Ownership of a modern Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphone is often overshadowed by intrusive banner ads that can appear in the most unexpected places: when you unlock the screen, in system utilities or even on top of the interface of running applications, it is not a virus, but a regular feature of the MIUI and HyperOS operating system, designed to monetize the affordable cost of the device.
Users often mistakenly believe that this is impossible to get rid of without flashing it on a global version or installing custom firmware. However, the company's engineers have provided official, albeit hidden, ways to deactivate ad modules. Disabling advertising is a process that requires several steps to be taken in sequence in different sections of the menu.
Ignoring this problem leads to increased traffic consumption and reduced performance of the gadget. Advertising modules constantly collect data about your actions to target content. In this article, we will examine all known methods of cleaning the interface from marketing noise, returning the device to its original speed and cleanliness.
The Nature of Advertising Notifications in MIUI and HyperOS
The main source of intrusive banners is the MSA system application (MIUI System Ads), which runs in the background and is responsible for delivering personalized content to standard utilities, and it is the MSA that analyzes your preferences to show relevant offers in Explorer, Music or Security.
Apart from the main module, pop-ups are often handled by separate system components. For example, GetApps (similar to Xiaomi’s Google Play) regularly sends discount notifications. The Mi Browser browser is also set up by default on the news feed with inlays.
⚠️ Note: Complete removal of system applications through ADB It can cause unstable operation of the phone. it is recommended to use standard shutdown methods described below.
It is important to understand the difference between in-app advertising and system advertising, and if banners appear inside third-party games or programs, it is the software developers’ fault, not the MIUI shell, which helps to install an ad blocker at the DNS or network level.
MSA Service Disconnection: The Major Step
The first and most important action is to send a request to disable the msa service. Without this step, the rest of the settings can be reset after the reboot.The process looks like a service unsubscribe, but technically forbids the module from downloading content.
To do this, go to the Settings menu, then select Passwords and Security. In the list that opens, find the Access to Personal Data section. Here you will see a list of applications that have the right to collect information. Find the msa list and put the switch in an inactive position.
☑️ Checking the shutdown MSA
The system will try to dissuade you by running a timer countdown (usually 10 seconds) and telling you to leave the function on. This is a standard practice of dark patterns in interface design. You have to wait until the timer ends and confidently press the "Disable" button.
If you failed to turn off the first time and you received an error message, try repeating the procedure 2-3 times. The company's servers are sometimes overloaded with requests, and the failure can be on the infrastructure side, and pre-disconnection of the Internet before logging into the menu also helps.
Setup of Xiaomi system applications
Once you block the main module, you need to “tame” individual utilities that have their own advertising settings. Each application stores its preferences separately, so you will have to go through the key menu items.
Start with the Security app. Open it, click on the settings gear in the top right corner, find the "Receive recommendations" item and turn it off, and you can also check the "Show ads" box if you have that option in your firmware version.
Then we go to Explorer. In the settings menu (three bars or gears), find the About section or immediately Settings. Turn off the Recommendations and Get News option, which will remove banners from the file manager's home page.
- 📁 Downloads: Open the app, click on three dots, select Settings, remove the tick Get recommendations».
- 🎵 Music: Go to Settings, find “Advanced Settings”, disable “Show Ads” and “Recommendations».
- 🎥 Video: In the section "Settings» -> «General" uncheck the box from the item "Online recommendations».
- 🌤️ Weather: In the widget or app settings, turn off “Receive recommendations” and “Advertising notifications».
Be sure to check the theme settings. Often, notifications are also included in the Themes app. Go to the profile (human icon), then to the settings and turn off "Receive Notifications" and "Automatic Updates" for those that you don't need.
Blocking Advertising through Private DNS
The most effective method, which works at the level of the entire Android operating system, is the use of personal DNS. This method does not require the installation of third-party software and blocks requests to ad servers before they reach the screen.
To activate, go to Settings -> Connection and Sharing (or "Advanced Settings" in older versions). DNS (Private DNS). Select the mode "Host Name provider" DNS» (or “Manually”) and enter the address: dns.adguard.com.
💡
Dns.adguard.com is a free and reliable server that does not require registration and configuration of complex filters.
Once you save your settings, your phone can lose your Internet connection for a second, then restore it. Check it: open a site with aggressive ads or launch an app where banners have previously popped up. If done correctly, the ad blocks will be replaced with empty fields or not load at all.
⚠️ Attention: When using private DNS Some applications (such as carrier or banking) may not work properly. If you encounter problems, temporarily return the setting to Auto mode».
Cleaning up Mi Browser and GetApps
Xiaomi’s standard browser and the GetApps app store are among the top sources of junk notifications, and even if you don’t use them, they keep running in the background, and it’s recommended that you turn off their notifications completely.
Go to Settings -> Notifications -> Notification Management. Go to GetApps and Mi Browser. Stop them from showing notifications completely. It's also helpful for the browser to go to its internal settings and turn off the News Feed on the homepage.
If you prefer to use third-party browsers (Chrome, Firefox), you can freeze or remove the standard Mi Browser.However, removing the system browser can lead to errors when opening links from other applications, so it is safer to simply deprive it of the rights to notifications and background work.
For GetApps, you can also turn off auto-update apps to keep it from reminding you of yourself.In the store settings, look for Auto Update and select Never or Wi-Fi Only, although turning off notifications completely is more effective.
Specifics of working with POCO and Redmi Note
Owners of sub-brands POCO and Redmi often face an additional layer of advertising, as these lines are positioned as more affordable. In the shell of POCO Launcher there is a separate widget “Wallpaper Carousel” (Glance), which broadcasts news and advertising on a locked screen.
To remove Carousel, press and hold your finger on the empty desktop, select Settings, then More. Find Wallpaper Carousel and turn it off. It's also worth checking the lock screen settings in the main menu of the phone.
Some versions of the firmware for Redmi Note have a “Recommendations” feature in the application folders. If you open the folder and see a list of recommended programs at the bottom, go to the folder settings (cogs inside the open folder) and remove the tick from the “Recommendations” item.
Note that after major MIUI updates or a transition to HyperOS, some settings may reset to factory values. Periodic checks of the items described above will help keep the phone clean.
Table: Checking settings after update
After any major system update, it is recommended to conduct a settings audit. Below is a table of the main points that most often require a re-disconnection.
| Annex/Function | The path to adjustment | What to turn off |
|---|---|---|
| System system | Passwords and security -> Access to data | msa |
| Conductor | Settings -> About the application | Recommendations |
| Security | Settings (cogs) | Receive recommendations |
| Downloads. | Settings | Receive recommendations |
| Music. | Settings -> Advanced | Showing ads |
Regularly monitoring these settings ensures that marketing algorithms don’t return to your screen. Remember that the company reserves the right to return some default settings when you change region or major OS update.