How to permanently remove ads on the screen lock Redmi Note 10 S: proven ways

The Redmi Note 10 S is a popular smartphone from Xiaomi, but many users are annoyed by the ads on the lock screen, which appear in the form of banners, notifications about “recommended apps” or even full-screen ads. The reason lies in the MIUI branded shell, which by default includes personalized advertising to monetize free services. The good news is that it can be turned off without installing custom firmware or obtaining root rights.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods, from standard MIUI settings to radical solutions like reset to factory settings. It is important to understand that some methods may differ depending on the firmware version (for example, MIUI 12.5 vs MIUI 14). We will specify the nuances for each version, and you will learn why ads return after updates and how to avoid this.

If you're willing to spend 10 to 15 minutes setting up, you can get rid of the intrusive banners once and for all, and let's start with the simplest method, which is to turn off the ads through the settings menu.

1. disabling advertising in the MIUI settings (official method)

Xiaomi’s safest and most recommended method is to use built-in shell options. In the latest versions of MIUI 12.5+, the path to advertising settings has changed, so here are the current instructions for the Redmi Note 10 S.

First, check the firmware version: go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. If you have MIUI 13/14, follow this algorithm:

1. Open the Settings. → Google (Yes, Google, not Xiaomi!).
2. Select Advertising (or Ads in English firmware).
3. Turn off the slider Personalized advertising.
4. Return to the main settings menu and go to Settings → Memory → Cleanup.
5. Click on the gear icon in the upper right corner and turn off the Recommendations.

For MIUI 12.0-12.5, the path is different.

• 📱 Settings → Additionally. → Special facilities → Advertising → Turn off all sliders.
• 🔍 Settings → Annexes → Application management → Threefold (⋮) → Show system-based → Find Msa (or com.miui.systemAdSolution) and turn it off.

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⚠️ Note: After major updates MIUI (For example, from 13 to 14, the ad settings may reset, we recommend repeating the procedure after each update, and some banners (for example, from Mi Browser) may remain - they must be disabled separately (more about this in the next section).

2. Removal of Advertising from System Applications

Even after the main ad settings have been turned off, some Xiaomi apps continue to show banners: Mi Browser, Mi Video, GetApps and Themes. These can either be configured or completely deactivated.

Let’s start with Mi Browser (if you don’t use it, you should delete it altogether):

1. Open the browser, click on three dots (⋮) → Settings.
2. Go to Additional → Advertising and Notifications.
3. Turn off Homepage Recommendations and Personalized Ads.

For GetApps (Xiaomi app store):

• 🛒 Go to GetApps → Profile → Settings → Advertising.
• 🔕 Disable Personalized Recommendations and Notifications for New Apps.
• 🚫 If you do not use the store, deactivate it: Settings → Annexes → GetApps → Shut down.

💡

If after disabling GetApps system applications have stopped updating, turn it back on and just clear the cache in the application settings.

The most difficult thing is Themes, which is an app that deals with wallpaper and styles, but it's actively showing ads, to minimize banners.

1. Open Themes → Profile → Settings.
2. Turn off Guidelines on Home and Notifications on New Topics.
3. Clear the cache and application data in Settings → Apps → Themes.

3. Reset Advertising Settings via ADB (for power users)

If standard methods do not help, you can use them. ADB-Android Debug Bridge, a more radical way of connecting a smartphone to a computer, has the advantage of turning off system-level advertising, including hidden services.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📥 Installed Xiaomi and ADB-tools drivers.
• 🔧 Included debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → Click on version 7 times, then go back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).

Instructions:

1. Connect the Redmi Note 10 S to your computer and confirm your confidence in the device on your smartphone screen.
2. Open the command prompt (or Terminal on macOS/Linux) in the folder with the platform-tools.
3. Enter the following commands: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.systemAdSolution adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.xiaomi.mipicks adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.browser adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.
4. Reboot your phone: adb reboot.

