How to permanently remove ads on Xiaomi 12: official and hidden methods

Advertising in Xiaomi smartphones is one of the most controversial features of MIUI firmware. Even flagship models like Xiaomi 12, 12 Pro or 12 Ultra are not immune to intrusive banners in system applications, notifications and even on the lock screen.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to disable ads on Xiaomi 12, from standard MIUI settings to advanced methods using ADB and modified firmware. Importantly, some methods require technical training, so we’ll detail the risks and consequences of each approach. If you’re not ready for experimentation, start with official methods that do not violate the warranty.

Note: Instructions are relevant for Xiaomi 12 based on MIUI 13/14 (Android 12/13). For other firmware versions or regions (e.g. China’s CN ROM), additional steps may be required.

Official MIUI settings: what can be turned off without risks

The first and safest way is to use the built-in MIUI options, where the manufacturer provides the option to partially limit the display of ads, although it does not remove them completely.

• 📱 Disable recommendations in the application menu: go to Settings → Main screen screen → App recommendations and deactivate the slider, which will remove the banners at the bottom of the screen with suggestions for installing software.
• 🔔 Remove Advertising in Notifications: C Settings → Notifications → For more settings, find the "Recommendations" item and turn it off. This will stop banners from showing in the curtain.
• 🔍 Hide ads in search MIUI: Open the search bar on the main screen, tap on the icon settings (⚙️) Deactivate the "Show recommendations".
• 📊 Limit personalization: C Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Personalizing ads, disabling all sliders, reducing the number of banners targeted.

⚠️ Note: Even after these actions, the ads may remain in system applications (Weather, Music, Video, Themes.

The manufacturer says that advertising helps keep device prices low. However, in the Xiaomi 12 (as in other flagships of the series), this practice looks especially controversial - users pay full cost for top hardware, but receive a "bonus" of intrusive marketing. Fortunately, there are ways to get around this restriction.

2. Disabling Advertising through ADB: Step-by-step instruction

If the standard settings didn’t work, the next step is to use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a method that doesn’t require root rights, but requires connecting the smartphone to a computer, and the advantage is that it blocks ads at the system level without losing warranty.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux
• 📱 Cable USB (preferably original)
• 🔧 Installed drivers Xiaomi and ADB Tools
• ⚙️ Included debugging by USB smartphone

Steps:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and tap on MIUI Version 7 times. Return to the main settings menu and a new Developer section will appear.
2. Enable USB debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Connect Xiaomi 12 to your computer and confirm your trust in the device.
4. Open the command prompt (cmd on Windows or Terminal on macOS/Linux) and type:

adb shell


pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.systemAdSolution




pm uninstall --user 0 com.xiaomi.midrop




pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.analytics

These commands will remove the system components responsible for displaying ads. After you do, restart your smartphone.

Install Xiaomi drivers on PC

Enable debugging over USB on your phone

Connect your phone to the original cable

Check the connection of the team `adb devices`

Make a backup copy of the data-->

⚠️ Attention: After update MIUI System applications can recover, and then you have to do it again, and some functions, like Mi Drop for file transfer, will stop working, which is normal.

3.Reset MIUI settings: a radical but effective method

If the ad has penetrated too deeply (for example, appears in Settings or Control Center), you can try resetting personalized recommendations, which does not remove the ad completely, but resets all targeting settings, which significantly reduces the number of impressions.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Select "Personalization of Ads" and click "Reset Settings".
3. Confirm the action and restart the smartphone.
4. After the reboot, go back to Ad Personalization and turn off all sliders.

This method is especially useful if you have previously agreed to collect data for targeted advertising, and once reset, the system will perceive your account as new, and banners will become less intrusive.

The downside of the method: in a few weeks, MIUI can start collecting your preferences again. To avoid this, regularly clean the cache of com.xiaomi.mipicks and com.miui.systemAdSolution applications through Settings → Applications → Application Management.

4. Install custom firmware: an extreme measure for experienced users

If none of these methods work, you have to install a modified firmware, which is a radical solution that completely removes all system components associated with advertising, but has serious disadvantages:

• ⚠️ Loss of warranty (if you do not return the original firmware before contacting the service).
• 🔧 Risk of "bricking" if installed incorrectly.
• 🔄 Manual updates (no automatic updates).

The most popular firmware without advertising for Xiaomi 12:

To install custom firmware will require:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Xiaomi website (can take up to 72 hours).
2. Install TWRP Recovery or other custom Recovery.
3. Make a full backup of the current system.
4. Switch the selected firmware and GApps (if you need Google services).

💡

Before unlocking the bootloader, check if your Xiaomi 12 model supports official unlocking.Some versions (such as those for the Chinese market) may have limitations.

⚠️ Note: not all Xiaomi 12 features will work on custom firmware. IR-blaster or some camera modes. Before installing, check user reviews on forums XDA Developers or 4PDA.

5. Third-party applications for blocking advertising

If you don't want to interfere with system files, you can use specialized ad-blocking apps that work at the DNS or VPN level, intercepting requests to ad servers.

The best options for Xiaomi 12:

• 🛡️ Blokada – Blocks Advertising at Level DNS, No root required. Free version with restrictions.
• 🔒 AdGuard – supports filters for MIUI, There is a premium version with advanced features.
• 🌐 DNS66 — Open source software to block advertising domains through VPN.
• 🚀 NetGuard – Firewall with the ability to block advertising hosts.

How to set up Blokada:

1. Download the app from the official website (not from Google Play – there is a stripped-down version).
2. Launch and allow creation VPN-connection.
3. In the settings, select the lock list "Energy" or "Fennec" (optimized for MIUI).
4. Activate the protection and restart the smartphone.

The advantage of this method is that it blocks not only ads in MIUI, but also in third-party applications (for example, in a browser or games).

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Third-party ad blockers do not remove MIUI system banners completely, but significantly reduce their number. For maximum effect, combine them with the methods from sections 1 and 2.

6.Alternative launchers: bypassing system constraints

Another way to reduce the amount of advertising is to install a third-party launcher. MIUI shows some of the banners through a standard interface, and replacing it with an alternative one (for example, Nova Launcher or Lawnchair) can help.

How it works:

• The launcher replaces the standard MIUI interface by hiding built-in ad units.
• Some launchers (like Nova) allow you to disable system widgets that show ads.
• You can configure hiding apps with banners (such as Topics or Weather) from a shared list.

Instructions for setting up Nova Launcher:

1. Install a launcher from Google Play.
2. When you first start, select it as the default launcher.
3. Go to the launcher settings (Long tap on the desktop → Settings).
4. In the "Applications and widgets" section, disable the "Show recommendations" option.
5. In Settings → Home screen deactivate "Show MIUI hints".

⚠️ Note: Replacing the launcher does not remove ads in system applications (such as Settings or Phone), but it does make it less noticeable, since banners do not appear on the home screen and in the application menu.

Comparison of methods: what to choose?

To determine the best way, we will evaluate the effectiveness of each method:

For most users, the best solution is a combination. ADB-This removes the bulk of the ads without risking losing the warranty or functionality of the smartphone.

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing ads on Xiaomi 12