Xiaomi and Redmi are famous for their value for money, but users often encounter intrusive content that appears in the most unexpected places. Especially annoying when banner ads pop up right in Google Chrome, blocking useful information or slowing down the loading of pages. This not only reduces the comfort of using the device, but can carry real risks to the security of your personal data.
Browser advertising on Android devices is often a consequence of built-in monetization mechanisms or malware applications installed in the background. Fortunately, MIUI (and its new version of HyperOS) provides flexible tools to block unwanted traffic. You don’t need to be a programmer to set up a system to run clean and fast.
In this article, we will discuss the most effective ways to help you forget about pop-ups forever. We will look at both the standard tools of the system and proven third-party solutions that guarantee the result.
Analysis of the causes of advertising in the browser
Before taking drastic action, you need to understand the source of the problem. Often users mistakenly believe that the ads come from the browser itself, when in fact the culprit may be a third-party application. In the Xiaomi ecosystem, there is a mechanism called MSA (MIUI System Ads), which is responsible for showing advertising content in the system interfaces, but it rarely directly affects the content of web pages in Chrome.
If you see casino banners or offers to download antivirus on top of open sites, chances are your device is infected with adware. This is a special type of malware that masquerades as useful utilities: memory cleaners, flashlights or scanners. QR-These programs embed their scripts into the browser process, causing windows to pop up constantly even after the tab is closed.
Another reason may be that notifications from sites are not configured correctly: Many sites request permission to display notifications on their first visit, and users often agree without reading the text of the request, which results in the site being able to right you with promotional messages that look like Android system notifications.
⚠️ Note: If the ad appears instantly when you unlock the screen or on top of the desktop, this is a sign of an active virus. In this case, a standard cleaning of the browser cache will not help - you will need to remove recently installed suspicious applications through the system settings.
Blocking Ads through DNS Settings (The Most Effective Method)
The most effective and safe way to remove ads in Google Chrome on Xiaomi is to use private advertising. DNS-This method works at the device level, blocking requests to known ad servers before they can load the banner into the browser. You do not need to install additional applications, which saves battery power and RAM.
To implement this method, you need to change your network settings in Android. Modern versions of MIUI and HyperOS have built-in support for the DNS-over-TLS protocol. We will use the popular and proven AdGuard DNS service, which specializes in blocking trackers and advertising, this solution works stably and does not require root rights.
To activate the protection, go to the settings menu of your smartphone. Find the connection and networking section. The path may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but it is usually located at: Settings → Connection and Sharing → Private DNS. In some versions of the shell, the item may be simply called "Private DNS" in the Settings search.
In the menu that opens, select the mode "Host Name of the DNS provider" (or "Manual"). In the field to enter, you must enter the server address. Be careful when entering, any error in the symbol will lead to loss of Internet connection.
dns.adguard.comOnce you enter the address, click Save. The system can interrupt the Internet connection for a second, then restore it with active filtering. Now, when you try to download the ad module, the browser will fail to connect, and the banner space will remain empty or be hidden.
☑️ Checking the settings DNS
Setting up the built-in blocker Google Chrome
Google Chrome itself has built-in tools to combat intrusive advertising, although they are less aggressive than system DNS. These settings are primarily aimed at improving the user experience (UX) and blocking intrusive ads that override content or automatically play audio.
To access these features, launch your browser and click on the three dots in the top right corner of the screen. In the drop-down menu, select Settings. Then scroll down to Privacy and Security. This is where the key switches that control the behavior of web pages are.
Find the "Site Settings" subsection and go to it. You're interested in "Advertising." Make sure that the "Block Ads on Sites That May Be Intrusive or Dangerous" Switch is activated. Although this filter won't remove all ads, it's a significant cleanup of the most aggressive formats.
Also in this section, check the settings for "Pop-ups and redirects." Make sure that this setting is in the "Blocked" position. This will prevent you from opening new tabs without your knowledge, which often happens when you accidentally click on hidden elements on sites.
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Periodically clear site data in Chrome settings (Settings → Privacy → Clear History → Select “Cookies”) to reset the advertising identifiers that sites use to target.
Managing Site Notifications and Permissions
Often, what users mistake for ads in the browser are actually permissioned notifications from sites. News portals, stores and entertainment resources use push notifications to return the audience. On Xiaomi smartphones, these notifications can look very similar to system messages, creating the feeling that the phone is infected.
To check which sites are right to bother you, go back to your Chrome settings along the Settings path → Site Settings → Notifications. Here you will see a list of all the resources you have ever consented to.
If you see unfamiliar names or sites you haven't used in a long time, block them immediately. To do this, click on the site name and select the "Block" or "Delete" option (to reset permission and request it again on your next visit), it is recommended to leave only 2-3 really necessary resources active.
You should also look at the pop-ups section in the same site settings, and even if the global ban is enabled, some sites may have been exempted, go through the exclusion list and remove any suspicious domains.
| Type of permit | Risk of Advertising | Recommended action |
|---|---|---|
| Notifications | Tall (spam in the curtain) | Block everything except the trusted |
| Pop-ups | Average (opening new tabs) | Lock down tightly |
| Location | Low (targeting) | Ask or block |
| Camera/Microphone | Critical (security) | Block or ask |
Search and remove malicious applications (Adware)
If previous methods have not completely eliminated the problem, there is a high probability that your Redmi or Poco device has a virus application installed, often without a desktop icon or disguised as system processes with names like System Update, Flash Player or simply an empty name.
To detect hidden threats, go to Settings → Apps → All apps. scroll through the list carefully. Look for apps without icons, with weird names, or ones you don’t remember installing. Pay special attention to installation dates — if suspicious software appeared around the same time the ads started, this is your candidate for removal.
Often malware has protection against removal. If the "Delete" button is inactive, press "Other permissions" first and disable all rights, especially access to special features. After that, try to delete the application again. If standard methods fail to remove, you can use safe mode.
To enter Safe Mode on Xiaomi, press the off button and then keep your finger on the "Stop" button on the screen for a long time until the prompt to go to Safe Mode appears. In this mode, only system applications are downloaded, which allows you to safely remove the virus.
What to do if the application is not removed?
Use of specialized blockers
For users who need the highest level of control, there are specialized blocking applications. DNS-And one of the most popular and effective Android solutions is AdGuard (version from the official website, not from the Play Market) or Blokada.
These applications create local VPN-All traffic goes through this tunnel, is analyzed and cleared of ads before entering the browser, and this allows you to block ads even within some applications and games that are system-wide. DNS fail.
When installing such software on Xiaomi, it is critical to properly configure autoload and work in the background. MIUI aggressively unloads background processes to save energy, which can lead to a blocker stoppage and advertising.
You have to go to the battery settings for the locking app and select "No restrictions" mode. Also turn on auto-start. Only when these conditions are met will the filter work stably in the background, ensuring a clean Internet.
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The combination of system DNS (dns.adguard.com) and strict notification permission controls solves 95% of Chrome ad problems on Xiaomi without installing additional software.