Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often face a situation where when they turn on the lock screen instead of the usual watches and notifications, they see banner ads or “beautiful” wallpaper with news. This is not a virus or a failure, but a regular feature of the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS, designed to monetize budget devices.
Fortunately, the developers have left the option to disable this functionality, although sometimes these settings are hidden deep enough or scattered across different menus. In this article, we will discuss in detail all possible ways to help you remove ads from the Xiaomi lock screen and return the device to a clean, classic look without unnecessary distractions.
The deactivation process depends on the firmware version and the region for which the smartphone is released. We will look at universal methods that are relevant to most modern models, including the Mi, Redmi Note and POCO series. You do not need superuser rights or complex technical skills - just follow the instructions carefully.
Analysis of the source of advertising on the blocked screen
Before you start removing, it is important to understand the nature of the content displayed. There are two main types of content in the Xiaomi ecosystem that users often confuse with direct advertising: paid recommendations from MSA services (MIUI System Ads) and the Glance/Lock screen magazine service.
If you have dynamic images with brand logos or news headlines on your screen, the Wallpaper Carousel feature is most likely activated, which operates separately from the main advertising system and requires its own way of turning off, while static banners at the bottom of the screen are usually generated by the msa system service, which aggregates offers from company partners.
It's important to distinguish between these terms, because disabling one source doesn't guarantee the other's disappearance. Some users mistakenly think that changing the static screensaver will get rid of advertising, but after a week they are surprised by the appearance of new banners. MIUI has a modular structure, and different visual elements are responsible for different system components.
⚠️ Note: Some global firmware versions may have slightly different menu interfaces. If you don't find an item with an exact name, look for one that has the same meaning or search for settings.
Understanding the architecture of the ad modules allows you to do a point-by-point, so you can leave Carousel if you like beautiful backgrounds, but remove text sentences, or you can turn everything off completely by returning the standard static image. Xiaomi's flexibility allows you to customize the lock screen to your preferences.
Disabling MSA Service and System Recommendations
The most effective way to remove intrusive banners is to deactivate the system service msa (MIUI System Ads), which is responsible for collecting user data and displaying personalized offers in various sections of the interface, including the lock screen.
To start, you need to go to the smartphone settings menu, find a section that can be called Password and Security, Fingerprints, Face Data, and... or just Security, and within this section, you need to find Access to Data or Special Features, where all system processes are listed.
In the app list, find a item called msa. Click on it and turn the switch to off. The system will warn you that this may affect the operation of certain functions, and will prompt you to wait 10 seconds before confirming. This is the standard MIUI protective measure against accidental shutdown of important services.
☑️ Checking the ad-off
After the timer expires, click Continue or OK. Also in the same Access to Data menu, it is recommended to check and disable network access for the GetApps app (formerly Mi Apps) if you do not use the Xiaomi app store, which will prevent you from receiving push notifications from the store.
There's another important switch that's often overlooked: Go back to the main settings menu, go to Password and Security, and find Access to Personal Data, and here you have to find msa again in the app list and disable the slider, which will prevent the service from processing your data to target ads.
Setting up and disabling the wallpaper carousel
If beautiful but intrusive photos with the Glance logo or "Wallpaper Carousel" appear on the lock screen, the problem is solved in the theme and screen settings.This service is designed to entertain the user, showing new images every time you wake up the phone, but often it is accompanied by advertising integrations.
To manage this functionality, go to Settings → Always on screen and lock screen. In this section, look for wallpaper carousel (or Glance for Mi). Inside, you will see the switch "Enable wallpaper carousel" and put it in an inactive state to return a standard static image.
In some versions of firmware, settings can be made to a separate Themes app. Open it, click on the profile icon or menu (usually three bars or a dot in the corner) and select Settings. Here you can also find lock screen control and disable receiving updates for the carousel.
