Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often face intrusive banner ads that appear in system apps and even on top of the desktop. For the Redmi Note 9 Pro, which remains popular due to its excellent value for money, this problem is especially relevant, as advertising modules are embedded deep in the shell of MIUI. Advertising can be annoying in the Music, Explorer, Security app and even in the standard calendar.
Fortunately, there are several proven ways to get rid of this digital noise completely or partially without having to obtain the rights of a Root superuser. In this article, we will look at a comprehensive approach that includes disabling system services, setting up a system. DNS-You can manually optimize the permissions for each application, and you can bring back a clean interface and speed up the device.
Before we start, we need to understand that ad units are part of the ecosystem that allows a company to sell devices at a low price, but the user has every right to disable data collection and display of banners, and we'll look at the methods from the simplest settings to deeper interventions.
Disabling the MSA service is the main source of advertising
MSA (MIUI System Ads) is the main component responsible for downloading and displaying advertising content in the interface of your Redmi Note 9 Pro. This process collects data about your actions and loads targeted ads. To block it, you need to perform a certain sequence of actions in the settings menu.
Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Access to Personal Data. In the list that opens, find msa and turn off the switchboard. The system will warn you that some features may stop working correctly, but for the average user this is not critical. You will need to wait 10 seconds, after which the “Cancel” button will be available.
⚠️ Warning: The recall button may be inactive the first time or the process may be interrupted by an error. 2-3 Once in a row until you receive confirmation of successful revocation of the license.
After a successful MSA shutdown, it is recommended to restart the device, which will stop the background processes associated with advertising, but this step alone is often not enough, since there are other sources of intrusive content in the MIUI shell that require separate customization.
☑️ Checking the shutdown MSA
Configuring the built-in MIUI applications
Many of Xiaomi’s standard utilities have their own built-in ad switches that work independently of the MSA service. To achieve complete comfort, you need to go through key system applications and disable personalized recommendations there.
Start with the Security app. Click on the gear in the top right corner and find the "Receive recommendations" option. The switch should be inactive. Then open the Explorer app, go to settings (three bars on the top left), and also disable "Recommendations." Similar actions should be performed in the Music, Video and Themes apps.
Pay special attention to the Downloads app. It often broadcasts pop-ups. Go to the download settings and make sure that the "Show Recommended Content" option is turned off. It's also worth checking the desktop widget settings if you're using standard MIUI widgets.
- 📱 Security Appendix: Settings → Receive recommendations (Off).
- 📁 Conductor: Menu → Settings → Recommendations (Off).
- 🎵 Music: Profile → Settings → Advanced settings → Showing ads (off).
- 🎬 Video: Profile → Settings → Online recommendations (Off).
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In the “Themes” application, you can remove advertising by going to the profile, clicking on the settings and disabling the “Receive recommendations” item, as well as “Show advertising” in the “About the program” section.
Using a Private DNS to Block Advertising
One of the most effective and modern methods of combating advertising is the use of the DNS over TLS protocol. This method allows you to block advertising requests at the network level without installing third-party applications that could slow down the Redmi Note 9 Pro.
To implement this method, go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Private DNS. Select the option “Host Name of the DNS provider” and enter the address dns.adguard.com. Once you save the settings, your smartphone will automatically filter traffic, cutting off requests to known ad servers.
| Parameter | Meaning/Action | The effect |
|---|---|---|
| Type DNS | Provider host name | Manual activation |
| Server address | dns.adguard.com | Blocking Advertising and Tracking |
| The alternative | dns-family.adguard.com | Ads + content blocking 18+ |
| Reset | Automobile | Return to standard settings |
The advantage of this method is that it works in all applications, including browsers and games, where it is usually the most difficult to remove banners. However, it is worth considering that when using some corporate Wi-Fi networks or public transport, where authorization is required through a web page, Internet access may temporarily disappear.
What to do if the Internet stops working?
Management of notifications and authorizations
Often users confuse system advertising with intrusive push notifications from installed applications. Browsers, games and stores can request permission to display notifications, and then spam with news and offers.
Go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Notification Center. You can set style and priorities here. But more importantly, go to Settings → Apps → All Apps. Select a suspicious application (like a third-party file manager or “memory cleanup”) and go to Notifications. Disable all categories or disable notifications completely.
Also worth checking is Special Features, some malware masquerading as system services and accessing the screen, and make sure there are no services you don't know that have overlay rights over other windows.
- 🔍 Check the list of installed applications for unknown programs.
- 🚫 Turn off notifications for browsers (Chrome, UC Browser and shops.
- 🛡️ Limit background activity for rarely used applications.
Special attention should be paid to the GetApps app (Mi Store), which is the official Xiaomi app store, which often sends notifications about discounts and new items, if you do not use it, notifications can be safely disabled in the settings of the application itself or through the notification center.
Disabling Advertising on the Lock Screen
Redmi Note 9 Pro owners may encounter ad carousels on the lock screen, a feature called Wallpaper Carousel, which is often turned on by default or after a system update, and replaces a static image with a news feed with in-app ads.
To return a static screensaver, go to Settings → Always on screen and lock. Find the wallpaper carousel and turn it off. If you want to leave beautiful photos but no ads, you can turn off the "Receive recommendations" and "Connect to Wi-Fi for updates" settings in the carousel settings.
⚠️ Note: After disabling Wallpaper Carousel, the lock topic may change to a standard one. If you used a custom theme, you may need to re-use it through the Themes app».
Also check the theme settings. Some third-party themes downloaded from the MIUI store may contain embedded ads. Using the standard Classic theme or official themes from Xiaomi without modifications ensures that there are no hidden banners.
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The wallpaper carousel is a separate system module that requires manual shutdown even after the MSA license is revoked.
Additional methods and cleaning of the cache
Sometimes, ad units can get stuck in the device’s memory, continuing to show content even after changing settings, and in such cases, deep cache cleaning and resetting of advertising ID settings helps, especially if you have been using the device for a long time and have accumulated a lot of junk files.
Go to Settings → Passwords & Security → Privacy → Advertising Services. Here you can click the button “Reset Ad ID.” This action will not delete your data, but will reset the profile that ad networks used to target. It is also recommended to clear the cache of system applications through the Apps menu.
For advanced users, it is possible to use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) commands to remove system packages responsible for advertising, such as com.miui.misys or com.android.browser (if you use another browser). However, this method requires a PC connection and command line knowledge, so beginners are better off limiting themselves to the software methods described above.
- 🔄 Reset the advertising ID in the privacy settings.
- 🗑️ Clear the cache of the “Security”, “Downloads” and “Conductor” applications».
- 📲 Consider installing an alternative launcher (like Nova Launcher) for full desktop control.
Remember that regularly updating your MIUI system can bring some ad settings back to their original state. Periodically check the key points described in this article to keep your device clear of intrusive content.