How to disable advertising in VK on Xiaomi: proven ways

Users of budget and mid-budget smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO often face intrusive in-app advertising integrations, a particular problem is the social network VK, where advertising posts are intertwined with news feeds, and the system recommendations of the MIUI or HyperOS shell can additionally load the screen with unnecessary notifications, which is not only annoying, but also wastes traffic, and reduces the performance of the device.

There is a misconception that completely get rid of targeted advertising inside the official client. VK You can't buy a Premium subscription without it, but you can combine the settings of the app itself, the Android system constraints, and the specialized ones. DNS-You can get almost completely sterile interfaces, and the effectiveness of the method depends on the version of the operating system and the specific model of your gadget.

In this guide, we will discuss non-obvious techniques to minimize information noise. APK-files, as this violates the terms of the user agreement VK All of the activities described below are safe, legal and do not require root access rights.

Advertising preferences set up within the VK application

The first step is to work directly with the internal mechanisms of the social network, and VK has left users the ability to control what ads are shown to them, although this feature is often hidden in the depths of the menu, so you need to open the app and go to profile by clicking on the icon of the little man in the lower right corner.

Then tap the menu icon (three bars) in the top corner and select Settings. Inside the section, find the Ads category. There's a key switch that many people ignore. By activating the "Limit Ads" option, you're preventing algorithms from using some of your data for targeting.

• 📱 Open Settings and go to the Advertising section.
• 🚫 Click on “Limit Advertising” to activate the filter.
• 📉 In the “Interests” section, remove those topics that you are not interested in to narrow the range of impressions.
• 🔒 Check the Partner Network settings if such a clause is available in your version.

It's important to understand that these actions will not remove the ad units completely, but will make them less frequent and more neutral. The algorithms will stop aggressively analyzing your actions outside the application to form an advertising profile. This is a basic level of protection that should be configured by every conscious user.

Using a Private DNS to Block Advertising

The most effective way to remove advertising at the system level, including the application VK, Use of the Private Function DNS (Private DNS). This technology, built into Android 9 and later, allows you to redirect everything DNS-Requests via a secure server that can filter ad domains before they even load onto the screen.

To implement this method, you do not need to install additional applications. Go to the main settings of your Xiaomi smartphone. Search by settings, type “DNS” or find this item manually along the Connect and Sharing → Private DNS path. By default, there is an “Auto” mode.

Select the option “DNS Host Name” (or “Manual”) and enter the address of a trusted server of the blocker. One of the most popular and stable solutions is the AdGuard DNS service. In the input field, you must specify the following address:

dns.adguard.com

Once the settings are saved, the system will reconnect the network, and now all requests to known ad servers will be blocked, which means that VK feed can display an empty space or a standard stub instead of a banner ad, and the method works globally for all traffic of the device.

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If some sites or images in apps stop loading after Private DNS is turned on, try changing the address to dns.adguard-family.com, which also blocks adult content but has different filtering rules.

Limitation of background activity and permissions

The MIUI and HyperOS shells have powerful app control tools that can be used to pacify heavy-duty social media customers, and restricting access rights and background work will not only save battery life, but also reduce the frequency of push notifications.

Find the VK icon in the app menu, press it and select About app (or i icon in circle). Go to the Permissions section, which is to disable geolocation if it is not used constantly, and also restrict access to the microphone and camera, allowing them only on request.

Pay special attention to AutoRun. If you allow an application to run automatically, it will be permanently hanging in memory, collecting data for advertisers. Disabling this feature only causes VK to start when you open its icon yourself.

Blocking through hosts file (requires Root)

For advanced users whose Xiaomi devices have an unlocked bootloader and installed root rights (for example, through Magisk), the most radical method opens up: editing the hosts system file allows you to redirect requests to ad servers to nowhere at the operating system level.

Using pre-built modules for Magisk, such as AdAway or dedicated lock lists, ensures that ads will not be loaded even into the device's cache, which frees up internal memory and CPU time. However, this method requires caution: an error in the syntax of the file can lead to unstable network operation.

⚠️ Note: Making changes to system files may result in loss of warranty and disruption of banking applications.Be sure to create a full backup of data before starting the procedure.

If you do, use proven domain lists that are regularly updated by the community. Static lists quickly become obsolete as ad networks constantly change their server addresses. Dynamic rule updates through specialized applications are the only surefire way to achieve long-term results.

Alternative Clients and Web Versions

If you don't want to mess with system settings, and the ads in the official VK app continue to be annoying, it's worth considering alternative ways to access the social network. There are many third-party customers created by enthusiasts who are initially devoid of advertising modules.

One popular solution is to use the web version of the site through a browser with an ad blocker installed, such as AdGuard or uBlock Origin.You can add a m.vk.com page shortcut to the home screen and it will open as a separate application, but without built-in advertising.

• 🌐 Use the DuckDuckGo or Brave browser with built-in tracker protection.
• 📱 Consider lightweight alternative clients (Kate Mobile for Android and analogues).
• ⚡ The web version often runs faster on older Redmi models and POCO.

It's worth remembering that using unofficial clients carries certain risks. VK They may block access to API For suspicious applications, it is therefore safer for major accounts to use the Official App bundle. + DNS-filter and keep alternatives reserved.

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The combination of Private DNS and disabling autorun gives 90% of the effect without the need to install third-party software or obtain root rights.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)