app and turn off all the items related to receiving news or recommendations.

Also worth checking is the lock screen settings. Wallpaper and themes often include wallpaper carousel, which not only changes pictures, but also displays ads, and disabling this feature will return you to a static or standard lock screen without unnecessary traffic.

Blocking advertising in the system browser Mi

Xiaomi’s standard browser is one of the main sources of ad traffic if not configured correctly.It shows the news feed on the homepage and can open pop-up windows when you go to some sites. Fortunately, the built-in blocking tools solve this problem.

To start, open your browser and go to its settings. These are usually available through a three-dot menu or bars at the bottom or top of the screen. Find the Privacy and Security section or simply Settings section. Here you are interested in the "Ad Blocker" item.

Activate the built-in blocker. It's quite effective against most banners and pop-ups. However, for maximum protection, it's also recommended to turn off "Receive Notifications" and "Receive Recommendations" in the general browser settings. This will remove the news feed from the home page.

Remember that even with the blocker enabled, some sites may ask to disable it for proper display, in such cases it is better to temporarily add the site to the exceptions than to disable the protection completely, which will maintain the balance between convenience and cleanliness of the browsing experience.

Using DNS to block ads throughout the system

The most effective method that allows you to remove advertising not only in the browser and system applications, but also inside games and third-party programs, is the use of private DNS. This method does not require the installation of additional applications and works at the network connection level.

The essence of the method is that your Redmi Note 5 sends requests to a special server that filters advertising domains before they reach your device. To do this, you need to find the “Private DNS” or “Personal DNS” option in the Android settings (section “Connection and Sharing” or “Wi-Fi”).

In the input box, you need to write the server address. One of the most popular and reliable is the AdGuard address.

dns.adguard.com

Once the settings are saved, the phone may require a reboot or reconnection to the network, and then the ads should disappear almost everywhere, a method that is particularly effective for blocking ads in free apps and games, where other methods are often powerless.

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Use it. DNS-filtering only from trusted sources. DNS-Servers can redirect your traffic or slow down connection speeds.

Cleaning Notifications from System Applications

Often, ads come in the form of push notifications that appear in the status curtain, and these messages can be sourced not only from apps, but also from system services such as Mi Video, Mi Music, or even MIUI System Services.

To figure this out, go to the notification settings. Search the list of applications for suspicious system services. Look for apps with names like MIUI System Services, MIUI Daemon, or Analytics.

Within the settings of each application, disable notification categories related to marketing, promotions or recommendations. It is important not to confuse them with mission-critical system notifications, although in modern versions of MIUI the separation is made quite clear.

Also check the Notifications section in the phone's general settings, and there may be a separate app notification subsection where you can massively ban notifications from your selected programs, which will help quickly clear the curtain of information noise.

Additional measures and verification of the result

After performing all the above steps, it is recommended to restart the device, which is necessary to ensure that all system services restart with new parameters and stop downloading advertising content to cache.

Check the folders on your desktop. In the past, you could see folders with names like Popular or Recommended. Now they have to either disappear or stop filling with ad icons. If the ads are still there, check if the MSA settings have been updated automatically.

Sometimes cleaning the browser cache and system applications helps. Go to the storage settings, select the app and click "Clear cache." This will delete temporary files that may have saved banner ads for display.

⚠️ Warning: Check system updates periodically after major updates MIUI Some privacy settings may be reset to factory values, and the procedure for disabling advertising will have to be repeated.

Remember that completely blocking ads can deprive you of some of the free features in apps that exist due to ad impressions. However, for most users, cleanliness of the interface and saving traffic is a priority.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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A comprehensive approach that includes disabling MSA, configuring DNS, and cleaning notifications ensures you get rid of all ads on your Xiaomi.