How to remove advertising in MIUI 12: 5 proven ways

Why MIUI 12 shows ads and can it be turned off forever?

Xiaomi’s MIUI 12 shell is known for its functionality, but many users face intrusive advertising in system applications, notifications, and even on the lock screen. The reason lies in monetization: the company integrates advertising modules into firmware to compensate for the low cost of devices. However, for the Russian and European markets, there are legal ways to disable most ad units without violating the license agreement.

It is important to understand: completely remove all advertising without consequences can only be combined with system settings, ADB-commands and third-party utilities. Official methods (via the settings menu) are removed to 70% advertising, but some elements (for example, in Mi Browser or Mi Video) require deep intervention. MIUI 12 (subversions 12.0.x–12.5.x), Proven on Redmi Note models 9/10, Poco X3, Mi 10/11 others.

Before proceeding, make sure that:

• 📱 Your device is working on MIUI 12 (check: Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI).
• 🔄 System updates are installed (some settings appear only after updates).
• 🔒 You have a backup of the data (in case of resetting settings).

Method 1: Disabling Advertising through MIUI System Settings

The safest method is to use built-in shell options, which are suitable for users who do not want to risk the stability of the system. Efficiency: removes ~60-70% of advertising (notifications, banners in the app menu, ads in the Weather and Calendar).

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi accounts.
2. Slip on your account, then select Mi Cloud → Sync.
3. Turn off Advertising (or Personalized Advertising in new versions).
4. Return to Settings → Additional → Special Opportunities → Advertising.
5. Deactivate all switches: Personalized recommendations, Advertising notifications, Show ads on the lock screen.

To remove ads in Mi Browser:

• 🌐 Open the browser, tap it. ⋮ → Settings → Additionally.
• 🔍 Turn off Personalized News and Banners.
• 📵 In the Privacy section, deactivate Show recommendations on the home page.

⚠️ Attention: After update MIUI before the new version (for example, from 12.0.5 to 12.5.2), some settings may reset!

Method 2: ADB-deep-switching teams

If system settings don’t work, use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) to remove system-level ads, including hidden services like msa (Mobile Services Analytics) and MiuiDaemon. You need a computer with Xiaomi drivers installed and USB debugging enabled on your phone.

Step-by-step:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and tap the MIUI version 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect your phone to your PC, open Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (macOS/Linux) in the ADB folder.
4. Enter the commands in turn (click Enter after each):

adb shell pm hide com.miui.analytics


adb shell pm hide com.xiaomi.midrop




adb shell pm hide com.miui.systemAdSolution




adb shell pm hide com.android.browser # To remove Mi Browser




adb shell settings put global hidden_api_policy 1

To disable ads in Mi Video and Mi Music, add:

adb shell pm hide com.miui.video


adb shell pm hide com.miui.player

💡

Before using ADB, create a restore point in TWRP (if you have custom recaps installed) to help you return the system in case of errors.

⚠️ Note: pm hide commands do not remove applications, but only hide them from the system. -k --user 0, But it can disrupt the job. MIUI!

Method 3: Using third-party utilities (without root)

If ADB seems complicated, use specialized applications that automate the process of disabling ads, but they require caution: some utilities may contain malicious code. We tested only proven tools:

• 🛡️ MIUI Hidden Settings (available on the 4PDA) — opens the hidden menu MIUI, Where to turn off advertising services.
• 🔧 ADB AppControl (Play Market) - a graphical interface for the ADB-manually-input.
• 🚫 App Inspector – shows all active advertising modules in the system.

Instructions for ADB AppControl:

1. Install the app and connect the phone to the PC.
2. Enable USB Debugging (as in Method 2).
3. In the application, select the MIUI section and tick:

• ✅ Disable Miui Analytics
• ✅ Disable System Ads
• ✅ Hide Mi Browser

Press Apply and restart the device.

Method 4: Removing Advertising through Hosts File Editing

This method blocks the phone from accessing Xiaomi’s ad servers at the DNS level. Efficiency: removes ~80% of ads, but requires root rights or using ADB to write to the system partition.

Steps:

1. Download the current hosts file to block ads (for example, with GitHub Steven Black).
2. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command:

adb push C:\path\to\file\hosts/sdcard/

1. Open ADB Shell and enter:

adb shell


su




mount -o rw,remount /system




cp /sdcard/hosts /system/etc/hosts




chmod 644 /system/etc/hosts




reboot

If you do not have root rights, use the alternative method through Magisk:

• 📱 Install Systemless Hosts in Magisk Manager.
• 🔄 Add a list of blocked domains to it (example: ad.mi.com, tracker.miui.com).
• 🔁 Reset the device.

💡

Editing a hosts file blocks not only Xiaomi ads, but also third-party trackers (Google, Facebook) that can speed up the phone.

Method 5: Switching to custom firmware (for advanced)

If all of the above methods didn't work, there's a radical solution, which is to install custom firmware without advertising. MIUI 12:

• 🌍 MIUI EU (European version without advertising, but with weekly updates).
• 🛠️ LineageOS or Pixel Experience (pure Android, but without branded features Xiaomi).
• 🔥 Xiaomi.eu Stable (stable version with remote ad modules).

Installation process:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (requires a wait of 7-30 days).
2. Install a custom TWRP recavator for your model.
3. Download the firmware (e.g. MIUI EU from Xiaomi.eu) and transfer it to your phone.
4. In TWRP, run Wipe → Format Data, then run the firmware.

⚠️ Attention: Custom firmware installation cancels warranty and can lead to locking of the device if the bootloader unlocks is disrupted. On models with Anti-Rollback (for example, Redmi Note 8 Pro), downgrading the firmware version is fraught with a brick"!

What to do if the ad returns after the update

Xiaomi regularly updates the advertising mechanisms in MIUI, so after the system update, some banners may appear again.

• 🔄 Before updating, back up your settings through Settings → System system → Backup.
• 📵 After the update, re-use it. ADB-Teams from Method 2.
• 🔍 Check the list of active applications in Settings → Annexes → Managing applications for new services with the word ad or analytics in the title.

If the ad appears in a specific app (such as Mi Music), try:

1. Clear the app cache: Settings → Apps → [Title] → Clear the cache.
2. Disable auto-update for it in the Play Market.
3. Install an alternative (e.g. VLC instead of Mi Video).

FAQ: Frequent questions about advertising in MIUI 12