How to remove ads on Xiaomi: the complete guide

Owners of MIUI and HyperOS devices often encounter intrusive marketing content that appears in the most unexpected places, such as a banner in the application folder, a pop-up after cleaning memory, or a video when launching a standard browser. Although Xiaomi declares low hardware margins by offsetting costs with advertising, for many users this approach becomes an annoying factor that reduces the comfort of using the gadget.

Fortunately, the built-in ad-limit system allows you to completely or partially eliminate unwanted content without obtaining super-user rights. The deactivation process does not require deep programming knowledge, but involves sequentially disabling services in several menu sections. It is important to understand that there is no single “Switch off all” button, so you need to go through the system application configuration chain.

In this guide, we will look at current methods for blocking MSA (MIUI System Ads) and other components responsible for targeted advertising. We will analyze the settings for a standard browser, conductor, bootloader and even the topic of locking the screen, performing these actions will make the interface of your smartphone cleaner and work with the device more enjoyable.

MSA Disconnection: The Main Source of Advertising

The main tool that translates banner ads into system applications is MSA (MIUI System Ads), which collects data about your preferences and shows the relevant offers, and the first step to a clean interface should be to disable this service through the authorization settings menu.

To start, go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Data Access. In the app list that opens, find msa and switch the slider to an inactive state. The system will warn you that a shutdown may affect the operation of certain functions, and prompt you to wait 10 seconds before confirming the action.

⚠️ Note: If you failed to disable the service from the first time and an error message appeared, repeat the procedure 3-5 Xiaomi servers sometimes do not process the first request to disconnect, but when repeated attempts, the restriction is removed.

After successful disabling, msa is also recommended to find and deactivate Mi Video and Mi Music services in the same menu if you do not use them, as they often act as additional channels for distribution of advertising content.

It’s worth noting that a complete shutdown of system services can affect the performance of Global News feed widgets or personalized recommendations, but for most users, losing these features is an acceptable price to pay for the lack of pop-ups.

Customization and recommendations in the system

Even after the MSA service is disabled, some interface elements can continue to show promotional offers if the recommendation function is activated, it is responsible for displaying promo content in folders, on the lock screen and in the settings menu. You can remove ads on Xiaomi completely only by turning off this option.

Go to Settings → Passwords & Security → Access to Data and find “Get Recommendations” where you need to turn off the slider. This action will stop the stream of news notifications and banner ads that MIUI generates based on device usage analysis.

• 📱 Disabling recommendations in folders: Press the folder with applications, click “Folder Settings” and remove the tick from the item “Get recommendations».
• 🔒 Lock screen: go to Settings → Always on screen and lock screen → Wallpaper carousel and disable the feature to remove advertising slides.
• ⚙️ Security menu: Open the Security app, click on the gear in the corner and turn off Get recommendations».

It is also important to check the lock theme settings, and often the ad integrations are hidden in the design elements that are uploaded from the cloud, and switching to a static image or a standard theme helps reduce the amount of visual noise.

Cleaning the built-in browser and Explorer

The standard Mi Browser browser and Explorer app are among the most active sources of advertising traffic, and by default, they are set to display news and promotional materials from partners, and to turn them into utilitarian tools, you need to change the internal settings of each application.

For the browser, open the app, go to the menu (three bars) → Settings → Privacy and security. Here you need to find the “Settings” section and disable all items related to personalization and recommendations. It is also recommended to clear the browser cache through the Settings → Memory menu to remove accumulated advertising scripts.

The File Manager is the same: Open the settings menu inside the app (usually a menu icon or three dots) and find the "About App" or "Content Settings" option. Turn off the "Receive recommendations" option, which removes the ad tape that is usually located at the top of the Explorer interface.

⚠️ Note: After updating the HyperOS operating system or MIUI You can reset your privacy settings to factory settings. Periodically check the specified sections to ensure that the ads don't come back.

If you prefer not to remove standard apps, the alternative is to install third-party apps like Chrome, Firefox, or Solid Explorer, which don’t have built-in system advertising and often offer more advanced file management functionality.

Blocking advertising in the bootloader and themes

Banner ads can appear even in the theme selection menu or when you load a device. Although it is difficult to completely remove ads from the bootloader software without flashing them over, you can minimize their appearance in the theme interface.

In the Themes app, go to the user profile (human icon) → Settings. Find the “Show ads” or “Recommendations” option and turn it off. This will prevent pop-ups offering to download paid themes or fonts while navigating the directory.

For those who want to go further, there is a method of disabling ads through a change of region: Switching region to Settings → Additional settings → Region to country with strict data protection laws (e.g., the Netherlands or Germany) often automatically reduces the number of ad integrations, as Xiaomi complies with local GDPR regulations.

Remember that changing your region can affect some local services, such as Mi Pay or the local holidays on your calendar.

Comparison of methods of advertising removal

There are many ways to combat intrusive content, from simple switches in settings to complex manipulations of DNS. Below is a table comparing the effectiveness and complexity of different methods.

The most secure and recommended method for the average user is to combine disabling MSA and using a private DNS. This allows you to cover most advertising sources without interfering with system files.

Use of the DNS-Filtering is the only way to block ads within third-party applications that are not system-based but contain ad modules. This method does not require root rights and works at the network connection level.

Using a private DNS to block

Modern versions of Android, including those on Xiaomi, support the “Private” feature. DNS» (Private DNS). This allows you to redirect all domain name requests through a server that filters ad trackers. It's a powerful tool that works globally for the entire device.

To activate this feature, go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Private DNS. Select the DNS Provider Host Name mode and enter the address: dns.adguard.com. Once saved, the device will reconnect to the network, and most ad requests will be blocked at the network level.

• 🛡️ Locking down trackers: DNS-The server does not miss requests to known advertising domains.
• 🚀 Speed up loading: the absence of heavy ad scripts speeds up page opening.
• 🔋 Traffic savings: You don’t download unnecessary media ads.

⚠️ Note: If, after the inclusion of a private DNS Some websites or apps (such as banking) will stop opening, try temporarily disabling the feature or using another one DNS-Service, as some organizations block known public DNS.

This method is particularly effective when combined with the shutdown of Xiaomi system services, creating a double barrier to unwanted content, ensuring clean interfaces and increased data privacy.

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If you use a Wi-Fi router that supports DNS (like Keenetic or Mikrotik), set up AdGuard DNS directly in the router, which will allow you to block ads on all devices on the home network, including TVs and tablets, without configuring each gadget separately.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Integrated approach including shutdown MSA, recommendations in the interface and use DNS-The filter allows you to eliminate 99% of all advertising on Xiaomi devices without losing the functionality of the smartphone.