How to permanently remove ads in Xiaomi Explorer: from disconnection to deep cleaning

Advertising in standard Xiaomi Explorer has become one of the most annoying features of MIUI firmware for many users, with banners offering to install apps, pop-up notifications about “useful” services and even advertising folders in the root directory all hindering comfortable work with files, and the problem concerns not only the budget Redmi, but also the flagship Xiaomi 13/14 and POCO F5.

In this article, we will look at all the current ways to remove ads, from simple settings in the smartphone menu to radical methods using ADB and modified firmware. Importantly, some methods require unlocking the bootloader or root rights, which can affect the warranty and security of the device, we will specify the risks for each option so that you can choose the best one.

You will also learn why ads return after MIUI updates, how to block specific ad domains through hosts, and what to do if none of them worked. At the end of the article, you will find an FAQ with answers to frequent questions and a table of methods compatibility with different versions of firmware.

1.Why does Xiaomi Explorer have ads?

File Manager ads are part of Xiaomi’s monetization strategy, and the company has been integrating ads into system applications since MIUI 9, but this has been particularly aggressive in MIUI 12-14 versions.

📌 Banners at the bottom of the screen – appear when you open folders or search for files.
📂 Advertising folders – for example, Mi Video, Mi Music or Games in the root directory.
🔔 Pop-up notifications – offer to install apps from the Mi App Store.
🔍 Contextual advertising – appears when you search for files (e.g., "Look for music? Install Mi Music").

According to firmware analysis, ads are loaded from api.miui.com, sdkconfig.ad.xiaomi.com, and tracker.ai.xiaomi.com. These servers receive data about your Explorer activity and select “relevant” offers, and even if you turn off personalized ads in the settings, banners will still show up — just less targeted.

⚠️ Attention: B MIUI 14 (Global/EU) Advertising in Explorer may come back after every major update, which is because Xiaomi resets some of the system app settings.

2. Method 1: Disabling advertising through MIUI settings (without root)

The safest and easiest method is to use the built-in MIUI options. It is suitable for most models (Redmi Note 11/12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 12T, etc.), but does not guarantee 100% results.

Instructions:

Open the Settings → folder and guide.
Go to the Recommendations (or Advertising in older versions).
Turn off the sliders: 🔘 Show recommendations 🔘 Personalized recommendations 🔘 Advertising (if any)

Settings → Applications → Application Management

Conductor

File Manager

Showing notifications

Auto-start

After this action, the banners at the bottom of the screen should disappear, but the ad folders (Mi Video, Games) will remain.

📂 Hold the file. → Hide (if the option is available).
🗑️ Delete the folder (if the system allows) – it will recover after the reboot, but will not appear in the main list.

There are no banners at the bottom of the Explorer |

No pop-ups with suggestions appear |

Advertising folders hidden or deleted |

Notifications from the Conductor are disabled-->

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware (MIUI Global for India) the recommendation option may not be available.

Method 2: Blocking Advertising through ADB (without root)

If the standard settings do not help, you can use ADB-This method does not require root rights, but requires connecting the smartphone to a PC.

Preparation:

Enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times, then go back to Additional Settings → For Developers).
Download ADB Tools for Windows/macOS/Linux.
Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.

Instructions for entering into cmd (or Terminal on macOS/Linux):

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.systemAdSolution


adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.xiaomi.mipicks




adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.analytics




adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.msa.global




adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.player




adb shell settings put global hidden_api_policy 1

These teams:

🚫 Disable the system application of advertising (systemAdSolution).
🛑 Block Mi Picks – app recommendation service.
📊 Deactivate the analytics collection (miui.analytics and msa.global).
🎵 Remove ads in Mi Music Player (sometimes integrated into Explorer).

After you execute the commands, restart your smartphone. The ads in Explorer should disappear, but there are nuances:

Model/firmware	ADB Efficiency	Will the advertisements return after the update?
Xiaomi 13/14 (MIUI 14 Global)	90%	Yes, after major updates.
Redmi Note 12 (MIUI 13/14)	70%	Partially (banners may return)
POCO F4/F5 (MIUI 14 EU)	95%	No, nah. EU-less advertising firmware)
Redmi 10A (MIUI 12.5)	50%	Yeah, often.

💡

If, after the execution, ADB-Commands advertising remained, try to further disable the application com.miui.video - it is responsible for advertising folders in the Explorer.

Method 3: Editing the hosts file (without root)

Another effective method is to block ad domains through a hosts file, which does not require root rights, but requires the use of an ADB or a third-party file manager with access to system folders (such as Mixplorer).

Instructions:

Download the ready-made hosts file with ad blocking (select the option "unified hosts").
Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb pull /system/etc/hosts This will copy the current hosts to your computer.
Open the downloaded file in your notebook and add the following lines at the end: 127.0.0.1 api.miui.com 127.0.0.1 sdkconfig.ad.xiaomi.com 127.0.0.1 tracker.ai.xiaomi.com 127.0.0.1 ad.xiaomi.com 127.0.0.1 e.ad.xiaomi.com 127.0.0.1 e.ad.xiaomi.com
Save the file and download it back: adb push hosts /system/etc/
Reboot your smartphone.

