How to permanently remove ads from the lock screen on Xiaomi: the full guide 2026

Advertising on the lock screen Xiaomi is one of the most annoying features of the brand shell MIUI. Even after buying a premium model, users are faced with intrusive banners that appear every time you unlock the phone, the reason lies in the aggressive monetization of free firmware: the company integrates advertising modules into system applications, including Lock Screen and Security.

In this article, we will look at all the current ways to remove ads, from standard settings to deep changes in the system. It is important to understand that some methods require superuser rights (root), while others can affect the stability of the smartphone. We will also analyze why ads return after updates and how to avoid them. MIUI 12, 13 and 14 (including global and Chinese versions).

Why does Xiaomi have ads on the lock screen?

The problem is rooted in Xiaomi’s business model, which sees its smartphones as “budget flagships” but compensates for the low price by:

• 📢 Built-in advertising in system applications (Security, Mi Browser, Music)
• 🔄 Partner programs with services (for example, application recommendations from the WPS Office or AliExpress)
• 📊 Anonymous statistics (User Experience Program option in settings)

On the lock screen, the ads appear via the com.miui.msa.global app (in Chinese firmware — com.xiaomi.midrop), which downloads banners from remote Xiaomi servers and shows them on top of the wallpaper, and even if you turn off personalized ads in your Mi Account, banners on the lock can remain — they are tied to the device ID, not the user profile.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI for Russia (firmwareware) RU) Advertising on the block should not be in accordance with the law on the protection of personal data. If it appears, your phone is running on the global (Global), European (EEA) Chinese (CN) firmware.

Method 1: Disabling Advertising through the standard MIUI settings

The safest method is to use the built-in options of the system, which is suitable for users who do not want to risk the stability of the smartphone. MIUI 12–14:

1. Open Settings → Password and Security → Privacy.
2. Go to Advertising (or Personalized Ad Recommendations in English).
3. Turn off the Personalized Advertising slider (if it is active).
4. Return to the Settings → Lock screen.
5. Click More → Advertisements on the lock screen and deactivate the option.

On some models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro or POCO X3 Pro) the path may be different:

Settings → Special features → Additional settings → Remove advertising

If there is no item, then your firmware does not support it (most often this applies to Chinese versions of CN).

Is it off? Wi-Fi/mobile?|Is there a backup of important data?|Battery charge is bigger 50%?|Verified version MIUI customized?-->

Method 2: Remove System Applications Without Root (ADB)

If the standard settings don’t help, you can remove advertising modules via Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This method does not require root rights, but requires a computer and USB-It's a cable. MIUI 12–14 on global and European firmware.

Steps:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect your phone to your PC, install ADB drivers (you can download from the official Android website).
4. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type: adb devices Make sure the device is identified (its serial number should appear).
5. Follow the commands in turn: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.msa.global adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.xiaomi.midrop adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.analytics

After the phone is restarted, the ads on the lock screen should disappear. If not, check if the apps have recovered after the MIUI update.

⚠️ Note: Removing system applications may cause Mi Account, Themes, or Security to crash. Create a backup before the procedure via Settings → Additionally. → Backup.

Global (Global)|European (EEA)|Chinese (CN)|Russian (RU)|LineageOS (Pixel Experience)-->

Method 3: Using third-party launchers to lock

If you don’t want to interfere with system files, you can trick MIUI into installing an alternative launcher, some of which (for example, Nova Launcher or Lawnchair) allow you to completely replace the lock screen, thereby blocking the display of ads.

Instructions:

1. Download the launcher from Google Play with support for lock screen customization (we recommend Smart Launcher 6 or Before Launcher).
2. Set it as the default launcher (Settings → Applications → Default).
3. In the launcher settings, find the Lock Screen section and activate the Custom Lock Screen option.
4. Customize the look: add widgets, change wallpaper, disable notifications from MIUI.

The downside of the method: some features of the original lock screen (like Double tap to unlock or Swipe flashlight) may stop working, and Xiaomi sometimes blocks third-party launchers after updates.

Method 4: Editing system files (root required)

For power users who are ready to get root rights, there is a radical method - editing build.prop files and removing advertising services at the system level - this method is guaranteed to remove ads forever, but can lead to loss of warranty and unstable phone operation.

Procedure:

1. Get root rights with Magisk (see instructions for your model on XDA Developers).
2. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or FX File Explorer).
3. Click on /system/etc/hosts and add a line to the end of the file: 127.0.0.1 ad.mi.com 127.0.0.1 globalapi.ad.xiaomi.com 127.0.0.1 sdkconfig.ad.xiaomi.com This will block access to ad servers.
4. Delete folders: /data/data/com.miui.msa.global /data/data/com.xiaomi.midrop
5. Reset the device.

After this manipulation, the ads will disappear not only on the lock screen, but also in other system applications. MIUI change may be reset.

Method 5: Switching to custom firmware (for advanced)

If nothing works, you'll end up with custom firmware without ads.

• 📱 LineageOS – “clean” Android without unnecessary applications.
• 🔄 Pixel Experience – firmware with Google Pixel interface.
• ⚡ Xiaomi.eu – modified MIUI Advertising-free and Chinese-based.

Installation process:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (requires a binding Mi Account and wait 7-15 days).
2. Install custom recovery (TWRP or OrangeFox).
3. Download the firmware for your model from the official website (e.g. xiaomi.eu).
4. Flow through recovery by running Wipe Dalvik/Cache and Format Data.

Advantages of custom firmware:

• 🚀 No advertising and unnecessary applications.
• 🔒 Regular security updates.
• 🎨 Ability to fine-tune the interface.

Disadvantages:

• ⚠️ Loss of guarantee.
• 🔋 Possible battery or camera problems (depending on model).
• 📱 Certain functions (IR Blaster, Always-on Display may not work.

💡

Before installing custom firmware, check its compatibility with your model in the 4PDA forum. For example, the firmware for the Redmi Note 11 (spes) will not work for the Redmi Note 11 Pro (veux).

What if the advertisements returned after the update?

Xiaomi regularly updates its ad mechanisms, so even after successful removal, banners can reappear.

1. Reverse System Application Update: Go to Settings → Annexes → App management, find Security or Miui Daemon, click ⋮ → Cancel updates.
2. Block the Internet for advertising services: Use a firewall (such as NetGuard or AFWall+) to deny access to the network for: com.miui.msa.global com.xiaomi.midrop com.miui.analytics
3. Turn off automatic updates MIUI: Go to Settings. → The phone. → Updating the system → ⋮ → Settings and deactivate Automatic Boot.

If the ad comes after a major update (e.g., from MIUI 13 to MIUI 14), it is likely that Xiaomi has added new ad modules, in which case only re-using one of the methods described above will help.

💡

After each MIUI update, check the list of installed applications in Settings → Applications → Application Management. New advertising services are often masquerading as system components (for example, MiuiBugReport or MiuiVideo).

FAQ: Frequent questions about advertising on Xiaomi