Modern Xiaomi smartphones offer excellent performance at an affordable price, but users often face intrusive marketing inside the system. This problem is characteristic of the shell. MIUI and its new version of HyperOS, which activates various content promotion services by default.
Ads on the locked screen are not random, but thanks to the work of a special system component, which is often masquerading as a wallpaper carousel. To return the device to its original appearance and stop seeing offers to buy goods or install the game every time you turn on the display, you need to perform a number of settings. In this article, we will discuss in detail all ways to solve the problem, from simple menu switches to deeper security settings.
It is important to understand that the company’s algorithms can change, and the names of menu items can vary slightly depending on the firmware version and region. However, the logic of the ad modules remains the same for most models, from the budget Redmi to the flagship Xiaomi 14.
The nature of the appearance of advertising on the lock screen
The main source of unwanted content is MSGLocker, which is responsible for the Wallpaper Carousel feature, originally conceived to regularly change background images with the addition of interesting facts, but over time has become the main channel for distribution of ad integrations, which replaces a static image with a dynamic ribbon with banners.
In addition, other analytics and personalization services may be active in the system, which collect data about your preferences for more accurate targeting. Disabling one component may not be enough if adjacent data collection services remain active.
⚠️ Warning: A complete shutdown of system services may cause widgets or wallpaper changes to work incorrectly. Make sure you understand the consequences of disabling each specific component before making changes.
Users often confuse standard advertising with app notifications. If you see discount messages from browsers or marketplaces on the lock screen, it is no longer the fault of the MIUI system, but the result of permissions given to third-party programs. However, system banners integrated into the wallpaper are removed exclusively through the settings of the smartphone itself.
Disabling the wallpaper carousel in the settings
The easiest and safest way to get rid of advertising is to deactivate the wallpaper carousel function through the standard settings menu, which does not require superuser rights or install additional software and is suitable for most users who want to quickly solve the problem.
You have to go to the personalization section first, and the path may be slightly different, but the general logic is in all versions of the shell, and you have to find the item that controls the look of the lock screen.
- 📱 Open your device’s Settings and go to the Lock Screen section.
- 🎨 Find the wallpaper carousel item (sometimes called Glance or Wallpaper) and click on it.
- 🚫 Turn the switch to Turn the wallpaper carousel into the "Off" position".
- ✅ Confirm the action in the pop-up window if the system requests confirmation.
☑️ Checking the ad-off
Once these actions are completed, the ads should disappear, and only the time, date and standard static image will remain on the lock screen, and if banners continue to appear, an additional recommendation service may be activated, which requires special attention.
In some regions, the firmware settings may be hidden deeper, so try searching by settings by typing in "Carousel" or "Wallpaper" to help you quickly find the menu item you want, even if the interface was changed in the latest HyperOS update.
Managing permissions for MSA applications
If disabling the carousel didn’t work, or if you want to block ads at the system level more radically, you need to work with the MSA (MIUI System Ads) application.
It's important to note that simply removing this application by standard means is not going to work, because it's part of the system, but we can restrict its rights by prohibiting Internet access and auto-run, which will prevent the ad module from downloading new banners.
- 🔍 Go to Settings. → Annexes → All applications.
- 📂 Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Show System Processes.
- 🤖 Find an app in the list called msa (MIUI System Ads).
- 📡 Click Other Permits and Turn off Internet access (Wi-Fi and Mobile Data).
Once you restrict access to the network, the MSA app will stop receiving commands from the advertisers' servers, and you may notice that when you try to shut down the system will repeatedly show a countdown timer, urging you to leave access, waiting for the timer to end and re-confirming the ban.
⚠️ Note: When Internet access is disabled for system services, some features that depend on online content (such as live wallpapers or news widgets) may stop updating.
Also on the same menu, you should find GetApps (Xiaomi app store) and similarly restrict its rights if you do not use this service.
Customization of personalization and recommendations
Modern versions of MIUI and HyperOS have a separate section dedicated to data collection and advertising personalization, which makes smartphone use more private and reduces the number of intrusive offers.
To access these settings, go to Settings → Passwords & Security → Access to Personal Data (or Special Features → Advertising Personalization) and see a list of services that use your data here.
You need to find and disable the following items:
- 📊 Personalized Advertising: Disables Interest-Based Targeting.
- 🌐 Recommendations: Remove prompts in folders and on the desktop.
- 📢 Get recommendations: a global switch for all system offerings.
It's worth noting that even after you turn off these settings, some of the elements may still be there, because the shell is deeply integrated with the company's services, but if you turn off all of these things in a complex way, you'll be able to "clean up" the interface.
Remember that changes may not take effect immediately, and once all changes are made, it is recommended that you completely restart the device so that the new configurations apply to all system processes.
Comparison of methods of disabling advertising
There are several approaches to solving a problem, and each has its own characteristics, depending on your technical background and the desired depth of cleaning of the system. Below is a table that helps you choose the best option.
| Method | Difficulty | Efficiency | Risks. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carousel shutdown | Low. | Medium | Absent. |
| Limitation of MSA | Medium | Tall. | Possible failures in system services |
| Disabling personalization | Low. | Medium | Less relevant but not missing sentences |
| Use of ADB | Tall. | Maximum | High risk of error in commanding |
As you can see from the table, for the average user, the safest and most effective is a combination of the first two methods: disabling the carousel removes visual noise, and restricting the MSA blocks content from downloading.
Using ADB (Android Debug Bridge) commands requires a computer connection and certain knowledge, which allows you to completely remove advertising packages, but is not recommended for beginners, as an error can lead to unstable system operation.
Additional sources of advertising debris
Sometimes, ads on a locked screen are not caused by Xiaomi’s system settings, but by the apps you installed. Browsers, memory cleaners, flashlights, and “optimizers” often have permission to display on top of other windows.
To identify the culprit, pay attention to when exactly the ads appear. If it's chaotic and the banners are different from standard MIUIs, check the list of recently installed apps. Removing suspicious software often solves the problem.
How to find an app that shows ads?
It’s also worth checking notification settings for specific apps. Go to Settings → Notifications → Manage Notifications and turn off marketing emails for stores, banks and news aggregators.
⚠️ Note: Apps that promise to “accelerate the phone” or “cool the processor” are 99% of the time a source of ads and junk files.
Regularly checking the list of installed applications helps keep the system clean, remove what you do not use, and carefully monitor the new permissions that programs request when updating.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I remove the MSA app completely without root rights?
Why did the new ads come back after the update?
Does the change in the region affect the amount of advertising?
Is it safe to disable all system services in the Access to Personal Data menu?
💡
If you are planning to sell your phone, be sure to perform a full Wipe Data reset after clearing the adverts so that the new owner doesn’t get your personalized settings, but also doesn’t see any extra trash if you pre-deleted it.
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The comprehensive approach, including disabling the Carousel, restricting MSA rights and banning personalized advertising, eliminates 99% of advertising noise on Xiaomi devices.
To sum up, fighting ads on Xiaomi requires a one-time focus on settings. By spending 10-15 minutes thoroughly checking all menu items, you’ll make sure you’re comfortable using your smartphone for a long time.