How to block ads on Xiaomi phone: the complete guide

Ownership of Xiaomi smartphone is often overshadowed by intrusive advertising integrations that developers implement into the shell of MIUI and HyperOS. This is not just an annoyance, but a system feature that requires manual adjustment for comfortable operation. Users encounter banners in standard applications, pop-up windows in folders and even in system settings, which significantly reduces the speed and visual perception of the interface.

Fortunately, the Chinese giant’s Android operating system architecture allows for a lot of flexibility in managing these processes, without requiring superuser rights or complex code manipulations to make the screen much clearer. We will consider an integrated approach that will affect the disconnection of system services, setting up DNS-filters and manual permission cleaning for each built-in component.

Before we start taking drastic measures, it is important to understand that complete locking may require the abandonment of some “smart” shell features. Advertising IDs are used not only to display banners, but also to personalize recommendations. However, for most users, the priority remains the cleanliness of the system, and this is what we will focus on in this guide.

MSA Disconnection: The Main Source of Advertising

The centerpiece of Xiaomi’s smartphone advertising ecosystem is the MIUI System Ads (MSA) service, which is responsible for collecting data about your activities and then showing targeted ads in standard utilities, and the first and most important step is to try to disable the service through authorization settings.

First, you need to go to the Settings menu. → Passwords and security → Authorization and recall. In the list that opens, find msa and put the switch in an inactive position. The system will try to dissuade you from doing so by running a countdown timer on the back of the switch. 10 You need to confirm the withdrawal of permissions, and if you can't turn it off the first time, you need to repeat the procedure. 3-4 The servers can temporarily block the request.

In parallel with msa, it is recommended to limit the work of the getapps service, which is an app store and also broadcasts advertising content, it is located in the same login menu, and after disabling these services, the number of pop-up windows in folders and on the desktop should be drastically reduced.

It's worth noting that when you update your firmware, you may reset your settings and you'll have to do it again, which is standard behavior for the system to return monetization functions, and regular checks of your msa authorization status will help keep your device clean.

Set up a private DNS to lock at the network level

A deeper method that allows you to block advertising not only in the system, but also in the browser and some applications is the use of private DNS. This method does not require the installation of additional software and works at the level of a network protocol, cutting off requests to known advertising servers.

To activate this feature, go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Private DNS. The default is Auto mode, which means using your ISP’s DNS. You need to select the option “Host Name of the DNS Provider” and enter the verified filter address. The most popular and effective solution is dns.adguard.com.

Once you enter the address, save the settings. Visually, nothing changes in the interface, but background requests to advertising trackers will be blocked.This can also speed up the loading of pages in the browser, since content that does not carry a payload will simply not load.

⚠️ Attention: When using private DNS Some apps or games may stop working correctly if they are tied to specific ad networks for their functionality, in which case, return the setting to Auto or Disabled".

It is important to understand that this method is not a panacea for advertising in Xiaomi applications, as it is often downloaded from the domains of the company itself, but for third-party software and web surfing, it is the most effective way without installing additional programs.

Manual configuration of system applications

Even after disabling the msa service, individual system utility may continue to show recommendations if the appropriate items are activated in their internal settings. MIUI HyperOS allows you to flexibly configure each application separately, hiding unnecessary information noise.

Start with the Security app. Open it, click on the settings gear in the top right corner, and find "Get recommendations." Turn off this option. Go to the Cleanup section inside the app and also turn off "Get recommendations." This will remove the banners that often appear after scanning the system.

You need to do the same thing in the Topics app, go to profile (human icon), select Settings, and uncheck "Receive recommendations," "Show ads" and "Personal recommendations," which will clear the main screen of the theme store from intrusive offers.

Download Manager also has hidden ads. Click three dots in the corner, select Settings and turn off Recommended Content. Files Explorer, you go to settings and remove the "Receive Recommendations" box, and disable the ad display in the "Recent" section.

Don't forget to check the settings for the Music and Video app, which often include autoplay of promo videos and full-screen banners by default, and it takes time to check each system component, but it's worth it.

Managing notifications and folders on the desktop

Special attention should be paid to the so-called "App Cards" or folders on the desktop, new versions of the shell, when you open the folder with applications at the bottom, may appear tape of recommended programs, this is not a classic advertisement, but a very annoying interface element.

To remove recommendations from folders, open any folder on your desktop. At the top of the folder window that opens, click on the folder name (or three dots, depending on the version of MIUI). In the menu that appears, find the Recommended Apps or Application Cards switch and deactivate it. Now the folder will only display shortcuts of installed programs.

It's also worth dealing with notifications. Often, ads come in the form of push notifications from system services. Press your finger on the notification and select "Notification Settings." You can completely prevent a particular service, such as Mi Credit or Mi Video, from sending any messages.

Another nuance is the locking of the screen. Sometimes there may appear Wallpaper with advertising integrations. You can turn them off from the Settings menu → Always on screen and Lock the screen → Wallpaper carousel, moving the slider to the "Off" position.

Use of third-party blockers and AdGuard

If built-in techniques aren't enough, specialized applications come to the rescue. One of the most effective solutions is AdGuard. It works as a local application. VPN-service by filtering traffic directly on the device without transferring data to external servers.

Installation of AdGuard requires downloading APK-file from the official website of the developer, as in Google Play versions are limited by the rules of the store. VPN-This is necessary for filtering traffic.

AdGuard’s settings recommend enabling HTTPS filtering, which requires a certificate to be installed, which will block ads within apps that were previously unfilterable, and activate tracking protection and parental controls if necessary.

⚠️ Attention: Use of third-party VPN-The filters can slightly increase battery consumption and reduce the speed of the Internet connection.

The alternative is Brave or DuckDuckGo for web surfing, which have powerful blockers built in, while AdGuard remains the leader in allowing you to create your own filtering rules for specific domains.

Resetting the advertising ID and tracking restrictions

At the heart of Android’s settings, the unique ad ID (AAID) parameter is hidden, and resetting that identifier breaks the link between your past actions and your current ad campaign, making targeting less accurate.

Search the passwords and security section in the settings → privacy → advertising. Here you will see two useful items: “Reset the advertising ID” and “Disable the ad personalization.” Do the reset of the ID, and then activate the prohibition on personalization.

The measure won't remove ads entirely, but will make it less intrusive and more random.The system will stop analyzing your Google searches and location history for banner picking.

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Repeat the reset of your advertising ID every month, but it doesn’t take long, but it keeps your digital profile updated, making it difficult to collect long-term statistics about your preferences.

The comprehensive application of all the methods described will turn your Xiaomi into a clean device, devoid of intrusive marketing. Remember that after major system updates, some settings may return to factory values, so periodically check the status of the msa service and DNS settings.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Complete removal of ads requires a comprehensive approach: disabling system services, configuring DNS, and manually cleaning each application.