⚠️ Note: Disabling system applications through ADB It can cause some functions to work unstable (e.g. updates or themes). If errors occur after executing commands, return applications with a command:

adb shell pm enable com.miui.systemAdSolution

(Replace the name of the package with the correct one).

Yes, often |Tryed 1-2 times |No, but I want to learn |No and I don't plan-->

Installation of an alternative launcher (bypass)

If you're tired of fighting ads in MIUI, you can just replace the standard launcher with a third-party one. This won't take the banners away completely (they can stay in the notification curtain), but it will significantly reduce their visibility. Plus you'll get more options for customizing the screen.

The best options for the Redmi Note 10 S are:

• 🌟 Nova Launcher is lightweight, fast, gesture-enabled and dark theme-enabled. The free version is quite functional.
• 🎨 Lawnchair is an open source launcher that simulates “pure” Android (Pixel Launcher).
• 🔄 Microsoft Launcher – Windows integration, minimalist design.
• 📱 Hyperion Launcher – for fans of animations and dynamic wallpaper.

How to install and configure:

1. Download the launcher from Google Play (or APK from the official site if the Play Market is not available).
2. After installation, click the Home button and select the new launcher as the main one.
3. In the launcher settings, turn off recommendations impressions (for example, in Nova Launcher: Long Press → Settings → Home Screen → Turn off Google Discover).

🔹 Important: Alternative launchers do not block ads in system applications (e.g. Mi Browser or GetApps) and must be configured separately, as described in Section 2.

5. factory reset (last resort)

If none of these methods work, the radical solution is a hard reset, which will remove all data from the phone, including the ad settings that may have been corrupted, and it's only appropriate if:

• 🔄 You recently updated your firmware and the adverts reappeared.
• 🛠️ Previous methods have failed to produce results.
• 🗑️ You planned to clean your phone (for example, before selling it).

Resetting instructions:

1. Back up important data (photos, contacts, messages). Use Settings → Google → Backup or Mi Cloud.
2. Go to Settings → About Phone → Resetting → Erase all data.
3. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).
4. After reset, do not restore settings from the backup - this can return the ads. Set the phone as new and immediately disable the ads according to the instructions in section 1.

💡

Factory reset removes ALL data, including gallery photos and instant messaging, and use this method only if other methods have failed.

⚠️ Attention: Some Xiaomi firmware automatically turns on personalized ads after a reset. To avoid this, immediately after setting up the phone:

1. Connect to Wi-Fi, but do not sign in to your Mi Account during the initial setup phase.
2. Skip all suggestions for synchronization and backup.
3. Go to the settings immediately and turn off the ad as described in the first section.

6 Why Advertising is Returning and How to Prevent It

Many users complain that after a successful shutdown, the ads reappear, for three main reasons:

1. MIUI Updates: When you install a new firmware version, some settings are reset. Solution: Repeat the steps from Section 1 after each update.
2. Sync with Mi Account. If you are logged in to Mi Account, some ad settings may sync with Xiaomi servers. Solution: disable sync in Settings → Accounts → Mi Account → Sync.
3. System application cache. Over time, the cache of Msa or GetApps can "restore" ads. Solution: once a month, clear the cache of these applications in Settings → Apps.

To minimize the risk of ad returns:

• 🔄 Check your advertising settings regularly (once every 1-2 months).
• 🚫 Don't install updates. MIUI in the first 2-3 weeks after the release – wait for reviews about bugs.
• 📥 Use alternative app stores (such as Aurora Store) instead of GetApps.
• 🔒 Turn off automatic update installation for system applications in Settings → Annexes → Threefold (⋮) → Auto-update.

💡

If you don’t want to fight ads all the time, consider installing custom firmware (like Pixel Experience or LineageOS) that will completely remove MIUI and all its “chips”, including ads, but the process requires unlocking the bootloader and may be unwarranted.

FAQ: Frequent questions about ads on Redmi Note 10 S