How to remove ads on Xiaomi: the complete guide

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often encounter intrusive content that appears in the most unexpected places of the interface, such as banners in standard applications, pop-ups after unlocking the screen or offering to install games in folders. While the company positions this as a way to reduce the cost of devices, for many users, this approach becomes an annoying factor, distracting from the main work.

Fortunately, the current MIUI shell and the new HyperOS provide enough tools to minimize or eliminate digital noise completely. The process does not require obtaining superuser rights or flashing the device, just go through several settings menus consistently and disable specific services responsible for targeted offers.

In this guide, we will go into detail all the known ways to block advertising traffic. We will look at both standard methods through account settings and more advanced options for disabling system processes. A critical step is to disable the msa service (MIUI System Ads), without which other settings may not give full effect. Following the instructions, you will return your gadget to the purity of the interface.

Disabling system advertising through account settings

The first and most logical step is to turn to the root customization, which is where your preferences are collected to generate promotional offers, and by disabling this feature, you will prevent the system from analyzing your actions to show targeted content.

First, go to the settings menu of your Mi Account. Find the privacy section and uncheck the personalization section. This action will not delete your account, but will stop data collection for marketing purposes.

The sequence of actions is as follows:

• 📱 Open Settings and go to the Mi Account section.
• 🔒 Select Privacy or Agreements and Privacy.
• 🚫 Find the Personalized Recommendations Switch and Deaktivate It.
• ✅ Confirm the action in the pop-up window by selecting Disable.

Once you do that, the system will stop using your data to match content, but this is only the first line of defense, and other system applications can continue to display static banners if you don't customize them individually.

⚠️ Note: After disabling personalization, some features, such as smart recommendations in the Music or Video app, may become less relevant or stop updating to suit your tastes.

Blocking MSA and system services

The most effective method of combating intrusive banners is to force the stop and ban the start of the msa service (MIUI System Ads), which is responsible for loading and displaying advertising in system interfaces such as task manager, file manager and folders on the desktop.

It's important to understand that the system will try to automatically re-open the service, so not only do you have to stop it, but you also have to stop receiving data via mobile Internet and Wi-Fi. Newer versions of the firmware may also require you to turn off Mi Daemon, which is often auxiliary agent.

Follow the following steps to block completely:

• 🛠 Go to Settings. → Annexes → All applications.
• 🔍 Find the msa (may be called) in the list. MIUI System Ads).
• 📡 Click Data Use and disable data transfer over Wi-Fi and mobile network.
• 🛑 Go back and click Stop, then confirm the action.

If the device tries to start the service again after the reboot, repeat the procedure. In some cases, you need to turn off the Internet while the process stops, you should also check for the Mi Daemon service and perform similar actions to limit its network activity.

The effect of these actions is noticeable almost immediately: banners disappear in folders and standard utilities, but if you use a browser or news feeds, there may be their own advertising sources that require separate configuration.

Set up standard Xiaomi applications

Xiaomi’s ecosystem includes many pre-installed applications, each with its own content display settings, and to achieve perfect purity, you need to go through key system gates and disable recommendations there.

Start with the Security app, which often offers to clear memory or speed up your phone while showing news or game ads. Go to the app settings (the gear icon in the corner) and find the "Get recommendations" section. Uncheck this. A similar operation should be done in the Explorer, Themes and Downloads applications.

Also, be sure to check the settings of the Mi Browser app if you use it by default. Its privacy settings often hide items about personalizing ads and news feeds. Disabling these features will greatly ease the weight of the browser and speed up its operation.

Removing Advertising in Screen Blocker and Folders

One of the most annoying aspects of advertising policy is the appearance of banners on the lock screen or in folders on the desktop, which are often disguised as wallpaper or useful widgets, but when clicked open advertising pages.

To remove the "Glance" that is often a source of traffic, you need to go to the lock screen settings. Find the wallpaper carousel and turn it off completely. If you want to leave beautiful wallpaper but no ads, choose a static image from the gallery instead of the carousel.

To clean the folders from recommendations, do the following:

• 📂 Open any folder on your desktop that has ads.
• ⚙️ Click on the folder name to open the edit menu.
• 🚫 Find the Recommended Applications Switch and Turn It Off.
• 🔄 Repeat the procedure for all folders on all screens.

⚠️ Note: In some versions MIUI folder settings may be reset after a system update. It is recommended to check this setting after each major firmware update.

Also worth noting is the Google Discover or Mi Video widget, which can be on the left of the home screen, which can be turned off in the desktop settings by selecting "Tape" and setting "No" or disabling specific news sources.

Using DNS to Block Advertising

If system settings are not enough, or you want to block ads inside third-party apps and games, the (most effective) method is to use a private DNS. This method does not require the installation of additional applications and works at the network connection level.

The essence of the method is to redirect DNS-For Android devices, including Xiaomi, this feature is built into the system since Android 9.

Instructions for setting up a private DNS:

1. Go to Settings → Connect and Sharing (or just Wi-Fi).
2. Find Private DNS (usually at the bottom of the list or in additional settings).
3. Select the DNS Host Name (or Manual) mode.
4. Enter the address: dns.adguard.com
5. Save the settings.

dns.adguard.com

Once you save your settings, your device can lose your Internet connection for a second and then restore it. Now all traffic goes through AdGuard filters. This will remove most banners in browsers and free apps. However, be prepared for the fact that some applications tied to displaying ads for the functionality may not work properly.

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If some apps or sites stop working after DNS is turned on, temporarily disable the feature or add exceptions to your router settings if you use DNS there.

Frequent questions and problem-solving

Even after completing all the steps, users may have questions about specific models or firmware versions, and the following are answers to the most popular queries that will help resolve the remaining problems.

Often users ask why ads return after a system update, because major updates (such as switching from MIUI 14 to HyperOS) can reset some user settings and reactivate system services, in which case the MSA disablement and personalization procedure will have to be re-run.

In conclusion, the comprehensive approach to customization allows you to turn your Xiaomi smartphone into a device with a clean interface, comparable with the flagships of other brands. Regularly checking the settings after updates ensures that digital noise does not return to your daily life.

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The combination of disabling msa, personalizing your account, and using a private DNS gives you 100% of the result of eliminating ads in Xiaomi’s system.