Xiaomi smartphone owners often face intrusive advertising that appears in system applications, which causes annoyance and reduces the usability of the device, but there are many effective ways to get rid of this digital noise completely.
The MIUI system is set up by default to show advertising recommendations, but the user can manually change these settings. In this article, we will discuss in detail all available blocking methods, from basic settings to more advanced technical solutions.
The MIUI system is set up by default to show advertising recommendations, but the user can manually change these settings. In this article, we will discuss in detail all available blocking methods, from basic settings to more advanced technical solutions.
The main source of intrusive content is a system service that analyzes your actions, and by disabling it, you will significantly increase the privacy and speed of the interface, and it is important to understand that some changes require care so as not to disrupt the work of standard applications.
Disabling MSA System Advertising
A key component in charge of distributing advertising content is the MSA (MIUI System Ads) system application, which collects data about your preferences and shows personalized offers in various sections of the shell.
To deactivate this process, you need to go to the settings menu. Find the Password and Security section and select Data Access. In the application list that opens, find msa and disable the network access slider.
The system will alert you that some features may stop working correctly. Ignore that and press the Disable button. Often, you need to wait 10 seconds, after which you will be able to repeat the action or confirm the disconnect.
⚠️ Attention: After disconnection MSA Sometimes you need to restart the device or wait for 24 hours for the cache to update.
In some versions of the firmware, the shutdown may not work the first time, in which case repeat the procedure 3-5 times in a row, this is the standard system protection that tries to keep the ad module active.
Set up personalized recommendations
In addition to the main service, there are separate switches in the shell for personalized advertising, which are located in different menus and control the display of recommendations in specific applications, such as a browser, music or themes.
Go to Settings → Password & Security → Privacy. Scroll down to Advertising Services. You need to turn off Ad Personalization.
It is also worth checking the settings of individual system applications. For example, in the Security app, go to the settings (three dots or a gear) and find Receive recommendations. Similar settings are often hidden in the Explorer and Downloads menu.
- 🔍 Open the Topics app, go to profile and turn off personalization.
- 🎵 In the Music app, go to the settings and remove the tick from the item "Show advertising".
- 📂 In Explorer, click the menu and select Settings. → About the app, then disable recommendations.
Remember that after the system update, these settings may reset. Check the specified sections periodically to make sure that the restrictions continue to apply.
☑️ Checking the privacy settings
Blocking Advertising in System Applications
Even after the main services are disabled, some embedded programs may continue to display banners, most often with the standard Mi Browser browser and the Music app.
For Mi Browser, open the menu, select Settings → Privacy & Security. Activate the ad blocker and turn off the Receive News & Notifications option. This will significantly clear the start page.
In the Downloads app, ads often appear as pop-ups. To remove them, go to Settings within the app and find Show recommended content. Put the switch to an inactive state.
| Annex | The path to adjustment | Parameter for deactivation |
|---|---|---|
| Security | Settings (cogs) | Receive recommendations |
| Music. | Settings → Additional | Showing ads |
| Topics | Profile → Settings | Personal recommendations |
| Conductor | Settings → About the annex | Recommendations |
If you don't use standard apps, consider removing or disabling them through the application management menu, which will free up system resources.
How to remove system applications without root?
Using DNS to block at the network level
One of the most effective methods that do not require the installation of third-party software is the change of DNS-This method blocks requests to known ad servers at the network connection level.
Go to Settings → Connection & Sharing → Private DNS. Select DNS Host Name Mode and enter dns.adguard.com. Save the changes.
Once you have set up the device, all traffic will pass through AdGuard filters, which will remove ads not only in the system, but also in some applications and browsers where they have previously slipped.
⚠️ Attention: Use of third-party DNS It can slightly increase ping in online games. If you notice delays, return the setting to Auto or Default mode".
This method is especially useful for older smartphone models, which can be harder to tolerate the background processes of blockers, and it has little impact on the performance of the processor.
Hiding Advertising in MIUI Interface
The shell interface also contains elements that many users consider advertising, including folders on the desktop that automatically load popular apps, and the news feed to the left of the home screen.
To clear the folders, open any of them. At the top of the folder will appear the name and switch Recommended applications. Disable it, and the folder will stop offering to install excess software.
To turn off the Mi Content (or Google Discover) newsfeed, swipe to the right of the left edge of the home screen. Click on three dots in the corner or the settings gear and select No Ribbon or disable specific content sources.
- 📱 Remove weather and news widgets from your desktop by replacing them with static watch widgets.
- 🔒 In the screen lock menu, turn off the wallpaper carousel if it shows banner ads.
- 📉 Turn off the display of frequent use of applications in the multitasking menu.
A clean desktop not only pleases the eye, but also saves battery life, since the system does not need to constantly update widgets and download content from the network.
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Use third-party launchers like Nova Launcher or Lawnchair if the standard MIUI shell seems too congested, allowing you to fully customize the look and remove system constraints.
Clean installation and resetting of settings
If the ad appears suddenly after updating or installing a questionable app, it may be that the device is infected with an ad virus, in which case simple settings may not help.
Look for programs with suspicious names or no icons (often disguised as system processes) and remove any newly installed applications that you don't recognize.
In extreme cases, a full factory reset will help. Before you do this, be sure to back up your important data. Go to Settings → About phone → Reset → Erase all data.
When you first set up after a reset, read the terms of the agreements carefully. Often there are hidden clauses about the inclusion of advertising services and data transfers. Avoid all offers of acceleration and optimization from third-party partners.
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A radical but effective way to remove embedded advertising is to flash the device to the global version of MIUI without advertising or install custom firmware, however, this requires technical skills and can deprive you of warranty.