How to set up AdBlock Plus on Xiaomi Redmi: from installation to fine-tuning

Advertising in mobile apps and the browser has become a real scourge of modern smartphones — especially on Xiaomi Redmi devices, where MIUI sometimes loads its own banners even into the system menus. AdBlock Plus remains one of the most effective tools for combating intrusive ads, but its setting on Redmi has nuances due to the features of the firmware. In this article, we will analyze not only the basic installation, but also hidden chips: from blocking advertising on YouTube to bypassing the restrictions of MIUI without superuser rights.

Many users mistakenly think that AdBlock Plus only works in the browser — in fact, with the right settings, it can filter traffic at the system level, blocking ad servers before content is loaded. However, on Xiaomi Redmi (especially on models with MIUI 14+), the standard way to install through Google Play often fails due to aggressive memory optimization. We tested working methods on Redmi Note 12 Pro+, Redmi 11 Prime and POCO X5 — all solutions from this article are relevant for Android 12-14 devices.

It is important to understand that starting with MIUI 13, Xiaomi blocks changing system DNS through standard settings, which directly affects the operation of AdBlock Plus in Local VPN mode.

1. Preparation of the smartphone: what to do before installing AdBlock Plus

Before installing the ad blocker, you need to prepare the device - this will eliminate most problems with the application. On Xiaomi Redmi, the key point is to turn off the battery optimization for AdBlock Plus, otherwise the system will force the background processes to close.

Also check the version MIUI — firmware MIUI 12.5 Additional Private settings may be required DNS. To find out your version, go to Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI. If you MIUI 14 Global or later, use the Local Method VPN (Section 3), for older versions, the classic setting through DNS-server.

• 🔋 Turn off battery optimization: Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery → All applications → AdBlock Plus → No restrictions.
• 📱 Allow auto-start: Settings → Annexes → Application management → AdBlock Plus → Auto-start (enable)
• 🔒 Give permission to do so. VPN: This will be required for the local regime. VPN" (permission is requested at the first launch)
• 🌐 Check the current one. DNS: If you already have a private setup DNS (For example, dns.google, it will have to be temporarily disabled.

On Redmi models with MediaTek processors (e.g. Redmi) 10A or Redmi 9C) There may be a connection problem. VPN. In this case, before installing AdBlock Plus, restart your phone and clear the system settings cache through Settings. → Annexes → Application management → Settings (⚙️) → Clear the cache.

⚠️ Note: If you use Dual Apps for your browser or social network, AdBlock Plus will not work in cloned versions. MIUI, You can only get around it through settings. DNS-router-level server.

2. Install AdBlock Plus: Official and Alternative Ways

You can download AdBlock Plus in three ways: through Google Play, from the official website (adblockplus.org), or through the official website. APK-A file for users without Google services. Let's consider each option with the specifics of Xiaomi Redmi.

Method 1: Installation via Google Play (recommended)

1. Open the Play Store and search for AdBlock Plus (developer eyeo GmbH).
2. Click Install and wait for the download to be completed.
3. After installation, do not start the application right away – first follow the steps from Section 1 (disable battery optimization).

Method 2: Manual APK installation (for devices without Google)

• Download the latest version of APK from the official website: https://adblockplus.org/download#android.
• Transfer the file to your phone and allow installation from unknown sources: Settings → Applications → Special permissions → Install unknown applications → Select a browser / file manager.
• Install APK and provide all the permissions requested.

Method 3: Through alternative stores (for China/Global ROM)

If you have a Xiaomi Redmi with Chinese firmware (China ROM), use APKMirror or Aurora Store to download. Avoid third-party APKs from unknown sites - they may contain malicious code.

⚠️ Note: Some Redmi models (e.g. Redmi Note) 11T Pro) after installing AdBlock Plus, the Internet connection may disappear. VPN-Solution: Restart your phone and manually select filter mode (Section 4).

AdBlock Plus setup: Selecting filter mode

After installing AdBlock Plus offers three main modes of operation:

1. Local VPN (recommended for MIUI 13+)
2. DNS-Filtering (universal but less efficient)
3. Proxy server (for advanced users)

Xiaomi Redmi is the best choice for local VPN, because it circumvents the restrictions MIUI systemic DNS. However, this regime may conflict with others. VPN-applications (e.g. 1.1.1.1 or ProtonVPN) if you use VPN For safety, choose. DNS-filtering.

