How to turn off advertising in the Xiaomi phone: step-by-step instructions

Xiaomi smartphone users often encounter intrusive banner ads that appear in system applications and when using the device.This is the result of the MSA (MIUI System Ads), which is by default active in the shells of MIUI and the new HyperOS. While the company positions this as a way to reduce the final cost of gadgets, for many owners it becomes an annoying factor, distracting from work.

Fortunately, Xiaomi's modern ecosystem allows for a lot of flexibility in managing these processes, so you don't need superuser rights or complex scripts to clean the interface basic, you just need to go through the settings of each component of the system to completely eliminate visual noise. In this article, we'll look at all the current blocking methods that work in 2026.

It’s worth noting that after major Android updates or the shell itself, the paths to some features may change. If you don’t find a menu item, try searching for settings by typing in keywords like “ads” or “recommendations.” The main thing is to act consistently, since disabling one service may not remove banners from other applications.

Disable MSA service through system settings

The central element in charge of displaying ads is the system application MSA, which collects data about your preferences and broadcasts ads. To block it, you need to find the appropriate item in the authorization and security menu. Note that the system will try to keep this feature on.

Go to Settings → Passwords & Security → Access to Personal Data. In the list that opens, find msa and turn off the switch. Then you will see a 10-second countdown timer, after which you will press “Disable.” If you fail the first time, repeat the procedure — sometimes you need several attempts due to software failures.

⚠️ Attention: after the service is disconnected MSA Some personalization features may stop working correctly, and Google Discover tape widgets may be updated with a delay.

It is also important to disable related services that may duplicate data collection functionality. In the same menu, find GetApps, Mi Video and Mi Music apps, limiting their access to personal data if you do not use them, which will significantly reduce the number of background processes trying to download advertising content.

Removing Advertising in Standard Apps

Even after the system service is disabled, embedded apps can continue to show recommendations, because each has its own “enhanced experience” settings, and to fully clear the phone, you need to visit the settings of each application separately.

Start with the Security app. Open it, click on the gear in the top right corner, and find "Receive recommendations." Turn off this option. Similar steps should be taken for the Topic app: go to profile and uncheck the "Show ads" or "Personal recommendations" box in the settings.

• 📱 Explorer: Open the menu, select Settings, then About, and disable Get Recommendations».
• 🎵 Music: Go to the app settings and find the Advanced Settings section where you need to remove the display of ads on the lock screen.
• 🎬 Video: In the profile menu, turn off the “Online Recommendations” option to make the interface cleaner.

Be sure to check the settings of the Downloads app. Often, that's where pop-ups pop up asking you to install other games or utilities. The Settings menu of this app should also deactivate the display of recommended content. It only takes a couple of minutes, but the result will surprise you.

Setting up Mi Browser and blocking pop-up windows

Xiaomi’s standard browser is one of the main sources of advertising traffic, not only displaying banners on pages, but also can notify affiliate sites.

Open Mi Browser and go to settings (profile icon or three bars). Find the Privacy and Security section. You need to activate the ad blocker and prevent sites from sending notifications. You should also clear your browsing history, as it is used to generate targeted ads.

Settings → Privacy → Ad Blocking (SB)

If you don’t use a standard browser, it’s best to remove it altogether or disable it through the app menu. Alternatively, install Chrome, Firefox or Brave, which have a stricter privacy policy and built-in anti-tracker protection mechanisms.

Disabling recommendations in folders and on the desktop

The MIUI and HyperOS shells often offer “useful” applications when you open folders on your desktop, so-called recommendations that automatically appear when you create a folder with multiple icons, which you can remove, but the option is not obvious.

Open any folder on your desktop that has recommendations. Click on the folder name to start editing it, but don't change the text. Immediately under the title field, a "Recommendations" (or "Promoted apps") switch will appear. Put it inactive.

Also, check the settings of the desktop itself. Click on the empty space on the screen, select Settings, and find the section associated with Wallpaper Carousel or Widget Tape, which will not only remove ads, but can also have a positive effect on the autonomy of the device, as background content loading stops.

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To completely remove folder ads, you can use third-party launchers, such as Nova Launcher or Lawnchair, which completely ignore Xiaomi’s system recommendations.

Methods Comparison: DNS, ADB and Manual Setup

There are several levels of anti-advertising, from simple switches to advanced techniques for power users, depending on your technical background and desired outcome. Below is a table comparing the basic approaches.

The most secure and effective method for the average user is to set up Private DNS. Go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Private DNS. Select “DNS Provider Host Name” and type in dns.adguard.com. This will cut off network-level advertising requests for all applications at once.

The ADB (Android Debug Bridge) method requires connecting to a computer and entering commands to remove system packets. Using ADB commands can lead to loss of warranty or “bricking” of the device when removing critical system files, so this method is not recommended for beginners.

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The combination of manually disabling MSA and using Private DNS gives 99% of the result without the need for root rights.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)