The standard Mi Browser browser on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones is known for not only speed, but also aggressive advertising. Banners on the home page, pop-ups when scrolling, ad blocks in search results all spoil the user experience. The reason for the problem lies in the integration of Xiaomi’s advertising SDK and partner services, which are included in MIUI firmware by default.
Many users mistakenly believe that the ads are caused by viruses or malicious extensions, in fact, it is legitimate monetization by the manufacturer. However, it can be turned off - in whole or in part - without root rights and complex manipulation. In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways, including hidden MIUI settings, changing DNS and installing alternative browsers.
It is important to understand that some methods may require rebooting the device or resetting the browser settings. We recommend that bookmarks and history be saved before changes through export to Settings → Additional → Export data.
1. disable personalized advertising in MIUI settings
The easiest way to reduce the amount of ads is to deactivate personalized ads in system settings, which does not remove the ads completely, but reduces the number of ads by 40-60% by disabling targeted banners.
Instructions:
- Open the phone settings.
- Go to Google → Advertising (or Memory and Apps → Advertising in older versions of MIUI).
- Turn off the slider Personalized advertising.
- Click Reset Advertising ID and confirm the action.
After that, the ads in the browser will become less intrusive, but the banners on the Mi Browser home page will remain.
2. Hidden settings Mi Browser: disabling advertising modules
Mi Browser has hidden parameters that are not displayed in the standard interface. To get to them, you need to enter a secret code in the address bar of the browser:
about:configAfter you enter, you will open a menu with advanced settings, and you need to find and change the following settings:
- 🔍 adblock.enable – set the value true (includes built-in ad blocker).
- 📵 Homepage.ad.enable – change to false (remove ads on the homepage).
- 🚫 newsfeed.enable – set false (disables the newsfeed with advertising).
- 🔄 preload.enable – change to false (prevents downloading of advertising scripts).
Warning: After changes, restart the browser by closing it through Task Manager. In some versions of MIUI, these settings are reset after the browser update.
Enter about:config in the address bar |
All 4 parameters from the list |
Values modified according to instructions |
Browser rebooted-->
3.DNS Change: Blocking Advertising Servers at the Network Level
If the ads keep appearing, you can block them at the DNS level, which works for all browsers and doesn't require root rights, and the point is that requests to the ad servers are redirected to empty addresses.
How to set up:
- Open the Settings. → Wi-Fi (or Mobile Network).
- Click on the current network and select Change Network → Additional settings.
- In the field DNS enter one of the addresses: 🛡️ 1.1.1.3 (Cloudflare with malware locking) 🔒 94.140.14.14 (AdGuard DNS) 🌍 84.200.69.80 (DNS.WATCH)
Save the changes and reconnect to the network.
To check your performance, go to the DNS Leak Test site, and if the results show your chosen DNS, the settings are applied correctly.
What happens if the DNS doesn’t change?
4. Installation of an alternative browser with ad blocking
If none of the previous methods worked, the most radical solution would be to replace Mi Browser with another browser.
| browser | Features | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Brave | Blocks ads and trackers by default, supports Tor mode | Increased battery consumption |
| Firefox Focus | Minimalist interface, automatic history cleaning | No synchronization with desktop |
| Kiwi Browser | Chrome extensions (including AdBlock) | Closed source code |
| DuckDuckGo | Private search, blocking trackers | Slower loading of heavy sites |
For installation:
- Download. APK-file from the official website of the selected browser (for example, Brave).
- Allow installation from unknown sources in Settings → Applications → Special Access → Install unknown applications.
- Install your browser and make it standard in Settings → Applications → By default.
Important: Once you have installed an alternative browser, Mi Browser can be disabled or deleted (if MIUI allows). Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Mi Browser → Disable.
💡
If system links (e.g. from messages) stop working after removing Mi Browser, install any other browser and make it standard.
5. Reset browser settings to factory
If the ad appears after the MIUI update or changes the settings, a full reset of the Mi Browser will help.This method deletes all user data, including history, bookmarks and cache, but returns the browser to the post-purchase state.
Instructions:
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Find the Mi Browser and click on it.
- Select Warehouse. → Clear the data.
- Confirm the action and restart the phone.
After discharge:
- 🔄 Homepage ads will disappear (but may return after sync with your Mi Account).
- 📁 Restore bookmarks from backup (if you have exported).
- ⚙️ Re-apply the settings from about:config (section 2).
⚠️ Note: Browser data reset does not remove advertising modules integrated into the browser MIUI System-level, they'll require root access to shut them down completely.
Additional methods for experienced users
If you are willing to take more drastic measures, consider the following options:
- 📱 Disabling System Applications: Through ADB You can deactivate the services com.miui.systemAdSolution and com.android.browser, responsible for displaying ads. --user 0 com.miui.systemAdSolution adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.browser
- 🔧 Installation of custom firmware: firmware on the basis AOSP (LineageOS or Pixel Experience completely remove advertising modules MIUI, but require unlocking the loader.
- 🛡️ Use of the VPN Ad-blocking: Services like ProtonVPN or Windscribe have built-in filters for advertising.
⚠️ Note: Disabling system applications through ADB This can cause unstable phone operation. Before executing commands, back up your data via Settings. → Additionally. → Backup and reset.
💡
The most reliable way to get rid of advertising forever is a combination of changed DNS (section) + Alternative browser (section 4).
Root Access: Complete removal of ads (for advanced ones)
If you have root rights, you can remove the ad modules at the system level, which requires a root-enabled file manager (like Root Explorer) and knowledge of the MIUI structure.
Steps:
- Open /system/app/MiBrowser or /system/priv-app/MiBrowser.
- Delete the files with the.apk and.odex extensions associated with advertising (usually contained in the name ad or msa).
- Reboot the phone.
List of dangerous files to delete (they can not be touched):
- MiBrowser.apk – the main browser file;
- libmiui.so – System Library
- com.android.browser.odex is an optimized cache.
⚠️ Warning: Incorrectly deleting system files can lead to bootloop.If you are not sure about your actions, use the less risky methods from the previous sections.