How to remove ads from the lock screen on Xiaomi Redmi: 5 proven ways

Why is there an ad on the block and can it be removed?

You picked up your Xiaomi Redmi, unlocked your screen, and instead of the usual time or notifications, you saw a flashy ad for a game, a loan or a promotion from AliExpress. The situation is familiar to many owners of this brand of smartphones. Advertising on the lock screen is not an accidental bug, but part of Xiaomi’s monetization strategy, which allows the company to keep prices low on devices.

MIUI firmware (even in the global version) has customized ad services that analyze your behavior and show targeted banners by default. The good news is that you can turn them off without rooting permissions, but you have to dig into the settings. Bad news: Xiaomi regularly changes the layout of options, so the instructions for 2022 may not work on current versions of MIUI 14/15.

In this article, we will look at all the working methods, from standard settings to radical methods such as changing the region or installing custom firmware. Particular attention will be paid to the Redmi Note 12/13 and POCO X5 models, where ads began to appear even on the locked screen after the 2026 updates.

Method 1: Disabling personalized advertising in MIUI

The most obvious and safe method is to deactivate advertising services through the settings menu, which works on all Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO devices with official firmware, but requires strict follow-up, as the paths to options vary depending on the version of MIUI.

Here is the step-by-step algorithm for MIUI 14/15 (current for 2026):

1. Open Settings → Google → Advertising.
2. Click Reset Advertising ID and confirm the action.
3. Return to the main settings menu and go to Settings → Memory → Cleanup.
4. Slap the gear icon (⚙️) in the upper right corner and select Cleaning by schedule.
5. Turn off the option to show recommendations.
6. Now go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management → Menus (⋮) → Show all applications.
7. Find the Msa app (or MIUI System Ads in global versions), open it and click Disable.

After this manipulation, the ad on the block should disappear within 24 hours. If the banners remain, move to the next method.

Find and disable the Msa app|Reset the advertising ID Google-settings|Clear the cache of system applications|Reboot your smartphone-->

Method 2: Changing the region of the device

One little-known but effective trick is to change the firmware region to the European Union (EEA), because the EU has strict data protection laws (GDPR), which prohibit Xiaomi from displaying ads without the explicit consent of the user, and when you change region, the system automatically turns off most advertising services.

How to do this:

• 📱 Go to Settings. → The phone.
• 🔍 Find the Region (or Region) line in the global versions).
• 🇪🇺 Choose European Union (EEA).
• 🔄 Reset the device.

Important: after a region change, some Xiaomi services (such as Mi Cloud or Mi Video) may not work stable, and some local features (such as Yandex.Weather or SberBank Online in widgets) may not be supported.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi) 10A, POCO M4 Pro) Google Pay stops working after region change due to certificate conflict. Before region change, check if contactless payments are critical for you.

Method 3: Use ADB-Teams (for experienced users)

If standard methods don’t work, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a tool for debugging Android devices, which requires connecting your smartphone to your computer, but allows you to turn off ads at the system level.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB Tools.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Tap 7 times, then go back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

Next, execute commands in the terminal (command line) in order:

adb shell


pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.systemAdSolution




pm uninstall --user 0 com.xiaomi.midrop




pm uninstall --user 0 com.android.browser




pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.analytics




pm disable-user --user 0 com.xiaomi.ab

These commands will remove the system applications responsible for displaying ads. After you do, restart the device. If a command fails (issuing a Failure error), just skip it and move on to the next one.

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Before execution ADB-commands to back up important data. In rare cases, disabling system applications can lead to unstable firmware operation.

Method 4: Installation of a custom launcher

If the ads appear not only on the lock, but also in the application menu, you can install an alternative launcher (for example, Nova Launcher or Lawnchair), which will not remove banners on the locked screen, but will significantly reduce their number in the interface.

How it works:

1. Download the launcher from Google Play (we recommend Nova Launcher – it supports themes and gestures).
2. Set it as the default launcher (Settings → Applications → Default → Launcher).
3. In the settings of the new launcher, disable all options related to recommendations and advertising.

The disadvantage of the method: custom launchers do not affect system notifications and ads on the lock, but they allow you to completely remake the interface for yourself, for example, remove unnecessary Xiaomi icons or add gestures.

MIUI Launcher (standard)|Nova Launcher|Lawnchair|Hyperion Launcher|Other-->

Method 5: Flashing on custom firmware (radical method)

If nothing worked, the last option is to install custom firmware like LineageOS, Pixel Experience or Xiaomi.eu, which lacks built-in advertising and offers “clean” Android without unnecessary Xiaomi services.

Advantages of custom firmware:

• 🚫 Total absence of advertising at the system level.
• 🆕 Regular security updates.
• 🎨 Ability to fine-tune the interface.

Disadvantages:

• ⚠️ Loss of warranty (if the device is under warranty).
• 🔧 Installation difficulty (requires unlocking the loader).
• 📱 Risk of "bricking" the device in case of error.

If you decide to do this, follow the official guides on the XDA Developers or 4PDA forums. First, unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool, then swipe through TWRP and install custom firmware through it.

⚠️ Note: On Redmi Note models 11/12 With Snapdragon processor, unlocking the bootloader can lead to Widevine blocking L1 (Downgrading streaming quality at Netflix and Disney+ before 480p). Before the firmware check whether the quality of the video is critical to you.

💡

Custom firmware is the only way to remove ads forever, but it’s only suitable for power users willing to sacrifice warranty and stability for pure Android.

Additional tips: how to reduce the amount of advertising

If you can’t remove the ads completely, here are a few life hacks to make it less intrusive:

• 🔕 Disable notifications from Mi Browser, Mi Video, GetApps and Mi Pay apps – they most often show banner ads.
• 📵 Use Blokada or AdGuard to block ad domains at the level DNS. These apps don't require root rights.
• 🔄 Clean the system applications cache regularly through Settings → Memory. → Cleanup.
• 🛡️ Install Xiaomi. ADB/Fastboot Tools on PC is a utility with a graphical interface to disable advertising without manually entering commands.

It is also worth checking if there are suspicious apps on your device, some of which are disguised as system utilities and show ads even on a locked screen, and scan through Malwarebytes or Dr.Web Light.

FAQ: Frequent questions about advertising on Xiaomi Redmi