Owning a Xiaomi Redmi 10 smartphone is often overshadowed by the intrusive marketing that MIUI implements at the system level. Users are faced with banner ads in standard applications, pop-ups when unlocking the screen and even in folders on the desktop.
Fortunately, the developers have provided a way to fine-tune privacy, even though it's hidden in the bottom of the menu. You can completely turn off ads on Redmi 10 without installing third-party software or obtaining superuser rights. You just need to go through key settings consistently to get back to a clean interface.
In this article, we will take a detailed look at the algorithm for blocking the MSA ad tracker, disabling personalized recommendations, and cleaning the browser. You will learn to distinguish system notifications from marketing tricks and you will be able to customize your Redmi 10 as it is designed to be comfortable to use, not to show banners.
MSA Disconnection: The Main Source of Advertising
The main culprit behind the introduction of advertising in the system is MSA (MIUI System Ads), a system application that collects data about your preferences and demonstrates relevant offers, and to remove advertising on a global level, you need to disable this component, but to do it the first time may not work due to artificial delays.
Go to the settings menu and find the Password and Security section, and within that menu, you'll need to select Access to Personal Data or Authorization and Privacy, depending on the firmware version. This displays a list of all system services that have access to your data.
The system will give a warning and suggest waiting 10 seconds before turning off. After the timer has expired, press the Stop button. It is important to know that the button may remain inactive or the process will not end the first time. In this case, repeat the procedure 2-3 times in a row - usually for 3-4 attempts the service successfully shuts down.
⚠️ Note: After disabling the msa service, the ads won't disappear instantly.The system takes 5 to 10 minutes to apply the changes, so don't rush to restart the phone immediately.
In parallel with the MSA, it is recommended to disable the mda service (MIUI Debug Ads), which is also responsible for debugging and displaying test ads, the principle of action is similar: find a service in the authorization list and uncheck the access box, which will significantly reduce the number of background processes consuming the resources of the processor.
Setup of system applications: Security and Explorer
Even after the main tracker is disabled, some standard utilities may continue to show recommendations, most notably the Security app, which often contains a block of news and suggestions. To clear the interface, launch the app and click on the gear in the upper right corner of the screen.
In the settings menu, find Receive recommendations and deactivate it. Also worth checking the About section inside the security settings - there is often a hidden switch Join the improvement program, which is also worth turning off to increase privacy.
- 🔒 Disable Receive Recommendations in the Security App.
- 🧹 In the Appendix Cleanup remove the tick from the item Get recommendations.
- 📂 In the Explorer go to Settings → About the program and turn off advertising.
- 📉 In the Downloads app, disable the item Show recommended content.
Don’t forget to check the standard Explorer and Download menu. In Explorer, go to the menu (three bars), select Settings → About, and turn off the recommendation service. A similar procedure is performed in the Download folder, where the banners of recommended applications often hang.
☑️ Verification of system applications
Blocking advertising in the browser and on the desktop
The built-in Mi Browser browser is another channel for delivering advertising content. It is set to display news feeds and PUSH-For comfortable surfing, you need to make a deep adjustment to this application, as standard settings may not be effective enough.
Open your browser, go to the settings (profile icon or three dots) and find the Privacy and Security section. Here you need to activate the ad blocker if it is available in your version, and be sure to turn off the Receive news and notifications item. Also in the general browser settings, you should uncheck the Personalized Recommendations box.
On the Redmi 10 desktop, a wallpaper carousel widget often appears, which, when unlocking the screen, shows pictures with brand logos and advertising slogans. To get rid of this, go to Settings → Lock Screen → Wallpaper carousel and turn off the function or remove the widget from the desktop with a long tap.
⚠️ Warning: Wallpaper carousels can consume a significant amount of mobile traffic and battery power as they constantly upload new images from the network.
If you use a third-party launcher or weather widget from MIUI, check their settings separately. Often weather or news widgets have hidden ad display switches built in, which are activated after the system update.
