Ownership of Xiaomi smartphones is often overshadowed by intrusive content that the MIUI or HyperOS system broadcasts in the most unexpected places. Users regularly face a situation when, after unlocking the device, instead of the usual wallpaper, an advertising banner or an offer to install a questionable application appears on the screen. This is not a virus, but a regular monetization feature built into by the manufacturer to reduce the final cost of the gadget.
But you don't have to put up with that inconvenience. There are several proven ways to completely disable ads on the lock screen and in the interface. In this article, we'll go through all the methods available, from standard settings to using special commands for advanced users, you'll learn how to clean your smartphone from digital noise.
Before we start taking any drastic measures, it's important to understand how ad units work. Most often, the banners are caused by the MSA (MIUI System Ads) system process, which collects data about your preferences. Disabling this component is a key step in the fight for a clean interface. Let's look at the sequence of actions that will help you regain control of the device.
Disabling system advertising through MSA settings
The first and most effective step is to deactivate the msa service, which is responsible for downloading and displaying advertising materials in system applications and on the lock screen. To access the management of this component, you will need to open the settings menu and go to the section hidden from the eyes of the average user.
Find the password and security or advanced settings option in the settings, depending on your firmware version. Inside this section, look for the access to personal data or authorization and privacy option. This displays a list of all system services that have the right to collect information.
The system will try to convince you to leave it as it is by running a countdown of 10 seconds. This is a psychological trick, and you just need to wait it out. After the time has expired, click the "Revoke" button. If the first time failed and there was an error, try repeating the procedure 3-4 times in a row - Xiaomi servers are often overloaded, and on the third attempt, the revocation usually goes well.
- 🔍 Go to "Settings» → «Password and security».
- 🔍 Select the option “Access to personal data” (or “Authorization and privacy»).
- 🔍 Find the msa service in the list and disable the switchboard.
- 🔍 Wait for the countdown to end and confirm the withdrawal of rights.
⚠️ Note: After disabling the msa service, the ads may disappear within 24 hours, rather than instantly.
☑️ Checking the ad-off
Setting up the lock screen and wallpaper carousel
Often the source of annoyance is not the classic advertising, the so-called wallpaper carousel, it is a feature that automatically changes the background image on the locked screen and adds news widgets and promotional materials to it, many users confuse it with viruses, but in fact it is just an aggressive personalization service.
To get rid of this, you need to go to the lock screen settings. In the Always On and Lock menu (or similar, depending on the MIUI version), find the Wallpaper Carousel. Inside this menu, you need to turn off the "Enable Wallpaper Carousel" function. It is also recommended to remove the tick from the "Receive recommendations" item if it is active.
If you want to leave the wallpaper to change, but without advertising, choose a static image from the gallery or a standard set that does not require an Internet connection. This is guaranteed to remove any pop-up banners when you turn on the screen. Remember that static wallpaper also contributes to battery savings.
| Type of content | Where to turn off | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|
| Wallpaper carousel | Settings → Lock screen | Remove banners and background changes |
| Recommendations | Settings → Password and security | Disables collection of preference data |
| MSA Service | Settings → Access to personal data | Blocks system advertising |
| Receipt of recommendations | Settings → Password and security | Stops analyzing the use of |
What is MIUI Recommendations?
Cleaning Notifications in System Applications
Even after the basic services are disabled, some embedded apps can continue to send push notifications of an advertising nature, most often the sins of Explorer, Music, Video and Cleanup, each of these applications has its own internal settings, which must be checked separately.
For example, in the Security app (green shield icon), you need to click on the three dots in the upper right corner, select Settings and turn off Receive Recommendations. Similar steps should be repeated in the Explorer app: open the menu, go to the settings and find the About Service section where you want to remove the tick from Get Content.
The situation is similar in the Downloads app. Open a three-dot menu, select Settings, and find Show Recommended Content. By disabling these options, you will significantly reduce the amount of information noise. It is important to understand that system applications update independently, so after a major firmware update, the settings may reset.
- 📱 Open the Security app» → Settings → Disable recommendations.
- 📱 Go to the Guide» → Settings → About service → Take the checkmark off.
- 📱 In the Downloads app, turn off the display of recommended content.
- 📱 Check the settings of the Music and Video app for similar options.
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Use Do Not Disturb mode at night so that even random system notifications don’t wake you up until you have set all settings up completely.
Using DNS to Block Advertising
One of the most elegant and effective ways to combat advertising is to use a private DNS (Domain Name System), which works at the network level and blocks requests to known ad servers before they reach your device, which allows you to remove ads not only in the system, but also in the browser and some applications.
To do this, you don't have to install third-party apps, just go to the connection settings. Find the Connection and Sharing section or the Wi-Fi and Internet section. At the bottom of the list is the "Private" item. DNS» (Private DNS). Select the mode "Host Name of the provider" DNS» Enter the address of the trusted server of the blocker.
The most popular and proven solution is dns.adguard.com, enter this address in the appropriate field and save the settings. DNS-If the Internet stops working, the address is entered with an error or the server is temporarily unavailable.
dns.adguard.comThis method is universal for Android 9 and higher, it does not require root rights and does not make changes to system files, which makes it safe, but it is worth considering that some sites or applications may not work properly if they are tied to advertising SDKs for operation, in which case DNS can be temporarily disabled.
Radical measures: debugging by ADB and packet removal
For advanced users who want to achieve perfect system cleanliness, there is a method of removing advertising packages through a computer and the utility ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to physically remove components of advertising, rather than simply disabling them.
First, activate the developer mode. To do this, seven times click on the build number in the About Phone section. Then, in the Developer menu, turn on USB Debugging. Connect the smartphone to your computer, install the drivers and the ADB platform. You can run commands through the command line to delete specific packets.
For example, to remove the analytics service, you can use the command below: be careful: enter commands accurately, checking the names of the packets; a single-letter error can lead to the removal of an important system component.
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.msa.global⚠️ Note: Removing system packages through ADB It may cause a disruption of work MIUI. Use this method only if you are confident in your actions and understand what the deleted package is responsible for.
Once you've done the commands, restart the device, and you'll notice that the system is faster and the background is almost gone, and this is especially effective for older smartphone models, where every megabyte of RAM counts, but when you reset to factory settings, all the remote packets will return.
Alternative solutions and third-party launchers
If standard methods don’t work well or you want to completely change your visual style, install a third-party launcher.Replacing the standard MIUI Launcher shell with a Nova Launcher, Lawnchair or Microsoft Launcher allows you to completely ignore Xiaomi’s system widgets and lock screens.
Third-party launchers don't have built-in advertising and offer much more flexible desktop settings. They also often work faster and smoother. Installing such a launcher is a great way to rejuvenate the interface of an old smartphone. APK-file or find an app on Google Play, install it and select it as the default app.
There are also specialized blocking apps, such as Blokada or AdAway (requires root). VPN-The tunnel filters the traffic, though the setting is private. DNS Often a simpler analogue, these applications provide more detailed logs and filtering rules settings for power users.
- 🚀 Install a lightweight launcher to improve productivity.
- 🚀 Use Ad Blockers with Functional VPN.
- 🚀 Turn off automatic updates to system applications if they return ads.
- 🚀 Consider installing custom firmware (LineageOS, Pixel Experience) for full control.
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The combination of disabling MSA and using Private DNS eliminates 99% of all ads on Xiaomi’s system without the need for root rights.