Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones offer great value for money, but built-in advertising remains one of the main irritants for users. It is especially frustrating when marketing banners appear directly in the Gallery app, blocking access to your personal photos or offering a subscription to cloud services at the most inopportune time. In 2026, the company integrated advertising modules even deeper into the HyperOS shell, so simply ignoring crosses no longer helps.
Advertising integrations in system applications are a way for the manufacturer to compensate for the low cost of the device, but for many owners this becomes the reason for finding ways to deactivate MSA (MIUI System Ads). Fortunately, the Android operating system, even with deep customization from the Chinese brand, remains loopholes and settings that allow you to significantly clean the interface. In this article, we will discuss not only standard switches, but also advanced methods of blocking traffic.
Before you start taking drastic measures, it is worth understanding that completely removing system components can lead to unstable device operation.We will look at safe methods that do not require root or flashing permissions. Your task is to find a balance between a clean interface and preserving the functionality of the smartphone, so carefully follow the steps below.
Xiaomi is constantly changing the location of its privacy settings, so some items may be called differently on different versions of the firmware. If you do not find the option by the exact name, look for a similar feature in the security or special features section, the main thing is the sequence of actions and understanding which service is responsible for displaying banners.
Disabling personalized recommendations in the Gallery settings
The easiest and safest way to reduce intrusive content is to turn off personalization within the app itself. System algorithms analyze your photos to suggest relevant ads or paid editing features. By disabling this option, you won't eliminate the ads completely, but you'll make them less intrusive and more random.
To start, open the Gallery app and navigate to the settings menu, which is usually hidden behind three dots or the gear icon in the top corner. Here you are interested in the About or Recommendations section, and this is where the switch is often hidden to get personalized content from the company's servers.
- 📸 Find the item “Get recommendations” and move the slider to an inactive state.
- 🔒 Turn off the “Show ads in the feed” option if it is present in your version. MIUI.
- 🗑️ Clear the Gallery app cache through your phone settings to reset old ad caches.
⚠️ Warning: After updating the firmware settings may reset to factory values. Periodically check this section to prevent ads from coming back unexpectedly.
It is worth noting that this method works preventively and does not block already downloaded banners that can be stored in the cache. Therefore, after changing the settings, it is recommended to forcibly stop the application. This can be done through the menu of running applications or in the Applications section → All Applications → Gallery → Stop.
Some users have noticed that even after the gallery recommendations are turned off, banners continue to appear when viewing certain albums, because the ad module can be linked to a shared Mi Account. Check your account settings on the site or phone and make sure that there are restrictions on the targeted ad display in the marketing preferences section.
Global MSA Disconnection (MIUI System Ads)
While the system process is active, various applications, including the Gallery, will receive commands to display promotional materials from time to time. Disabling this service is the most effective method, but it requires a strict sequence of actions, since the system will resist this.
Go to your phone's settings and type "msa" in the search bar. You should find an app called "MSA" or "Advertising Service." When you try to turn off the switch, the system will give a warning and start a countdown of 10 seconds. You have to wait for the timer to end and press "Disable." Often the first time it does not work, and you have to press the button 3-5 times in a row.
Settings → Passwords and security → Access to personal data → MSA → Ban
If the standard path doesn’t work, try an alternative route through your privacy settings. In newer versions of HyperOS, the path may look like Privacy Protection → Special Permits → Advertising. You also need to find msa and deny it access to personal data and the Internet.
- 🛑 When you turn off the service, a pop-up window may appear with a suggestion to leave it on - ignore it.
- ⏱️ If the “Disable” button is inactive, wait 10 seconds and press quickly and sharply several times.
- 🔄 After successful disabling, restart the device to apply the changes.
What if the MSA doesn’t shut down?