⚠️ Warning: Turning off the wallpaper carousel will return a static picture. If you want to leave beautiful backgrounds but remove ads, look inside the carousel settings for "Show Ads" or "Recommendations" and only turn it off.
Interestingly, even with the Carousel on, you can minimize advertising noise. Once you go to the settings of this service, try to find the option “Update Frequency” or “Receive content.” Disabling the automatic download of new content will turn the Carousel into a regular gallery, no longer consuming traffic and showing fresh banners.
Managing personalized advertising in the system
Beyond specific services, MIUI and HyperOS have a global customization setting that allows the system to use your activity data to generate promotional offers, which makes ads less relevant, although it doesn't completely remove them visually, but often reduces the frequency of banners on the lock screen.
To access this feature, open Settings and search for settings by type in the word “advertising” or “personalization.” The system should suggest “Advertising Services” or “Ad Personalization.” When you enter this section, you will see the “Personalized Advertising” switch.
Also on this menu is often the Reset Advertising ID button, which is recommended to be pressed after personalization is disabled, which generates a new random ID for your device, breaking the link to the previously collected interest profile, and for Xiaomi, this is an important step in the fight for digital hygiene.
Why do you need an advertising ID?
Don’t ignore your Mi Account settings, go to your account settings via cloud services and check the Privacy section, and make sure that there are no checkmarks for participating in user experience improvement programs or sharing data with third parties for marketing research.
Comparison of methods of cleaning the lock screen
Different methods of combating advertising have different degrees of effectiveness and impact on the system. Some methods completely remove visual noise, but can deprive you of useful functions, while others simply hide banners, leaving background processes active. Below is a table to help you choose the best strategy.
| Method | Efficiency | Impact on the system | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disconnecting msa | Tall. | Minimum (only recommendations are missing) | Low. |
| Carousel shutdown | Medium (removes only photo ads) | Saves traffic and battery | Low. |
| Change of region | Tall. | Can change the set of pre-installed applications | Medium |
| Launcher installation | Maximum | Complete replacement of the lock interface | Tall. |
As you can see from the table, the most balanced solution is to disable the msa service in combination with setting up the Carousel, which allows you to maintain the stability of the operating system, avoid possible bugs when changing the region and does not require the installation of third-party software.
Changing a region to a country like India or the United States sometimes helps, because different jurisdictions have different advertising laws, but this method is not guaranteed and can lead to other, region-specific notifications, so you shouldn't rely on it as a primary means of combating advertising.
Additional settings of notifications and applications
Often users confuse system advertising with notifications from installed applications that have permission to display on a locked screen. Browsers, games and utilities can use this channel to promote their services.
Go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Notification Management. Go to the installed application list. Pay special attention to browsers (Chrome, UC Browser), memory cleanup applications and file managers. Go to the settings of each suspicious application and turn off Lock Screen or Lock screen.
Also worth checking is the Special Features section in the settings. Sometimes it hides services like Clearer or Security that have their own notification settings. In Xiaomi's Security app, click on the gear in the corner and turn off Receive Recommendations. This will remove pop-ups with tips that are often masquerading as system messages.
⚠️ Warning: Be careful when disabling notifications for system applications (Phone, Messages, Calendar) Make sure you turn off the “Recommendations” and not important system alerts.
If you have installed any memory cleaner or third-party antivirus applications, check their settings separately, often the source of intrusive ads that appear on top of all windows, mimicking the MIUI system warnings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Could disabling msa damage your phone or cause data loss?
Why did the new ads come back after the update?
Will installing a third-party launcher help remove ads on the lock screen?
What if the msa switch switch switch switches on itself?
💡
A comprehensive approach, including disabling msa, setting up the Carousel and checking application permissions, guarantees a complete 99% rid of advertising.
By following these guidelines, you can significantly improve the comfort of using your Xiaomi smartphone.A clean interface not only pleases the eye, but also contributes to more productive work without distracting you with extraneous visual noise every time you access the device.