How to completely disable advertising in Xiaomi applications: system and hidden methods

Advertising in Xiaomi apps is one of the most annoying features of MIUI firmware that users around the world face. Even standard utilities like Weather, Music or Themes can pop up banners, push notifications and promo windows that interfere with the comfortable use of the smartphone, and the problem is relevant for budget models (Redmi Note 12, Poco X5), and for flagships (Xiaomi 14 Ultra, Mix Fold 3).

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can disable ads, from basic MIUI settings to advanced ADB and third-party methods. Importantly, some methods may require unlocking a bootloader or a super-user right (root), which voids the warranty, and we’ll show you which are safe and which should only be used as a last resort.

Why does Xiaomi show ads in apps?

Xiaomi officially claims that MIUI advertising is part of a business model to keep smartphone prices low, which means that users pay for the device not only with money, but also with attention to advertising materials.

• 📱 System applications MIUI: Browser, Music, Videos, Themes, and even Settings may contain advertising modules built into the firmware layer.
• 🔄 Firmware updates: After update MIUI Advertisements may appear even where they did not exist before (for example, in the weather or calendar).
• 🌍 Regional settings: On devices with firmware for China (China) ROM) More advertising than in global versions (Global) ROM or EEA ROM).
• 📦 Pre-installed services: Apps like Mi Video, Mi Pay, or GetApps often show ads, even if you don’t use them.

Interesting fact: in 2023, Xiaomi began testing a paid version of MIUI without advertising in some regions (such as India), but there is no official release for the global market yet, which means users have to look for workarounds themselves.

⚠️ Note: Disabling ads through system settings does not guarantee 100% results. Some banners (for example, in Settings or Browser) may remain because they are hard-stitched into firmware.

Method 1: Disabling personalized advertising in MIUI settings

The easiest and safest way to do this is to deactivate personalized recommendations in the Settings menu, which won't take away all the ads, but will reduce the number of banners that are targeted. MIUI 12–14:

1. Open Settings → Google → Advertising.
2. Activate the “Disable Personalized Advertising” switch**.
3. Go back to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
4. Select any system application (e.g. Browser) → Advertising → disable all available options.

This method works for most standard utilities, but does not affect ads in Settings or Lock Screen, nor does it affect push notifications from Xiaomi (for example, about new themes or promotions in GetApps).

Are recommendations in Google Advertising disabled?

Are Advertising Options Deactivated in the Browser?

Checked the settings in Music and Video

Have unnecessary push notifications been removed from MIUI-->

If after these actions, the advertisement still appears, proceed to the next method.

Method 2: Manually disabling ads in each application

Many Xiaomi system utilities have hidden settings for managing advertising. Let’s consider the most problematic applications and how to “clean” them:

Important: in some versions MIUI The paths may be different. MIUI 14 for the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ Advertising settings in the browser are hidden in ⋮ → Settings → Confidentiality.

⚠️ Attention: After update MIUI Advertising settings may be reset, and we recommend checking them after each major update (for example, when switching from a new one to a new one). MIUI 13 on MIUI 14).

If manually shutting down didn’t help, try clearing the cache and data of the problematic app:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an application (e.g. GetApps) → Storage.
3. Click on Clear Cache and Clear Data (Warning: This will reset all the app settings!).

Method 3: Using ADB to Deeply Disable Advertising

If the system settings didn’t work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a tool for debugging Android devices, which does not require root rights, but requires connecting the smartphone to the PC and installing drivers.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔧 Disables system-level advertising, including banners in Settings.
• 📱 It works on all versions. MIUI (10 to 14).
• 🔄 Does not require unlocking the loader.

First, prepare the device:

1. Activate Developer Mode**: Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable “Debugging by USB”**.
3. Connect your smartphone to your PC and confirm the debugging permission.

