Pop-ups on Xiaomi: what is this advertising and how to turn it off

Many users of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones are faced with a situation when suddenly there is an advertising window on the screen that overlaps the desktop or application interface. This phenomenon is often puzzling, especially if the device has just been bought or updated. Xiaomi pop-ups are part of the company’s marketing strategy, allowing you to sell devices at an affordable price, offsetting the cost by showing advertising in the system interfaces.

However, annoying advertising can significantly reduce the comfort of using a gadget, distracting from work and entertainment. In this article, we will discuss in detail what exactly hides behind these windows, why they appear, and what proven methods exist for blocking them. MIUI, the shell of Android from Xiaomi, has flexible settings that allow users to independently manage the level of intrusiveness of the system.

There are several types of notifications: system recommendations, ads in pre-installed apps, and pop-ups from third-party programs. Understanding the source of the problem is the first step to solving it, and you can set the device up so that it works quickly, cleanly, and without unnecessary visual noise, while maintaining functionality.

It is important to note that some windows may not be ads, but system security alerts or updates, and you need to be able to distinguish marketing inserts from important Security or System Update notifications so that you don’t disable critical security features on your device.

The Nature of Advertising in MIUI

The main reason for the introduction of intrusive windows lies in the company’s business model: Xiaomi declares a limit on hardware profits (usually no more than 5%), shifting the focus to the ecosystem and Internet services. That is why standard applications such as Music, Themes, Explorer or Downloads have built-in advertising modules.

These modules are activated when you have an Internet connection and collect anonymized data about user preferences to target content, a mechanism called MSA (MIUI System Ads), which is the process responsible for loading and displaying banner ads in the shell interface.

⚠️ Warning: Don’t confuse system ads with viral banners. If windows appear in the browser or on top of other applications chaotically, it may be that the device has malicious software that requires antivirus verification.

And the ads can come from third-party apps that you installed yourself, and often free programs use aggressive monetization methods to create pop-ups on top of the desktop, and in these cases, the problem is not solved by the MIUI settings, but by removing the culprit.

Disabling MSA System Advertising

The most effective way to get rid of most system banners is to deactivate the MSA service. This is a system component that is not completely removed without root rights, but it can be stopped through authorization settings. To do this, go to the Settings menu → Passwords and Security → Access to data (or Permissions).

In the application list, find the MSA (MIUI System Ads) option. Click on it and turn off the Network Access slider. The system will alert you that the function may not be working properly and will trigger a 10 second countdown timer. Once the time has expired, confirm the action with the Cancel or Stop button.

Keep in mind that disabling msa does not guarantee 100% disappearance of all banners, as some applications may have their own built-in ad modules, but this action eliminates the main stream of system advertising in folders and on the desktop.

It is also recommended to disable recommendation receipt in the same settings menu.Look for the "Receive recommendations" item (usually located at the "Passwords and Security" section or at the bottom of the system services list) and uncheck it. This action will prevent Xiaomi's tips from appearing in the interface.

Setup of embedded applications

In addition to the global MSA service, each standard Xiaomi app has its own ad settings. To achieve complete cleanliness of the interface, you need to “walk” through key system utilities. Start with the Security app, which often shows notifications about garbage or viruses containing advertising inserts.

Open the Security app, click on the settings gear in the top right corner, find the Receive Recommendations item and turn it off, and check the Cleanup and Antivirus sections inside the app settings, which may have separate switches for showing promotional material.

Don't forget about the MI Browser app if you use a standard browser. Go to its settings, select Privacy & Security, and disable all personalization and recommendation items, which will reduce the number of pop-ups when browsing the web.

For Downloads, the procedure is similar: menu (three dots) → Settings → Show recommended content (turn off). Once you do these things, the interface will become significantly cleaner.

Blocking Advertising via DNS (Private DNS)

One of the most powerful and versatile methods that works not only on Xiaomi, but on any device running Android 9 and above is using a private DNS. This method blocks requests to known ad servers at the network level without requiring third-party apps to be installed.

To activate, go to Settings → Connection & Sharing → Private DNS (the path may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI, sometimes in “Additional Settings”). Select the DNS Provider Host Name (or Manual) mode and enter the address: dns.adguard.com.

Once you save the settings, the system will start filtering traffic, which will help remove banners in many apps and games, and also speed up the loading of pages in the browser by not loading advertising scripts. Private DNS does not affect Internet speed, but can consume a little more battery power due to encrypting requests.

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If some applications (such as banking or enterprise) stop working after Private DNS is enabled, temporarily switch the setting back to Automatic or Disabled.

However, for system pop-ups Xiaomi this method is extremely effective.

Management of notifications and authorizations

Users often confuse ads with push notifications from apps. Many programs request permission to display notifications when they are first installed, and users automatically agree without reading, resulting in a desktop filled with messages about discounts, news and promotions.

To get your order, go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Notification Center. You can turn off notifications for specific applications or select No Sound mode so that they don’t disturb you with sound and vibration. A finer setting is available from the Apps menu → All Apps.

Select a suspicious app that spams notifications. Click Notifications and turn off the Allow Notifications slider. It’s also worth checking the Other Permits section and disallowing access to the geolocation or microphone if it’s not needed for the program to work.

Pay special attention to GetApps, which often sends notifications about hot offers, go to its settings and turn off all kinds of notifications, including Promotions, Updates and Recommendations.

Third-party applications as a source of problems

If after all the system settings, the ads continue to appear, it is likely that the third-party application is to blame, often it is "memory cleaners", "lightlights", "scanners". QR-You can tell the culprit by the nature of the window: if it appears on top of other applications and does not have a closing button, it is a sign of "adware».

To find a problem application, open the Task Manager (square or swipe bottom-up with a delay). When an ad appears without closing it, go to Task Manager. You will see the icon of the application that is running at that moment. Often it can be simply called "Service", "Update" or have no icon at all.

⚠️ Note: If the application does not have an icon or name in the list of installed programs, this is a sure sign of malware.

Remove the app found through Settings → Applications. If it fails to be removed (button is inactive), it may have device administrator rights. Check this in the Passwords & Security menu → Privacy → Special Features (or “Device Administrators”) and revoke the rights for suspicious programs.

In difficult cases, when the application is not removed by standard methods, you may need to use safe mode. Press the turn on button, and when the "Switch off" icon appears on the screen, press and hold it. The phone will suggest you go to safe mode, where only system applications run. In this mode, remove the problem software.

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