How to turn off ads on Xiaomi Redmi: a complete guide to cleaning up the system

Owners of Xiaomi’s budget and mid-range smartphones often face intrusive banner ads that appear in system applications, desktop folders, and even when unlocking the screen.This has become a kind of payment for the affordable cost of devices, but for many users it becomes a serious problem when using the gadget every day. Fortunately, the built-in MIUI shell or the new HyperOS system allows you to completely eliminate this visual noise, if you know where the right switches are.

Disabling ads doesn’t require root rights or deep programming knowledge, but it does require careful attention, as settings are scattered across different menu sections. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at every step of cleaning the interface, from the MSA system service to the hidden recommendations in standard utilities. You’ll learn to block not only explicit banners, but also the hidden data-gathering algorithms that are responsible for targeting content.

Before you make any changes, make sure your smartphone is connected to a stable Wi-Fi network or mobile internet, as some services require online status checks to properly disable.It’s also worth noting that menu item names may vary slightly depending on the firmware version and regional affiliation of your Redmi Note or Xiaomi Mi device.We’ll use current names for global shell versions relevant for 2026.

Disabling the MSA system service

The centerpiece of Xiaomi’s smartphone advertising ecosystem is the MSA (MIUI System Ads) system application, which is responsible for receiving and displaying banner ads in most embedded applications. To get rid of advertising, it is necessary to turn off this service first, but it is not always possible to do this the first time due to artificial delays introduced by developers.

To start, open your smartphone settings and go to Password and Security, where you will need to find Data Access or Permissions, which displays a list of all installed applications. In the list, you need to find a service called msa (often hidden in the back of the list or requires the display of system processes to be enabled).

After attempting to shut down, the system will issue a warning that some functions may be disrupted and will prompt you to wait 10 seconds before confirming the action.Caution: don't be afraid of this message, disabling the MSA is safe for the basic functionality of the phone. Once the timer has expired, press the Disabling button.If the system requests confirmation again or tries to return the switch to its original position, just repeat the procedure 2-3 times in a row - this is a known interface bug that is treated with persistence.

⚠️ Note: After the service is disabled MSA System applications may have cached banner ads that disappear on their own within 24 hours or after a full reboot of the device. Don't rush to reset to factory settings if the ad doesn't disappear instantly.

It is important to understand that MSA is closely related to other system components, so disabling it can affect the performance of personalized recommendations in the GetApps theme store or in the Mi Video app. However, for most users, this is a desirable result, as it frees the interface from unnecessary visual debris. If you actively use Xiaomi ecosystem services such as Mi Cloud or gallery synchronization, their work will not be affected, since they use other server processes.

Customization of personalization and recommendations

In addition to its explicit advertising service, MIUI and HyperOS have a built-in Personalized Recommendations mechanism that analyzes your actions and offers content that is often advertising in nature, which are set in a separate menu and require a customized approach for each system application where they are active.

To access these settings, go back to the main password and security menu and find Special Options or go straight to Advertising Services (some versions of firmware have this item separately). This is where the global recommendation switch is located, which you need to deactivate. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg: recommendations settings are duplicated within specific applications.

The most annoying ads are usually hidden in standard utilities like Explorer, Music, Video, and Cleanup. To turn them off, you need to open each of these apps, click on the menu icon (three dots or three bars) and select Settings. Inside, look for the About section or Additional, where the Receive Recommendations switch is often hidden. Disabling this option prevents newsfeeds and ad blocks from appearing on the app's home page.

• 📱 Topics: Open the Topics app → Profile → Settings → Disable "Receive recommendations" and "Show ads".
• 🎵 Music: Open Mi Music → Menus. → Settings → Advanced settings → Disable "Receive recommendations".
• 📁 Explore the conductor: Open the conductor → Menus. → Settings → About the programme → Disable "Receive recommendations".
• 🧹 Cleaning: Open the Security app → Cleanup → Settings (cogs) → Disable "Receive recommendations".

Note that new versions of HyperOS have made recommendations more aggressive, and some switches may return to their original state after app updates. So it is advisable to check these settings periodically, especially after major system updates. Also, look at the GetApps app (Xiaomi app store), where you need to separately disable application auto-update via mobile network and notifications if you do not use them.

Removing ads in the browser and on the lock screen

Special attention should be paid to the ads that appear in the standard Mi Browser browser and on the lock screen, which are often ignored by users, although they create the main stream of visual noise in everyday use of the Redmi smartphone.

