Xiaomi’s modern smartphones are famous for their price-performance ratio, but users are often annoyed by intrusive marketing in the MIUI system. Advertising can appear in the most unexpected places: when you unlock the screen, in the Tools folder, in standard applications and even in the settings menu. This is not a bug, but a feature of monetization that developers build into firmware to reduce the final cost of the device.
Fortunately, most ad units can be easily turned off without getting root permissions and flashing the device. The process takes only a few minutes, but requires care, since the settings are scattered across different menu sections. In this article, we will detail all ways to get rid of marketing noise, returning your gadget to a clean and pleasant interface.
Understanding how Xiaomi’s ad system works will help you manage your device more effectively. The main content delivery mechanism is tied to the MSA (MIUI System Ads) service, and by disabling it and going through key applications, you can significantly improve the comfort of your smartphone.
Disabling system advertising through MSA settings
The central element that drives the display of ads in the MIUI is the MSA service, which collects your preferences and shows you the targeted offers, and to block it, you need to find the appropriate switch in the authorization and advertising menu, the most important step that eliminates up to 80% of all pop-ups.
To perform this operation, go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Authorization and Privacy. Here you need to find the msa and put the slider inactive. The system will warn you that turning off some features may affect the operation of some functions, but for the average user it is invisible.
⚠️ Attention: When disconnected MSA The "Disable" button can only become active after 10 seconds of waiting. If you fail the first time, just try it several times - this is standard behavior of the system.
After a successful service shutdown, it is also recommended that you remove the checkmark from the "Receive recommendations" item in the same menu, which will prevent the system from analyzing your actions to personalize advertising offers. The changes take effect immediately, but it is better to restart the device to completely clear the cache.
Set up personalized advertising and recommendations
Even after the main service is disabled, the settings that are responsible for collecting data for targeting remain in the system, these parameters allow Xiaomi algorithms to analyze the search history and use of applications, and to completely stop this process, you need to manually deactivate the corresponding options in the privacy section.
Open Settings → Passwords & Security → Privacy → Advertising Services. You need to turn off the Personalized Ads slider. This action will not remove the ads completely, but will make them less intrusive and random, as the system will stop using your personal data to match them.
Additionally, check the “Recommendations” section of your security settings, often where offers to install antiviruses or optimizers from third-party developers are hidden, usually via the “Security” app → menus (three dots) → “Settings” → “Get recommendations”.
Why does Xiaomi collect advertising data?
Cleaning Standard Apps from Advertising
Banners are often built directly into the interfaces of standard utilities such as Music, Video, Explorer and Downloads. Each of these apps has its own content display settings that must be disabled separately. Ignoring this step will leave ad blocks in specific programs.
Let’s look at the main applications where marketing content is most common:
- 📁 Explorer: Open the application, click on three menu bars, select Settings» → «About the application" and disable "Recommendations».
- 🎵 Music: Go to the app settings, find the Advanced Settings section and remove the tick from the "Show Ads" item».
- 📹 Video: In the settings menu, find the “Online Content” or “Get Recommendations” item and deactivate it.
- 📥 Downloads: Click on three dots in the corner, select Settings and turn off Get Recommendations».
Also worth paying attention to is the Themes app, which often hides the “Show Ads” or “Recommendations” option in its settings, and disabling these options will make the theme and wallpaper catalog clean, without intrusive banners on the store’s home screen.
☑️ Verification of standard applications
Removing Advertising from the Tools folder
One of the most annoying features of MIUI is the presence of ad widgets in the Tools system folder on the desktop, usually with the Cleanup, Scanner or Security shortcuts, which, when clicked, open up the ad page rather than the function, and you can solve this problem by changing the widget display settings.
To remove advertising widgets, click and hold your finger on the problem label in the Tools folder. From the menu that appears, select Settings (or the gear icon). From the list that opens, find Receive Recommendations or Show Ads and turn the switch to Off. After that, the widget either disappears or stops showing marketing content.
If standard deletion is not possible, you can try to clear the widget application data. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find the appropriate system component (such as Scanner or Security), and click Clear → Clear All Data. This will reset the widget settings to factory ones, where ads are often disabled by default or easier to remove.
⚠️ Note: Do not remove system applications through ADB Removal of critical components can lead to unstable system operation or cyclical reboot.
Disabling Advertising in Mi Browser
Xiaomi’s built-in browser is known for its aggressive advertising policy, which includes news notifications and banners on the homepage. Even if you rarely use the app, its background processes can be uncomfortable. The best solution is to fully configure or replace the browser with an alternative one.
To minimize advertising inside Mi Browser, follow the following steps:
- 🌐 Open the browser and go to the menu (three bars) → «Settings».
- 🔒 Select the section "Privacy and security».
- 🚫 Activate the “Ad Block” switch».
- 📰 In the News Feed section, disable all content sources so that the start page is empty.
It is also recommended to disable push notifications from the browser. Go to Settings → Notifications → Notification Management, find in the Mi Browser list and disable notifications. This will save you from pop-up news and suggestions in the notification curtain.
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Instead of setting up a built-in browser, it’s easier to install a third-party browser like Chrome, Firefox or Brave and make it the default app, which is guaranteed to eliminate Xiaomi’s system advertising in web surfing.
Comparison of methods of disabling advertising
There are many ways to combat intrusive marketing, from simple switches in settings to complex manipulations with ADB. The choice of method depends on your technical training and desired result. Below is a table that helps determine the optimal approach for your situation.
| Method | Difficulty | Efficiency | Risks. |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSA shutdown | Low. | Tall. | Minimum |
| Set-up of applications | Low. | Medium | Absent. |
| Disconnection through ADB | Tall. | Maximum | Possible instability |
| Launcher installation | Medium | Partial | Changing the interface |
For most users, a combination of the first two is enough: ADB (Android Debug Bridge) allows you to remove system packets completely, but requires a computer connection and basic command line knowledge, a method recommended only for advanced users.
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A comprehensive approach combining disabling MSA, setting up each application and blocking ads in the browser gives the best result without the need for deep intervention in the system.