Ownership of a modern Xiaomi or Redmi smartphone is often overshadowed by intrusive ads that appear in the most unexpected places. Users are faced with banners in standard applications, pop-ups when cleaning up memory and even recommendations in folders on the desktop. This is the result of a company policy aimed at compensating for low iron margins through software services. However, there are many ways to completely eliminate this digital noise and return the device to the clean interface.
The process of removing ads does not require obtaining superuser rights or complex flashing of the gadget. Android system settings and MIUI shells allow you to manually disable most sources of targeted content. In some cases, you will need to use third-party tools or change the parameters of the DNS, but even basic methods give tangible results. It is important to understand that updating the firmware can return some settings to factory values, so you should keep control over them constantly.
In this article, we will look at all the current methods of blocking, from built-in functions to advanced network filters. We will look at the nuances of working with the HyperOS shell, which replaced the classic MIUI, and explain how to protect yourself from advertising debris in the future.
Disabling MSA System Advertising
The main source of intrusive ads in Xiaomi smartphones is a system service called MSA (MIUI System Ads), which is responsible for collecting data about your preferences and displaying banner ads in the interface. The first and most important step is to force it to stop and disable the autorun. Without this action, other settings may not be effective.
To start, you need to go to the smartphone settings menu. Find the Password and Security section and select Data Access. From the app list that opens, find msa and turn off the network access slider. The system will alert you that the app will stop receiving data, and will prompt you to wait 10 seconds before confirming the action. After the timer expires, press OK.
⚠️ Attention: If after the shutdown MSA You will notice strange system behavior or errors in the operation of standard applications, try not to delete the service, but simply limit its background activity in the Battery section».
Next, disable ad personalization. In the same menu, go to Privacy and select Advertising Services. You need to deactivate the Receive Recommendations option, which will break the link between your device ID and the company's ad servers, which will significantly reduce the number of targeted offers.
Configuring embedded system applications
Once the main MSA service is neutralized, each system application needs to be “cleaned” separately. Advertising in Xiaomi is often integrated directly into utilities such as Explorer, Security, Music and Video, each with its own recommendation settings that are activated by default when the device is first launched.
Start with the Security app, which is the control center of the system. Open it, click on the settings gear in the upper right corner, and find Receive recommendations. The slider should be turned off. Similar steps should be repeated for the Explorer app: go to settings (three menu bars) and turn off receiving recommendations. This will remove banners that appear when you view files.
For multimedia applications, the algorithm is similar. In the Music and Video app, you need to go to your profile settings or general settings and find the Show Ads or Receive Recommendations switch. In some versions of MIUI, these items may be called Online Services. Disabling these functions will not affect the playback of local files, but will remove visual noise.
☑️ Checklist for app cleanup
The GetApps app store also has a special focus on it, which can also push notifications for discounts and new games, go to the store settings and turn off all notifications, and automatically update apps if you prefer to manually control this process, not only eliminating ads, but also saving traffic.
Blocking Advertising via DNS and Wi-Fi
The most effective method that works globally for the entire device is to use a private DNS. This method does not require the installation of additional applications and blocks advertising requests at the network level.
To activate this function, go to Settings → Connection and Sharing (or Wi-Fi and Internet). Find a Private Item DNS (Private DNS). The default is "Auto." Choose the hostname of the provider. DNS (or manually, and enter the address of a reliable filter, the most popular and stable service is AdGuard. DNS.
dns.adguard.comOnce you enter the address, save the settings. Now all traffic that goes through Wi-Fi and the mobile network will be filtered. This also helps block ads in some games and applications that are not system. DNS-The service is temporarily unavailable, some sites may stop opening.
⚠️ Attention: Use of third-party DNS-servers may slightly increase ping in online games.If you are a professional esportsman, test communication before important matches.
List of alternatives DNS-address
Managing Notifications in the Browser
Users often confuse system advertising with intrusive notifications from sites visited in the browser. owners of Redmi and Poco often use the standard Mi Browser browser, which by default aggressively promotes news feed and advertising notifications. The best solution is to abandon it in favor of cleaner alternatives such as Chrome, Firefox or Brave.
If you prefer to stay in the Xiaomi ecosystem, you need to do a deep cleaning of your browser settings. Open Mi Browser, go to the settings (three dots or bars) and find the Content Settings or Notifications section.
It is also recommended to disable the news feed on the start page. In the browser settings, find the Start page and select the "Empty page" option or simply turn off the news display, which will make the browser launch instantaneous and deprive it of information noise.
| Parameter | Standard browser | Brave / Firefox | Chrome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ad-blocker | Adjustment required | Built-in by default | Expansion is required |
| RAM consumption | Average. | Low. | High. |
| Protection of privacy | Basic | Tall. | Medium |
| Synchronization | Mi Account | Browser account | Google Account |
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Install Brave browser to automatically block trackers and ads at the page code level without having to configure DNS.
Cleaning the desktop and folders
One of the most annoying things about MIUI is that you have recommended apps in folders on your desktop, you create a Tools folder, you put a calculator and a watch in it, and the system adds game or store icons marked "Recommended," which are not viruses, but a regular feature that you can and should turn off.
To do this, open any folder on your desktop. At the top of the folder window that opens, you'll see a name (like "Folder" or "Tools") and next to it, a small gear or just a name. Click on the folder name to open the settings menu. In the window that appears, find the Recommended Apps (or "Promoted Apps") switch and turn it off.
After that, all the foreign icons will disappear, and the folder will only contain those applications that you installed there yourself. It is also worth checking the settings of the widgets. Often the Wallpaper or Music widget can load advertising content. (long press) on the widget will allow you to delete it or go to its settings to disable online functions.
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Folder ads are a separate system module that is disabled individually for each folder, rather than globally in the phone’s settings.
Use of third-party blockers
There are specialized blocking apps for users who want to get the most out of it. DNS-They can filter traffic within applications using local VPN-The leader in this niche is the AdGuard app, which allows you to fine-tune filters for each application separately.
Installation of such software requires permission to create VPN-This is secure because traffic is not going to third-party servers, but is filtered locally on the device. AdGuard recommends that you enable Tracking Protection and Browser Filter, which will allow you to block ads even in applications that do not use the system WebView.
There are lighter analogues, like Blokada, which work in a similar way: they create a local tunnel and check queries against a blacklist of ad domains, and the advantage of these solutions is that they can update lock lists without waiting for a smartphone firmware update.
⚠️ Note: Simultaneously activating system private DNS third-party VPN-You can't block it. When you activate the blocker application, you set up the settings. DNS They may be temporarily ignored by the system.