Budget smartphone owners often face intrusive ads that appear in the most unexpected places of the MIUI interface. Redmi 9A is no exception, as aggressive monetization in this model compensates for the low cost of the device. Users notice banner ads in system applications, when unlocking the screen and even in the notification curtain. This is not only annoying, but also consumes precious traffic and battery power.
Fortunately, the Android operating system that runs the MIUI shell allows you to adjust privacy settings with a lot of flexibility, so you don't need superuser rights or complex reflashing, you just need to go through a few hidden settings menus consistently to forget about pop-ups forever, and we'll take each step in detail so you can take back control of your gadget.
It's important to understand that ads are broadcasted through system services that are activated by default. MSA (MIUI System Ads) is the main component that displays advertising content. By disabling it and related services, you'll substantially clean up the interface. Let's start with the master switch itself, which is often overlooked when you first set up.
Disabling the MSA System Service
The first and most important step is to deactivate MIUI System Ads, which is the process that collects data about your actions and displays targeted ads in embedded applications. If you want to remove ads on Redmi 9A, this is where you start. This process may seem a little confusing due to artificial delays, but it's completely device-safe.
To start, go to the settings menu and find the Password and Security section. Here you will need to select Access to Personal Data. In the system services list that opens, find msa and switch the slider to "off." The system will ask you to wait 10 seconds, then you will need to click the "Revoke" button. If you did not succeed the first time, repeat the procedure - Xiaomi servers sometimes respond with a delay.
Once the license is successfully revoked, the service will stop receiving data about your activities, not removing the application, but blocking its main function - showing ads. Some users note that after this action, the ads do not disappear instantly, but within 24 hours until the cached data is updated.
⚠️ Note: Do not attempt to remove system applications through third-party file managers without root rights.This may result in system instability or a cyclical reboot of Redmi. 9A. Use only the regular switches.
⚠️ Note: If the "Revoke" button is inactive or disappears, check the Internet connection.
Setting up the lock screen and wallpaper carousel
The Redmi 9A lock screen ads are most often displayed through the Wallpaper Carousel feature, which periodically changes the image on the locked screen, along the way showing banner ads and news widgets, which many users confuse with the standard gallery, not understanding where the extraneous images come from.
To disable this mechanism, go to Settings and select the Lock Screen section. Find the Wallpaper Carousel (or Glance for Mi in global versions). Inside this menu, you need to completely disable the function, making the master switch inactive. It is also recommended to clear the cache of this application through the About menu to remove advertising materials already downloaded.
If you want to leave beautiful wallpaper without advertising, use a standard gallery. Choose your favorite image, click the menu and set it as Lock Screen Wallpaper. It's a static image that no one can replace remotely without your knowledge, so you retain personalization, but you get rid of intrusive content.
In some versions of firmware, settings can be spaced out. Check also the Wallpaper section in the main settings menu. Make sure that there is no "Receive recommendations" or "Subscriptions" boxes anywhere. These options are often activated automatically after the system update.
☑️ Checking the lock settings
Managing recommendations in system applications
Advertising notifications often come from standard Xiaomi apps like Explorer, Music, Video and Cleanup.These programs have built-in content promotion mechanisms that are enabled by default. To stop the notification flow, you need to configure each app separately.
Start with the Security (or Cleanup) app, open it, click on the settings gear in the top right corner, find Receive recommendations and turn it off, and remove the "Automatically Update Virus" box if you want to completely isolate the app from the network, although that will reduce the effectiveness of the protection.
Next, we'll do Explorer. Open the app, click on the menu (three bars) and select Settings. In the About app section, find the Recommendation switch and turn it off. Similar steps should be repeated for Music and Video applications. Each of them has a hidden "Show Ads" or "Recommendations" option in the settings that you need to deactivate.
Don't forget about Mi Browser. It's one of the main sources of advertising noise. Go to your browser settings, select Privacy and Security, and disable Personalized Guidelines. It's best not to use this browser for everyday surfing at all, replacing it with Chrome or Firefox.
List of system applications that require customization
Disabling personalization of advertising in the account
In addition to local settings, Xiaomi collects your preferences through your Mi Account, which allows you to create an advertising profile that is used to show more “relevant” ads, disabling this feature will not remove ads completely, but will make them less personalized and intrusive.
To do this, go to Settings → Password and Security → Privacy. Find Advertising Services (or Advertising) where you will be prompted to disable ad personalization. The system will warn that ads are not going anywhere, but will become less interesting.
This section may also include the option to Receive recommendations from the general list of services, make sure it is turned off, this action breaks the link between your activities in the system and the company's ad servers, and after resetting the ad ID (ADID), the old ad profiles will no longer work.
It is worth noting that after resetting or logging out, these settings can return to default values, so it is recommended to check these settings after each major MIUI update or device reset to factory settings.
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Periodically (once a month) check the Privacy section, as after firmware updates, the switches can return to the original "On" state.
Blocking Advertising through DNS (Advanced Method)
If standard methods have not helped to completely clear Redmi 9A from advertising, you can use the system function of blocking ads at the DNS level. This method does not require the installation of third-party applications and works for the entire device, including browsers and games.
Go to Settings. → Connection and Sharing (or Other Settings) Find Private DNS (Private DNS). The default is "Auto" or "Off." Select hostname mode provider. DNS and enter the address: dns.adguard.com. Save settings.
Once the settings are in place, the system will start filtering traffic, and banner ads on apps and websites will stop loading, which will also speed up the Internet experience. However, beware: if you use public Wi-Fi networks with authorization (such as cafes or airports), you may need to temporarily disable Private DNS, as it may block the authorization page.
| Method | Efficiency | Difficulty | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSA shutdown | Tall. | Low. | Positive. |
| Set-up of applications | Medium | Medium | Neutral. |
| Private DNS | Maximum | Low. | Neutral. |
| Third-party blockers | Tall. | Tall. | Negative. |
Use of the DNS-Filtering is the most effective way to block ads across the system, including where the usual switches don’t work, but it can sometimes block useful content if the domains of the ad networks match those of the useful services.
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The combination of MSA disabling and using Private DNS gives almost 100% of the result in the fight against advertising on Redmi 9A.
Alternative methods and third-party applications
In cases where embedded funds MIUI They're powerless, and they're turning to third-party solutions, and one of the popular options is to install blocker apps like AdGuard or Blokada. VPN-Tunnel on the device through which all traffic is filtered.
Installation of these applications requires care. You will need to provide permission to create VPN-This can lead to increased battery consumption, because the filtering process is constantly running. However, the functionality of such applications is often wider than that of the system. DNS.
There is also a method of disabling ads via USB debugging (ADB), but it requires a computer and certain technical knowledge. With ADB commands, you can remove system applications responsible for advertising without obtaining Root rights. For example, removing the com.miui.misys package can help, but it is risky for inexperienced users.
If you choose to use third-party launchers, it can also help hide some elements of the MIUI interface, but it won’t take away system advertising altogether. Launchers like Nova Launcher simply replace the visual part, but don’t affect the deep processes of the system.