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For full blocking of advertising in the browser can be used DNS-filters, for example, by prescribing the address dns.adguard.com in the settings DNS (Private DNS) subset.
Comparison of Ad Blocking Methods on Redmi 10
There are several approaches to solving the problem of intrusive marketing in MIUI. Some users prefer manually configuring each service, others use automated scripts or third-party DNS. Understanding the differences between these methods will help you choose the best one for your use case.
Manually disabling services through settings is safe and requires no additional knowledge, but takes time. DNS-filters are effective for the browser, but may conflict with some applications. Below is a table comparing the main methods of combating advertising.
| Method | Efficiency | Difficulty | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSA shutdown | Tall. | Low. | Minimum |
| DNS-filtering | Medium | Medium | Could slow down the internet |
| ADB-team | Maximum | Tall. | Requires PC and skills |
| Third-party launchers | Partial | Low. | Changes the interface |
The safest and most recommended way for the average user is to combine disabling the MSA and manually configuring the system applications, which does not disrupt the operation of the warranty software and makes it easy to return all settings back if necessary.
Advanced Methods: Using ADB and Private DNS
For those who want to get the most out of the way and are willing to work with a computer, there is a method to remove advertising components through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you not just to disable, but completely “freeze” or remove the system packages responsible for advertising, such as com.miui.misys or com.android.browser.
To implement this method, you need to turn on the developer mode on Redmi 10 (click on the build number seven times in About Phone), activate debugging over USB and connect the phone to the PC.
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.msa.global
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.mab.global
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.android.fashiongalleryThe first team removes the global ad service, the second one removes the analytics, the third one removes the wallpaper carousel, and be very careful: removing the system packages that are not related to advertising can lead to unstable system operation or a “bootloop” (cyclical reboot).
⚠️ Attention: Use ADB-Removing critical system components can make the phone unusable without flashing it.
Alternative to complex commands is to configure Private DNS. Under Connection and Sharing → Private DNS, select the mode "DNS Provider Host Name" and type in dns.adguard.com. This will filter out most of the ad traffic at the network level.
What if Wi-Fi stopped working after ADB?
Cleaning up viruses and advertising software
Sometimes the source of advertising is not Xiaomi system services, but third-party applications installed by the user. Free games, flashlights, memory cleaners and questionable utilities often contain aggressive advertising modules that show banners on top of other windows.
To identify such a pest, pay attention to the behavior of the phone. If the ad appears suddenly on the desktop or while using other applications, it is likely that the newly installed software is to blame. Go to Settings → Apps → All applications and carefully study the list.
Look for apps without a name, without an icon, or with a suspicious name (character set). Often such programs disguise themselves as system processes. Also check the permissions: if a simple calculator requires Internet access and display on top of other windows, it is a virus.
- 📱 Remove newly installed applications from unknown sources.
- 🔍 Check the list of applications for programs without an icon.
- 🛡 Use the built-in antivirus in the Security app to scan.
- 🚫 Disable the installation of applications from unknown sources in the settings.
If you can’t remove the malicious application in the usual way (the delete button is inactive or the application is restored immediately), try doing so through Safe Mode. To do this, press the power button, and when the turn off icon appears, press and hold it for a few seconds before prompting you to go to Safe Mode.
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Regularly checking the list of installed applications and refusing to install software from unverified sources is the best protection against advertising viruses.
Final recommendations for setting up MIUI
After doing all of the above, your Redmi 10 should be significantly cleaner and more responsive. However, MIUI is constantly updated and developers can return some advertising features in new firmware versions, so it is recommended to periodically check your privacy settings.
You should not ignore the system updates, but before installing a new version of MIUI, it is advisable to back up important data. Sometimes large updates reset user privacy settings to factory, which means a return of advertising.
Use alternative apps where possible. Replacing the standard browser with Chrome or Firefox, and the file manager with Files by Google, will help avoid built-in advertising in standard Xiaomi utilities.
Remember that complete sterility can sometimes limit the functionality of personalization.Find a balance between the lack of advertising and the usability of smart MIUI features, which also require certain permissions to work.