Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often encounter intrusive content that appears at the most inopportune moment, especially when the screen is turned on or unlocked, when banner ads pop up instead of the usual wallpaper or widgets, not a system bug, but a feature of the MIUI shell that is monetized in this way, giving users affordable hardware.
Fortunately, the modern firmware version allows you to flexibly manage these settings without having to get superuser rights or flash the device. You can remove ads on the screensaver by regular means, if you know which sections of the menu you need to look at, the process will take no more than five minutes, but significantly improve the comfort of using the gadget.
In this guide, we will discuss all the current ways to block unwanted content, we will touch on system application settings, disabling MSA service and working with personalized recommendations. It is important to act consistently, since some items can be hidden in different menu subsections depending on the version of MIUI.
The Nature of the Appearance of Advertising Banners in MIUI
Understanding how MIUI works helps combat it more effectively. Xiaomi uses a low margin model on hardware to offset the difference in revenue from software services and ad impressions. The main source of pop-ups is the MSA (MIUI System Ads) system application, which aggregates content from various sources.
Ads can appear not only on the lock screen, but also in standard applications: conductor, security, music player, and even task manager. Algorithms analyze your actions to show relevant ads, which requires constant collection of user data. By disabling this feature, you not only remove visual noise, but also increase privacy.
It is worth noting that in different regions of the firmware (Global, Russia, Europe), the location of settings may differ, in some cases, advertising modules are built deep into the system processes, and their complete removal requires more radical measures.
Disabling personalized recommendations
The first and most important step is to disable the personalized recommendations feature, which allows the system to collect your preferences and display targeted ads, and without disabling this option, all other manipulations may not be effective as the server continues to request ad units.
To do this, you need to go to the main settings of the device. Find the section responsible for passwords and security, or immediately open the passwords and security menu. The list of options should look for the item related to privacy or authorization. Depending on the version of the software, the path can look like Settings → passwords and security → privacy.
Inside the privacy menu, find the "Receive recommendations" or "Personalized recommendations" switch. It should be activated by default. Click on it to put it inactive. The system can request confirmation of an action or show a warning that recommendations will become less useful - agree and disable.
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If you can’t find the “Privacy” option, search the settings by typing in “recommendations” or “ads”.
After disabling this function, the changes do not take effect instantly. The system cache can save old banner ads for a while. It is recommended to restart the device so that the new parameters apply to all system processes. If the ads remain after the reboot, then proceed to the next step - work with the MSA service.
Blocking MSA service through authorization settings
MSA is the primary conductor of advertising in Xiaomi smartphones, which is responsible for downloading and displaying advertising materials in the system interfaces. Disabling this service is a critical step in the fight for a clean interface. The process requires care, as the system will prevent the shutdown by suggesting that everything remains as it is.
To get to service management, go to Settings menu → Passwords and security → Data access. At the top of the screen, you'll see the Data tab or the list of apps that use the Internet. Find an app called msa. Click on it.
A window will open with a request for confirmation of the access restriction, the system will warn that the shutdown may affect the operation of certain functions, you must press "Limit" or "Disable". Be prepared for a countdown timer (usually 10 seconds), after which you will need to reconfirm the action, this is done specifically so that the user does not accidentally turn off an important service.
☑️ Checking the shutdown MSA
In some versions of MIUI, the path to this setting may be different. Alternative route: Settings → About phone → MIUI version (knock 7 times to activate developer mode, if hidden) → Advanced settings → Access to data. If you didn’t find the MSA on the list, it’s possible that your firmware version uses a different identifier, such as MIUI Daemon or similar system processes.
Setting up the lock screen and wallpaper carousel
Often, the source of ads on a locked screen is Wallpaper Carousel, which automatically changes the background image and often adds news feeds, app shortcuts and, of course, banner ads to the lock screen. Even if you turn off the MSA, Carusol can continue to show content.
To turn off, go to Settings → Lock screen. Find wallpaper carousel or Wallpaper Carousel. Inside this menu, you'll have a wallpaper carousel switch. Turn it to off. Then you'll only have the clock, date and standard notifications on the lock screen.
