Ownership of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones is often overshadowed by intrusive marketing that is embedded deep within the operating system’s shell: Users are confronted with banner ads in standard apps, pop-ups when memory is cleared, and personalized offers in the interface.It’s not a bug, but part of the company’s business model to keep device prices affordable.
However, it is not necessary to tolerate constant notifications about discounts in online stores or videos when you start the Calculator.The system provides tools to limit the flow of data that must be activated manually. In this article, we will discuss how to turn off advertising on Xiaomi using hidden settings and system switches available in current versions of MIUI 14 and the new HyperOS.
The process of deactivating marketing integrations requires sequential access to multiple menus, since there is no single “Stop All Ads” button, and you have to change the settings in your Mi Account profile, system applications, and security services, resulting in a clean interface that is free of visual noise.
Disabling the MSA Advertising Identifier
The first and most critical step is to turn off the MSA (MIUI System Ads) service, which is the process that collects data about your actions and displays targeted advertising in the interface, and without disabling this component, all other settings will be ineffective.
To start, you need to go to the basic smartphone settings. Find the Password and Security section or the Fingerprints, Face data section, depending on the shell version. Inside the menu, select Access to Data or Special Opportunities. From the app list that opens, find msa and put the slider inactive.
The system will try to prevent this by running a countdown of 10 seconds. You will have to press the "Disable" button several times until the timer expires. If the system produces an error "failed to disable", repeat the procedure 3-5 times in a row - this is a well-known bug that is often solved by persistence.
⚠️ Attention: After disconnection MSA The system takes 5 to 10 minutes to apply the changes, and in some cases, it may require a complete reboot of the device.
In parallel with the MSA service being disabled, it is recommended that you disable recommendations, and to do so, go to Settings → Password & Security → Privacy. Find the Advertising Services section and disable the Receive Recommendations item, which breaks the link between your unique OAID ID and the company’s ad servers.
Cleaning Standard Applications from Banners
Even after the system (ad service) is turned off, individual native apps can continue to show promotional materials, each with its own settings that are activated by default when the smartphone is first launched.
Start with the Security app, which most often annoys users with pop-ups. Open the app, click on the settings gear in the top right corner. Scroll down to the About section and find the Get Recommendations switch. Turn it off.
The same procedure is required for other system utilities. In the Explorer app, go to the menu (three bars), select Settings → About and disable recommendations. In Downloads, go to settings through three points, select Settings, and uncheck the tick from Show Recommended Content.
☑️ Verification of system applications
Don't forget to check Music and Video. In these media players, ads are often built into the home page. Go to the user profile (human icon), then go to the settings and find Online Services or Get Recommendations, and disabling this option will make the player interface minimalist.
Setting up the Mi browser and launcher
The standard Mi Browser browser and launcher system are the main sources of visual noise. the browser by default fills the news feed with advertising articles, and the launcher can show the carousel of images on the lock screen and in folders.
To clean your browser, open it, click on the central menu button and select Settings. Go to Privacy and Security. You need to turn off a few things: Personal Recommendations, Notifications, and Receive Notifications. Also, in the Home Page section, select Classic mode to remove the news feed.
Set up the launcher requires attention to the details of the design. Click on the empty space on the desktop and select Settings. Scroll down to the Recommendations section and turn it off. This will remove the ads from the application folders. For the lock screen, go to Settings → Lock screen and turn off Wallpaper Carousel or Glance if they are active.
Hidden browser settings
If you prefer third-party solutions, consider installing an alternative launcher like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher.This is a radical but effective way to completely get rid of Xiaomi's front-end elements, replacing them with a pure Android experience.
Personalization and data management
Xiaomi’s advertising ecosystem is based on telemetry collection: The more data a company has about your location, search queries, and phone usage habits, the more accurate it is in selecting ads.
Go to Settings → Password & Security → Privacy. Select Ad Services. Here you will see the button Reset Advertising ID. Press it periodically. The Toolbox “Disable Ad Personalization” should also be activated here.
It is also important to check your Mi Account settings. Go to your account settings through the profile at the top of the settings menu. Select About Service and Privacy → Advertising. Make sure all switches related to personalization and analytics are in the Off position.
There is also a less obvious source of data, the analytics service. In the Password & Security section → Privacy, look for Analytics Services (or Usage Analytics). Disabling this item will stop sending crash reports and app usage statistics to the manufacturer's servers.
Table of settings in MIUI and HyperOS
Interfaces of different versions of the operating system may differ in the location of menu items. Below is a summary table that helps you quickly navigate the settings for different versions of the shell.
| System component | MIUI 12/13/14 | HyperOS | Default status |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSA Service | Settings → Password and security → Access to data | Settings → Password and security → Special. features | Included. |
| Security Annex | Inside the app → Cogs → About the program | Inside the app → Three points. → About the programme | Included. |
| Personalization of advertising | Settings → Password and security → Privacy | Settings → Password and security → Privacy | Included. |
| Recommendations in folders | Settings of the launcher → Recommendations | Desktop settings → Recommendations | Included. |
Note that in HyperOS, some items have been renamed or moved to the “Special Features” submenu for better grouping of access control functions. If you do not find an item in a specified location, search by settings by entering the keyword “msa” or “advertising”.
Blocking Advertising through DNS (Advanced Method)
For those who want to achieve maximum results, there is a method of blocking ads at the level of network queries, using a private DNS allows you to filter traffic before it reaches the application, and this is a universal way, even in those games and programs where the ad settings are hidden.
The most popular and reliable solution is the use of DNS-You don't have to install the app; just put the address in your network settings. Go to Settings» → «Wi-Fi» → «Setting up DNS» (or “Private” DNS» under "Connections and Sharing"). Select "Host Name Provider" DNS» and enter the address: dns.adguard.com.
dns.adguard.comOnce you save your settings, your smartphone will start ignoring requests for known ad servers, which can speed up page loading in your browser and remove banners from free apps. DNS-The service is temporarily unavailable, and some sites or apps may stop downloading content.
⚠️ Note: When using a third party DNS Make sure you have a backup internet access channel (mobile data) so that in case of a Wi-Fi configuration error, you will not be left without communication with the outside world.
An alternative is to install specialized blocking apps like Blokada or AdGuard (full version) that create a local locker. VPN-This requires more battery life, but gives you more flexibility in controlling the filtering rules.
Frequent problems and their solution
The process of disabling ads does not always go smoothly. Users may find that settings are reset after a system update, or ads return after a while. This is because some firmware updates can restore factory values of switches.
If you notice a banner ad return, check the status of the msa service first. Often after a major Android or MIUI update, the system automatically reactivates this process. It is also worth checking the list of installed apps: sometimes the ads come along with new Xiaomi “service” utilities that are installed in the background.
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Take screenshots of your data access and privacy settings as soon as they are optimally set up, which will save you time if you have to reconfigure everything after you upgrade.
In rare cases, advertising modules can be embedded in specific versions of applications that cannot be removed by standard means, in which case only disconnecting the Internet for a particular application or replacing it completely with an analogue from the Google Play Store (for example, replacing the Mi browser with Chrome) will help.
Remember that complete sterility of the system may require more radical measures, such as unlocking the bootloader and installing global firmware without regional features or custom Android build, but for most users the methods described above will be enough.