Redmi and Xiaomi smartphone owners often encounter intrusive content that appears in the most unexpected places in the system, especially when an ad banner pops up right on the lock screen, blocking notifications and time, it is not a bug or a virus, but a regular MIUI feature called MSA, designed to monetize budget devices.
Fortunately, in firmware for Redmi 9 and newer models, this feature can be completely disabled without obtaining superuser rights. The process requires care, since the settings are scattered across different menus. Xiaomi periodically changes the location of items, but the basic principle of the MSA mechanism remains unchanged.
In this guide, we will look at all the ways to eliminate unwanted content, including hidden switches in system applications. You will learn to block traffic sources that load banners into the interface, which will restore the device to cleanliness and improve speed.
The Nature of Advertising Traffic in MIUI
The main source of annoying banners is the MSA (MIUI System Ads) process, which is responsible for collecting data about your actions and showing personalized offers, and disabling this component is the first and most important step to a clean interface.
But just turning off one service isn't enough. Advertising modules are built into standard applications: conductor, music, themes, and even task manager. Redmi 9 runs on the MIUI shell, which is set up by default for aggressive monetization.
It's important to understand that turning off ads doesn't disrupt the phone's core functions, you can still use the app store and Google services, and the only change is that there are no pop-ups and no static images in the system folders.
⚠️ Attention: When system components are turned off, a countdown (usually 10 seconds) may appear on the menu.This is an artificial delay created by developers to discourage the user from changing settings.
Disabling MSA System Advertising
The first thing you need to do is deactivate the main service, go to the settings menu and select Password and Security, and in the list that opens, look for Access to Personal Data or Authorization and Privacy.
In the application list, find the msa string. The switch should be active. Click on it to turn it off. As mentioned earlier, the system will try to stop you with a timer. Once the time has expired, confirm the action with the Disconnect button.
After this procedure, the number of ads will be significantly reduced, but some embedded applications may remain separate banners.
☑️ Checking the shutdown MSA
Setting up the lock screen and slideshow
Often, ads on a locked Redmi 9 screen do not appear through MSA, but through the “Wallpaper Carousel” function. This service changes the background image and shows news every time you turn on the display. To remove this source, go to Settings and select the Lock Screen.
Find Wallpaper Carousel or Glance for Mi. Turn off the activation switch inside the menu. If you want to leave the wallpaper change but no ads, select "No Subscription" in the carousel settings or turn off recommendations, which will completely clear the lock screen of promotional materials.
Also worth checking is the theme settings. Some third-party themes have built-in ad modules. Go back to the standard MIUI theme to rule out this factor. Path to the theme settings: Settings → Screen and Brightness → Theme.
⚠️ Warning: After the wallpaper carousel is turned off, the background image will become static. If you are used to changing pictures daily, you will have to install a third-party app from Google Play or manually change the wallpaper in the gallery.
What if the MSA item is not on the list?
Cleaning up Xiaomi’s standard apps
Ads often hide in the back of the standard utilities' settings. Start with the most popular source, Explorer. Open Explorer, click on the menu (three bars) and select Settings. Find Receive recommendations and turn it off.
Then go to the Security app. This is the central hub for all system tools. Click on the settings gear in the top right corner. You have to turn off the Receive Recommendations option. There can also be separate ad switches inside the Cleanup, Antivirus and Acceleration sections -- check them out.
Don't forget the Themes app. Go to the user profile (human icon), click on the settings gear and turn off Personal Recommendations and Show Ads, which will prevent pop-ups when you install new designs.
| Annex | The path to adjustment | What to turn off |
|---|---|---|
| Conductor | Menu → Settings | Receive recommendations |
| Security | The gear in the corner | Receive recommendations |
| Topics | Profile → Settings | Personal recommendations |
| Music. | Menu → Settings → Additional | Showing advertisements |
| Downloads. | Three points → Settings | Showing recommended |
Blocking through DNS and DNS
The most effective method that works at the network level is to use an ad blocker over DNS, which requires no third-party apps to install, and works globally for all Redmi 9. It blocks requests to known ad servers.
Go to Settings. → Connection and Sharing (or “Other Wireless Network Settings”). DNS (Private DNS). Select the mode "Host Name of the provider" DNS» And enter the address:
dns.adguard.comSave the settings. Now all the traffic that's trying to get through the DNS will be cut off, and this will remove the banners not only in the system, but also in many free apps and browsers. If the Internet stops working, just return the setting to Auto mode.
The advantage of the method is that it does not load the phone processor, unlike the VPN-The battery is used as normal, but some specific services may be blocked along with the ads, so keep an eye on the applications.
Removing unnecessary system services
There are a number of services in MIUI that are not formally advertising, but are actively using the Internet and displaying notifications, including Mi Video, Mi Music and Mi Browser, which can be limited if you don't use them.
Go to Settings → Applications → All apps. Go to Mi Browser. Go to Data Use and turn off Wi-Fi and mobile data transfer. The browser will remain on the phone, but will not be able to download content.
A similar procedure can be done with GetApps (Xiaomi app store), if you only use Google Play, you can block access to GetApps, which will prevent notifications of updates and promotions.
⚠️ Warning: Do not remove or disable system components with the words “Framework”, “Service” or “Cloud” in their name unless you are sure of their purpose.
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A comprehensive approach (disabling MSA + application configuration + DNS) ensures 99% system purity, and using only one method often leaves loopholes for advertisers.
Resetting the advertising identifier
To improve privacy and reset your ad preferences profile, it is recommended to change your advertising ID periodically, making your digital footprint less clear to Xiaomi algorithms and partners.
The way to setup: Settings → Password and security → Privacy → Advertising services. Here you will see the Reset Ad ID button. Press it.
Also, you can turn off the personalization of ads completely from this menu, the personalized advertising switch should be turned off, and then the algorithms will stop picking banners based on your visit history and geolocation.
Regularly cleaning the cache in the Memory section also helps to delete temporary files that may contain data for targeting. Use built-in cleaning function or third-party utilities like SD Maid, but with caution.