Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphone owners often encounter intrusive banner ads that appear in system applications. This is annoying, distracting and wasteful traffic, especially when you are trying to quickly find the right file or clear the memory. However, do not despair, since the MIUI ecosystem allows the user to control most of these processes.
In this article, we will discuss proven ways to remove ads on Xiaomi without installing third-party software. You will learn to disable the MSA system service, configure the browser and block pop-ups in standard utilities. It is critical to understand that completely removing ads requires disabling several components of the system, not just one parameter.
Following our instructions will make smartphone usage comfortable and safe, and we will look at both basic settings that are available to everyone and advanced methods for power users.
Disabling the MSA system advertising service
The main source of intrusive banners in the MIUI shell is the MSA (MIUI System Ads) system application, which analyzes your actions and shows personalized advertising, and the first step to a clean interface is to turn off the service.
To start, go to Settings → Passwords & Security → Data Access. You need to find the msa app in the list and deny it access to the network (both via Wi-Fi and mobile data), after which the system will no longer receive advertising blocks from the servers.
The next step is to unauthorize. Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Authorization and Cancellation. Go to msa and click "Cancel Authorization." The system will alert you three times about the consequences and suggest you wait 10 seconds. Attention: the confirmation button may not appear immediately, sometimes it takes several attempts.
What if the "Cancel" button does not appear?
After successful MSA disabling, the number of ads in the system will be significantly reduced, but for full effect, you need to clear the ad cache.
Setup of the built-in browser Mi Browser
Xiaomi’s standard browser is also a source of advertising content, and to remove ads in Xiaomi’s browser, you need to change notification and personalization settings.
Open the Browser app and click on the three bars in the bottom corner. Go to Settings → Settings → Notifications. You should turn off the "Recommendations" and "Advertising" items here, which will prevent pop-ups from appearing in the notification curtain.
Next, go to Privacy and Security, find Personalized Recommendations and disable it, and it is also recommended to clear your browsing history and cookies to reset your ad profile.
- 📱 Open the browser menu (three bars).
- 🔔 Go to the notification settings and disable all recommendations.
- 🔒 In the security section, uncheck the personalization box.
- 🗑️ Clear the history and cache of the browser for a profile reset.
💡
For maximum privacy, set the browser start page to “Empty” or use a third-party browser, such as Chrome or Firefox, where it is easier to set up blockers.
If you use your browser all the time, these settings will make surfing a lot cleaner, and pop-ups will no longer bother you when you're using the Internet.
Cleaning up from advertising in system applications
Ad integrations are built into many of the standard tools: Explorer, Music, Video, Cleanup, each of which has different settings, but the algorithm is similar.
In the Security (antivirus and cleanup) app, click on the gear in the top right corner. Find the "Get recommendations" item and turn it off. This will remove the banners that appear after scanning the system.
For File Manager, go to the settings (three bars → Settings) and find the About section. Inside, there will be a Guidelines item that you need to deactivate. Similar actions are required for the Themes and Downloads applications.
☑️ Verification of system applications
Remember that after major MIUI updates, some settings may be reset, and checking these points periodically will help keep the system clean.
Comparison of Ad Blocking Methods
There are several approaches to combating unwanted content: from manually disabling services to using them. DNS-Each method has its pros and cons that are worth considering.
Manual shutdown MSA The most secure for system stability, but does not guarantee 100% results in all applications. DNS-filters (e.g. AdGuard) DNS) Blocks ads at the network level, but can slow down the opening of some sites.
| Method | Efficiency | Difficulty | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSA shutdown | Tall. | Low. | Minimum |
| Private DNS | Medium | Medium | Possible slowdown. |
| Blockers (AdGuard) | Maximum | Tall. | Battery consumption |
| Disabling notifications | Low. | Low. | Safe. |
For most users, the best solution is a combination of disabling MSA and setting up Private DNS, which will provide a balance between the purity of the interface and the performance of the device.
Using Private DNS to block
One of the most effective ways to remove ads on Xiaomi globally is by setting up a private DNS, which blocks requests to known ad servers at the connection level.
Go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Private DNS. Select the DNS Provider Host Name mode and enter the address: dns.adguard.com. Save the settings.
Once you turn on this option, ads will disappear not only in the browser, but also in many free apps and games. Importantly, if some websites or applications of the bank stop opening after you turn on DNS, return the setting to Auto mode.
💡
Use of the DNS-Filtering is a silver bullet to block ads throughout the system, but requires caution when working with corporate Wi-Fi networks.
This method is especially useful if you don’t want to install additional locker apps that can consume battery life.
Additional security and optimization measures
In addition to system settings, you should pay attention to the apps you install, and often the source of advertising is free utilities from Google Play or third-party sources.
Read carefully the permissions the app requests when installing, and if a simple flashlight requires access to contacts and location, it is a wake-up call, often mining cryptocurrency or displaying ads over other windows.
Check the list of apps with the right “Above Other Windows” regularly. To do this, go to Settings → Apps → Rights → Special Rights → On top of other applications. Leave this right only for navigators and instant messengers.
⚠️ Attention: Do not install APK-Modified versions of popular apps often hide advertising modules that cannot be removed by standard means.
Digital hygiene combined with proper MIUI setup will allow you to forget about intrusive advertising forever.