Users of Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones often face intrusive behavior when banner ads suddenly appear on a locked display. This is not only annoying, but can also indicate malware penetration or improper configuration of system services. Owners of devices with a MIUI shell or a new HyperOS should clearly understand the difference between regular system functions and the activity of viruses.
There are several main reasons for the emergence of unwanted content, from the default feature “Wallpaper Carousel” to the installation of dubious applications from unverified sources. Aggressive marketing of the manufacturer sometimes leads to the fact that advertising is embedded in system processes.
In this guide, we will take all possible scenarios and provide a step-by-step algorithm for eliminating the problem completely. It is important to act consistently, checking each item so that you do not miss the hidden source of irritation.
Diagnostics of the advertising source on Redmi
Before we take any drastic measures, we need to identify exactly the source of the pop-ups. If the ads appear strictly when the device is unlocked and are beautiful images with logos, most likely, the Wallpaper Carousel feature is activated. This is a Xiaomi tool that can be easily disabled in the lock screen settings.
This is a game-changer if banners pop up randomly, overlap other apps, or appear on top of the desktop, in which case they are an ad virus or an aggressive application, often hiding their icons, untitled, or disguised as system processes like Flash Player or Clearer.
⚠️ Warning: If the ad appears even when the phone is locked and lying on the table (the screen lights up itself), it is almost guaranteed to be a sign of malware, not a system feature.
For initial diagnosis, open a list of newly launched apps. In MIUI, this is done by swiping from the bottom up and holding or buttoning the menu. See if there's a weird process without an icon or with a name that doesn't match current activities, and that's the process that's often responsible for showing pop-ups.
Disconnection of the regular wallpaper carousel
The most common and legal source of "advertising" on the lock screen is the wallpaper carousel service, which replaces the static image on a slideshow with news blocks and inserts, and to remove this, you need to go to personalization settings.
Go to the Settings menu, then select Always On and Lock screen. Find the Wallpaper Carousel and click on it. In the menu that opens, you need to deactivate the Wallpaper Carousel switch. After that, the system will suggest selecting a static image to lock.
- 📱 Open the smartphone settings.
- 🖼️ Go to the Lock screen section.
- 🚫 Turn off the wallpaper carousel tumbler.
- ✅ Choose a regular photo for the background.
Sometimes, after disabling the function, banner ads may remain in the cache. In this case, it is recommended to clear the data of the wallpaper carousel application. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps, find the wallpaper carousel list and select Clean → Clean everything. This is guaranteed to remove the downloaded advertising materials.
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If after disabling the Carousel, the advertisement remained, check if you have an application called "Wallpaper" or "Wallpaper" from unknown developers - they often imitate the system service.
Search and Remove Malware Applications
If the problem isn't with the carousel, it means that the system has a malicious application (Adware), which is often installed along with useful software: QR scanners, flashlights, photo editors or games, which require minimal permissions, but are allowed to display ads on top of other windows.
To detect culprit, go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Scrolle through the list carefully. Look for programs without a name, without an icon (white square), or with a suspicious name, such as System Update, Flash Service, often located at the bottom or at the top of the list, depending on the version of Android.
Find a suspicious object? Click on it and select Remove. If the delete button is inactive or the menu crashes immediately after opening, try doing so through Safe Mode. To enter it, press the off button, and when the reboot menu appears, keep your finger on the "Off" item for a long time until the suggestion appears to go to Safe Mode.
☑️ Virus testing
Also worth checking for app permissions. In the app menu, click three dots in the corner and select Special Opportunities or Access to Special Options. There should be no extraneous programs, especially those that require the right to render on top of other applications. Disable all unknown services.
Setting up a system advertising service MSA
For the native advertising in the shell MIUI system-process MSA (MIUI While it is difficult to remove it completely without root rights, it is possible to disable its basic functions, which will significantly reduce the number of ad integrations in the system.
To limit MSA, go to Settings → Passwords & Security → Access to Personal Data. Search the msa list and turn off the slider. The system will warn you several times about errors and ask you to wait 10 seconds — this is protection against accidental shutdown. You need to be patient and wait for the switch to remain off.
| Parameter | Where to find out. | Action. | The result |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSA | Access to personal data | Turn it off. | Reducing System Advertising |
| Recommendations | Settings → Passwords and security | Turn it off. | No advice in folders. |
| Receipt of recommendations | Security → Settings | Turn it off. | Clean Antivirus Interface |
| Personal advertising | Settings → Passwords and security | Turn it off. | Less pointy advertising |
Additionally, disable ad personalization. In Passwords and Security → Privacy → Advertising Services, disable Personal Advertising. This will not remove banners completely, but will make them less intrusive and tied to your interests.
⚠️ Attention: When the service is disabled MSA If the server does not respond within 10 seconds, the shutdown button may become active again and the procedure will have to be repeated.
Cleaning notifications from the browser and sites
Users often confuse system advertising with notifications from sites they accidentally subscribed to. If the lock screen shows messages about “winning”, “viruses” or news, this is the work of the browser (Chrome, Mi Browser, Opera).
To solve the problem, open the browser through which content most often pops up. Go to browser settings → site settings → Notifications. Here you will see a list of sites that have the right to send out pushy. Ruthlessly delete all suspicious domains or disable notifications completely.
- 🌐 Open your browser (Chrome, Yandex, etc.).
- ⚙️ Go to Settings. → Confidentiality.
- 🔔 Find the Notifications or Sites section.
- 🗑️ Remove all unknown addresses from the list of permitted addresses.
It is also recommended to clear the cache and browser data. In the phone settings, find the browser app, select Memory and click Clear. This will reset all temporary files and scripts that may initiate displaying ads on the locked screen.
What if the advertisement returns after cleaning?
Resetting and extreme measures
If none of the above methods worked, and the ads on the Xiaomi Redmi lock screen continue to bother, it is possible that the malicious code has deeply integrated into the system or damaged system files.
Important: Before this procedure, be sure to back up all important data (contacts, photos, documents) to a Google drive or computer.
To perform the reset, go to Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset → Erase all data. The phone will reboot and start the cleaning process, which can take 10-15 minutes. Once turned on, the device will be as new, without viruses and unnecessary debris.
⚠️ Warning: Before resetting, make sure the battery is at least 50-60%. Interrupting the flashing or reset process due to battery discharge may result in the inability to boot the system (bootloop).
After reset, take your time to install all the applications at once, install them one by one and check the system behavior, which will help to identify which application was the source of the problem if it happens again.
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Full reset is the only 100% guarantee of deep virus removal if manual removal of applications fails.
Preventing Advertising in the Future
To keep the problem from returning, you need to change your smartphone usage habits, first of all, stop installing apps from unknown sources, download software only from the official Google Play store or GetApps, even there, you should pay attention to the ratings and reviews of the developer.
Second, read carefully the permissions that the app requests when installing, and if a simple flashlight asks for access to contacts, geolocation, and the Internet, that's a red flag, and minimalism in permits is a guarantee of security.
- 🛡️ Install a reliable antivirus (such as Dr.Web or Kaspersky) for periodic checks.
- 🚫 Do not go over the dubious links in SMS messenger.
- 📱 Update the system regularly MIUI/HyperOS for obtaining security patches.
- 👀 Check the list of installed applications once a month.
Compliance with these simple rules will allow you to enjoy the functionality of Xiaomi without annoying interruptions. Remember that free apps are often monetized through advertising, but it should not violate the basic functionality of the device.