Xiaomi smartphone users often encounter intrusive ads that masquerade as system notifications or pop-up chats, a phenomenon particularly characteristic of MIUI, where marketing integrations are embedded deep into the system. However, not all pop-ups are ads — some of them can be malware signals or bugs in specific applications. Understanding the source of the problem is the first step to solving it.
In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can close up pop-up chats in Xiaomi, from standard system settings to advanced locking techniques. You’ll learn to distinguish between MSA system advertising, notifications from apps, and potential security threats.
The nature of pop-ups: advertising or virus?
Before you start blocking, you need to identify the source of the stimulus. Xiaomi devices most often find three types of pop-ups: legal system advertising from MSA (MIUI System Ads), notifications from installed applications and an ad virus. System advertising appears in standard applications like Explorer or Music and is easily disabled in the settings. Notifications from applications come because of permissions to display on top of other windows.
The situation becomes more serious if a pop-up chat appears on the desktop without running any programs, a sure sign that the device has been hit by malware, often masquerading as “memory cleanup” or “energy saving.” In such cases, simply closing the window is not enough – it requires removing the culprit.
You can use a built-in analysis tool to diagnose the source. Go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Access to Special Features. Here you can see a list of apps that have the right to display content over other windows. If you see a suspicious app with “Above Other Windows” rights, this is a likely candidate for removal.
- 🔍 Systemic advertising MSA — Integrated shell marketing, safe but annoying.
- 📢 Application Notifications – Require permissions checks in specific software settings.
- 🦠 Malware code – requires immediate cleaning and installation of antivirus.
⚠️ Warning: If the pop-up blocks the interface and does not close, try pressing the power button to call the off menu, and then drag the Cancel button around the screen for a long time to go to safe mode.
Disabling MSA System Advertising
The main source of intrusive offerings at Xiaomi is MSA (MIUI System Ads), which is responsible for displaying banners in standard utilities. To close this communication channel, you need to turn off ad personalization. This will not remove all ads completely, but will significantly reduce their number and make them less relevant to data collection algorithms.
To start, go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Access to personal data. In the list, find msa and turn off the switch. The system will require you to wait 10 seconds, then prompt you to confirm the action. If you failed to turn off the first time, repeat the procedure 3-4 times - Xiaomi servers sometimes experience load.
Next, disable ad personalization. Find the passwords and security section in the settings → privacy → advertising services. Here you need to activate the option “Disable ad personalization.” It is also recommended to check the settings of each standard application (Security, Downloads, Music) and find the “Receive recommendations” switch there to permanently close the channels of content distribution.
It is important to understand that a complete disabling of MSA can affect the operation of some system functions, although in most cases the user does not notice this. System stability after such changes usually does not suffer, but the ad cache can persist for some time.
- 🛑 Disabling msa in the access section of personal data is a key step.
- 🔒 Activation of opt-out of personalization in advertising services.
- ⚙️ Manually check the settings of each system application.
⚠️ Note: After disabling the msa service, banner ads may disappear not instantly, but within 24 hours until the system cache is updated.
Blocking pop-up windows in the browser
Users often confuse system notifications with browser ads. If pop-up chats only appear while surfing the Internet, the problem lies in the browser settings or in allowing sites to display notifications. In the standard Mi Browser or Google Chrome browser, this is solved quite simply.
In Google Chrome, open the menu (three dots) and go to Settings → Site Settings → Notifications. Here you will see a list of sites that are allowed to send push notifications. Ruthlessly delete all suspicious resources or block access completely. Similar actions can be performed in Mi Browser through Settings → Site Notifications.
For a deeper cleaning, you can use Incognito mode to check: if there is no advertising in it, then the problem is precisely in the cache or extensions of the main profile. It is also recommended to clear the browsing data: Settings → Privacy → Clear data. The sample of “Cookies and site data” often contains scripts that cause pop-ups.
☑️ Cleaning the browser
There is also the possibility of installing specialized ad blockers, such as AdGuard, which work at the DNS level and filter traffic before entering the browser.
