Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often encounter intrusive banner ads that appear at random moments, which can occur when unlocking the screen, while using apps or even on the desktop, this behavior of the system is not the norm and usually indicates the presence of activated system advertising or malware.
When the ads pop out on their own, they are very annoying and interfere with the normal operation of the gadget. Owners of devices based on MIUI or HyperOS should understand that standard firmware has mechanisms for showing recommendations that can be turned off. However, if banners block the entire screen at unexpected moments, the likelihood of penetration of an adware virus is high.
In this guide, we will look at all the possible causes of pop-ups. We will detail the algorithms for disabling system advertising services and methods for finding hidden malicious applications. Deep cleaning will restore the comfort of using your smartphone.
Reasons for the appearance of intrusive advertising on the screen
The first step is to pinpoint the source of the unwanted content, and Xiaomi's ecosystem has two main types of advertising: legal system and malware, and system advertising is built into standard applications like Explorer, Music, or Security, and it only appears inside those programs and doesn't block other windows.
It's a completely different thing, spontaneous pop-ups, and if a banner is on a desktop, in a game, or when you lock your phone, it's a sign of an advertising virus, and often these programs are disguised as useful tools like flashlights, memory cleaners, scanners. QR-They're embedded deep in the system and they start processes in the background.
Browser permissions can also be a source of problem: Aggressive monetization sites may request access to notifications; once consented, users receive advertising punches that look like system messages; and it is important to distinguish between site notifications and full-fledged app advertising windows.
Disabling MIUI and HyperOS system advertising
The battle for clean interfaces should begin with the shutdown of Xiaomi’s official advertising services, a secure procedure that does not violate warranty or require superuser rights. The first thing to do is to deactivate the msa service (MIUI System Ads), which is the process that collects data and displays banners in the interface.
To do this, go to your phone's settings. Find the Password and Security section (or Advanced Settings in older versions). Next, select Access to Personal Data. In the list that opens, find msa and turn off the slider. The system will try to dissuade you several times by offering to wait 10 seconds - this is standard behavior.
☑️ Disabling system advertising
When you turn off msa, you should also limit the personalization of ads. Go to your Mi Account settings and find the Ads and Privacy section, where you turn off the Personalized Ads option. This will not remove banners completely, but will make them less intrusive and relevant to your interests.
Search and Remove Malware Applications
If the ads continue to pop up after the system services are turned off, it means that a miner or adware virus has settled in the phone. These applications often do not have an icon on the desktop to go unnoticed. They can only be found through the application manager or the list of installed programs.
Open Settings → Apps → All apps. Scrolling through the list carefully. Look for programs without a name, with an empty icon, or with suspicious names like Flash Player, Clearer, Update Service. Often viruses hide at the bottom or at the top of the list. If you find a suspicious item, delete it immediately.
For a deeper analysis, use Xiaomi's built-in Security app. Run a full system check. Although the built-in antivirus doesn't always catch complex threats, it can detect known signatures. If standard methods fail to find the culprit, use a third-party scanner, such as Malwarebytes or Dr.Web Light.
| Sign. | Systemic advertising | A virus (Adware) |
|---|---|---|
| Time to come. | Only in Xiaomi apps | Anytime, on the desk. |
| Closing | There's a cross or a timer. | Often there is no closing button. |
| Source | MSA Service | Hidden appendix |
| Impact on the battery | Minimum | High discharge and heat |
Cleaning up browser notifications and settings
Users often confuse ad viruses with permitted site notifications. Visiting sites with questionable content, you can accidentally click "Allow" to display notifications, after which the browser will constantly display banner ads, imitating system messages.
To fix this, you need to clear your browser data. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications. Find your browser (Chrome, Yandex, Mi Browser). Select Memory and click Clear → Clear Everything. This will reset all settings, tabs and, most importantly, permissions to display notifications.
Also check the list of sites that have the right to send notifications. In your browser settings, look for the Notifications or Sites section. If you see unknown addresses with access enabled, delete them or the ban, an action that often solves the problem of full-screen advertising, which is actually a bloated browser shoot.
Use of ad blockers (DNS and applications)
If manual cleaning does not give 100% result or you want to prevent the appearance of advertising in the future, it is worth using the product. DNS-This method does not require the installation of additional applications and works at the network connection level, blocking requests to ad servers.
The most effective way is to use Private DNS. Go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Private DNS (the path may vary depending on the Android version). Select “DNS Provider Host Name” and type in the address: dns.adguard.com. Save settings.
dns.adguard.comAfter applying the Private DNS settings, the phone will start filtering traffic.Ad banners in apps and browsers will stop loading, freeing up space and speeding up the network.Please note that some sites may stop opening if they use aggressive advertising as their main content.
Radical measures: reset to factory settings
In cases where the virus is deeply embedded in the system, masquerades as system processes and is not removed by standard methods, the last option remains - Hard Reset. Complete reset will return the phone to the state "out of the box", removing all user data and malicious code.
Before starting the procedure, be sure to back up important data (photos, contacts, documents) to the Mi Cloud cloud service or computer. Remember that after resetting, it will be impossible to restore deleted files without a backup. Make sure that the battery is at least 50%.
To perform the reset, go to Settings → About Phone → Reset. Select “Erase All Data.” The phone will reboot and begin the cleanup process, which can take 10-15 minutes. Once turned on, you will have to reset your Google and Mi Account.
Preventing Advertising in the Future
To keep the problem from returning, you must maintain digital hygiene. Do not install applications from unknown sources. In Xiaomi's security settings, it is better to keep the "Check Apps" option enabled, which blocks installation. APK-third-party.
Read carefully the permissions the app requests when installing. If a simple flashlight asks for access to contacts, geolocation and the Internet is a clear signal of danger. Minimizing rights is the best protection against hidden mining and advertising injects.
Update your system and applications regularly. In MIUI and HyperOS updates, Xiaomi often closes security vulnerabilities through which viruses can enter your device, and periodically check the list of installed programs for unfamiliar software.