How to remove a link on the lock screen Xiaomi: from advertising to system notifications

The lock screen on Xiaomi smartphones is not just a protection against unauthorized access, but also an information bar that sometimes turns into a pile of unnecessary links. Users often encounter banner ads, notifications from MIUI, links to Mi Browser or Mi Video apps, and system hints that interfere with the perception of time, date and important alerts. In this article, we will examine how to clean the lock screen of everything superfluous – from standard MIUI tools to hidden settings and radical methods for stubborn links.

Complicating the problem, Xiaomi is actively integrating advertising modules and partner services into firmware, especially in global and Chinese versions of MIUI. Even after personalized advertising is turned off, some links can remain in the settings. We have tested all methods on Redmi Note 12 Pro+, POCO F5 and Xiaomi 13T devices with firmware versions from MIUI 13 to MIUI 14 - and are ready to provide working solutions, including those that are not described in the official documentation.

1. Disabling Advertising and Recommendations in MIUI Settings

The first step is to get rid of the obvious links: banner ads and “recommended” apps. Xiaomi embeds them in system services, but most can be deactivated through the settings menu. It’s important to understand that even after you turn off some elements can reappear after updates — this is a feature of MIUI, which the manufacturer does not consider a bug.

Go to Settings → Memory → Memory settings → Advertising (the path may vary slightly depending on the firmware version). Here you need to deactivate all switches associated with personalized advertising and recommendations.

• 📢 Personalized recommendations – disables analysis of your behavior to show ads.
• 🔗 Show recommended applications – removes banners with a suggestion to install software.
• 📊 Use Analytics – prevents data collection about your activities in the system.

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If your version of MIUI doesn’t have Ads in your memory settings, try the Settings path → About Phone → Additional → Advertising Services. Some devices (like the POCO X5 Pro) have this section hidden deeper.

Once you turn off, restart your device. If the links on the lock screen are still there, move on to the next method, which can be linked to specific system applications.

2. Removal of links from system applications (Mi Browser, Mi Video, Mi Music)

A common reason for linking to the lock screen is the background activity of standard Xiaomi apps, which even if you don't use them, can generate notifications and banners, and the solution is simple: either disable them completely or restrict rights.

First, check which apps have access to the lock screen:

1. Go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Notification management.
2. In the list, find Mi Browser, Mi Video, Mi Music, GetApps and other system utilities.
3. For each of them, turn off the "Show on the lock screen" switch.
4. Additionally block background activity: Settings → Annexes → Application management → [Select the application] → Battery → Limit background activity.

Disable Mi Browser notifications | Block background activity Mi Video| Delete GetApps cache |Reboot device-->

If you do not use these apps, you can disable them completely (do not delete!):

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an unused app (such as Mi Music).
3. Click "Disable" (not "Remove Updates"!).

⚠️ Note: Disabling system applications may cause some features to fail (e.g. playing music via Bluetooth or opening links in your browser).If you have problems after disabling, return the application to its original state via the same settings section.

3. Hidden MIUI settings: disabling “Useful tips” and system prompts

Xiaomi adds not only ads to the lock screen, but also so-called “helpful tips” — hints on how to use smartphone features — that appear as small cards with text like “Push twice on the screen to unlock” or “Use gestures for quick access to the camera.” These prompts can’t be turned off through standard settings, but there’s a workaround.

This will require activating the developer mode and using ADB-Instructions:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable “Debugging by USB”.
3. Connect your phone to your PC, install ADB Tools, and execute the command: adb shell settings put global. hide_lockscreen_tips 1

This command hides all the system prompts on the lock screen. If you need to return them back, replace them in the command 1 by 0. The method works on all devices with MIUI 12 and later, including Redmi and POCO.

4. Radical method: resetting the lock screen settings

If previous methods did not help, and the links on the lock screen remain, the problem may lie in the damaged settings of the system, in which case a partial reset will help, which does not affect user data, but returns all system components, including the lock screen, to factory parameters.

Resetting instructions:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select “Reset the lock screen settings” (on some devices, the item may be called “Security Reset”).
3. Confirm the action by entering a password or pattern lock.

⚠️ Note: After resetting the lock screen settings, you will need to reconfigure the unlock (PIN, Make sure you remember the primary password from your Mi Account beforehand, and it will be harder to restore access without it.

5. Removal of links through system file editing (for advanced)

If you're willing to take risks, you can manually delete the files responsible for displaying links on the lock screen, which requires root rights and is only suitable for experienced users, and the wrong actions can lead to system failure or a device "brick".

Instructions for devices with unlocked bootloader and installed Magisk:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to /system/priv-app/MiuiSystemUI/
3. Find the file MiuiSystemUI.apk and make a backup copy of it.
4. Open the file in the APK editor (e.g. APK Editor) and delete the folders associated with the ad: smali/com/xiaomi/mirecommender smali/com/xiaomi/ad

Save the changes, restart the device.

This method is guaranteed to remove all advertising modules, but requires technical skills. If you are not sure about your actions, it is better to use the previous methods or consult a specialist.

Advertising of applications|Systemic clues MIUI|Notifications from Mi Browser|Links to Mi Video|Other-->

6.Alternative launchers and third-party applications for blocking

If standard methods don’t work, you can go a workaround by using third-party launchers or screen locking apps that replace the standard MIUI interface, which doesn’t physically remove links, but hides them behind alternative design.

Popular solutions:

• 📱 Nova Launcher + Sesame Shortcuts – Allows you to fully customize the lock screen, including notifications.
• 🔒 AcDisplay – a minimalistic lock screen without advertising and unnecessary elements.
• 🛡️ LockScreen Widgets – Replaces the standard lock screen with widgets of your choice.

Please note that third-party launchers may:

• 🔋 Increase battery consumption (due to background activity).
• 🛠️ Conflict with system updates (after update) MIUI It could be down to a standard launcher).
• 🔓 Additional permissions are required (e.g. access to notifications).

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The launcher side is a temporary solution. Once you reset your settings or update your MIUI, they may stop working and the links will come back. For permanent effect, combine this method with disabling system notifications.

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing links from Xiaomi's lock screen