How to disable MI Messages on Xiaomi Redmi

Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often face intrusive notifications, which the system classifies as important messages.This phenomenon, known as MI Messages or service offerings, can be annoying, blocking useful content and wasting traffic.The system tries to implement its services by offering to connect RCS, configure a spam filter, or simply showing banner ads under the guise of system notifications.

Fortunately, developers have left the option of flexible customization of this component, disabling sentences does not disrupt the work of standard SMS, but only removes unnecessary visual information and background processes. In this article, we will discuss in detail all methods of blocking, from simple settings in the menu to deeper changes in the configuration of the application.

Before we start, it’s important to understand that MIUI interfaces may vary slightly depending on the firmware version. However, the logic of HyperOS system applications and older MIUI shells remains similar. We’ll look at the generic steps that will suit most current smartphone models.

What is MI Messages and why does it offer services?

MI Messages is a system application that handles text messaging in the MIUI shell. Unlike standard Android, where Google implements its messenger, Xiaomi uses its own development, integrated into the system at a deep level, and this component often acts as a source of pop-ups with offers.

The main purpose of these offerings is to transfer the user to the advanced RCS (Rich Communication Services) protocol, which allows you to send high-quality photos, videos and files over a mobile network, similar to the work of instant messengers. However, implementation is often accompanied by aggressive advertising and persistent activation requests that are difficult to ignore.

In addition, the app performs the function of Smart Messaging, trying to automatically detect spam, service messages from banks and identify senders, to do this, it analyzes the content of incoming SMS and checks them against the cloud database, and this process of analysis is the trigger for various notifications about “important updates” or “new security features”.

• 📱 Basic function: Sending and receiving standard SMS and MMS message.
• 🌐 RCS-Improved protocol for the transmission of multimedia over the Internet (requires operator support).
• 🛡️ Spam Protection: Automatic filtering of unwanted messages and identification of organization names.
• 💬 Synchronization: Ability to view messages on other devices in the ecosystem (in some regions).

It's important to note that disabling offers doesn't mean completely abandoning functionality. You'll still be able to get confirmation codes and text from contacts, but the interface will become cleaner. System notifications will stop distracting, and battery will be spent more economically due to the lack of background synchronization of advertising modules.

Basic settings through the Messages app menu

The easiest and safest way to get rid of intrusiveness is to change the settings inside the application itself, which doesn't require root rights or a computer connection, but you need to open a standard application, which usually has an envelope icon on your desktop or in the Tools folder.

Once you start the app, find the menu icon. Depending on the version of MIUI, it can be three dots in the top right corner or three strips (a hamburger menu). When you click on this item, you will see a drop-down list where we are interested in Settings. This is where the key switches are hidden.

In the menu you need to find a section associated with RCS-Chat or Improved Messages. It's often called that — "RCS" Or "Chat features." Inside this subsection, there's a master switch that activates advanced features. If it's on, the system will constantly suggest activating the service, even if the operator doesn't support it.

By disabling the main switchboard, you will prevent the application from trying to connect to the enriched message servers. However, the settings do not end there. Below the menu, the option is often called Profile Card or Show Photos. These functions also require a constant connection to the server and can generate background traffic.

It is also recommended to check the Spam and Block section. Although it is a useful feature, it often works in conjunction with Xiaomi cloud databases, which can lead to notifications about updating the lock lists. If you do not need automatic filtering, this item can also be deactivated for complete silence.

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If the RCS messages stopped coming after the RCS was turned off, try restarting the device. In rare cases, you need to reset the network settings in the phone's menu.

Disabling notifications and advertising in system settings

If the in-app settings didn't help you remove sentences completely, you should go to Android's global settings. MIUI allows you to manage permissions and notifications for each component installed separately, a more powerful tool that blocks the visual display of offers.

Go to the main smartphone settings menu and select the Apps section. Next, click All Apps. Find Messages in the list. Note that the icon may be standard or have a MIUI logo. It is important not to confuse the system application with Google Messages, if installed.

Inside the app card, we're interested in the Notifications section, which is a complete list of the types of notifications that an app can generate. To completely disable MI Messages offers, you need to look for items with names like "Recommendations," "Advertising," "Statue Notices" or "Marketing Messages."

Uncheck all boxes except the main Inbox, which ensures you don’t miss important code from the bank, but banner ads and offers to activate new features will no longer pop up on the lock screen or in the notification curtain.

