Users of Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI shells or the new HyperOS periodically encounter intrusive advertising that appears in the most unexpected places. One of the most annoying problems is the appearance of banners or notifications from Mile services directly on the locked screen. This not only distracts, but also consumes battery power, and can indicate the presence of unwanted software in the system.
Advertising integrations are often implemented through partnerships or installed with other programs from unofficial sources. Owners of Redmi and Poco devices need to clearly distinguish between system notifications and advertising spam. Competent settings of security and privacy will completely eliminate visual debris. In this guide, we will discuss all possible ways to clean the device from intrusive advertising.
It is important to understand that complete removal may require disabling multiple services at the same time. Ignoring at least one source can lead to the reappearance of banners after a while. Below are proven methods that are relevant to current firmware versions. Follow the instructions consistently for the best result.
Analysis of sources of advertising Mile
Before you start removing, you need to identify the source of the problem. Mail ad blocks can come through different channels: it can be an MSA system application (MIUI System Ads), an embedded browser or a separately installed application that you may accidentally agree when you install another program. Often users give permission to display notifications without noticing the tick in the installer.
The second common option is to run ad modules inside system utilities, such as Explorer or Cleanup, which analyze user behavior and display targeted ads. In the case of Mail.ru, the source is often TopBuzz, News or various weather widgets that are integrated with the ecosystem. Accurate diagnosis will take a few minutes, but save time in the future.
The third scenario is malware disguised as a utility, which may not have an icon on the menu but is active in the background, and the specific feature of a Xiaomi Mile ad is that it is linked to a Mi Account or installed via a Chinese firmware version with regional settings changed, and identifying the exact culprit is key to success.
Disabling system advertising in MIUI settings
The first step should always be to turn off system advertising, as this is the base on which many notifications are built. Go to the Settings menu → Passwords and security → Data access. Here you need to find a list of applications and limit their access to the network if they are not constantly used by you.
Next, disable ad personalization. This is a critical step for Xiaomi users. Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Privacy → Advertising Services. This will deactivate the Ad Personalization Toggler. This action will break the link between your device ID and the ad servers.
☑️ Checking system settings
Also worth checking is the settings of the Security app, which is often a guide to ad integrations. Open the app, click on the gear in the corner and find the "Get recommendations." This switch should be turned off. Many people ignore this option, considering it harmless, but it is responsible for news and promotional materials on the lock screen.
⚠️ Attention: After the service is disconnected MSA The system may request confirmation of the action several times, claiming that it will reduce functionality. Ignore warnings and insist on turning off, the countdown timer of 10 seconds will have to wait.
Management of notifications and applications
If the ads continue to appear, then the source is in a particular application. Go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Notification Center. This is a complete list of all programs that have the right to display information on the screen. Carefully study the list for applications called Feed, Hot Apps*, Glance or any utilities with the mail.ru logos that you do not know.
If you find a suspicious app, not only turn off notifications, but delete it completely. To do this, click on the app icon in the list and select Remove. If the removal button is inactive (system application), go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find the culprit, select Other Permissions, and disable all items, especially Auto Launch and Display on top of other apps.
| Type of application | Possible source | Action. |
|---|---|---|
| Systemic | MIUI Daemon / MSA | Disable in Access to Data |
| browser | UC Browser / Mi Browser | Disable notifications in settings |
| Services | GetApps / Mi Video | Clear the data and cache |
| Away. | Flash Games, Utilities | Complete removal |
Pay special attention to browsers. They are often the source of push notifications. Go to your browser settings (such as Chrome or the built-in MI Browser), look for Site Notifications, and disable postings for all resources, especially those that contain the word Mail in the title.
Cleaning through the Security App
Xiaomi’s built-in antivirus has powerful tools for finding advertising software. Launch the Security app and select Antivirus. Conduct a full system scan. Even if no viruses are found, the system can detect Potentially Unwanted Applications (PUAs) that broadcast banners.
Then use the Cleanup function. In the analysis process, the system will prompt you to remove the garbage. Click on the part icon or the file list to see what data will be deleted. Sometimes the cache stores advertising modules that are activated when you unlock the screen.
Hidden scanning function
There's also a section in the Security app called Licenses and Agreements, and check what permissions are given to system components, and if you see an active agreement for Ad Service or a similar name, it needs to be revoked, and this action is often ignored, even though it's fundamental to system-level ad blocking.
Resetting Advertising Identifier Settings
To secure the result, it is recommended to reset the advertising ID. This is a unique bar on which advertising networks track your device. Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Privacy → Advertising Services and click Reset Advertising ID.
Once reset, it is recommended that you immediately ban the use of this ID for advertising, which will create an additional barrier for the algorithms of Mile and other advertisers, and the system will begin to consider your device as “new”, which will temporarily stop showing targeted banners.
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After resetting your ID, wait 10-15 minutes before unlocking the screen so that background services update their configuration files without downloading advertising modules.
Some users also suggest changing the region of the device. Go to Settings → Additional settings → Region and select a country where MIUI services are less aggressive in terms of advertising, for example, the US or EU countries, this can change the set of preinstalled software and reduce the frequency of local advertising.
Use of third-party solutions and DNS
If the built-in methods failed to remove ads, you can use DNS-level blockers. This is an effective way to cut off ad servers before they reach your screen. To do this, go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Private DNS.
In the settings box, specify the address of a trusted blocker, for example: dns.adguard.com. This method does not require the installation of additional applications and works at the level of the entire Android operating system. It effectively blocks requests to known advertising domains, including the servers of Mail.ru Group.
⚠️ Attention: Use of third-party DNS-servers may cause inoperability of some applications that are tied to advertising SDK If you notice a malfunction in your software, return the setup. DNS auto-mode».
The alternative is to install specialized apps from the Google Play store, such as Blokada or AdGuard. VPN-It's a more powerful tool, but it can consume an extra battery charge. DNS, described above.
Prevention and outcome recommendations
To keep the problem from returning, avoid installing applications from unknown sources. When installing software, carefully read the terms of the license agreement, unchecking the "Install additional software" or "Make the start page" boxes. This is how Mile modules most often enter the system.
Check the list of apps with permission to display over other windows regularly. This permission allows programs to display content even when you are not using them. Path to setup: Settings → Applications → Permissions → Display on top of other applications.
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A comprehensive approach, including disabling MSA, configuring DNS and controlling application permissions, ensures that Mile ads disappear completely from the lock screen.
Digital hygiene and periodic privacy checks will allow you to use your Xiaomi smartphone comfortably, without unnecessary visual noise. Remember that most ad integrations are just settings that can be changed in your favor.