Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often encounter intrusive banner ads that suddenly appear during gameplay or when switching between apps.It’s not always a virus, but often a built-in MIUI or HyperOS shell feature designed to monetize budget devices. However, constant pop-ups are not only annoying, but also waste traffic and reduce system performance.
Fortunately, there are several proven ways to get rid of this problem completely without having to get Root rights. DNS-It's important to understand that in-game advertising can be of two types: built-in by the app developer and system-generated by the smartphone shell.
In this article, we will discuss in detail how to identify the source of pop-ups and what steps you need to take to block them. The effectiveness of each method can vary depending on the firmware version and model of your device, so it is recommended to try all the options described for the best result.
Analysis of the source of advertising in the system
Before we take action, we need to understand what causes banners to appear. Often users mistakenly believe that the ads are generated by the game itself, when in reality, the MSA (MIUI System Ads) service is responsible for collecting data and displaying targeted ads in standard applications and games.
To pinpoint the culprit, look at the time the ad appears: If the banner pops up on top of the game interface or immediately after it closes, it is likely a system process. In some cases, the source may be recently installed third-party applications, especially utilities for cleaning memory, flashlights or "accelerators".
⚠️ Warning: If the ad appears even on the desktop or in the settings menu, this is a sure sign of the system ad module or malware installed in circumvention of the protection of Google Play Protect.
You can use the running process viewing function to diagnose this, go to the settings and find the application section, see what processes are active in the background, and turn off the excess software is the first step to clean up the system.
Disabling MSA System Advertising
The most effective way to combat intrusive banners is to disable the MSA system service. This component has the rights to display windows on top of other applications, which allows it to interrupt your gameplay.
To start, go to the smartphone settings menu, and you'll need to find a section called "Passwords and Security." In some firmware versions, it may be located under "Advanced Settings." Then select "Access to Data" or "Authorization and Privacy."
In the list that opens, find msa. The switch next to it needs to be put into an inactive state. The system will issue a warning that some functions may stop working correctly. Ignore this and confirm the action. If you failed to turn off the first time, repeat the procedure 5-10 times until the countdown timer expires and the switch is fixed.
☑️ Shutdown MSA
After successfully disabling the MSA service, the number of ad integrations in standard applications such as Music, Themes and Explorer will decrease significantly, and this will also positively affect the autonomy of the device, as the background process will no longer load advertising modules.
Blocking through a private DNS
One of the most elegant and safest methods of removing advertising is the use of private advertising. DNS-This method does not require the installation of additional software and works at the network connection level, blocking requests to known advertising servers.
To activate this feature, open the connection settings. The path may vary depending on the Android version: usually Settings → Connection and Sharing → Private DNS. In the menu that opens, select the DNS Host Name (or Manual) mode.
In the input box, you need to specify the address of a trusted server that blocks ads. The most popular and proven option is the AdGuard service.
dns.adguard.comSave the change. Now all your smartphone's network requests will be filtered out, which cuts off ad traffic, which is especially effective for games that require a constant Internet connection and load banners on the fly.
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Using a private DNS can also speed up the opening of web pages, as AdGuard servers often respond faster than a standard DNS provider.
It is worth noting that this method may not work if the game uses the same domains as the game servers, or if the developer uses complex methods of bypassing locks. However, in 90% of cases, using dns.adguard.com completely solves the problem of pop-ups.
Configuring recommendations in system applications
The MIUI and HyperOS shells contain a lot of built-in apps that are default set to show recommendations. These guidelines are often links to installing games or viewing advertising content. Disabling these features makes the interface cleaner and reduces the load on the processor.
First of all, check the Security app. Open it, click on the settings gear in the corner, and find "Get recommendations." Uncheck the box. Similar procedure should be done for Downloads, Music, Video and Topics.
Pay special attention to the Explorer app, which also hides a section in its settings that displays popular content and advertising, and by disabling it, you get rid of banners when you open files.
| Annex | The path to adjustment | What to turn off |
|---|---|---|
| Security | Settings (cogs) | Receive recommendations |
| Downloads. | Three points → Settings | Show recommendations |
| Topics | Profile → Settings | Showing ads, push notifications |
| Music. | Settings → Advanced | Displaying Advertising, Recommendations |
Once you do this, the interface of standard utilities will become more rigorous and functional, and you will no longer accidentally open advertising pages trying to run virus scans or clear cache.
Management of notifications and authorizations
Often, in-game advertising is due to third-party apps having permission to display notifications or work in the background. Checking the permission list is an important step in optimizing Xiaomi’s smartphone.
Go to Apps → All Apps. Go through the list of suspicious or rarely used programs. Click on the app, select Notifications, and turn off all types of alerts, especially those labeled Others or Marketing.
⚠️ Be careful when disabling notifications from messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) and Google system services to avoid missing important messages or security updates.
Also check for permissions to "Map on top of other applications." This access allows programs to display windows on top of the active screen. Find this item in privacy settings or special features. Leave this access only for trusted applications such as a navigator or video player.
If you find an app you haven't installed, or it has strange names (like "Update Service," "Flash Player"), remove it immediately.
How to find a hidden advertising application?
Use of specialized blockers
If built-in methods and settings DNS If you don't get the full results, you can use specialized blocking applications to install them. VPN, filtering traffic directly on the device.
One of the most effective solutions is AdGuard (a version from the developer’s website, since Google Play has limited functionality) or Blokada, which creates a local tunnel and checks all outgoing requests for compliance with the database of advertising domains.
To install such software, you may need to allow installation from unknown sources. Once installed, activate the security in the application. It will work in the background, automatically blocking attempts to download banner ads in games and the browser.
However, the balance between autonomy and comfortable use without advertising usually leans in favor of the latter.
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The combination of disabling MSA and using a private DNS blocks up to 95% of all ads in the system and games without the need to install additional software.