Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face intrusive advertising that appears in system applications, which is a fee for the affordable cost of the device, but it is not necessary to tolerate it, banner ads can pop up when unlocking the screen, in application folders or while using a standard browser.
Fortunately, Xiaomi allows users to manage these settings themselves, although it hides them deep enough. Deactivating the ad modules completely doesn't require super-user rights (Root) or complex firmware reflashing. You only need care and access to the Internet.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all the steps of cleaning the operating system. MIUI And HyperOS's new marketing content shell, and we're going to look at disabling the system service. MSA, setup DNS-filtering and cleaning each embedded application that can display banners.
Disabling the MSA system service
The central element in charge of displaying ads on Xiaomi devices is MSA (MIUI System Ads), which collects data about your actions and translates ads into the interface, and to block ads globally, you first need to turn off this service through authorization settings.
Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Access to Personal Data. In the list that opens, find msa and put the switch to an inactive state. The system will require you to wait 10 seconds, then prompt you to confirm the action. Press the "Cancel" button and make sure that the tick has disappeared.
Sometimes the first time you turn off the service is not possible due to server errors. If you see an error message, just repeat the procedure 2-3 times. It is also important to check that the GetApps and MIUI Daemon items are disabled in the same menu, if they are present in the list.
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If the "Revoke" button is inactive or an error appears immediately, check the stability of the Internet connection. MSA service requires online confirmation to remove restrictions.
After a successful withdrawal of permissions, the system may suggest sending an error report - no need to agree. This action finally breaks the connection of your device with the Xiaomi advertising server, the effect becomes noticeable not instantly, but within 5-10 minutes after the operation.
Set up a secure DNS to block ads
The most effective operating system-wide method is to use a private DNS, which allows you to filter traffic and block requests to known ad servers before they reach your screen.
To implement this method, go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Private DNS. Select the DNS Host Name option and enter the trusted filter address. The most popular and stable solution is the AdGuard server.
Enter the following data in the field:
dns.adguard.comSave your settings. Now all traffic that goes through your device will be checked, and this will help remove ads not only in system interfaces, but also in many free apps and games where they are streamed over standard networks.
☑️ Verification of work DNS-filter
It is worth considering that the use of a third-party DNS can slightly increase the response time of the network, although at modern tariffs this is almost invisible. If a site or application stops loading, temporarily return the DNS setting to the Auto position.
Cleaning the application "Security" and "Conductor"
Xiaomi’s standard utilities are often a source of annoyance to users.The Security app can show news and recommendations when scanning the system, and Explorer can broadcast banners at the bottom of the screen.
To clear "Security," run the app and click on the settings gear in the top right corner. Find the General Settings section and turn off the Receive Recommendations option. It's also recommended to go to the Cleanup in-app section and remove the tick from "Show Ads."
In the File Manager application, the algorithm of actions is similar:
- 📱 Open the app and click on the menu (three bars).
- ⚙️ Go to Settings. → About the annex.
- 🚫 Turn off the switchboard Get recommendations.
After this, the interface will be minimal.
Why are the settings resetting?
We remove advertising in the application "Themes" and "Music"
The theme store is another channel for distributing advertising content. When you open the Themes app, you can see banners on the home screen and in the selection sections. To get rid of them, go to the user profile (human icon), click on the settings (cogs), and turn off the Display Ads and Personal Recommendations.
The situation is similar in the Music app: Open the side menu, select Settings, then Advanced Settings, where you need to find and deactivate the Display Ads option, which will remove banners that appear when you listen to tracks.
Also, remember the Download app. It often shows recommendations at the bottom of the screen, go to its settings and turn off the recommended content.
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Comprehensive cleaning of all system applications is the only way to ensure that there are no pop-ups in unexpected areas of the interface.
Blocking in the Mi Browser browser
Xiaomi’s standard browser (Mi Browser) is set to display news and advertising by default, and if you prefer to use it rather than third-party solutions like Chrome or Firefox, you need to manually configure it.
Open your browser and click on the menu icon (three bars). Go to Settings → Privacy and Security. Enable Ad Block option. This is a basic filter that cuts off some of the intrusive banners.
Then go back to the main settings menu and find the Receive news or News Feed section, and turn it off completely, which will remove the information noise from the browser's home page, leaving only the search bar and frequently visited sites.
For more advanced protection, you can use built-in tracking protection features. In the Privacy section, activate the default Incognito mode or enhanced protection if your version of MIUI allows it.
Comparison of blocking methods
There are several levels of protection against advertising, and each user can choose the right balance between convenience and the degree of cleaning.
| Method | Efficiency | Difficulty | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSA shutdown | High (systemic) | Low. | Minimum |
| DNS filtration | Maximum | Medium | It can slow down some websites. |
| Set-up of applications | Medium (local) | High (many steps) | Absent. |
| Third-party blockers | Tall. | Medium | Battery consumption |
As you can see from the table, the best result is a combination of methods. MSA combined DNS-Filtering ensures system cleanliness in 95% of cases.
Additional notification settings
Sometimes, ads come in the form of push notifications from system services. To prevent this, go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Notification Management. Go through the list of system applications (Security, Topics, Music, Browser) and disable the notification category Marketing promotions or Recommendations.
You should also check the settings for GetApps, which even if you don't use it, it can send notifications, and you should completely stop it from showing notifications in the corresponding menu.
⚠️ Warning: Do not disable notifications from mission-critical system processes, such as System Services or Google Play Services, unless you are sure of their purpose.
Regularly checking this section will help keep the smartphone clean, especially after major firmware updates that may bring back old settings.