Owning a Xiaomi or Redmi smartphone is often overshadowed by intrusive advertising that appears in the most unexpected places. Especially annoying when pop-ups block content while browsing websites in the standard Google Chrome browser.This not only distracts from reading news or watching videos, but also consumes mobile traffic, as well as the battery charge of your device.
Users often confuse system advertising for the MIUI shell with banner ads inside the web browser. However, the methods of dealing with them differ. In this article, we will focus exclusively on cleaning the Chrome space from visual noise. You will learn how to use built-in protection tools, change the network settings of Android and apply additional traffic filtering tools for comfortable surfing.
The effectiveness of blocking depends on the right sequence of actions. Don’t ignore the basic security settings, as they are the first line of defense. Below we will consider a step-by-step algorithm that will help you forget about flashing banners and automatically opening tabs when visiting sites on your Redmi.
Built-in pop-up locking settings in Chrome
The first thing that Xiaomi smartphone owners need to do is activate the built-in browser filter. Google has a basic security mechanism that may not be fully activated or configured correctly by default after system updates. To access these options, you need to open the application and go to the settings menu through the three-point button.
In Settings → Privacy & Security → Site settings located key switches. Here you are interested in "Pop-ups and redirects" and "Advertising." Make sure that sliders are set in the "Block" position. This will prevent new tabs from opening without your knowledge and hide intrusive banners that violate the layout of pages.
However, the built-in Chrome filter is not omnipotent, it only blocks known aggressive formats, but it skips native advertising integrated into website design, so this method should be considered as a mandatory minimum, but not as the only solution to the problem.
☑️ Checking browser settings
If the ads continue to appear after these features are enabled, this may indicate the presence of malware or extensions, in which case standard measures are not enough, and a deeper intervention in the Android operating system is required.
Using a private DNS to block advertising at the network level
The most effective way to work on all devices running Android 9 and above (including modern Redmi) is to set up a private app. DNS. This method redirects everything. DNS-requests through a server that automatically filters known advertising domains without letting them onto your device.
To implement this method, you do not need to install third-party applications. Just go to the system settings of the smartphone: Settings → Connection and Sharing → Private DNS. In the menu that appears, select the mode "Host Name of the DNS provider" and enter the address dns.adguard.com. After saving, restart the device.
⚠️ Note: When entering a private address DNS follow the register and the lack of http protocol. Only specify the domain name, otherwise the Internet connection may be lost and the sites will stop opening.
The advantage of this method is its versatility: it blocks ads not only in Google Chrome, but also in other apps, games and even some of Xiaomi’s system services, which reduces the load on the processor, since advertising content simply does not load from the network.
💡
After the shift DNS stop opening sites in public Wi-Fi (for example, in a cafe or hotel), temporarily return the setting to "Auto" mode, as such networks often require authorization through a browser that is blocked DNS-filter.
It’s worth noting that some providers or antivirus programs may conflict with manual DNS settings. If you notice a deterioration in page load speed, try changing your DNS provider to an alternative one, such as security.cloudflare-dns.com, which also offers protection features but with a different filtering algorithm.
Installation of extensions for extended protection
Chrome’s mobile version didn’t support extensions for a long time, unlike the desktop version. However, that has changed, and Xiaomi users can now use special versions of browsers on the Chromium engine or experimental flags to connect adblockers.
One popular way is to use Kiwi Browser or Yandex Browser, which supports extensions from the Chrome Web Store, and you can install proven blockers like uBlock Origin or AdGuard, which have flexible filters and are updated daily.
- 🛡️ uBlock Origin is a lightweight extension that consumes a minimum of RAM, which is critical for the budget models of Redmi.
- 🚫 AdGuard for Android – offers not only filtering in the browser, but also protection in other applications through local VPN-tunnel.
- ⚡ DNS66 — Open solution for blocking ads at the host level without root rights, which works similarly to setting up a private DNS.
When installing extensions from third-party sources or lesser-known browsers, always check the permissions they request.Some unscrupulous developers may use access to your data for targeted advertising, nullifying all blocking efforts.
Why does advertising appear in notifications?
Cleaning up data and resetting browser settings
Accumulated cache and cookies may contain scripts that cause advertising to appear even after changing settings. On Xiaomi smartphones with their aggressive memory optimization, sometimes there are conflicts of cached data. Regular cleaning helps (maintain) stable application operation.
To do a deep cleanup, go to Settings of the phone → Apps → All apps → Chrome → Storage. Here you need to click the "Clear Cache" button. If the problem is systemic, you can choose "Clear All Data", but remember that this will result in logging out of Google accounts on the device within the browser.
| Action. | Impact on data | Recommended frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Clearing the cache | Securely, deletes temporary files | Once a month |
| Cleaning cookies | Requires re-entry to the sites | When there are problems with display |
| Resetting settings | Returns the browser to its original state | When infected with the virus |
Once cleaned, it is recommended to restart the smartphone, which will allow the MIUI system to redistribute resources and re-initialize network connections with clean parameters, which often solves problems with hanging advertising.
Diagnostics of malicious applications and viruses
Sometimes the advert is not the browser itself, but a virus application installed earlier, and on Redmi devices, such programs may masquerade as system processes or have no icons on the menu, and they generate pop-ups on top of other applications, including Chrome.
To identify the culprit, open the Application Manager. Carefully review the list for unnamed or transparent icon programs. Also look for applications with device administrator rights: Settings → Passwords and Security → Privacy → Special features (the path may differ depending on the version of MIUI).
⚠️ Note: If you find an application that is not being removed in the standard way or the Remove button is inactive, it has probably received administrator permissions. First, disable these rights in the security settings, and only then delete the application.
It is recommended to periodically scan the system with Xiaomi’s built-in Security antivirus or install a reliable solution from a third-party vendor, such as Dr.Web or Kaspersky, which are able to detect hidden miners and advertising modules that are skipped by standard filters.
Alternative browsers with built-in protection
If setting up Google Chrome seems too complicated or doesn’t work, it makes sense to consider alternatives.The mobile browser market offers solutions where ad blocking is built out of the box and doesn’t require additional settings.
A popular choice for Xiaomi users is the DuckDuckGo browser, which focuses on privacy and automatically blocks trackers. Also worth paying attention to Brave, a browser on the Chromium engine (like Chrome), so it is compatible with all extensions, but has a powerful built-in Brave Shields shield that cuts off ads before the page loads.
- 🦊 Firefox Focus – a one-time browser that automatically deletes history and blockers after closing the tab.
- 👻 DuckDuckGo – Evaluates Site Privacy and Blocks Hidden Ad Trackers.
- 🛡️ Brave – speeds up page loading by cutting off advertising code, saving traffic.
Using an alternative browser often solves 90% of ad problems without having to dig into Android system settings, especially for less experienced users who want to get results “here and now”.
💡
The combination of a private DNS and built-in browser blocker provides maximum protection, but may conflict with some sites, requiring a temporary disabling of filtering.