- 🌐 Checking the list of permitted sites in the browser notification settings.
- 🧹 Cleaning cookies and cache to remove trigger scripts.
- 🛡️ Use of the DNS-filtering to block advertising at the network level.
Search and Remove Malware Applications
If a pop-up chat appears chaotic, overlaps other apps, and is not explicitly linked to the browser, it is likely that the system has settled “advar” (relam virus), such programs often do not have an icon on the menu or masquerading as system processes like “Android Update” or “Flash Player”.
To detect hidden threats, use the built-in Security app. Run a full scan. If the standard antivirus doesn't find anything but the problem persists, use the exclusion method. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps. Carefully review the list: look for apps without a name, with a transparent icon or with an installation date that coincides with the start of the ad.
Another effective way is to use Task Manager. When a pop-up appears on the screen without closing it, go to the menu of running applications (bottom-up swipe and retention, or menu button). Find an application in the list that matches the appearance of the ad, and click on the icon "i" or three dots to go to its properties and delete.
In difficult cases, when a virus is blocking the input to settings, Safe Mode will help. Press the turn off button, and when the turn off button appears, hold it with your finger for a few seconds, the system will suggest that you go to Safe Mode, in which only system applications are loaded, which allows you to safely find and remove the pest.
| Sign. | Systemic advertising | Virus/Adware |
|---|---|---|
| Time to come. | Specific annexes | Anytime, even on the desk. |
| Contents | Products, games, services Xiaomi | Casinos, dubious offers, fake viruses |
| Closing | There's a cross or a button. | Often there is no closing button or it leads to the site. |
| Source | MSA Service | Third-party annex |
Set up notifications for specific applications
Sometimes, users mistake “pop-up chats” for aggressive notifications from legitimate applications such as marketplaces, news aggregators or games, which can be displayed as floating notifications if such a feature is enabled in MIUI.
To manage this, go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Notification Center. You can adjust the display style here. You can fine-tune each application separately. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, select the right one (such as AliExpress or a news app) and click Notifications.
In the menu that opens, look at notification categories. Often there are items like "Recommendations," "Promotions" or "Floating Window." Turn off the Floating Window to prevent the app from blocking the screen. It's also helpful to turn off the "Important Notifications" option, as they ignore the "Do Not Disturb" mode.
Special attention should be paid to the Downloads app and various file managers, which often have hidden permissions to display ads after the file is downloaded, and these settings take a couple of minutes to check, but eliminates the constant visual noise.
- 📱 Disabling floating windows in the settings of each specific application.
- 🔕 Categorization of Notifications: Disabling Marketing Categories.
- 🚫 Prohibition of displaying over other windows for suspicious software.
⚠️ Note: Some applications may re-enable the permissions they need after they are updated. Periodically check the list of apps with access "Above other windows».
Using Private DNS to block the world
The most elegant and effective way to close access to ad servers for all applications is to use Private DNS. This method does not require the installation of third-party software and works at the network connection level, blocking requests to known advertising domains.
To set up, go to Settings → Connection & Sharing → Private DNS (the path may vary slightly depending on the Android/MIUI version). Select the option “Host Name of the DNS Provider” and enter the address: dns.adguard.com. Save settings.
Once you have these settings in place, your smartphone will start filtering all incoming traffic, browser ads, free-to-play pop-ups, and MSA system banners will stop loading because the phone can't find the address of the ad server, a one-stop solution that works even in applications that don't have their own ad settings.
It is worth noting that in rare cases, using a third-party DNS can slightly slow down the response of some local services or block Wi-Fi in public places with browser authorization (captive portal). If you encounter connection problems in a cafe or hotel, temporarily return the DNS setting to Auto mode.
- 🌐 Global Ad Blocking at the Network Protocol Level.
- ⚡ No need for background processes and battery consumption.
- 🛡️ Protection against tracking user actions with advertising trackers.