How to permanently remove pop-up ads on Xiaomi: from system banners to third-party apps

Why does Xiaomi have pop-up ads and can it be removed?

Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the problem of intrusive banner ads that pop up in the settings menu, on the lock screen or even in system applications, the reason lies in the MIUI brand shell, which is integrated by default with the company’s advertising services. This is not a virus or the result of installing suspicious programs – this is how the brand’s business model works, compensating for the low price of devices.

The good news is that all advertising modules in MIUI can be disabled without root rights and third-party utilities using hidden system settings. Bad - the manufacturer regularly changes the paths to these options in new versions of firmware, so there is no universal solution. In this article, we will discuss current ways for MIUI 12-14, including methods for older models (Redmi Note 7, Mi 9T) and new flagships (Xiaomi 13, Redmi K60).

It is important to understand the difference between types of advertising:

• 📱 System Advertising – Banners in the settings menu, on the desktop, in the Security or Topics apps.
• 🎯 Personalized Ads – Targeted ads based on your activity (disabled via Google Settings).
• 🚨 Malware Advertising – Pop-ups from viruses or suspicious applications (requires malware checks).

If you only see ads in a particular app (like Mi Video or Mi Browser), the problem is in the app, not the system, and there are some solutions to that, and we'll talk about them at the end of this article.

Method 1: Disabling Advertising through MIUI Settings (without root)

The easiest and safest method is to use the built-in shell options, which the manufacturer hides deep in the menu, but the path to them is the same for most models, and the instructions are suitable for MIUI 12-14 (including global and Chinese versions).

Steps to disable system advertising:

1. Open Settings → About your phone and tap 7-10 times on the MIUI version line until the notification “You became a developer” appears.
2. Return to the main settings menu and select Additional → Developer Settings.
3. Activate the USB Debugging Switch (this is temporary, to access hidden options).
4. Now go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Three Dots (menu) → Show all apps.
5. Find msa (or Miui System Ads in global firmware) in the list and turn off the permission to Show over other windows.

Enable the developer mode|Activate debugging by USB|Find the msa app in the list|Disable permission to display over windows-->

After this action, the banners in the settings menu and on the desktop should disappear. If the adverts remain, check two more apps:

• 🔍 com.miui.systemAdSolution – responsible for analytics and targeted ads.
• 📊 AnalyticsCore – collects data about the use of the device (you can disable completely).

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If there is no msa in the app list, try searching for it by the keyword "ad" (ad). In Chinese firmware, the name may be in Chinese - look for characters (guangao).

Method 2: Blocking Advertising Servers via Hosts File

This is a method that works for users who have adverts left after disabling the system modules, and we block access to servers that load banners through editing the hosts file, which doesn't require root rights, but requires a computer and USB debugging.

Instructions:

1. Download the archive with the ready-made hosts file for Xiaomi (it lists all Xiaomi advertising domains).
2. Connect the phone to your computer, enable USB Debugging and confirm access in the pop-up window on your smartphone.
3. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and execute the command: adb pull /system/etc/hosts This will back up the current file.
4. Replace the original hosts with the downloaded file with the command: adb push miui_ad_hosts.zip /system/etc/hosts
5. Reset the device.

⚠️ Attention: After update MIUI The hosts file will reset to the factory settings. To avoid this, create a task in Automate or Tasker that will automatically replace the file after each update.

Method 3: Use ADB-deep-cleaning

If previous methods have failed, try disabling advertising services via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires a PC connection but gives you deeper control over system processes.

Run the following commands in order in the terminal (click Enter after each):

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


adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.xiaomi.midrop




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




adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.browser




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




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

What these teams do:

• 📉 uninstall --user 0 — Deleting the application for the current user (without root).
• 🔇 Disable-user – disables the application, but does not delete its files (you can return it back).
• 🎯 Team objectives: analytics, advertising SDK, standard browser and media players that often display banners.

Disconnection through settings MIUI|Blocking through hosts|ADB-team|I've tried nothing.-->

⚠️ Note: Deleting system applications may cause some features to work unstable (e.g. Mi Drop for file transfer).If something stops working after disabling, return the application with a command:

adb shell pm enable com.name.applications

Method 4: Install custom firmware (for advanced)

If you’re willing to take drastic measures, installing custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience) will permanently eliminate advertising, a method that requires unlocking the bootloader and root rights, which cancels the warranty and carries the risk of “bricking” the device.

Advantages of custom firmware:

• 🚀 Total lack of advertising and surveillance.
• 🆕 Regular security updates (as opposed to regular security updates) MIUI, where updates are often delayed).
• 🔧 Flexible interface and performance setting.

Step-by-step:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Xiaomi tool (requires an account binding Mi).
2. Install TWRP Recovery for your model (see instructions on XDA Developers).
3. Download the right firmware (e.g. LineageOS 20 for Redmi Note 10 Pro) and GApps (Google services).
4. Using TWRP, run Wipe → Format Data, then run the firmware and GApps.

⚠️ Note: Before the firmware, make a backup of the data through TWRP or Mi PC Suite. Devices with MediaTek processors (e.g. Redmi) 9A) It is more difficult to unlock - they may need authorization through SP Flash Tool.

Method 5: Blocking Ads in Specific Applications

If the ads only appear in individual programs (such as Mi Browser, Mi Video or Cleaner), they can be disabled or replaced with analogues.

For standard Xiaomi applications:

• 🌐 Mi Browser: Open your browser settings → Confidentiality → Turn off Personalized Ads and Show News on the Home Page.
• 🎥 Mi Video: Go to Settings → About the program and tap 5 times on the logo to open the hidden menu.
• 🧹 Security: In the application settings, turn off Recommendations and Optimization.

For third-party applications:

• 📱 Use Blokada or AdGuard – they block ads at the level DNS rootless.
• 🛡️ On YouTube or social media, turn on Traffic Saving (in Chrome) or No Sound (on Instagram) modes – this reduces the number of ad impressions.
• 🔄 Clean the app cache regularly through Settings → Annexes → Warehouse.

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Even after MIUI has been disabled, third-party apps (such as games or social media) can display banners, requiring specialized tools like AdGuard or changing the DNS to 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare).

What if the advertisements returned after the update?

Xiaomi regularly releases updates that reset ad settings to avoid reappearing banners:

Create an automatic task:

1. Install the MacroDroid or Tasker app.
2. Create a trigger for the event Finishing the system update.
3. Add Actions: ADB Command: pm disable com.miui.systemAdSolution ADB Command: pm disable com.xiaomi.msa.global
4. Save the macro and grant it Special Access rights.

Alternative methods:

• 📵 Turn off automatic updates MIUI In Settings → The phone. → Updating the system → Three points. → Settings.
• 🔄 Install. MIUI EU — Unofficial firmware without ads, but with weekly updates.
• 📡 Use it. DNS66 NextDNS to block advertising domains at the network level.

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If some features (such as themes or cloud storage) are missing after the update, check if you have accidentally disabled system applications through ADB. You can restore them by commanding adb shell pm enable name packet.

FAQ: Frequent questions about advertising on Xiaomi