How to permanently remove ads on Xiaomi Redmi Note 11: a step-by-step guide

Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 owners often face intrusive ads in system applications, notifications, and even on the lock screen. The manufacturer has integrated advertising modules into MIUI firmware for monetization, but users do not have to put up with this. In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to completely or partially remove ads - from standard settings to advanced methods using ADB.

It's important to understand that some of the ways require technical training, and the wrong actions can lead to malfunctioning of the smartphone. We will describe each stage in detail, point out the possible risks and offer alternatives for users with different levels of experience. If you are willing to spend 10-15 minutes to set up, advertising will disappear forever.

Why is there an ad on Redmi Note 11 and can it be removed?

Advertising in MIUI is not a bug, but a feature. Xiaomi officially states that personalized ads help improve services and offer users relevant content.

  • πŸ“± Banners in system applications (Browser, Music, Themes)
  • πŸ”” Promotional push notifications from Mi Services and partners
  • 🎯 Personalized offers on the lock screen
  • πŸ” Advertising in search results by system

Can we get rid of this completely? Yes, but with reservations:

  • βœ… Partly through the settings MIUI (There will be some banners in the app)
  • βœ… Completely - with help ADB or custom firmware (requires unlocking the bootloader)
  • ❌ It is not possible if you use the global version. MIUI Linked to Mi Account (advertisements will return after reset)

Before you start settings, check the firmware version: go to Settings β†’ About Phone β†’ MIUI Version. If you have a Chinese version (with the CN suffix), there will be significantly more advertising than in the global (Global or EEA).

πŸ“Š What version? MIUI you have installed?
Global (Global/EEA)
Chinese (CN)
Russian (RU)
Custom firmware
I don't know.

Method 1: Disabling personalized advertising in MIUI settings

The easiest and safest way to do this is to deactivate personalized ads through the settings menu, which won't delete all ads, but will reduce the number of ads by a few minutes. 60-70%. The instructions are relevant for the Redmi Note 11 on MIUI 13/14:

  1. Open Settings β†’ Google β†’ Advertising.
  2. Click Remove the Advertising ID and confirm the action.
  3. Go back to the basic settings and go to Settings β†’ Memory β†’ Cleanup.
  4. Select the AutoStart tab and turn off autoruns for the Msa (Mobile Services Ads) and MiuiDaemon apps.
  5. Reboot the phone.

After these actions, the ads in the system applications should decrease, but banners in the Browser and Themes may remain.

Delete the advertising ID in the Google | settings

Disable Auto-Run for Msa and MiuiDaemon|

Clear the cache of system applications |

Reboot the phone |

Check for Advertising after Reboot-->

⚠️ Note: If after resetting the advert returned, then your Mi Account is linked to Xiaomi services. ADB (see method 3).

Method 2: Blocking Advertising Domains via Hosts File (without root)

This involves editing the hosts file, which is responsible for redirecting domain names, and we're going to block the domains that are loading ads into MIUI, and you're going to need to do this.

  • πŸ“± Redmi Note 11 smartphone with access to the file system
  • πŸ’» Computer installed ADB (or file manager with root rights, if any)
  • πŸ“„ Ready list of blocked domains (see below)

Steps to lock:

  1. Download the hosts file for Xiaomi (or create your own with the following domains):
127.0.0.1 ad.xiaomi.com


127.0.0.1 sdkconfig.ad.xiaomi.com




127.0.0.1 track.ad.xiaomi.com




127.0.0.1 data.mistat.xiaomi.com




127.0.0.1 sdkconfig.ad.intl.xiaomi.com

  1. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb push hosts /sdcard/
  2. On the phone, use a file manager (e.g., MiXplorer) to move the file to /system/etc/hosts, replacing the original (root rights or ADB with mount -o rw, remount /system command are required).
  3. Reset the device.

If you don't have root rights, you can use apps like DNS66 or Blokada that block domains at the VPN level, but they're less effective for system advertising.

πŸ’‘

Before editing the hosts file, back it up with the adb pull command. /system/etc/hosts hosts_backup. This will help you to restore the original in case of errors.

Method 3: Completely disabling ads through ADB (for advanced)

The Android Debug Bridge (ADB) method permanently disables MIUI advertising services without root permissions. This is the most reliable method, but it requires care. If you've never worked with ADB, follow the instructions carefully.

What you need:

  • πŸ–₯️ Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS
  • πŸ“‹ Installed Xiaomi drivers and package ADB Tools
  • πŸ”Œ USB-cable (preferably original)
  • βš™οΈ Included debugging by USB phone-on

Step-by-step:

  1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings β†’ About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times. Then go back to Settings β†’ Additional β†’ For Developers and turn on USB Debugging.
  2. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.
  3. Open the command prompt (or terminal) and execute: Adb devices Make sure the device is identified (serial number should appear).
  4. Follow the commands in turn: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.analytics adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.xiaomi.midrop adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.xiaomi.market adb shell pm hide com.android.browser
  5. To disable ads in system applications add: adb shell settings put global hidden_api_policy 1 adb shell settings put global hidden_api_policy_pre_p_apps 1 adb shell settings put global hidden_api_policy_p_apps 1
  6. Reboot the phone.