Also on this menu, you should pay attention to AutoRun, which means that if you allow an application to start automatically, it will hang in your memory and periodically check the servers for new offers, and limiting autorunning is an effective way to reduce the load on RAM.

⚠️ Please do not completely disable the category "Incoming messages", otherwise stop coming SMS Block only advertising and service subcategories with confirmation codes from banks and services.

Use of the “Unnetworked” mode and data restriction

MI Messages offers a permanent Internet connection, and if an application cannot connect to a Xiaomi server, it will not be able to download a banner ad or an offer to activate RCS. This method is especially effective for users who rarely use SMS, but have to keep the application on their phone.

To implement this method, go back to the App menu → All applications → Messages. Find Data Use (or "Mobile Internet and Wi-Fi"). Here you'll see two switches: for mobile and for Wi-Fi.

Disable both switches. This will create a situation where the application is formally installed and running, but does not have access to the global network, as a result, all attempts to download smart functions will end in an error, and the user will see only the standard interface for entering text.

• 🚫 Traffic blocking: App stops spending megabytes in background.
• 🔇 Silence: Inability to receive push notifications.
• ⚡ Battery savings: Lack of background synchronization processes prolongs battery life.
• 📉 Stability: Freezes associated with connection attempts in case of a bad signal are excluded.

There is a caveat: if you use RCS to communicate with other Android users (via the network), then messages will stop coming until you turn the Internet back on, but regular SMS (green bubbles) will come unimpeded, because they use the channels of the mobile operator, not the Internet protocol.

Cardinal measures: Disconnection through ADB and hidden menus

For advanced users who want to get rid of the component, there is a method of debugging via USB. Using ADB (Android Debug Bridge) commands allows you to deactivate system packages that cannot be removed in the usual way.

The first step is to activate the developer mode. Go to Settings. → About phone and quickly press 7 times on the item Version MIUI (or OS). You'll see a message saying, "You've become a developer." Then, in the "Additional" menu, turn on the "Additional" menu. USB-debugging.

Connect your phone to your PC with a cable. The computer must have an ADB platform installed. Open the command line and type a command to check the connection:

adb devices

You'll see a request for debugging permission on your phone screen, click "Allow." Once you're successfully connected, you'll run a command to search for a message packet. Usually called com.android.mms or com.miui.messaging. To disable offers, you can try to disable the RCS component itself inside the package, but you'll be safer if you don't use it, or you can use the command:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.messaging

Important: This command will completely disable the standard messaging app. If you do not have an alternative client installed (for example, Google Messages), you may lose the ability to read SMS. Use this method only if you are confident in your actions and the availability of a spare messenger.

The alternative, less risky option is to clean up the data and cache, then ban updates through Google Play. Find the app in the Play Market, click three dots in the corner and uncheck Auto Update. Then click Clear All in the app settings, which will put the app back out of the box where there may be no old ad modules.

⚠️ Note: Disconnect system components through ADB This can cause system instability or cyclical reboot on some Redmi models.Always have the option to reset your phone to factory settings).

Alternative solutions: Replacing the standard application

The most radical, but often the most effective, solution is to completely abandon the standard MI Messages app. The Android ecosystem makes it easy to replace system programs with analogues from the store. This not only removes offers, but often improves functionality and security.

The leader in this area is Google Messages, which is completely ad-free, has modern design, support for themes and built-in spam protection from Google, and is better integrated with Android and less likely to cause conflicts with the system.

To switch to the alternative, download Google Messages from the Play Market. Once installed, open the app and follow the instructions. When the system asks which application to use as default for SMS, select Google Messages. The standard Xiaomi app will automatically stop and stop working in the background.

• 🎨 Design: Material You, adapting to the theme of the phone design.
• 🔒 Security: Scanning links and numbers in real time by Google servers.
• 💻 Web version: Easy synchronization with the computer through the browser.
• 🚫 No Advertising: No offers to activate services or buy a subscription.

Another popular option is the Textra app or QKSMS. They're minimalist, they're fast, they don't have any extra permissions, if you just want text without bells and whistles. RCS-chat rooms (which are often glitched), these apps will be the perfect choice.

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Replacing the standard app with Google Messages is the most reliable way to forget about MI Messages offers forever and get a modern interface.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)