Xiaomi smartphones and their budget line of Redmi are famous for their excellent price-performance ratio, but users often face intrusive advertising in system applications. Owners of the Redmi 7A model are no exception: pop-ups can appear when you unlock the screen, on the menu or while using standard utilities. This is not a virus, but a feature of the MIUI firmware that monetizes available devices.
Fortunately, the system allows the user to control the flow of advertising content. To effectively solve the problem, you need to turn off several system services sequentially and change the personalization settings. The process does not require obtaining super-user rights (root) and takes only a few minutes if you follow the algorithm clearly.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at each step to clean up your Redmi 7A’s interface. We’ll cover disabling the MSA service, setting up system applications, and using additional locking techniques that are guaranteed to save you from annoying banners.
MSA Disconnection: The Main Source of Advertising
The main mechanism for delivering advertising content in the MIUI operating system is the MSA (MIUI System Ads) system service, which is responsible for collecting data about user preferences and displaying targeted banners in folders and applications, the first and most important step is to deactivate it through the authorization menu.
To find the right switch, go to the Settings menu, then select Password and Security and click Data Access. In the application list that opens, find msa and put the slider inactive, and the system will warn you of the consequences of disconnection by suggesting that you wait 10 seconds.
After the timer has expired, press the Disable button. It is important to understand that the service may not turn off from the first time due to the peculiarities of Xiaomi's background processes. If you see an error message or the slider returns to its original position, just repeat the procedure 2-3 times in a row. Usually, on the second or third attempt, the restriction is removed successfully.
⚠️ Attention: After the service is disconnected MSA It takes 24 to 48 hours for the system to update the cache completely and stop displaying banners. Don't panic if you see a pop-up immediately after the procedure.
In addition, check related services that can also transmit data for analytics. In the same Data Access menu, find miui daemon and GetApps (if you don’t use the Xiaomi app store) and also limit their access to the network, which will reduce background activity.
Setup of system applications and tools
Beyond the global service, each standard Redmi 7A application has its own ad settings. Even after the MSA is disabled, some utilities can continue to show recommendations unless they change their individual settings, starting with the task manager and the cleaner.
Open the Security app, which is the control center of the system. Click on the gear icon in the upper right corner to enter the settings. Find the Receive recommendations section and make sure the switch is off. You can also turn off notifications about viruses or memory cleanups, which often contain advertising inserts.
☑️ Verification of system applications
Next, you need to clear the desktop of recommendations in folders. Go to the launcher settings through the Settings menu → Desktop. Find the option to Receive recommendations and deaktivirujte it. This will remove the advertising icons that the system automatically inserts into the folders with applications.
Don’t forget to check the Music and Video app settings. From the Mi Video menu, go to Profile → Settings and turn off Receive Notifications and Push Notifications. Similar steps should be taken in the Themes app unless you plan to change your device design frequently.
Personalization and advertising identifiers
To fine-tune privacy and reduce the amount of targeted advertising, you should refer to the personalization section, which stores digital identifiers that help ad networks form your profile, resetting or disabling these parameters will make advertising less intrusive, although it will not remove it completely from third-party applications.
Go to Settings → Password & Security → Privacy. In this section, look for Advertising Services. Inside you will see a Personalized Advertising switch. Turn it off so that the system stops using your data to match content.
The menu also provides an ad reset feature, which, by clicking on the appropriate button, creates a new random identifier, which breaks the link between your current activity and previous statistics, a useful practice that is recommended to be done periodically.
Why do you need an advertising ID?
It is important to note that the location of these settings may vary slightly between versions of MIUI, and if you do not find the Advertising Services item, try searching for it through a global search in the settings by typing in the “Advertising” or “AD” query.
Notifications from the browser and third-party applications
Often users confuse Xiaomi system advertising with intrusive notifications from browsers or installed games. pop-ups with offers to download antivirus or play casino games usually come not from the system, but from the permissions you gave to sites when you visited.
First, check your Chrome or MIUI Browser settings. Go to Settings → Notifications and disable access for suspicious sites. It’s also helpful to clear your cache and browser data to remove saved scripts that generate pop-ups.
If the ads appear as separate windows on top of other apps, it is likely that the newly installed app with excessive permissions is to blame. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps and carefully review the list. Look for programs without an icon or with suspicious names (such as “Flash Player”, “Cleaner”, etc.) and delete them.
| Type of source | Signs. | Elimination method |
|---|---|---|
| System MIUI | Advertising in folders, when unlocked | Disabling MSAs and Recommendations |
| browser | Notifications of news, promotions | Clearing the site data in the browser |
| Viral application | Full screen advertising at a random moment | Removal of suspicious APK-file |
| Xiaomi applications | Banners in "Music", "Video", "Temakh" | Settings within a specific application |
To diagnose the source of the ad, you can use the "Last Action" feature in the menu of running applications, and when an ad window appears without closing it, roll it up and see which app it belongs to, which will help you identify the culprit accurately.
Using DNS to Block Advertising
One of the most effective modern methods of combating advertising is the use of private DNS. This method allows you to block advertising requests at the network connection level without requiring the installation of additional applications. For Redmi 7A with Android 9 and higher, this feature is available out of the box.
Go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Private DNS. Select DNS Host Name (or Manual) and enter the trusted blocker address. One of the most popular and proven options is dns.adguard.com.
dns.adguard.comAfter you enter the address, save the settings. DNS-Your smartphone’s queries will go through AdGuard filters that cut off known ad domains, not only removing banners in your browser and some apps, but also speeding up page loading, as advertising content simply won’t load.
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Using a private DNS is the most effective way to remove ads throughout the system, including browsers and games, without having to configure each application separately.
It is worth considering that this method may conflict with some local networks or specific corporate Wi-Fi. If you encounter problems with connecting to the Internet after turning on DNS, try temporarily switching to Auto mode or disabling the function.
Additional recommendations and services
To keep the system clean, Redmi 7A recommends regular reviews of installed applications. Remove programs that you do not use, especially those preinstalled by the manufacturer, but are not critical. Many of them contain built-in ad modules.
Also keep an eye out for system updates. While newer versions of MIUI sometimes add new features, they also often contain security patches that close vulnerabilities used for intrusive advertising. Go to Settings → About the phone and check for updates.
⚠️ Warning: Do not install questionable applications to “accelerate” or “clean up memory” from unverified sources, often the cause of aggressive advertising that cannot be removed by standard settings.
If none of the methods worked, and the ads continue to bother, perform a full factory reset. Before you do, be sure to save important data, as all of them will be deleted. After the reset, do not restore the backup of the applications immediately, but install them again, carefully monitoring the permissions.