Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones are well aware of the situation when, after installing an app or unlocking the screen, a banner ad suddenly pops up.This is not a virus, but a regular, albeit extremely intrusive, feature of the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS. The system monetizes available hardware, showing promotional materials in system applications, which annoys many users accustomed to pure Android.
Fortunately, the developers have left the ability to disable most of the ad mechanisms without getting Root permissions. You don't have to be a programmer to set up the phone. You just need to go through a series of menus sequentially and turn off a few switches. We'll look at all the current methods, including working with system processes and setting up DNS.
Keep in mind that removing ads completely requires a comprehensive approach: disabling one setting often fails to deliver 100% of the result, as the ad modules are duplicated across services. Below is a step-by-step guide to help you clear the interface of unnecessary visual noise and speed up the device.
Disabling the MSA system advertising service
At the heart of Xiaomi’s advertising ecosystem is the MSA (MIUI System Ads) process, which is responsible for loading and displaying banners in standard applications. To block ads globally, you first need to turn it off, but you can’t just turn it off — it will require you to wait 10 seconds to try to convince you.
Go to the Settings menu, then select Passwords and Security (or Advanced Settings in older versions), find the Access & Revocation section, and in the list that opens, find msa and put the switch to an inactive state, and a countdown timer will appear.
After 10 seconds, press the recall button. If the first time failed and there was a "failed to recall" error, try repeating the procedure 3-4 times in a row. Usually after several attempts, the system gives up and turns off the service, which is a critical step to clean the interface.
☑️ Checking the shutdown MSA
After successful disabling of MSA, advertising in most system applications should disappear. However, the process can automatically turn on again after a while, so it is also recommended to disable receiving recommendations in specific applications, as discussed below.
Configure standard MIUI and HyperOS applications
Even after the main service is disabled, some apps continue to show recommendations, unless the feature is individually disabled.In the shells of MIUI 12/13/14 and HyperOS, each standard application has its own hidden ad switch.
Start with the Security app. Open it, click on the settings gear in the top right corner, and find Receive recommendations. Turn it off. The same procedure should be done for the Explorer app: open the menu, select Settings, then About app (or just settings depending on version) and turn off recommendations.
Don't forget to check out Downloads, Music, Video, and Themes, all of which have settings (often hidden in three-dot menus) and uncheck the Receive Recommendations or Show ads box. It takes a few minutes, but it's worth it.
Hidden advertising modules
Pay special attention to the lock screen. If you have Wallpaper Carousel enabled, it can broadcast advertising images. Turn it off in Settings → Lock screen if you don't need to constantly change pictures with news.
Blocking Advertising Through a Private DNS
One of the most effective methods that works not only in the system, but also in the browser and some applications is the use of DNS with advertising filtering, which does not require the installation of third-party software and works at the network connection level.
You need to go to Settings → Connection & Sharing → Private DNS (the path may vary slightly depending on the Android version). Select the DNS Host Name (or Manual) mode and enter the address of one of the verified servers that block ads.
Popular and reliable addresses for entering:
- 🌐 dns.adguard.com is the most popular service, blocking trackers and advertising.
- 🛡️ Private-dns.adguard.com – AdGuard server.
- 🚫 dns.familyshield.opendns.com – Block Advertising and Adult Content.
Once you enter the address, click Save. The phone can lose the Internet for a second, and then the connection will recover. Now all traffic passing through the DNS will be filtered. This also increases security by blocking access to known phishing sites.
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After the shift DNS Some apps (for example, banking or streaming services) have stopped working, try temporarily disabling private apps DNS Or switch to another server from the list. Some services may block known servers. DNS-filter.
It’s important to note that this method doesn’t block ads inside YouTube apps or in Xiaomi’s own ad integrations if they’re stitched tightly into the app’s code and use their certificates, but it does remove up to 90% of banners in the browser and games.
Personalization and data collection management
Xiaomi is actively collecting data about your smartphone use to target ads. Even if you have disabled banner displays, telemetry collection can continue. To minimize the digital footprint and reduce the relevance of ads (if it does appear), you need to adjust privacy settings.
Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Privacy. Find the Advertising Services section. You need to deactivate Ad Personalization. You also need to click Reset Ad ID. This will create a new random ID, breaking the link to your previous profile.
Next, go to Software Updates (same on Passwords & Security or About Phone) and click three dots in the corner and select Auto Update Settings, disable Auto Update and Receive Night Updates if you want to manually control the process, as new ad modules often arrive along with the updates.
| Parameter | Where to find out. | Recommended action |
|---|---|---|
| Personalization of advertising | Privacy → Advertising Services | Turn it off. |
| Improvement plan | Settings → Passwords and security | Turn it off. |
| Automatic data sending | Settings → Advanced settings | Turn it off. |
| Use and diagnosis | Settings → Passwords and security | Turn it off. |
Disabling these features not only increases privacy, but can also have a positive effect on battery life, since the phone does not need to constantly send data packets to analytics servers.
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Regularly resetting your advertising ID makes your digital profile less valuable to advertisers, reducing the number of targeted offers.
Hiding recommendations on the desktop and in folders
One of the most annoying features of the shell is the appearance of news feeds and recommended apps right on the desktop or in folders. These are not just widgets, but built-in ad units that take up useful space.
To remove the Global Search feed (which often contains news and promos), swipe to the right of the first desktop screen. Click on the settings gear (or pinch the blank space on the screen and select settings) and turn off the Global Search or Card recommendations switch.
To clean folders from advertising, perform the following actions:
- 📂 Open any folder on the desktop where there are applications.
- ⚙️ Click on the folder name to open the settings (or find the switch at the bottom).
- ❌ Disable Recommended Applications (Promoted Apps).
Now, folders will only show apps you installed yourself, and it's also worth checking the Music widget. Often it shows track and service recommendations. Click on the widget, go to settings, and select to display only local files or playlists, removing the "Online" section.
If you use a third-party launcher (like Nova Launcher or Lawnchair), the folder and tape problem is solved automatically, as third-party shells do not have access to the MIUI system advertising modules.
Problem Solving: If Advertising Remains
Sometimes, even after you have completed all the instructions, the ads continue to appear, which may be because the MSA system process has self-activated, or the ads are broadcasting a specific application you have installed with viral code.
Check the list of newly installed apps. If the ad pops up randomly and on top of other windows, the most likely culprit is some app from a flashlight, a "memory cleanup" or a questionable store. Delete the latest installed programs and look at the result.
⚠️ Note: If the ad appears suddenly after the system update, check if the msa switch is re-enabled in the Access to Personal Data section.After major firmware updates, Xiaomi often resets user privacy settings to factory values.
Also try to clear the browser cache and the Security app. In a pinch, if the ads are aggressive and block the phone, you may need to completely reset to factory settings with a pre-down on the Internet at the first boot, so that the system does not have time to load advertising profiles.
What if the MSA doesn’t shut down?
Remember that fighting ads on Xiaomi is a process that requires attention to detail. Check app updates regularly, as developers can return ad features in new versions of standard software.