Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often encounter intrusive banners that appear in the system browser and other applications. This is part of MIUI’s advertising strategy, which allows the company to keep low iron prices by monetizing the software. However, for many users, the constant appearance of pop-ups becomes a serious irritant, preventing comfortable use of the gadget.
Fortunately, the Android ecosystem provides flexible enough tools to minimize or eliminate this visual noise. In this article, we will detail how to remove ads in Xiaomi’s browser using built-in settings, third-party solutions and advanced network-level blocking techniques. You will learn to distinguish between system notifications and real banners, and protect your device from unwanted content.
The process of cleaning the interface does not require superuser rights (Root) in most cases. We will look at secure algorithms of actions that will not lead to loss of warranty or unstable operation of the operating system. The main thing is to consistently follow all the steps, as some settings can be hidden in the depth of the menu or have specific names in different versions of the shell.
The Nature of Advertising Content in MIUI Browser
Before you take action, you need to understand where exactly the traffic comes from. Unlike classic computer viruses, advertising in Xiaomi smartphones is a legitimate part of the code. It is implemented by the developers of the MIUI shell and activated by default when you first turn on the device. The MIUI Browser browser (often based on the WebKit engine) is default set to show news feeds and recommended articles, which are essentially advertising modules.
Advertising algorithms analyze your preferences, search history and geolocation to generate personalized offers, making blocking a little more difficult than simply closing a tab as the system seeks to return a banner to the screen. It is important to distinguish between in-browser advertising and in-system advertising, which can pop up even when the application is closed (MIUI System Ads).
⚠️ Note: Do not attempt to remove system components through root file managers without a deep understanding of the Android structure.This can lead to a cyclic bootloop and the need to flash the device through Fastboot.
There are several layers of protection. The basic layer is the settings of the application itself, which allow you to disable notifications and news feed. DNS-It's a server that blocks the loading of ad domains at the query level, and it's the combination of these methods that gives you the best result, making smartphone use enjoyable and clean.
Basic configuration of the built-in MIUI browser
The first step to getting rid of intrusive content is to properly configure the MIUI Browser app itself. Manufacturers often hide the necessary switches in the submenus so that users leave everything as it is by inertia. Start by opening the browser and going to the main menu, usually located at the bottom of the screen or called by a swipe.
You need to find a settings section that can be called Settings or a gear icon in different versions of the firmware. Inside this section, look for Privacy and Security. This is where the key switches for collecting data and showing recommendations are hidden. Turning off the "Receive recommendations" or "News feed" option will immediately remove the information noise from the home page.
☑️ Checklist settings MIUI Browser
You should also pay attention to the notification settings. Even if you have disabled your news feed, your browser can continue sending push notifications about “hot news.” Go to Android system settings, find a list of applications, select MIUI Browser, and in the Notifications section, uncheck the Marketing, Recommendations and News categories. Leave only important notifications active, such as when files are uploaded.
Remember to clear the accumulated cache to remove old ad scripts that may have been stored in memory. This is done through the app storage menu: Settings → Applications → Application Management → MIUI Browser → Memory → Clear. After rebooting the browser, you will notice that the start page has become significantly cleaner and minimalist.
Use of Ad Blockers and DNS
The most effective method, which works not only in the browser, but also in many applications, is to change the browser. DNS-server at the system level. DNS over TLS It allows you to encrypt requests and redirect them through servers that automatically screen out known ad domains. This solution does not require the installation of additional software and works consistently.
To activate, go to Settings of your smartphone, then to Connect and Sharing (or Additional Features in older versions). DNS (Private DNS). The default is "Auto." Select "Host Name Provider" DNS» and type in the address: dns.adguard.com. After saving check the connection - the Internet should work, but banner ads in many applications and sites will stop downloading.
| Locking method | Efficiency | Difficulty | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Browser settings | Low (only within the app) | Low. | No influence. |
| DNS (AdGuard) | High (systemic) | Medium | Minimum |
| Third-party annexes | Medium (requires background work) | Low. | Notable. |
| MSA shutdown | High (systemic advertising) | Tall. | Positive. |
If for some reason the DNS system setting is not available or is not working correctly, you can use specialized browser applications with built-in protection, such as Brave, DuckDuckGo or Firefox with an uBlock Origin addon installed. These browsers have their own filter databases that update automatically and block mining scripts, trackers and ad networks.
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Use Incognito mode to visit questionable sites, in which the browser does not store cookies and history, making it difficult to target ads in the future.
Disabling the MSA System Service
The MSA (MIUI System Ads) service is the system process responsible for displaying ads in standard Xiaomi applications such as Explorer, Music, Themes and the browser itself. Disabling this service completely is a radical but most effective way to remove ads in the Xiaomi browser and in the entire shell.
First, you need to revoke consent to use the ad. Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Data Access and Privacy → Advertising Services. Find the msa switch and turn it off. The system will issue a warning and start a countdown timer (usually 10 seconds). After the time has expired, click “Revoke.” If the system says “failed to withdraw”, try 3-5 times until the success message appears.
⚠️ Note: Once consent is withdrawn, msa may automatically turn on again after a while. MIUI.
After a successful revocation, it is recommended to delete the cache and data of the msa application itself. Find it in the list of installed applications (you may need to turn on the display of system processes in the settings), go to Memory and click Clear Everything. It is also useful to disable autorun for this component if this option is available in your firmware version.
Managing Permits and Notifications
Often, browser ads appear because visited sites have been given permission to display notifications. Users often accidentally click "Allow", thinking that this is a confirmation that they are not a robot, or simply not noticing the pop-up, as a result, even after closing the browser, banner ads can appear on the screen.
To fix this, open MIUI Browser settings and find Site Settings or Notifications, which will list all resources that have access to push notifications, go through the list and delete any suspicious or unfamiliar domains, and the best option is to choose Block Notifications from all sites by default, allowing only verified resources.
Also, check the general permissions of the application. In the Permissions section (available through long-term click on the app icon or in the system settings), make sure that the browser does not have access to contacts, microphone or location without urgent need. The less permissions an application has, the less data it can pass to advertisers for targeting.
Why does the advertisement come back after the reset?
Alternative browsers as a solution to the problem
If you find your system browser settings too complicated or too inconvenient, the easiest solution is to install an alternative browser. Google Play offers dozens of quality solutions that are initially focused on privacy and no advertising, and completely ignores the built-in MIUI Browser.
Firefox for Android is a popular choice, and its main advantage is extension support. With uBlock Origin, you get a level of protection that most mobile browsers don't have. It blocks not only banners, but also analytics trackers, speeding up page loading. It takes a couple of minutes to set up, but the effect lasts forever.
Another option is Brave Browser. It works out of the box with Brave Shields on. You don't have to configure anything: just download, install as the default app and use it. It also has a built-in ad-view reward system (if you want to), but by default all trackers and banners are rigidly blocked.
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Switching to a third-party browser with built-in protection (Brave, Firefox + uBlock) is the most reliable and long-term solution, eliminating the need to constantly monitor MIUI settings.