In Mi Browser, ads are integrated into the news feed and the home page. To remove them, open your browser, go to the settings menu (three bars at the bottom) and select Settings. Next, find the Home page and turn off the news feed display. It's also helpful to activate the built-in ad blocker if it's available in your version, or install an extension to block trackers. This will greatly speed up page loading and make browsing websites more comfortable.

Lock screen is another popular place to place advertising Cards. To clear it, go to Settings → Always on screen and Lock screen (or just Lock screen). Find Cards or Slider and turn off all content sources such as News, Video or Recommendations. Often there is a Ads switch that you need to deactivate.

⚠️ Note: If you use third-party themes from the Themes store, they may contain their own built-in advertising that is not blocked by system settings. In this case, only a return to the standard Classic theme or installing a theme from a trusted author without promotional modules will help.

For those who prefer to use third-party browsers such as Chrome, Firefox or Brave, the problem of advertising is solved more easily: just install a blocker extension or use a browser with built-in protection. However, the standard Mi Browser is deeply integrated into the system, so its complete cleaning of advertising requires manual adjustment, described above. Remember that even after disabling all settings, the browser cache can save elements of banner ads, so it is recommended to clear the history and data of the application.

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Use Brave or Firefox with uBlock Origin installed for no advertising on the Internet, as the built-in Mi Browser blocker may skip some types of banners.

Using a private DNS to block

One of the most effective and versatile methods of combating advertising at the operating system level is the use of a private DNS (Domain Name System), which allows you to block requests to known ad servers before they reach your device, which works not only in the browser, but also inside many applications and games.

To implement this method, you don't need to install additional applications. Go to Settings → Connection and Sharing (or Additional Settings) → Private DNS. The default is "Auto" or "Disabled." You need to select the option "Host Name of the DNS provider (or "Manual") and enter the address of a reliable server that blocks ads. One of the most popular and proven options is the AdGuard server.

dns.adguard.com

Enter this line in the input box and save the settings. After that, the Xiaomi smartphone will start redirecting everything. DNS-querying through AdGuard servers, which filter out domains known as ad sources and trackers, is especially effective for blocking ads in free games and apps, where conventional blockers are often powerless.

But there are some nuances to this method. DNS It may slightly increase ping in online games or slow down the opening of some sites if the server is overloaded. DNS-servers, so the method works best in conjunction with Wi-Fi or via mobile Internet with support for DoT (DNS over TLS).

If some applications (e.g., banking or carriers) have stopped working after turning on a private DNS, try temporarily disabling this feature or adding an exception to your router settings if you are using DNS at the home network level. For mobile devices, the easiest way to switch back to Auto or Disabled is in the same Private DNS settings.

Change of region and additional settings

There is a widespread opinion that changing the region in the settings of the Xiaomi smartphone allows you to get rid of advertising, since in some countries (for example, in the Netherlands or Germany) the legislation strictly prohibits intrusive advertising in the OS. Although this method can reduce the number of advertising integrations, it is not a panacea and has its side effects.

To change region, go to Settings → Additional Settings → Region. Select a country with strict privacy laws, such as the Netherlands, Germany or the United States. After changing region, some applications may change the interface and the number of offers in the GetApps store will decrease. However, system banners may remain if steps to disable the MSA are not followed.

It is important to consider that changing the region may affect the performance of some local services, weather widgets and news feeds that will start showing information for the selected country.In addition, in some regions, certain design themes or features of the MIUI shell may not be available.

You can also check your Mi Account settings. Sign in to your profile via Settings → Mi Account → Xiaomi Services (or Advertising Services). There may be a global switch that allows companies to use your data to personalize ads. Disabling this option limits the collection of data about your interests, which indirectly affects the relevance and frequency of ads shown.

• 🌍 Region: Change to Netherlands or Germany could reduce advertising GDPR.
• 🔒 Privacy: Disable Personalized Ads in Mi Account Settings.
• 📡 Network: Use DNS-The filters work independently of the selected region.
• ⚙️ System: Update to the latest version MIUI/HyperOS sometimes changes the policy of the show.

Remember, Xiaomi's advertising policy is constantly changing. What worked in MIUI 12 can be changed to MIUI 14 or HyperOS. So the combination of methods (disabling MSA + DNS + recommendations) gives the best and most long-term result. Don't rely on just changing the region, as this is only a secondary measure.

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A comprehensive approach that includes disabling MSA, configuring DNS and manually cleaning recommendations in apps guarantees 99% of the ad-free experience on Xiaomi.

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