How to disable Xiaomi app autoinstallation: the complete guide

Xiaomi's current smartphones, which are based on the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS, are famous for their functionality, but often cause users inconvenience with intrusive advertising. One of the most annoying manifestations of aggressive monetization is the automatic installation of third-party programs without the owner's knowledge. You take a phone, and it already flaunts new games, marketplaces or banking applications that you haven't downloaded. It's not a virus in the classical sense, but an integrated feature of the system that requires competent management.

The reason is because of pre-installed system services like MSA (MIUI System Ads) and GetApps, which are responsible for delivering content. Unfortunately, you can't just delete them with standard methods, because they have system application rights. However, there are proven ways to block their activity, disable automatic boot and clean the device of digital garbage. In this article, we'll look at all the available methods, from simple menu settings to advanced commands via the computer.

It's important to understand that getting rid of all the ad mechanisms is difficult, because developers are constantly changing algorithms. However, a comprehensive approach allows you to minimize interference with your gadget. The most effective way is to combine the system services disconnection and the DNS-level ad blocking. Let's look Step-by-step, how to regain control of your device.

Disabling system advertising services MSA and mab

The first and most important step is to deactivate the MSA service, which is the main guide to advertising recommendations in the system, which analyzes your actions and offers “useful” applications for installation, and to access it, you need to activate the hidden developer menu, if it is not already enabled.

Find About Phone in the settings and quickly tap 7-10 times on the MIUI Version or OS Version bar. Once you have been notified that you have become a developer, go back to the main settings menu and go to Advanced Settings → For Developers. Here we are interested in the option to Enable MIUI Optimization. It needs to be turned off, but the system will ask for a reboot. After rebooting, go back to this menu and turn off the option again, confirming the action.

Now the path to hidden settings is open. Follow Settings → Passwords and security → Access to personal data. In the list that opens, find the msa process and turn off the slider. The system will persistently discourage you by showing a countdown timer of 10 seconds. You need to wait until the end and click Accept. If the first time failed, try 3-4 times, sometimes it takes several attempts.

• 📱 Find the mab (Miui Browser) process in the list and also deny it access to data if you do not use a standard browser.
• 📱 Pay attention to the service MIUI Daemon, which collects usage statistics and disable it to enhance privacy.
• 📱 Check the GetApps app in the same list and limit its rights so it can’t silently download content.

⚠️ Attention: After disconnection MSA banner ads may disappear within 24 hours, not instantly. Do not manually delete system files through a root-righted file manager, this can lead to a cyclical reboot.

Disabling these services doesn't break the functionality of the phone, but it makes the interface cleaner, and you'll notice that the recommendations in the folders and on the desktop are gone, and that's the foundation on which you build further protection against unwanted software.

Set up the GetApps store and disable auto updates

The second source of automatic app installation is Xiaomi’s own store, called GetApps. It is often updated in the background and can offer the installation of “recommended” games. Even if you do not use them, the process can be started by system requirements.

Open the GetApps app (sometimes called the Mi Store or the Apps). Click on the profile icon in the top right corner, then select Settings. Here you need to find the Auto Update app section and select Never or Only via Wi-Fi if you want to control the process. It is also important to disable the Notifications and Recommendations option so that the store stops sending suggestions for installing new software.

Some firmware versions have a separate setting for automatic security updates. It can be found in the Security menu → Settings (cogs) → Virus database updates. Disabling this feature will prevent heavy databases from loading in the background, but leave the phone vulnerable, so take risks.

It’s also worth checking the Google Play Store’s settings, as it can also update apps automatically. Go to Settings → Settings → Auto Update apps and choose the right option. This will help avoid a situation where the phone starts downloading gigabytes of data in roaming or at the wrong time.

Blocking Advertising via DNS: a Method Without Root Rights

One of the most elegant and safest ways to prevent ad modules from downloading and hidden application installation is to use a private DNS. This method does not require third-party software installation, superuser rights or complex ADB manipulation. It works at the network connection level, sifting out requests to known ad servers.

To implement this method, go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Private DNS (the path may vary slightly depending on the Android version). Select the Host Name of the Private DNS Provider and enter the address of the trusted blocker. One of the most popular and verified is dns.adguard.com.

dns.adguard.com

Once you enter the address, save the settings. Now all traffic on your device will pass through filters that block known domains of ad networks. If the application tries to contact the server to download an ad module or install a package, the request will be blocked.

• 🛡️ The method is effective against most types of pop-up advertising in the browser and some applications.
• 🛡️ It does not require the installation of additional software, which saves battery power and RAM.
• 🛡️ It works for all connections: both via Wi-Fi and through the operator’s mobile network.

However, there are some nuances to this method: Some legitimate services may stop working properly if their ad trackers are blocked too aggressively, in which case you can temporarily disable DNS or use alternative addresses, such as from ControlD.

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If some websites or apps stop opening after DNS is turned on, try changing your DNS provider to dns.family.adguard.com, which has less stringent filters but still blocks ads.

Using ADB to remove system packets

For advanced users who want to get rid of autoinstallation sources, there is a method of using Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which allows you to control the device from your computer and remove or freeze system applications that can not be removed through settings. This is the most powerful method, but it requires caution.

First, you need to prepare your computer. Download the ADB platform tools from the official developer site and unpack them. On your phone, turn on USB Debugging in the Developer Menu. Connect your smartphone to your PC with a cable and allow debugging on your device screen. Open the command line or terminal in the ADB folder and type in a command to check the connection:

adb devices

If a device with device status appears on the list, the connection is successfully installed. You can now start removing malicious packets. For safe deletion, it is recommended not to physically delete files, but to delete them for the current user (user 0), which makes it easy to restore the system in case of an error.

The removal command is as follows:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.msa.global

Replace the name of the package with the name you want from the table. Once you run the command, the application will disappear from the installed list. To return everything as it was, you just run the command adb shell cmd package install-existing.

Limitation of background activity and permissions

Even after the main services are disabled, some apps may try to behave aggressively. Android provides powerful tools to monitor the behavior of each installed application.

Go to Settings → Applications → All Apps. Select a suspicious app or system service that you are not using. From the Permissions menu, turn off access to Memory, Contacts and Location if they are not needed for the main feature. Pay special attention to the Installation of Unknown Apps permission.

In modern versions of MIUI, this permission is hidden deep. Go to Settings → Privacy Protection → Special Permissions → Install unknown applications. There should be a list of all programs. Go through the list and forbid the installation of applications for browsers, file managers and stores that do not need it.

Also, you should limit background work. In the menu of a particular application, find Autostart and Battery Savings. Select the option to Limit Background Activity or No Limits (paradoxically, sometimes a complete limitation of background activity should be enabled manually in the battery section, not in the general settings).

Resetting and extreme measures

If the automatic application installation continues despite all the measures taken, a more serious ad module or virus disguised as a system process may have settled in the system, in which case a radical solution may be required – a complete reset to factory settings.

Before you do that, make sure to back up your important data as everything will be deleted. Go to Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset → Erase all data. After reset, don't restore the app backup immediately so you don't return the problem. Configure the phone as new by keeping a close eye on what permissions you give.

In extreme cases, if the problem lies in a particular firmware version (for example, in the Chinese version with global firmware), it can help to flash the device to the global official version through a computer using the Mi Flash Tool utility.

⚠️ Warning: Flashing your phone will void warranty and risk turning your device into a brick if you break the technology.

Remember that a clean system without too much software is faster and more stable, and it should become a habit to check installed applications and their access rights regularly.

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A comprehensive approach that includes disabling MSA, setting up DNS and controlling permissions eliminates 99% of intrusive advertising and auto-installation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)