This way, you can block access to ad servers at the system level, but there are risks:

⚠️ If the hosts file is corrupted, some system functions (e.g. updates) may stop working).
⚠️ Nana MIUI 14 System Can Automatically Restore Original Hosts After Rebooting.

What to do if the hosts are reset after rebooting?

If the system restores the original hosts, use the Hosts Go or AdAway app (requires root).These utilities automatically apply your rules after each reboot. The alternative is to create a task in Automate or Tasker to automatically replace the file.

5. Method 4: Installation of an alternative conductor (without root)

If you can’t remove ads in Xiaomi’s standard Explorer, the easiest way to install a third-party app is to use the best options:

📁 Solid Explorer – supports cloud storage, dual-panel mode and contains no advertising (paid, but there is a trial period).
🔍 FX File Explorer – Free, Open Source, Ad-Free.
🛡️ Mixplorer – a powerful manager with access to system files (requires configuration).
🌐 Total Commander – a classic file manager with support for plugins.

How to make an alternative conductor the main one:

Install the selected application from Google Play.
Open Settings → Applications → By default.
Find Explorer and select your application as standard.
Turn off notifications and auto-start for the standard File Manager (see Method 1).

Important: Even after installing a third-party Explorer, advertising folders (Mi Video, Games) will remain in the device’s memory, but will not appear in the interface.

Standard File Manager|

Solid Explorer|

FX File Explorer|

Mixplorer|

Total Commander|

Other-->

6. Method 5: Removing Advertising Using Root Rights

If you're willing to take drastic measures, root access will allow you to remove ads from Explorer completely.

Unlock the loader (official instructions).
Install Magisk to obtain root rights.
Use Root Explorer or Magisk Module to remove system components.

Steps to remove advertising:

Install the Magisk Module "MIUI Ad Remover" through Magisk Manager.
Or manually delete files: /system/app/SystemAdSolution/system/priv-app/MiuiSystemAdSolution/system/app/Mipay/system/app/Analytics
Clear the Explorer cache: su pm clear com.android.fileexplorer

Advantages of this method:

✅ Advertisements are permanently deleted (even after updates).
✅ You can remove advertising folders (Mi Video, Games) physically.
✅ It works on all versions. MIUI.

⚠️ Attention: Removing system applications can lead to unstable firmware or update errors.Always backup in TWRP before modification.

💡

Root access gives you maximum freedom, but it is not guaranteed and can disrupt some functions (for example, Mi Pay or Face Unlock).

7.What to do if the ad returns after the update?

Xiaomi regularly updates its ad-show mechanisms, so even after successful removal, banners may reappear.

🔄 Repeat the steps from Method 2 (ADB) — often.
📱 Check for updates for Magisk modules (if you use root).
🔍 Install an update for an alternative Explorer (e.g. Solid Explorer).
🛠️ Reset Explorer settings: adb shell pm clear com.android.fileexplorer

If nothing helps, consider switching to custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience).These firmwares are completely devoid of Xiaomi ads, but require an unlocked bootloader and may have hardware bugs (camera, NFC, etc.).

8. Frequent Questions (FAQ)

❓ Why do Mi Video and Game folders appear in Explorer, even though I didn't create them?

These are the advertising folders that MIUI It automatically creates its services to promote them. They don't take up disk space (they're just shortcuts), but they can be hidden or deleted through a user's computer. ADB: adb shell rm -rf /storage/emulated/0/Mi\ Video adb shell rm -rf /storage/emulated/0/Games After rebooting, they may appear again - in this case, use the method 3 (hosts or Method 5 (root).

❓ Can you remove advertising without a computer?

Yes, but with limitations: Use Method 1 (settings) MIUI). Install AdGuard or Blokada – they block ad domains at the level DNS. To edit hosts without a PC, use Hosts Editor (requires root). ADB-commands or get root access.

❓ Why is it still showing up after you turn off the ad in the settings?

V MIUI There are hidden mechanisms that ignore user settings, such as: Ads are downloaded via com.miui.systemAdSolution, which is not disabled by standard means. Some banners are displayed via Mi Push Service (even if you have disabled notifications). Use Method 2 (ADB) or Method 3 (hosts).

❓ Will the Explorer work after removing advertising modules?

Yes, Explorer will continue to work, but: If you delete com.android.fileexplorer completely (via root), you will have to install a third-party manager. If you only disable the ad components (systemAdSolution, mipicks), Explorer will work without banners. We recommend that you try to shut down first (through a ADB), not.

❓ Is there a risk of blocking the smartphone when editing system files?

The risks depend on the method: ADB-Commands (Method 2) are safe because they do not affect critical system files. Hosts editing (Method 3) is low risk, but updates may stop working if you make a mistake. Root and uninstall system applications (Method 5) are high risk! It can lead to bootloop (a looped download) or loss of functionality (such as Mi Account or Google Pay). TWRP before modification!