With the transition to the HyperOS shell, smartphone owners Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco have faced changes in the interface, but annoying advertising has not disappeared. Marketing algorithms still embed banner ads in system applications, folders and even on the lock screen. This annoys many users who want a clean experience using the device without unnecessary visual noise.
In this article, we will detail how to remove ads from Xiaomi HyperOS phone using built-in settings and additional tools. You will learn to disable MSA (MIUI System Ads), block personalized recommendations and configure your browser so that it ceases to be a source of pop-ups. Follow the instructions consistently to completely clean the system.
Disabling MSA Service is the Basis of a Clean System
The first and most important step is to deactivate the MSA system service, which is responsible for collecting data and displaying ads throughout the ecosystem, and without disabling this component, the rest of the settings may not be effective as the system will constantly try to download advertising content from the manufacturer’s servers.
To start, go to the Settings menu, then select Passwords and Security. In the list that opens, look for Access to Personal Data (or Authorization and Privacy in some versions). Here you need to find msa and switch the slider to an inactive state. The system will warn you that some features may stop working correctly, but for the average user this is not critical.
⚠️ Attention: After the first slider shutdown, the system can request confirmation in 10 seconds. If you agree, the process will reset. You need to turn off the switch, wait for the timer and turn it off again until the button is finally gray.
After successful MSA shutdown, it is also recommended to limit background activity for this service. Go to Apps → All apps, find msa in the list and select Battery. Set No Limits mode (so that the system does not “kill” the process before shutting down) or, conversely, disable background work if the option is available in your firmware version. This ensures that the ad module does not start again after the restart.
☑️ Checking the shutdown MSA
Setup of system applications: Security and Explorer
Even after disabling the MSA, some built-in utilities can show recommendations, most notably the Security app, which often contains a block of news and tips under the scan button. To remove this block, open the Security app, click on the three dots in the top right corner, and select Settings.
In the settings menu, find Receive recommendations and turn it off. Also, check the Memory Cleanup section inside the security settings, there may be a separate switch to display promotional offers from partners. Similar steps should be performed in the Explorer application.
Open Explorer, go to the menu (three bars or dots) and select Settings → About Service. Here you need to find the Recommendation switch and deactivate it. This will remove banners from the main page of the file manager, where games or applications from GetApps are usually advertised.
Why is the ad coming back?
We remove advertising in folders and on the desktop
One of the most annoying things about the shell is that the recommended apps appear in folders on the desktop, and when you create a folder and put a few icons in there, the system automatically adds a Recommended box to it, which can be easily fixed through the launcher settings.
Press your finger on the empty desktop space to call the edit menu, and click Settings (or gear). Find the Folder section and disable the Recommendations option. After that, all existing and new folders will no longer offer you to install unnecessary games and programs.
- 📱 Open the desktop settings through a long press on an empty area.
- 📂 Go to the “Folders” section and uncheck the “Recommendations” box».
- 🧹 Clear the launcher cache through the application settings if the changes didn’t apply immediately.
Also worth noting is the wallpaper carousel widget, which often changes the image on the lock screen and shows advertising logos. To turn it off, go to Settings → Always on screen and lock screen → Wallpaper carousel and turn off the activation switch.
Blocking Advertising in the Built-in Mi Browser Browser
Xiaomi’s standard browser is a powerful tool, but by default it’s set to show news feeds and push notifications from affiliate sites. To turn it into a pure surfing tool, you need to do a deep privacy setup.
Open your browser, click on the menu (three bars) and go to Settings. Select Privacy and Security. Here you need to activate the Ad Blocker switch, which will significantly reduce the number of pop-ups on the sites visited.
Then go back to the main browser settings menu and find Receive notifications or push notifications. Disable all sources, especially those labeled as “Recommended” or “News.” Also, in the Home page, you can turn off the display of the news feed, leaving only the search bar and frequently visited sites.
| Setup parameter | Where to find out. | Recommended value |
|---|---|---|
| Ad-blocker | Settings → Confidentiality | Included. |
| Push notifications | Settings → Notifications | Off. |
| Newsfeed | Settings → Main page | Hiddenly. |
| Analytics | Settings → Advanced | Off. |
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Use alternative browsers. If the built-in browser continues to be annoying, install Chrome, Firefox or Brave — they don’t have integration with Xiaomi’s ad system and work faster.
Disabling personalization and advertising ID
To stop the system from creating your digital profile and tailoring ads based on your actions, you need to turn off personalization, which not only increases privacy, but also makes the promotional offers less accurate, and therefore less intrusive.
Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Privacy. Go to Advertising Services. You need to turn off Ad Personalization. You should also click Reset Advertising ID to reset your interests.
You should check Task Planner and Music settings on this menu, and often that's where the Receive Recommends or Show Ads switches are hidden, and go through the system apps list in the settings and make sure that no items related to "User Experience Improvement" or "Analytics" are activated anywhere.
⚠️ Note: Disabling the advertising ID will not remove the ads completely, but will make them less relevant. The number of banners may remain the same, but their content will become random.
Radical methods: DNS and third-party blockers
If standard methods don’t help or you want to be guaranteed to block ads in third-party apps and games, it’s worth using. DNS-This method does not require root rights and works at the network connection level, cutting off requests to known ad servers.
The most effective way is to use private DNS. Go to Settings. → Connection and Sharing (or "Wi-Fi and Internet"). Find a Private Item DNS (Private DNS). Select the mode "Host Name of the provider" DNS» and enter the address: dns.adguard.com. Save settings.
dns.adguard.comOnce you have set up, reboot your smartphone. All requests for ad domains will be blocked at the network level. This will also speed up the loading of pages in the browser and reduce traffic consumption. If a website or application stops working correctly, you can always temporarily disable this feature by returning the setting to the Auto position.
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Using a private DNS (dns.adguard.com) is the most effective way to remove ads throughout the system, including games and free apps, without installing additional software.