These commands remove Xiaomi analytics services, disable the theme store and browser, which are the main sources of advertising. If after the reboot some functions stopped working (for example, transferring files over Mi Drop), they can be returned by the command:

adb shell cmd package install-existing com.xiaomi.midrop
What if the ADB can’t see the device?
1. Install Xiaomi drivers from the official website (section "Mi") PC Suite"). 2. Try another. USB-cable (preferably original). 3. Enable the "Debugging by" option in the developer settings USB (Security settings)" and select "Always Allow from this computer. 4. Restart your phone and PC. 5. If you use Windows, check the Device Manager for an exclamation mark next to your device. ADB Interface.

Method 4: Install custom firmware (for experienced users)

If you are willing to take drastic measures, installing custom firmware (such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience) will completely remove all MIUI advertising modules.

AdvantagesDeficiencies
βœ… Complete lack of advertising and bloatware❌ Loss of warranty (if the phone is under warranty)
βœ… Cleaner and faster Android❌ Risk of "bricking" with errors
βœ… Regular security updates❌ Some features of Xiaomi, for example, IR-blaster) may not work
βœ… Ability to fine-tune the system❌ Requires unlocking the bootloader (waiting) 7-15 days)

If you decide to do this, follow the official instructions for the Redmi Note 11 (codename spes):

  1. Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (requires a tied Mi Account).
  2. Install custom recovery (TWRP or OrangeFox).
  3. Download the spes firmware from the XDA Developers forum.
  4. Sweat through recovery, having previously made a backup.

⚠️ Note: On the Redmi Note 11 with Snapdragon 680 processor, some custom firmware may not support the module 5G Before installing, check user reviews with your model!

Method 5: Alternative methods (without technical manipulation)

If the previous methods seem too complicated, alternative solutions may be used, which will not remove the ads completely, but will make them less visible:

  • πŸ›‘οΈ Use an alternative launcher: Install a Nova Launcher or Lawnchair – they will replace the standard interface MIUI, where advertising widgets are often displayed.
  • 🌐 Replace system apps: Instead of using a browser, use Chrome or Firefox with ad blocker (uBlock Origin). VLC. Instead of β€” KWGT customize.
  • πŸ“΅ Disable notifications from system services: Go to Settings β†’ Annexes β†’ App management, find Msa, MiuiDaemon and Mi Browser, then stop them from showing notifications.
  • πŸ”’ Use it. VPN Ad-blocking: Apps like AdGuard or 1.1.1.1 from Cloudflare filter ad domains at the level of the ad-blocking domains. DNS.

These methods do not require a deep technical knowledge, but their effectiveness depends on the version of MIUI. For example, in recent updates, Xiaomi blocks the ability to disable notifications for system processes.

πŸ’‘

The most reliable way to avoid root is to disable the advertising ID (Method 1) + block domains through ADB (Method 3), which removes 90% of the ads without risk to the system.

What if the ad returns after a reset or update?

Even after successful removal of the advert, it may reappear in three cases:

  1. MIUI Update – System applications are restored.
  2. Reset to factory settings – all changes are reset.
  3. Synchronization with Mi Account – if the account is linked to advertising services.

Decisions:

  • πŸ”„ After Update: Repeat commands ADB from Method 3.
  • πŸ”§ After reset: Do not restore data from a backup of Mi Cloud. Do not log into Mi Account before disabling ads. immediately follow Method 1 and Method 3.

For the Mi Account.

  • Create a new account without linking to Xiaomi services.
  • Or untie the device in Settings β†’ Xiaomi Account β†’ Delete the account (data will be deleted!).

If ads return after each update, consider turning off automatic updates. MIUI. To do this, go to the Settings. β†’ The phone. β†’ Update the system and click on the icon βš™οΈ in the upper right corner, then turn off the Autoboot option.

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing ads on Redmi Note 11

❓ Can you remove advertising without a computer?
Yes, but not completely. With your phone settings (Method 1), you'll turn off personalized ads, and with apps like AdGuard or Blokada, you'll block some of the ad domains, but the system banners in Themes and Browser will remain.
❓ Why after the teams ADB Some apps have stopped working?
Adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 commands remove applications for the current user. If you delete, for example, com.xiaomi.market (theme store), you have lost access to the wallpaper download. You can return the application by command: adb shell cmd package install-existing com.xiaomi.market A list of remote packages can be found in Settings β†’ Applications β†’ All applications (they will be marked as β€œdisable”).
❓ Will the way to work with ADB on the Redmi Note 11 Pro/Pro+?
Yes, the methods are identical for the entire line of Redmi Note 11 (including Pro and Pro+), as they work on the same firmware MIUI. The difference is only in the code names of the devices: Redmi Note 11 - spes Redmi Note 11 Pro - veux Redmi Note 11 Pro + 5G - peux ADB commands are universal for all models.
❓ Can I return standard applications after removal ADB?
Yes, there are two ways: through ADB: Command adb shell cmd package install-existing (e.g. com.miui.analytics). Through reset: Reset your phone to factory settings (Settings β†’ Additional β†’ Restore and Reset), but the ad will come back. If you delete a critical application (e.g. com.android.phone), the phone may lose the network. In this case, only the firmware will help.
❓ Is it legal to remove advertising from MIUI?
Legally, you do not violate the law, as: Your device without distributing changes. Xiaomi does not prohibit the disabling of advertising in the user agreement (only breaking the firmware and bypassing DRM are prohibited). In the EU and Russia, there are laws on the protection of personal data (GDPR, 152-FZ), which allow you to refuse targeted advertising. However, Xiaomi can limit the functionality of some services (for example, Mi Cloud) if modifications are detected.