Users of the Chinese giant’s devices often encounter intrusive banners, pop-ups and recommendation systems that are embedded deep in the shell of MIUI. The question of how to remove ads on Xiaomi today is especially acute, as blocking methods are constantly changing along with operating system updates. Developers hide the right switches, then change the names of services, but completely get rid of marketing content is still possible.
In this article, we will discuss the current ways to clean the interface from unnecessary visual noise, you will learn what system processes are responsible for displaying banners in standard applications, how to disable personalized recommendations and whether to use third-party DNS-Cleaning the system of advertising requires a comprehensive approach, since one switch that is disabled rarely solves a problem globally.
Before we take any drastic measures, it’s important to understand how Xiaomi’s advertising ecosystem works: It’s not just viruses, it’s built-in functionality that keeps the company’s smartphone price low. But knowing where the hidden settings are, you can turn your gadget into a clean tool without distractions.
MSA service shutdown is the main source of banners
The centerpiece of the MIUI advertising system is MIUI System Ads, often referred to as msa in processes. It is this component that collects your preferences and generates the personalized offers you see in folders, in the Security app and in the browser. Disabling this service is the first and most important step to clean interfaces.
The deactivation procedure has one feature: the system will insist on you waiting 10 seconds before confirming, and may also require you to repeat the action several times if you press the off button too quickly.
☑️ Pre-switch check MSA
To perform the procedure, go to the account settings section. The path may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the logic remains the same. Find Settings → Passwords and security → Access to personal data. In the list that opens, find the msa service and put the slider inactive. If the system gives an error or asks you to wait, try again until a successful shutdown.
⚠️ Note: After disabling the msa service, some features of standard applications, such as wallpaper selection or themes, may not work properly or stop updating automatically.
Set up standard Xiaomi applications
Advertising modules are embedded in almost all standard utilities that come with a phone: Browser, Music, Themes, Explorer, and even a memory cleaner app — all contain recommendation blocks. To remove ads on Xiaomi today, you need to go through the settings of each of these applications separately, since there is no global switch for them.
Start with the Security app, which most often annoys users with virus notifications or prompts to speed up their phone. Go to the settings of this app (usually through the gear icon in the upper right corner) and find the Get Recommendations section. Disabling this item will remove pop-ups when you complete the scan.
- 📁 Explorer: Go to Settings, select About App or Settings, then turn off Receive Recommendations and Show Ads».
- 🎵 Music: in the settings, find the item "Advanced Settings" and remove the tick from the item "Show advertisements».
- 🎨 Topics: Go to the user profile (human icon), click on Settings and turn off Personal Recommendations and Show Ads».
Special attention should be paid to the system launcher. Recommended applications often appear in folders on the desktop. To fix this, open any folder, click on the folder name to open the edit menu, and turn off the option "Recommended Content" This action will clear the folders of intrusive icons.
Why is the ad coming back?
Managing personalization and advertising identifier
Even if you disable the main sources of banners, the system continues to collect data about your behavior to form an advertising profile, this is done through a special advertising identifier. Resetting or deleting this identifier breaks the link between your actions and the ad networks, making the ads shown less relevant, and sometimes completely stopping them from showing on certain services.
To manage these settings, go to Settings → Passwords & Security → Privacy → Advertising Services. Here you will see the item “Personalization of Ads.” It must be disabled. Immediately after that, you should click the “Reset Advertising ID” button. This action generates a new random number, zeroing out your accumulated history of interests.
| Parameter | Action. | The result |
|---|---|---|
| Personalization of advertising | Shut down. | The system stops analyzing your actions for advertising |
| Advertising identifier | Drop it. | A new ID is created, an old history of interests is lost. |
| Use of diagnostics | Shut down. | Sending error data to Xiaomi servers is stopped |
In the same section, “Privacy” is worth checking the settings of the program to improve the user experience. Disabling the transmission of diagnostic data not only increases privacy, but also reduces the network activity of the device, which has a positive effect on battery life.
💡
Regular resetting of the advertising identifier (once a month) does not allow the system to accumulate a sufficient database for targeted advertising.
Blocking through Private DNS
One of the most effective methods to remove ads on Xiaomi today without root rights is to use the Private feature. DNS (Private DNS). This method works at the network connection level, redirecting everything. DNS-Requests via a secure server that automatically filters known advertising domains.
To activate this feature, go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Private DNS. The default mode is Auto. You need to select Manual Mode (or Provider Host Name) and enter the server address. The most popular and reliable option is AdGuard.
dns.adguard.comType this line into the box and save the settings. After that, the device may require a reboot or reconnection to the Wi-Fi/mobile network. The advantage of the method is that it blocks ads not only in the system, but also in many applications and browsers where it is broadcast through standard web requests.
However, this method has its nuances: if the DNS server is unavailable or blocked by the provider, the Internet on the phone may stop working, in which case it is recommended to go back to the settings and select Auto or Disconnect mode to restore the connection.
⚠️ Note: When using Private DNS Some apps or sites may stop loading correctly if their ad scripts are blocked too aggressively, and in rare cases, this can lead to the inability to log in to banking applications.
Disabling recommendations in system sections
MIUI is famous for its smart features, which in practice are often just sources of information noise. Lock screen, widgets on the desktop and even control panel can contain news feeds. To remove ads on Xiaomi today, you need to systematically check each of these elements.
Start with the lock screen. Often there is a "Wallpaper Carousel" feature that changes the background and shows advertising articles every time you turn on the screen. To turn it off, go to Settings → Lock screen and select "Wallpaper Carousel", then click "Unplug". Also, check the settings of the widget "Widget Ribbon" (swipe left on the desktop), where the settings menu (three dots) you need to turn off "Recommendations".
- 🔔 Notifications: In the notification settings, find the “Recommendations” section and disable receiving marketing offers from the system.
- 🔍 Search: In the desktop search bar (Google or Mi Search), go to the settings and turn off “Hot themes” and “Recommendations».
- ⚙️ Settings: The Settings app itself often has a search bar with recommendations at the top of the screen, which can be hidden in the profile menu or search settings.
Don't forget the download app. That's where they accumulate. APK-files, and often when you open this application, a window pops up telling you to install an antivirus or accelerator. In the Downloads settings, there is also a "Show recommended content" option that you need to deactivate.
💡
If you don’t use the standard Xiaomi browser, simply remove it or disable it in the app settings so it can’t show notifications and banners in the background.
Advanced Methods and Working with ADB
For advanced users who want to achieve perfect system cleanliness, there are methods to remove system applications through a computer using the ADB tool (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to physically remove packages responsible for advertising that cannot be disabled through the usual settings interface.
To work with this method, you will need to include “Debugging by USB» In the Developer menu (to open this menu, you need to quickly click on the build number 7 times in the About Phone section). ADB-Drivers and use the command to remove packets.
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.misys
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.browser
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.playerThese commands will remove system services, browser and player respectively. Be extremely careful: removing critical system components can lead to unstable device operation or a “boot” (cyclic reboot).
⚠️ Note: Removing system packages through ADB is irreversible without resetting to factory settings (Full Wipe).Be sure to make a full backup of important data before starting the procedure.