How to remove ads on Xiaomi: the complete guide

Modern smartphones from Xiaomi and Redmi offer excellent value for money, but users are often annoyed by the company’s aggressive advertising policy. Embedded ads can appear in system applications, browsers and even when unlocking the screen, which significantly reduces the comfort of using the gadget. Fortunately, the MIUI operating system and the new HyperOS provide enough tools to minimize this visual noise without the need for superuser rights.

The process of clearing the interface from marketing content requires a consistent approach, since there is no single “Remove Everything” button in the settings. A key element of the advertising system is the msa (MIUI System Ads) process, which is responsible for loading and displaying banners in various services, disabling this component will be the first and most important step on the path to a clean interface for your device.

In this guide, we will look at not only basic settings, but also hidden options available through the engineering menu and special commands, learn how to block ads in standard applications such as Music, Video and Explorer, and learn how to configure personal DNS to filter traffic at the system level, which will allow you to enjoy the operation of the smartphone without constant interruptions.

⚠️ Warning: Before making changes to system settings or disabling services, make sure you have a stable internet connection, as some switches require server confirmation.

Disabling MSA Service and Personalized Advertising

The first step to getting rid of intrusive banners is to deactivate msa. This system process is responsible for collecting your preferences and showing relevant ads. To get started, go to the settings menu and select Password and Security. Next, find the Access to Personal Data or Authorization and Security section, which displays a list of all system services that have access to your data.

In the list that opens, find the msa and click the switch next to it. The system will try to turn off the service, but often shows a countdown timer of 10 seconds, suggesting to "cancel" the action. Don't press the cancel button, wait for the timer to end and confirm the disconnection. If the first time failed, try repeating the procedure 2-3 times, as the company's servers can temporarily block the request.

In parallel with disabling msa, it is recommended to remove the tick from the "Receive recommendations" item. This option is in the same menu or in the "Password and Security" section -> "Privacy". Disabling this feature prevents the system from analyzing your actions to generate promotional offers. After these actions, the number of pop-ups should be significantly reduced.

Configuring standard MIUI applications

Even after the main advertising service is disabled, some pre-installed apps can continue to show content from partners. To completely clean the smartphone, you need to manually check the settings of each system utility. This will take a few minutes, but the result is worth it, since you get rid of banners in the menu and when you start programs.

Consider the main applications that are most often sinned by advertising, and ways to set them up:

• 📁 Explorer: Open the app, click on three dots in the corner, select Settings» -> «About the program and disable "Receive recommendations».
• 🎵 Music: Go to the menu, select Settings» -> «Advanced settings" and remove the tick from the item "Show advertising».
• 🧹 Security: Go to the app settings (cogs), find the “Receive recommendations” item and deactivate it.

Also, you should pay attention to the Downloads and Themes app. In Themes, you should go to the profile (human icon), click on the settings and turn off "Receive recommendations" and "Show ads." In the Downloads app, click on three dots, select "Settings" and remove the tick from "Receive recommendations," which will prevent tabs from appearing in the interface of these programs.

Blocking advertising in the browser and system

The Mi Browser system browser is often the main source of pop-ups when surfing the Internet. Even if you use a third-party browser, the system browser can interfere with the work of links. First, open the browser, go to the settings (three bars) and select "Privacy and Security."

Also, look for the Notifications section in your browser settings and prevent sites from sending push notifications. Often banner ads are disguised as system notifications, annoying the user at the most inopportune moment. If you do not use the built-in browser, you can simply delete or disable it in the application settings by finding it in the All Apps list.

To clean up more deeply, you can use the Private DNS feature, which allows you to block ads at the entire device level, redirecting requests to the ad servers to nowhere. Go to Settings -> Connection and Sharing -> Private DNS. Select Host Name of the DNS Provider and enter the address dns.adguard.com. Save settings.

⚠️ Attention: Use of third-party DNS-servers may cause unstable operation of some applications or the inability to connect to public Wi-Fi networks requiring authorization through the browser.

Once AdGuard DNS is enabled, ads will disappear not only in the browser, but also in many games and applications that use standard ad networks. However, it is worth remembering that this method can slightly increase the response time of the network, since each request passes through an additional filter server.

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If the Internet stopped working after turning on the private DNS, return the setting to Auto or Off mode to reset the connection settings.

Managing Notifications and Push Services

Users often confuse in-front advertising with intrusive push notifications from installed applications. MIUI-based Android allows you to flexibly manage which apps have the right to display information on the lock screen and in the notification curtain.

To manage notifications, go to Settings -> Notifications and Status Bar -> Notification Management. This is a complete list of all installed programs. Go through the list and turn off notifications for apps that aren't critical to you, such as stores, games or news aggregators. Pay special attention to GetApps (formerly the Mi Store), a Xiaomi app store that actively promotes its content.

The GetApps settings also recommend disabling auto-update apps if you prefer to manually control the process, as the store may try to force an update through a pop-up. In addition, the GetApps Notifications section should prohibit all types of alerts, including marketing emails.

There is also a hidden section called "Special Features" in the notification settings, where you can limit the display of ads in folders on your desktop. If you group applications into folders, the system can offer "recommended" applications inside these folders. To remove this, go to the settings of any folder on your desktop and turn off "Receive recommendations."

Comparison of Ad Blocking Methods

There are several ways to combat advertising content on Xiaomi smartphones, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. The choice of method depends on your technical training and security requirements of the device. Below is a table comparing the main approaches to solving the problem.

Disabling msa is a basic and mandatory step for all users. Using a Private DNS is a great additional method that does not require installing third-party software. Installing specialized applications such as Blokada or AdGuard gives you more subtle control, but can consume battery resources. Obtaining Root rights gives you full control, but deprives you of warranty and can lead to system failure if tampered with ineptly.

For most users, the optimal combination is to disable the system service. MSA paired DNS-This balances a clean interface with the stability of the operating system without the need for heavy third-party software.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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A comprehensive approach, including disabling MSA, setting up DNS and managing notifications, allows you to completely eliminate ads on Xiaomi without losing functionality.