Many users of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones face a frustrating situation: the phone starts downloading and installing programs on its own without the owner’s knowledge, usually after a system update or even during normal use of the device, a behavior that often causes irritation and concerns for the security of personal data.
The reason for this phenomenon is the company’s aggressive policy of monetizing its devices through advertising services and pre-installed software. MIUI or its new version of HyperOS contains hidden services that are activated when you connect to the Internet. To regain control of your gadget, you need to manually deactivate several system components.
In this guide, we will detail which services are responsible for autoloading programs and how to safely disable them. You will learn how to find hidden ad settings and prevent the reappearance of junk software. The key component to disable in the first place is the MSA (MIUI System Ads) system service.
Reasons for Automatic Installation of Programs on Xiaomi
The main reason Xiaomi installs apps is because of its business model: it sells smartphones at a minimal margin, offsetting costs through advertising and affiliate programs, and has built-in modules that analyze user actions and offer content to implement this strategy.
Often users accidentally allow installation by clicking on pop-ups in system applications such as Explorer or Security.These windows may look like system notifications to update the component, but actually initiate a third-party download. APK-The system permissions given when you first turn on the phone also allow background services to operate autonomously.
Another factor is syncing with your Mi Account or using third-party app stores like GetApps. If the store settings tick Auto Update or Recommendations, the device may start downloading games and utilities that the algorithm has found useful to you.
⚠️ Warning: Some viruses and miners may disguise themselves as system processes. If the phone installs unknown programs even after all ad services are turned off, check the device with antivirus.
Understanding how these services work helps to effectively combat them, and below we will look at a step-by-step algorithm of actions that will help you clean up the system from unnecessary interference.
Disabling system advertising and MSA service
MSA (MIUI System Ads) is the primary agent in charge of displaying ads and promoting applications on the system, and without disabling it, any other settings may not be effective, and the deactivation process requires care, as the system will try to dissuade you from doing so.
To start, go to the settings menu and find "Passwords and Security." From the list that opens, select "Data Access." This list shows all the apps that are eligible to access the Internet. Find the msa list and turn off the Web access slider.
The system will give a warning that some functions may be disrupted. Click "Disable." An important caveat: the confirmation button will only become active after 10 seconds of waiting, a special technique designed to ensure that the user does not wait and will leave the menu.
☑️ Checking the shutdown MSA
After a successful shutdown, it is also recommended to restrict access to data for GetApps (Mi app store) if you do not use it, which will prevent the background loading of updates and recommendations.
- 📱 Go to Settings. → Passwords and security → Access to data.
- 🚫 Find the msa process and uncheck the Wi-Fi and mobile data boxes.
- ⏳ Wait for the countdown timer to expire (10 seconds).
- ✅ Click the “Disable” button in the confirmation pop-up window.
💡
If the msa service turns on itself after you reboot, try to turn off the Internet before you perform the procedure, and then turn off access to data, not including the network.
Customization and recommendations in the system
In addition to the MSA service, Personalized Recommendations are responsible for suggestions to install something new, and it analyzes your usage habits and builds lists of Recommended in folders and on the desktop based on this, and disabling this feature significantly reduces the number of intrusive notifications.
To find this setting, you need to go to Settings, then select Passwords and Security, and scroll down to Privacy, and there's Special Permits, and inside that, Access to Personal Data, but the path may vary depending on the version of MIUI. A more universal way is to use Settings search.
Type the word “advertising” or “recommendations” in the settings search bar, and the system will prompt you to go to “Personalizing Ads” or “Get Recommendations.” Turn off all the switches in this menu, which will prevent the system from using your ad ID to select content.
It's also worth checking the settings of the desktop itself. Press your finger on the blank spot of the screen to call the edit menu, and click Settings. Find the "Receive recommendations" option and make sure it's deactivated. This will remove the news feed and app suggestion cards to the left of the home screen.
Disabling personalization will not only take away advertising, but it can also speed up the interface a little, since the system will not need to constantly download and analyze data to select content.
Managing the GetApps App Store
The built-in GetApps store is often the source of automatic software installation, and even if you don't use it, it can run in the background, updating and offering "important" applications, and full control of this service is essential to clean the system.
Open the GetApps app, click on the profile icon in the top right corner and select Settings, and then look for the Auto Update section and switch it to Never or Wi-Fi Only if you need updates, and turn off notifications for new games and promotions.
In the same menu, find the "Recommendations" or "Notifications" item and uncheck all the boxes. The store will stop sending push notifications with suggestions to download a new game or utility, which will significantly reduce the risk of accidental installation of software when you unlock the screen.
| Setup parameter | Recommended value | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-update | Never/Manually. | Prevents background traffic loading |
| Notifications | Off. | Removes pop-up sentences |
| Personalization | Off. | Stops collecting preference data |
| Auto-start | Forbidden. | The store does not start itself when switched on. |
If you don’t use Xiaomi services at all, you can simply remove store updates or turn it off in the Apps menu, but you need to be careful not to disrupt system dependencies.
Blocking the installation from unknown sources
Applications are often installed not by system services, but by a browser or messenger where the installation file was accidentally downloaded. Protection from installation from unknown sources is an important security barrier. In modern versions of Android and MIUI, the permission is not given globally, but for each application separately.
Go to "Settings» → «Protection of confidentiality» → «Special permits» → «Install unknown applications. Here you will see a list of all programs that may request installation APK-Check browsers (Chrome, Yandex), file managers and instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp).
Make sure the Allow Installation switch is turned off for all suspicious or rarely used applications. Leave this right only to a verified file manager if you often install software manually.
⚠️ Note: If you do not allow the installation of unknown applications for all sources, you will not be able to install programs from the APK-files downloaded from the Internet, only from official stores.
What to do if the installation button is grey?
You can also enable antivirus scanning of installation files before launch. The standard Security app has a Scan During Installation feature that checks for the installation. APK-threat-file.
Additional protection and cleaning of the system
Once you have disabled the main services, it is recommended to conduct a complete audit of installed applications. Often malicious or adware is hidden under system names or does not have an icon on the desktop. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps and carefully study the list.
Look for apps without a name or with an icon that looks like an empty square, and these programs are often media for advertising modules. If you find a suspicious object, delete it immediately, and if the delete button is inactive, then the application has administrator rights.
To check for administrator rights, go to Passwords & Security → Privacy → Special Permits → Device Administrator Apps. There should be nothing superfluous here but standard services like Find Device.
- 🔍 Audit installed applications for unknown names.
- 🗑️ Remove any programs you don’t use or remember about the installation.
- 🛡️ Check the list of applications with administrator rights.
- 🧹 Clear browser cache and downloads to remove leftover installation files.
💡
Regular check of the list of applications and access rights is the best prevention of automatic installation of unnecessary software on Xiaomi.
Compliance with these simple rules of digital space hygiene will allow you to use the Xiaomi smartphone comfortably, without intrusive advertising and outside interference in the system.