How to permanently remove advertising from the screensaver of the Xiaomi Redmi phone: a detailed guide

Ads on the Xiaomi Redmi lock screen are one of the most annoying features of MIUI, which the manufacturer has integrated into the system for monetization. Even after buying a smartphone, users are faced with intrusive banners, app recommendations and content from Xiaomi partners. The good news is that these ads can be turned off — in whole or in part — without root rights and complex manipulation.

In this article, we will discuss 7 proven ways to remove ads from Redmi screensaver on different versions of MIUI (12 to 14), including hidden settings, disabling system services and alternative methods for advanced users. It is important to understand that some methods may differ depending on the model (for example, Redmi Note 10 Pro vs Redmi 9A) and the firmware region (global, Chinese, European).

Why does Xiaomi Redmi appear on the screensaver?

Xiaomi is embedding advertising modules in MIUI firmware for several reasons:

• 💰 Monetization: the main income from the sale of smartphones at a low price is compensated by the display of targeted advertising.
• 📱 Partner Programs: Xiaomi collaborates with app developers (e.g. AliExpress, Booking.com) to promote their services.
• 🌍 Regional features: Chinese and Indian firmware have more advertising than global versions.
• 🔄 Updates MIUI: After firmware updates, advertising modules can return even if they were previously disabled.

Ads on the lock screen can appear in different formats: banners (at the bottom of the screen), application recommendations (image icons with a suggestion to install), content from MSA (Mi Security Ads), as well as weather widgets with advertising, most often this affects the Redmi 9/10/11 series, Redmi Note 8/9/10/11 and budget devices, where the manufacturer is more actively monetizing the audience.

Method 1: Disabling Advertising through MIUI Settings (Official Method)

The easiest and safest way to do this is to use the built-in MIUI settings. It is suitable for most Redmi models running MIUI 12-14 (global/European) firmware. Importantly, in China ROM, this method may not work due to manufacturer restrictions.

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings → Lock screen.
2. Switch to the lock screen settings (or additionally, depending on the version).
3. Find the Recommendations or Show Recommendations option and turn off the slider.
4. Return to the basic lock screen settings and turn off the weather (if it is displayed with ads).

If there is no recommendation, try an alternative path:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Type in MSA (Mi Security Ads) or Mi Browser.
3. Open the app settings and turn off notifications + limit background activity.

Method limitation: On some models (e.g. Redmi 9C NFC), after the MIUI update, the adverts may return, in which case you will have to repeat the procedure or use alternative methods.

Method 2: Manually disabling MSA (Mi Security Ads) services

MSA (Mi Security Ads) is a system service that is responsible for displaying ads in MIUI. It can be disabled without root licenses, but the process requires care. Importantly, on some firmware (China ROM), this method can lead to failures in the work of Security and Optimization.

Step-by-step:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search bar, enter msa (without quotes).
3. Select Mi Security Ads (or com.miui.systemAdSolution in older versions).
4. Click Stop (forced stop), then Disable (if available).
5. Go back and find the Mi Browser – turn off notifications and background activity.

If Mi Security Ads are not listed, try disabling the following services (they may also be responsible for advertising):

• 🔍 com.xiaomi.mipicks – content recommendations.
• 📦 com.miui.analytics – analytics collection (may affect targeted advertising).
• 🌐 com.android.browser – a browser with built-in advertising.

Warning: on MIUI 13/14 firmware, the forced MSA stop may work temporarily - after the reboot, the service will start again. In this case, use Method 4 (Reset Advertising Settings).

Method 3: Using ADB to Deeply Disable Advertising

If standard methods don't work, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a tool for debugging Android, which requires connecting the phone to a PC, but gives the most durable result even after MIUI updates.

What you need:

• 🖥️ A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB (You can download from the official website).
• 📱 Included Debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Tap 7 times, then go back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers).
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

Instructions:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command prompt (cmd) in the ADB folder.
2. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices should appear the name of your device.
3. Follow the command to disable the advert: adb shell pm hide com.miui.systemAdSolution If the command doesn't work, try: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.systemAdSolution
4. To disable application recommendations: adb shell pm hide com.xiaomi.mipicks
5. Reboot the phone.

