How to remove ads on Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus: the full guide 2026

Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus is one of the most popular budget smartphones of 2018, but even years later its owners are faced with intrusive advertising in the brand shell MIUI. Pop-up banners in settings, push notifications and integrated ads in system applications spoil the experience of use. In this article, we will analyze 7 proven ways to remove ads on Redmi 5 Plus – from simple settings to radical methods like installing custom firmware.

It's important to understand that some of the ads in MIUI are built on the firmware level and cannot be removed by standard means. However, even without root rights, you can significantly reduce the number of impressions. We tested all methods on current versions of MIUI 12.5 and MIUI 14 (the last one available for Redmi 5 Plus), so the instructions will work regardless of regional firmware (Global, EEA or China).

Why is there an ad on Redmi 5 Plus?

The reasons for the appearance of advertising on Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus are divided into three categories:

• 📱 Systemic advertising MIUI — It's built into the shell and displayed in the settings menu, the Tools folder, the Security, Themes and Music apps. Xiaomi monetizes free firmware through affiliate ads.
• 🔔 Push notifications – come from system applications (Mi Video, GetApps, Mi Browser) or third-party services that you have given permission to.
• 🦠 Malware – if the ad appears in unexpected places (for example, on top of other applications), it may be a consequence of installing pirated software APK oradvear.

Redmi 5 Plus (codenamed Vince) is particularly annoying when advertising in:

• 🔧 Menu Settings → Additional (banners at the bottom of the screen).
• 🛡️ Security appendix (Installation "Optimization").
• 🎵 Music app (pop-up windows when playing tracks).
• 📥 Download Manager (Downloads) where games are advertised.

Xiaomi officially states that the ads are only shown on China ROM, but in practice they are also found in global versions. Moreover, after the MIUI updates, advertising modules can return, so some methods will have to be used regularly.

Method 1: Disabling personalized advertising in MIUI

The safest and fastest method is to disable personalized ads in your Mi Account settings, which will not remove ads completely, but will reduce the number and make them less intrusive.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Xiaomi Account (if not authorized, sign in or create an account).
2. Go to Mi Account → Account settings → Advertising.
3. Turn off the slider Personalized recommendations.
4. Go back and select Sync Settings → Advertising Preferences, then turn off all available options.

After that, the system will stop analyzing your activity for targeted advertising, but the banners in the settings and applications Security / Themes will remain — they will have to be blocked in other ways.

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If the Advertising option is not in your account settings, update the Mi Account app via Google Play or download the latest version of the APK from the official Xiaomi website.

Method 2: Blocking Ads through Application Settings

Many MIUI system applications have built-in ad modules that can be manually disabled, a method that does not require root rights and works on any firmware.

List of applications where you need to disable advertising:

Important: After updating apps through Google Play or GetApps, settings may reset. Check them every 1-2 months.

Disable recommendations in “Security"|Check the settings "Tem"|Turn off ads in "Mi Video"|Remove notifications in "Music"|Configure privacy in "Mi Browser"-->

Method 3: Using ADB to Deeply Disable Advertising

If manual settings don’t work, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a tool for debugging Android, which allows you to disable the system applications responsible for displaying ads without root rights.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on USB Debugging on your phone: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on the MIUI version to activate Developer Mode. Go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers and turn on USB Debugging.

ADB Tools

adb devices

(A device with a serial number must appear).

adb shell pm hide com.miui.systemAdSolution


adb shell pm hide com.xiaomi.midrop




adb shell pm hide com.miui.analytics




adb shell pm hide com.xiaomi.ab

These commands are off:

• 🛑 com.miui.systemAdSolution – the main module of system advertising.
• 📊 com.xiaomi.midrop and com.miui.analytics – statistics collection services.
• 📢 com.xiaomi.ab – push notification service.

Warning: Disabling system applications may cause some features to function unstable (e.g. Mi Share or Game Turbo).If you have problems after applying the commands, return the applications back:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.systemAdSolution

(Replace uninstall with enable to turn back on).

Method 4: Installation of an alternative launcher

Advertising in MIUI is often integrated into a standard launcher (desktop), replacing it with a third-party (for example, Nova Launcher or Lawnchair) will help get rid of banners in the app menu and on the home screen.

How to install an alternative launcher:

1. Download Nova Launcher or Lawnchair from Google Play.
2. Install the launcher and select it as the main launcher when you first start (the system will prompt you to do this automatically).
3. In the settings of the new launcher, turn off: 📱 Mi Weather and Mi Calendar widgets (they can display ads). 🔍 Built-in search (use Google or another search engine). 📰 News Feed (if it is in the launcher).