It's also worth checking the wallpaper settings. Sometimes the ad integrations are built into themes. If you're using a third-party theme from Mi Themes, it may contain ad modules, in which case it's recommended to go back to the standard theme or choose a topic with high ratings and reviews, where users do not complain about the ads.
What to do if the wallpaper carousel does not turn off?
It's important to distinguish between live wallpaper and Carousel. Live wallpaper is just an animated background that doesn't require a constant connection to the server to download content. Carousel is a full-fledged aggregator application. Removing or disabling the Carousel will not affect the ability to install static or live wallpaper manually.
Disabling Advertising in System Applications
Ads in MIUI are not limited to the lock screen, but they can appear in folders on the desktop, in the Security, Explorer and Downloads app, and to get comfortable, you have to go through each of these apps and turn off recommendations.
Let’s look at the main system utilities where you need to remove advertising:
- 📁 Explorer: Open the application, click on three dots (menu) → Settings → About the programme → Find the "Get References" switch and turn it off.
The procedure in each application is similar: you need to find the About section or general settings, often hidden in the three-dot menu. The key is not just to close the application, but to find the internal recommendation switch. In some cases, you need to restart the application to apply the settings.
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Disabling recommendations in each system application separately is the only way to remove ads from folders and utilities interfaces.
Using DNS to Block Advertising
If standard methods don't work, or you want to provide an extra layer of protection, you can use DNS with ad filtering, which blocks requests to ad servers at the network level, preventing content from loading even if the application tries to show it, a versatile solution that works for most applications.
Modern versions of Android (starting with version 9) have a built-in “Private DNS” feature. To set it up, go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Private DNS. Select “DNS Provider Host Name” mode and enter the address: dns.adguard.com. Save settings.
Once you have DNS settings, all your device traffic will go through AdGuard filters, which will remove ads not only in the system, but also in the browser and many applications, but it is worth considering that in rare cases, this can slightly increase ping in games or slow down the load of some sites.
How to roll back DNS settings?
An alternative to built-in DNS It can be used to install an AdGuard application or VPN-Ad-blocking services, but the private method DNS preferably, since it does not require the installation of additional software and consumes less battery power.
Comparison of blocking methods
For ease of choosing the optimal blocking strategy, we will bring all the methods considered in a single table. This will help you understand which method is suitable for your situation and firmware version.
| Method | Efficiency | Difficulty | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSA shutdown | Tall. | Medium | Minimum |
| Disabling recommendations | Medium | Low. | Absent. |
| Private DNS | Very high. | Low. | Possible grid slowdown |
| Carousel shutdown | High (for screen) | Low. | The type of lock is changing. |
Combining these methods is the best thing to do, and you should do it in a sequential fashion: first disable system settings and MSA, then remove Carousel, and then complete the DNS, and this comprehensive approach ensures that there is no advertising 99% of the time.
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After all the settings, take a screenshot of the current data access parameters so that when resetting the settings, you quickly restore the blocking of advertising services.
Possible problems and solutions
Users may encounter a number of difficulties in setting up, such as an MSA may not be included in the application list, or a recommendation switch may automatically be turned on back, often involving updating system components or caching data.
If settings are reset, check for updates for the Security and Themes app through the GetApps store. Sometimes older versions of these components conflict with new privacy settings. It’s also worth checking if you have a Mi Account activated in a region where advertising is mandatory (although this is rare).
⚠️ Note: Do not remove system applications through ADB or root rights if you're not sure what they're supposed to do. MIUI This can cause a cyclic reboot (bootloop) of the device.
Another common problem is that when you get a firmware update, you get a major Android or MIUI update, you can reset your settings to factory, and then you have to reset the MSA and recommendations, and that's the normal behavior of the system to get back monetization.
⚠️ Attention: If after the shutdown MSA The Music or Themes app has stopped working, just turn on network access for those specific applications in the Access to Data menu without activating it. MSA globally.