If the system persists in preventing the MSA service from being turned off, try to turn off the Internet first (Wi-Fi and mobile data). Then go to settings and turn off the service. Until the phone can connect to the server for status verification, the permission will be removed. After that, the Internet can be turned back on.> It is important to understand that disabling the MSA can affect the performance of the Mi Video or Mi Music widgets if you use them. However, for the basic functionality of the phone, calls and, in fact, the Gallery, this service is not critical. You simply remove the channel for the delivery of advertising content. In addition to setting the privacy settings and user experience, besides clearly turning off the MSA widgetting the TV feed, this is used for improving the use of the application. In the settings section, often called User Experience or User Experience Program, you need to uncheck all the boxes. → Confidentiality → User experience improvement software: You need to disable the sending of diagnostic and usage data, check the Advertising section (if it is provided separately in your version of the OS) and disable personalized recommendations. Settings Where to Find Action Passwords and Security Improvement Program Turn off Personal Advertising Settings → Passwords and security Turn off Automatic Settings Update → About Phone Disable (optional) Internet access (msa) Applications → MSA Don't ignore settings for individual applications. Go to application management, find Gallery, Music, Themes and Explorer». In each of these, the Receive Recommendations section needs to remove the restrictions. This will take time, but provide comprehensive protection. In some cases, especially on global firmware, these settings can be duplicated in your Google account. Go to Google’s settings on your phone, select Ads and click Reset Ad ID or Delete Ad ID. This will break the link between your device and your ad profiles. 📊 What is the most effective method of blocking ads for you? MSA manually lock through DNSInstallation of a third-party Gallery Buying global firmware Nothing helped Using a private DNS One of the most elegant and effective ways to remove ads throughout the system, including the Gallery, is to use private advertising. DNS filtered. This method does not require the installation of additional applications and works at the network connection level. Your phone will send requests to a server that filters out known advertising domains. → Connection and sharing → Private DNS. Select the option “Host Name Provider” DNS» (Or manually, and enter a reliable filter address. The most popular and proven option is AdGuard. dns.adguard.com After you enter the address, save the settings. The phone can lose its connection to the Internet for a second and then restore it. Check the Gallery – banner ads that were downloaded from the network should stop showing, as requests to ad servers will be blocked at the level of the Internet. DNS. 🌐 This method works for all applications that use a standard network connection. 📉 Reduces traffic consumption as advertising content simply doesn’t load. ⚡ Does not affect the speed of the Internet in ordinary browsers and social networks. ⚠️ Attention: Use of third-party DNS It can cause some local services or bank applications to malfunction if they use specific security checks. DNS The advantage of this method is that it is universal for all Android 9 and up devices. You don't have to look for specific process or service names on Xiaomi. If the ad server is known and listed in the filter databases, it will be automatically blocked. 💡If dns.adguard.com is not working or is slow, try an alternative address: dns-family.adguard.com (also blocking adult sites) or use a public address. DNS Google (8.8.8.8), although they don't filter ads, Replacing the standard Gallery with alternative solutions If the built-in app continues to annoy with its work or advertising, despite all the settings, the most radical and effective solution is to install a third-party gallery. There are many great alternatives in the Google Play Store that are often faster and have a more flexible interface. Popular options such as Google Photos, A Gallery or Simple Gallery are completely devoid of built-in advertising and do not require complex system settings to remove it. After installing an alternative application, the system will usually prompt you to use it by default when you open images. To secure the result, go to Settings → Annexes → All applications → (three-point) → Default applications → Gallery and select the app you installed. Now, clicking on any photo in messengers or file manager will open a clean interface without banners. In addition, third-party galleries often offer features that are not in the stock app: hiding folders, editing. EXIF data, work with RAW-Files and cloud sync with any service, not just Mi Cloud, which turns negative (advertising) into a plus (improved functionality). Frequent questions and possible problems after disconnection In the process of cleaning the system from advertising, users often encounter nuances that require clarification. Below are the answers to the most common questions that arise after applying the methods described above. This will help avoid panic if the phone's behavior changes. Will ads return after the system update? Yes, with a major firmware update (for example, from MIUI 14 to HyperOS), the system settings can be reset to factory. The MSA service can be activated again. It is recommended that after each major update, recheck the Ads section and MSA settings. Is it safe to turn off the MSA process? Yes, it is safe. MSA (MIUI System Ads) is solely responsible for displaying advertising content. Its disabling does not affect the operation of calls, SMS, mobile Internet or the AI, it is recommended that it is used for the photo-based function, or the photo-based function, or the photo-based function, or the "It is used for the photo-based function, or the photo-based function, or the photo-based function, or the photo-based function, or "It is not used in the photo-based function, or the photo-based function, or the photo-based function, or the photo-based function, "It is the photo-based function, or the photo-based function, or the To disable this, you need to find the Smart Sort or Memories section in the Gallery settings and remove the tick from the display on the home screen. Can you delete the Xiaomi Gallery completely? ADB) You can't delete the system app, you can only disable it, but by installing a third-party gallery and assigning it to you by default, you completely isolate yourself from the stock app, and it won't interfere with the work. To sum up, the fight against advertising at Xiaomi is a process that requires a comprehensive approach. MSA, setting DNS And using alternative software, you can have a virtually sterile interface, and your phone is your tool, and you have every right to customize it to your own devices, and you can take away all the extra stuff.