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ Remove ads on the home screen and in the app menu.
• ✅ Allows customization of the interface (themes, icons, gestures).
• ✅ No need for root rights or complex manipulation.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Does not remove ads in system applications (Security, Topics).
• ❌ Certain functions MIUI (For example, dual applications may not work properly.

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An alternative launcher is the easiest solution to remove ads from the home screen, but it doesn’t affect the system banners in the settings.

Method 5: Blocking ads through hosts file (without root)

The method involves editing the hosts file, which is responsible for redirecting domains, so if you block the domains from which the ads are loaded, they will stop showing, and you don't need root, but you need a special application.

Instructions:

1. Download the DNS66 app (free, no ads).
2. Open the app and press Start (allow creation) VPN-linkage).
3. Go to the Hosts tab and add the following domains to block: ad.mi.com data.mistat.xiaomi.com sdkconfig.ad.intl.xiaomi.com tracker.ai.xiaomi.com sa.api.intl.miui.com
4. Activate the lock and restart the phone.

This method blocks:

• 📡 Downloading advertising banners in system applications.
• 📊 Sending analytics data to Xiaomi.
• 🔔 Push notifications from advertising services.

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If some features (such as checking for updates) have stopped working after blocking, temporarily disable DNS66 or remove problematic domains from the list.

Note: Some banking applications and services (e.g. Mi Pay) may conflict with the VPN-regime DNS66. In this case, add them to the exceptions or use the method only when necessary.

Method 6: Removing root-right system applications

If you're ready to root, you can completely remove the apps that are responsible for displaying ads, which is a radical method, but it's guaranteed to remove all ads in MIUI.

What will be required:

• 🔓 Unlocked bootloader (bootloader).
• 📱 Root rights (via Magisk).
• 🛠️ Root Explorer or Titanium Backup.

List of applications for removal (via Root Explorer):

Removing these packages can disrupt some MIUI features, such as themes, cloud backup, or Game Turbo. Before deleting, back up via TWRP!

Instructions for removal:

1. Open Root Explorer and go to /system/priv-app/ or /system/app/.
2. Find the folders with the names from the table above and delete them (or rename them by adding.bak).
3. Reboot the phone.

Method 7: Install custom firmware (radical method)

If none of these things work, the last thing you can do is install custom firmware without advertising.

• 🔄 LineageOS – pure Android without unnecessary applications.
• 🔥 Pixel Experience – firmware with interface from Google Pixel.
• 📱 Havoc-OS – customizable firmware with many functions.
• 🛡️ MIUI Pro - modified version MIUI publicity.

Advantages of custom firmware:

• ✅ Complete lack of advertising and analytics.
• ✅ Higher performance (no background Xiaomi processes).
• ✅ Regular security updates.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Loss of warranty (if it is still valid).
• ❌ The risk of “bricking” the phone when installed incorrectly.
• ❌ Certain functions (e.g, IR Blaster or Quick Charge may not work properly.

Installation instructions (briefly):

1. Unlock the bootloader through Mi Unlock Tool (requires a Xiaomi account binding).
2. Install TWRP Recovery for Redmi 5 Plus (codename vince).
3. Download firmware (e.g. LineageOS 18.1) and GApps (if you need Google services).
4. Load to TWRP, backup and run the firmware.

Note: Check compatibility with Redmi 5 Plus before installing custom firmware. Vince firmware (Redmi 5 Plus) won’t work for rosy (Redmi 5) or whyred (Redmi Note 5).

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When trying to remove ads, users often make mistakes that lead to the opposite effect or malfunction of the phone.

• 🚫 Removing system applications without backup – before any manipulations /system make a backup copy through TWRP Titanium Backup.
• 🔄 Use of obsolete ADB-commands – the list of packages to disable changes with the release of new versions MIUI. Check the relevance of teams in forums XDA Developers.
• 📱 Install unofficial firmware without checking – download firmware only from trusted sources (for example, XDA Xiaomi Firmware Updater).
• 🔓 Unlock bootloader on unofficial sites – only use the official Xiaomi tool to avoid blocking your account.

If after turning off the ad, the phone began to brake or overheat, check:

• 🔋 Are critical system services disabled (e.g. com.android.systemui).
• 📊 Is the memory clogged with cache (clear through Settings) → Memory).
• 🔄 Do the installed Magisk modules conflict (if you use root).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions