Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphone owners often face intrusive ads that can appear in system applications, when unlocking the screen or while using standard utilities. This is a feature of monetizing budget devices, but users do not have to tolerate visual noise. In 2026, the MIUI algorithms and the new HyperOS shell became even more complex, but the tools to pacify them became more.
Removing ads completely requires a comprehensive approach: it’s not enough to just turn off one switchboard. You’ll have to go through several menus, change security settings, and possibly limit some system processes. In this article, we’ll look at all the current methods that will help make your Xiaomi smartphone clean of intrusive banners.
Before we start, it's worth noting that interfaces may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the logic of system services remains the same across all the brand's devices, and we'll look at both standard methods through customization and more advanced methods, including DNS and system applications.
Disabling System Advertising through MSA
The centerpiece of Xiaomi’s advertising ecosystem is MIUI System Ads (msa), which is the process that loads and displays banners in the interface. The first and most important step is to deactivate it. Without disabling this component, the rest of the settings may not be fully effective.
To start, you need to go to the settings menu and find the password and security section. The path can look like Settings → Passwords and security → Access to personal data. In the application list, find msa and turn off the slider. The system will alert you to the consequences and start a countdown timer for 10 seconds.
⚠️ Warning: After the timer has expired, press "Cancel." If the button is inactive or there is an error, wait a few seconds and try again. 2-3 Attempts to allow the server to shut down.
After a successful permission revocation, the ads in most system applications should disappear. However, to consolidate the result, it is also recommended to turn off receiving recommendations. Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Access to personal data and find the Get recommendations application (or Get apps), then also revoke the rights.
Configuring standard applications
Even after the MSA service is disabled, some embedded apps can continue to show content from partners, including the conductor, music player, theme and other utilities, each with its own hidden settings that need to be checked manually.
Start with the Security app, which is often the source of pop-ups. Open it, click on the gear in the top right corner, and find the "Get recommendations" item. Make sure the switch is in the "Off" position. It's also worth checking the "Clean up" section, where offers to install additional games are sometimes hidden.
The situation is similar in the Themes app: Go to the user profile (human icon), select Settings, and turn off the option “Show ads” and “Receive recommendations.” This will remove banners from the update and search feed.
☑️ Checking applications
Don't forget "Music" and "Video." In Mi Music, you have to go to the menu, select "Settings» → «Advanced settings" and turn off "Show ads. "In the video app (Mi Video) the path is similar: profile → setting → disable online recommendations and advertising.
Removing Browser Advertising and Notifications
Often users confuse system advertising with notifications from sites or the work of the built-in browser. The standard Mi Browser browser has its own advertising engine that works independently of the MSA system settings.
To clear your browser, open it, go to the menu (three bars) → Settings → Privacy & Security. Here, find the Ads section and disable all switches, including Personalized Ads and Get Notifieds. It is also recommended to enable Ad Blocker in the Security section.
Push notifications from sites deserve special attention. If you accidentally allow a site to send notifications, you will see banner ads even when blocked. To fix this, go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Notification Management. Find a browser in the list and turn off notifications for specific suspicious sites or ban them completely.
Secret command for the browser
If you use third-party browsers like Chrome or Yandex, the ad settings are located inside the apps themselves in the Privacy section. In Chrome, this is the path: Settings → Privacy & Security → Advertising where you can turn off personalization.
Using a private DNS to block
One of the most effective methods that works at the operating system level is to configure a private DNS, which allows you to block requests to ad servers before they reach your device, which is especially true for HyperOS and newer versions of Android.
To set up, go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Private DNS. The default is “Auto.” Select “DNS Provider Host Name” and type in the address: dns.adguard.com. Once saved, the phone may lose the connection for a second, and then reconnect.
| Parameter | Meaning | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Regime. | Provider host name | Manual DNS setup |
| Address | dns.adguard.com | AdGuard Blocker Server |
| The alternative | dns-family.adguard.com | Blocking Advertising and Adult Content |
| Reset | Automobile | Return to the standard settings of the provider |
This method does not require the installation of additional applications and has little effect on the speed of the Internet, but it is worth remembering that if the ad server changes. IP-address, the lock may stop working until the listings are updated by the provider DNS.
⚠️ Attention: When using private DNS Some apps or sites may not work properly if they rely on ad trackers for analytics. If you encounter problems with a particular application, temporarily return the settings. DNS in the position of “Auto».
Limitation of advertising identifier
At the bottom of Android’s settings, there’s an ad ID (AAID) that’s used for targeted advertising. While it doesn’t remove banners entirely, it makes them less personalized and intrusive, resetting your interest history.
Find the passwords and security section in the settings → privacy → advertising services (the path may vary depending on the version of MIUI). Here you click the button “Reset advertising ID”. It is also recommended to enable the option “Disable advertising personalization”.
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Repeat the reset procedure once a month, which won’t eliminate the ads completely, but will confuse the algorithms and make the ads less relevant to your real interests, reducing the likelihood of random clicks.
You should also check your Google settings. Go to Settings → Google → Advertising and also reset your ID and delete your advertising ID. It’s a comprehensive approach, it’s an impact!