Now run the following commands in ADB (via Command Prompt or Terminal on macOS/Linux):

adb shell pm hide com.miui.systemAdSolution


adb shell pm hide com.android.browser




adb shell settings put global hidden_api_policy 1

These teams:

• Disable the system module of advertising com.miui.systemAdSolution.
• Hide the standard browser (can be replaced by Google Chrome or Firefox).
• Allow access to hidden APIs, which blocks some of the advertising mechanisms.

⚠️ Warning: After restarting the device or updating MIUI teamwork ADB To return the settings, repeat the procedure or use a script to automatically apply the commands when you connect to a PC.

Method 4: Install custom firmware (for advanced users)

If you're willing to take drastic measures, you can install an alternative firmware that's free of advertising.

• 📱 Xiaomi.eu – modified version MIUI It supports most models (Redmi Note 11, Poco) F4, Xiaomi 13T etc.).
• 🤖 LineageOS or Pixel Experience – firmware based on pure Android (AOSP). completely removed MIUI, but may deprive some of the functions, for example, IR-blaster).
• 🔧 Custom ROM Magisk – firmware with pre-installed root and ad-blocking modules (e.g. AdAway).

The process of installing custom firmware includes:

1. Unlock the bootloader via Mi Unlock Tool (requires a Xiaomi account binding and a wait of 7-15 days).
2. Install custom recovery (TWRP or OrangeFox)
3. Flash firmware via recovery or fastboot.

Warnings:

• ❌ Loss of warranty – unlocking the bootloader will void the official warranty.
• ❌ The risk of brick – the wrong firmware can turn a smartphone into a “brick».
• ❌ Absence OTA-Updates – custom firmware is updated manually.

💡

Before you run your firmware, make a full backup via TWRP or the Mi Flash Tool. Save copies of /data, /system, and EFS folders (for modem models).

Method 5: Blocking Advertising via DNS and VPN

If you don't want to interfere with system files, you can block Xiaomi's ad servers at the network level.

• 🌐 Private DNS — In the Android settings can be specified DNS-Advertising filter servers, such as dns.adguard.com or 1.1.1.3 (Cloudflare Family).
• 🔒 VPN Ad-blocking services like AdGuard VPN, NextDNS or Blokada intercept requests for advertising domains.
• 📱 Local Host File – You can replace it with Magisk /etc/hosts, adding a domain block to Xiaomi (e.g. ad.mi.com, tracker.ai.xiaomi.com).

Instructions for setting up Private DNS:

1. Go to Settings → Connections → Private DNS.
2. Select the Private DNS Provider Host Name**.
3. Enter dns.adguard.com and save.

For VPN-We recommend Blokada (free open source version) after installation:

1. Open the application and activate the lock.
2. In the settings, select the filter list: AdAway, EasyList, and Xiaomi Ad Block.
3. Reset the device.

⚠️ Attention: Blocking through DNS/VPN It can disrupt some Xiaomi services, such as: Weather display, Mi Cloud synchronization, push notifications from Mi Home (for smart home.

Additional tips: how to reduce the amount of advertising

In addition to the basic methods, there are several auxiliary techniques that will help make MIUI cleaner:

• 🗑️ Remove unnecessary system applications (no root): some utilities (e.g. Mi Pay, Mi Video) can be deactivated via Settings → Annexes → Delete/Disable.
• 📵 Turn off auto-update apps in GetApps and Google Play to avoid installing new ad modules.
• 🔍 Use alternative applications: Replace the browser MIUI Chrome or Firefox, and Music on Spotify or YouTube Music.
• 📡 Set up a background limit for applications: c Settings → Battery → Background Limiting Turn off background activity for GetApps, Themes, and other ad utilities.

If you use Xiaomi with China ROM, consider switching to Global ROM or EEA ROM, which has significantly less advertising and support for Google Services. To change the firmware region, you will need to unlock the bootloader and install it via the Mi Flash Tool.

Banners in Settings

Push notifications from GetApps

Browser advert

Advertising windows in Topics/Weather

other-->

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi advertising

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The most effective method without root is a combination ADB-teams and private DNS. This removes up to 90% of ads without breaking the warranty.