Redmi series smartphones, including the 9C, are known for their excellent price-performance ratio. However, to keep the device low cost, Xiaomi is implementing a built-in advertising system into the MIUI shell, which can annoy users who are used to a clean interface without intrusive offers.
Ads in the system are displayed in places ranging from pop-ups in standard apps to banners in folders and notifications. Fortunately, most of these elements can be disabled manually without obtaining superuser rights or flashing the device. The process requires care, as settings are scattered across different menus.
In this guide, we will go into detail all the steps of cleaning the interface: you will learn how to stop the MSA system service, disable personalized recommendations, and get rid of advertising in standard utilities. Follow the steps consistently for the best result.
Disabling the MSA system service
The main source of advertising content in the MIUI shell is the MSA (MIUI System Ads) system application, which is responsible for collecting data about your preferences and showing the corresponding banners, the first and most important step will be to deactivate it.
You first need to go to your phone settings. Find the Password and Security section and select Access to Personal Data. In the app list that opens, find msa and switch the slider to Off. The system will alert you to the consequences of a shutdown — wait 10 seconds and confirm the action.
⚠️ Attention: Service MSA If you see an error or the slider returns to its original position, repeat the procedure. 3-4 Usually, on the third attempt, the restriction is removed.
Once a successful shutdown is done, it is also recommended to remove permissions from other system components, find GetApps and Mi Video apps in the same list, limiting their access to personal data, which will significantly reduce the number of ads received.
☑️ Checking the ad-off
Customization of personalization and recommendations
Even after you disable the MSA, some interface elements can continue to show content based on your interests, and this is because of a recommendation personalization mechanism that's built deep into the system, and to remove those elements, you need to change your privacy settings.
Go back to the Password and Security menu and go to Privacy. Scroll down to Advertising Services. You need to turn off Ad Personalization, which will prevent the system from using your data to select ads.
Next, clear the ad ID. In the same menu, click on the Reset Ad ID button. This action generates a new random ID, breaking the link between your current activity and the previously collected user profile.
Why do you need an advertising ID?
You should also check the settings of the Tools or Services folder itself, if you have one on your desktop, and if you click on the gear inside the folder, you can turn off the Receive Recommendations option, and that will remove the news feed and the advertising widgets from the folder with the system utilities.
Cleaning Standard Apps from Advertising
Ad integrations are often built directly into Xiaomi’s standard apps, such as Explorer, Music, Themes and Security, each with its own recommendation display settings that need to be disabled separately.
Start with the Security app. Open it, click on the settings gear in the top right corner, and find Receive recommendations. The switch should be inactive. Similar actions should be performed in the Topic apps (Profile tab). → Settings) and Music.
The File Manager app is a little different: Go to the settings via the menu (three bars), select Settings → About and quickly click on the app logo 5-10 times, and a hidden menu will appear where you need to disable the Recommendation option.
Also, be sure to check the settings of the Downloads app. In some versions of MIUI, the recommendation function may also be active, and disabling these settings will make working with the file manager and multimedia more comfortable.
Removing and disabling system applications
Many pre-installed apps, such as GetApps (similar to Xiaomi’s Google Play) and Mi Browser, are active sources of ad traffic.If you don’t use them, they’re best removed or, if deletion is impossible, disable.
To remove, go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find unnecessary system utilities in the list. If the Remove button is inactive, click Remove Updates, and then try to delete again. In some cases, you need to disable the application, which will hide it and stop all related processes.
Pay special attention to the Mi Browser. Even if you don't use it, it can work in the background. In its settings (three points → Settings → Privacy and Security), turn off Personal Guidelines. The best solution is to install an alternative browser, such as Chrome or Firefox, and install it by default.
| Annex | Can I remove it? | Risk to the system | The alternative |
|---|---|---|---|
| GetApps | Yes (partially) | Low. | Google Play |
| Mi Browser | Yes. | Low. | Chrome, Edge |
| Mi Video | Yes. | Low. | VLC, MX Player |
| Topics | No. | Medium (change of appearance) | Wallpaper Engine |
| Music. | No. | Medium (local files) | PowerAmp |
⚠️ Warning: Be careful when removing system components. Removing critical services may cause unstable interfaces or errors when booting.
Using DNS to Block Advertising
One of the most effective methods that works at the level of the entire device is to change the device. DNS-servers, using specialized DNS, AdGuard allows you to block requests to ad servers even before the content hits the screen of your Xiaomi Redmi. 9C.
You don't need to install third-party apps to set up if you have Android 9 and up. → Connection and Sharing (or Wi-Fi). Find a Private Item DNS-server (Private) DNS). Select the mode "Host Name of the provider" DNS" and enter the address: dns.adguard.com.
dns.adguard.comOnce you save your settings, reboot your smartphone, a method that blocks ads not only in the system, but also in many apps and games where they are loaded through standard ad networks, but also that some sites may stop opening if their ad domains are blocked.
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If some sites or apps stop opening after changing the DNS, return the Private DNS setting to Auto or Off, which will help diagnose the connection problem.
The advantage of this method is that it's versatile, it doesn't require root rights, and it works right after you set it up, and it's a great addition to manually shutting down MIUI system services.
Resetting Advertising Settings and Final Verification
After doing all the above steps, it is recommended to perform a complete reset of advertising identifiers and check the result. Sometimes the system can cache old settings, so a comprehensive approach will give the best effect.
Go back to Password & Security → Privacy → Advertising Services and make sure personalization is turned off. Press the reset button again. Also check if the msa service has been activated again in access to personal data.
Reboot the device. After you turn on, observe the behavior of the system during the 10-15 Open some standard apps, folders and menus, and if the ad doesn't show up, you've been successful.
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A comprehensive MSA disablement, a change in DNS, and a ban on personalization in each application provide a 99% guarantee of no advertising in the MIUI interface.
It is worth remembering that after major updates to the MIUI shell, some settings can be reset to factory values, in which case the procedure will have to be repeated, paying special attention to the item with access to personal data.