If after the reboot the ad returns, use additional commands:

adb shell pm hide com.android.browser


adb shell pm hide com.miui.analytics

💡

Before using ADB, back up your data via Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset. In rare cases, incorrect ADB commands can cause system applications to crash.

Method 4: Resetting Advertising Settings through Engineering Menu

MIUI has a hidden engineering menu where you can reset your ad settings to factory settings, which works on most Redmi models, but requires care — wrong actions can disrupt the system.

How to open the engineering menu:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the code: ##4636### The Testing menu will open.
3. Go to the section Phone Information (or Usage Statistics).
4. Find Reset Advertising Reset (or Advertising Reset) and tap it.

If there is no item, try the alternative code:

##7378423##

After discharge:

• 🔄 Reboot the phone.
• 📵 Check the lock screen – the ads should disappear.
• ⚙️ Re-disable recommendations in Settings → Lock screen.

💡

Resetting through the engineering menu removes all personalized ad settings, but does not guarantee that the ad will disappear completely. For reliability, combine this method with disabling the MSA (Method 2).

Method 5: Installation of alternative firmware (for advanced)

If you're willing to take drastic measures, you can install custom firmware without advertising, a method that's suitable for power users, as it requires unlocking the bootloader and potentially takes away warranty.

Popular firmware without ads for Xiaomi Redmi:

Warnings:

⚠️ Warning: Unlocking the bootloader resets all data on the phone, and this can lead to a loss of warranty (on some Xiaomi models, the warranty is preserved, but the official service may refuse repair due to custom firmware).

⚠️ Warning: Installing custom firmware can turn your phone into a brick. 4PDA or XDA Developers for your model.

If you decide to do this, follow the algorithm:

1. Unlock the bootloader through Mi Unlock Tool (you need a Xiaomi account and wait 7-15 days).
2. Install TWRP Recovery (Castom Recovery)
3. Download the firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.eu) and transfer it to your phone.
4. Using TWRP, run Wipe (Dalvik, Cache, Data, System) and install the firmware.

Method 6: Using third-party launchers

If the ads are not only on the lock screen, but also on the app menu, you can install a third-party launcher, which doesn't take the ads off the screensaver, but makes them less visible in everyday use.

The best launchers for Xiaomi Redmi:

• 🏠 Nova Launcher – flexible setup, no advertising, gesture support.
• 🎨 Lawnchair – launcher in the style of Google Pixel, light and without advertising.
• 🔍 Microsoft Launcher – Windows integration, minimalist design.
• 📱 Hyperion Launcher – Optimized for Performance.

How to set up:

1. Install a launcher from Google Play.
2. When you first start, select it as the default launcher.
3. In the launcher settings, disable all options related to recommendations (e.g., Google Discover in Nova Launcher).
4. To completely hide advertising in MIUI, combine this method with Method 2 (disabling MSA).

Limitation: Launchers don’t remove ads from the lock screen, but make them less intrusive in the interface. Use other methods from this article to remove ads completely.

Method 7: Reset the phone to factory settings (last resort)

If none of these things work, you can reset completely, and it's a radical solution, but it's guaranteed to remove all the ad modules, because the phone goes back to "clean" and you lose all the data (photos, messages, apps).

How to Reset Xiaomi Redmi:

1. Make a backup copy of important data (photos, contacts, messages).
2. Go to Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.
3. Select Settings Reset.
4. Confirm the action (a password may be required).
5. After the reboot, set up the phone as new, but don’t restore data from the backup – this can bring back ads.

After discharge:

• 🔧 Turn off ads immediately through Settings → Lock screen.
• 📵 Turn it off. MSA and Mi Browser (see Method 2).
• 🔄 Do not update your firmware in the first few days – check if the adverts are back.

💡

Factory reset is the most reliable way to remove ads, but it requires a complete reinstallation of all apps and settings. Use it if other methods have failed.

FAQ: Frequent questions about advertising on Xiaomi Redmi