Modern Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones offer impressive performance at an affordable price, but that convenience often comes at a cost of increased attention from ad integrations. Users face intrusive banners in system applications, folder recommendations, and even full-screen ads when unlocked.It is annoying, distracting and, most importantly, wasting mobile traffic and battery power.
Fortunately, in the current versions of MIUI 14 and the new HyperOS, the company has left users with tools to fine-tune privacy, so you don't have to be a programmer or get root rights to clear the interface of visual noise, you just need to go through key settings consistently and turn off a few hidden switches.
In this article, we will discuss a universal algorithm of actions that will help to remove 99% of advertising debris, we will consider not only standard menus, but also specific settings for Chinese versions of firmware, and also touch on security issues when disabling system services.
Global disabling of MSA and Advertising Identifier
The first and most important step is to disable the MSA (MIUI System Ads) service, which is the process that collects data about your actions and loads ad units into the interface, and without it, all other settings will have only a temporary effect.
To find this option, go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Data Access. In the application list, find msa and turn off the network access slider. The system will try to warn you about the consequences, but for the sake of clarity of the experiment you need to agree. Note that the switch may not work the first time - this is the normal behavior of the shell, just try 3-5 times in a row.
⚠️ Attention: After disconnection MSA The system takes 5 to 10 minutes to apply the changes. If the banners are left right away, restart the device.
In parallel, you need to reset the advertising ID. This is a digital fingerprint that allows algorithms to match personalized ads. Find the passwords and security section in the settings → privacy → advertising. Here you need to activate the switch to turn off personalized ads and click the Reset Ad ID button.
☑️ Checklist of primary cleaning
Cleaning system applications from banners
Even after the main service is disabled, individual apps can continue to show recommendations, most often for the standard Explorer, Music, Video, and Security app, each with its own hidden recommendation switch.
Start with the Safety app. Open it, click on the gear in the top right corner, and find the "Get recommendations" item. Turn it off. Then go to the "Clean up" section inside the same app, click on the settings gear there, and also uncheck the "Get recommendations" box.
Similar actions are required for media players. In the Video (Mi Video) app, go to profile (I tab) → Settings → Turn off "Mi Video Card" and "Out and Play." In the Music app, the path will be: Menu (three stripes) → Settings → Advanced settings → disable "Show Ads" and "Recommendations".
Hidden settings of the Conductor
Setting up the desktop and folders
One of the most annoying features of the shell is the appearance of advertising carousels in folders on the desktop. When you open the folder with applications, a "Recommended" block may appear at the bottom with an offer to download games or utilities.
To remove this, open any folder on your desktop. Click on the folder name to edit it, and just below you'll see the Recommended Switch. Put it inactive. Now the folders will only contain shortcuts to your applications.
Also, check the settings of the desktop itself: Hold your finger on the blank spot of the screen, select Settings, and make sure that Wallpaper Carousel (unless you use it specifically) and Get Content from the Internet are turned off, which will prevent news widgets and promotional material from appearing on the home screen.
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Tip: If you use a third-party launcher (like Nova Launcher or Lawnchair), the issue with folder and desktop ads disappears automatically, as third-party shells do not have access to Xiaomi’s system ad modules.
Browsers and news feeds
The standard Mi Browser and the Mi News/Glance app are the main sources of noise, often pre-installed and aggressively promoting content partners, and if you don't use them daily, they'd better be removed or disabled.
If deletion is not possible (e.g., in some regional firmware), you need to do a deep cleaning of the settings. In Mi Browser, go to profile → Settings → Privacy and Security. Turn off Personal Guidelines and Notifications. In the Main section, remove all news feeds, leaving only the address bar.
For the News app (often looks like a desktop widget), the algorithm is as follows: press the widget, click on settings and select No News, or remove the widget completely from the screen. In the app's settings, find the Content section and disable all sources.
| Annex | The path to adjustment | What to turn off |
|---|---|---|
| Security | A gear. → Cleanup → A gear. | Receive recommendations |
| Downloads. | Three points → Settings | Showing recommended |
| Topics | Profile → Settings | Showing Advertising, Auto Update |
| Music. | Menu → Settings → Extended | Displaying Advertising, Recommendations |
Specificity of Chinese versions and GetApps
Owners of devices imported from China (CN Version) face more aggressive advertising, as these firmware originally laid services for the domestic market of China. In addition to standard methods, there is often a GetApps store, which can spam notifications.
For the Chinese versions, it is critical to disable MIUI Daemon and Analytics in the Access to Data section, and it is also worth checking the Compass, Calculator and Dictophone app – in Chinese builds they often have built-in recommendation modules that need to be disabled individually in their settings.
If your phone is tied to a Chinese region but you live in another country, changing the region in settings (Settings → Additional settings → Region) to “Russia”, “Kazakhstan” or “Germany” can significantly reduce the number of ad integrations, as algorithms will adjust to local advertising legislation.
⚠️ Note: Do not remove system applications through ADB, Removing (key) Chinese firmware components can lead to a phone bootloop (cyclical reboot.
Additional methods: DNS and ADB
For advanced users who want to achieve 100% results, there is a method of blocking ads at the DNS level. This is the most effective way to cut the connection to the ad servers before they upload the banner to the screen.
You don't need third-party apps. Go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Private DNS. Select "DNS Provider Host Name" and type in the address: dns.adguard.com. Save settings. This action will remove ads not only in the system, but also in many applications and browsers.
An even more radical method is to use the command line of ADB (Android Debug Bridge) to freeze advertising packages, which requires connecting the phone to a computer, and the command to disable the MSA is this:
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.msa.globalThis method is more reliable than simply switching sliders in the menu, as it completely stops the process. However, when you upgrade to a new version of MIUI or HyperOS, the settings can reset and you have to repeat the procedure.
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Use of private use DNS (AdGuard is a “silver bullet” that solves the problem of advertising in a comprehensive way for the entire device, not just for system applications.