Step-by-step setting up the Local VPN mode:

1. Launch AdBlock Plus and press Start.
2. Select Local VPN from the list of available modes.
3. Allow creation VPN-connection (press) OK system-window).
4. Turn on the traffic filter switch.
5. In the Filters section, activate: 🛡️ EasyList (Basic Ad Blocking) 📱 EasyPrivacy (Protection from Trackers) 🎥 Fanboy's Annoyances (Blocking Social Widgets)

For the regime. DNS-filtering:

1. Choose. DNS-filtering in the main menu.
2. Click Set up manually and enter the address: 192.168.1.1 (if you use a home router) or dns.adblockplus.org.
3. In Settings → Connections → Private DNS, select the DNS provider hostname and type dns.adblockplus.org.

4. Additional settings: blocking ads in YouTube and apps

By default, AdBlock Plus blocks ads only in the browser. To extend its action to applications (for example, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok), you will need to manually configure user filters.

Blocking Advertising on YouTube (web version and app):

1. In AdBlock Plus, go to Settings → Additional filters.
2. Click Add the Custom Filter and paste: ||googlevideo.com^$important,domain=youtube.com ||doubleclick.net^$important ||googleads.g.doubleclick.net^$important
3. Save the changes and restart the YouTube app.

To block ads on Instagram and TikTok, add these rules:

||graph.instagram.com^$important


||ads.tiktok.com^$important




||api-adservices.apple.com^$important

Important: On MIUI 14, user filters can be reset after the application update. To avoid this, export the settings to the file:

1. In AdBlock Plus, go to Settings → Backup.
2. Click Export Settings and save the file to Downloads.
3. After the update, import the settings back.

3. Set up Private DNS at the system level

1. Go to Settings → Connections → Private DNS.
2. Select the DNS provider hostname and type in: dns.adguard.com or dot-de.blahdns.com
3. Save and restart the phone.

4. Blocking at the router level

If you have access to the router settings, add to DHCP Settings are the following DNS-server:

• 🌍 94.140.14.14 (AdGuard DNS)
• 🌍 1.1.1.3 (Cloudflare Family)

This will block ads on all devices on your network, including Xiaomi Redmi, laptops, and Smart TVs.

⚠️ Attention: Set up a Private DNS on MIUI may conflict with certain banking applications (e.g. Sberbank Online or Tinkoff) if after the change DNS Payment services stopped working, return settings to default values.

💡

The most reliable way to block ads on Xiaomi Redmi is to combine AdBlock Plus in Local VPN + Private DNS with dns.adguard.com, which covers 90% of ad networks, including Google Ads and Facebook Audience Network.

7. Performance optimization: how to reduce battery load

AdBlock Plus in Local VPN mode can increase battery consumption by 5-15% due to constant traffic filtering. On Xiaomi Redmi with Snapdragon 6xx/7xx processors (for example, Redmi Note 11 Pro) this is less noticeable, but on budget models (Redmi 10A, Redmi 9C) can lead to quick discharge.

Ways to reduce battery consumption:

• 🔋 Turn off unnecessary filters: leave only EasyList and EasyPrivacy, add the rest as needed.
• ⏳ Set a work schedule: Go to AdBlock Plus Settings → Schedule and set up automatic overnight shutdown.
• 📵 Use it. DNS-filtering instead of localization VPN — It is less resource intensive, but less efficient.
• 🔄 Clean the app's cache regularly: Settings → Annexes → AdBlock Plus → Clear the cache.

To check the actual effect on the battery:

1. Open Settings → Battery → Battery Use.
2. Find AdBlock Plus in the list and check the percentage of consumption.
3. If the cost exceeds 10%, switch to DNS-Filter or reduce the number of active filters.

On models with MIUI 14 and later, you can use the built-in Performance Mode:

1. Go to Settings → Battery → Performance mode.
2. Choose Balanced or Charge Saving (but not High Performance, as this will boost background activity).

FAQ: Frequent questions about setting up AdBlock Plus on Xiaomi Redmi