Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often experience intrusive behavior when banner ads appear spontaneously on the screen, a phenomenon that can occur at any time: when unlocking a device, when opening apps or even when the phone is just lying on the table, this behavior is not normal operation of the MIUI or HyperOS operating system, but indicates the presence of an active advertising module or malicious software installed.
The main reason lies in pre-installed system services, which are set by default to receive personalized recommendations, or in third-party programs that the user could accidentally install. Advertising virus on Android is often disguised as harmless utilities, such as a flashlight, scanner QR-Understanding the source of the problem is the first step to solving it, because the methods of combating system advertising and viral advertising differ.
In this article, we will take a comprehensive approach to cleaning your device: we will look at the settings of the built-in MSA service framework, check the list of installed applications for hidden threats, and learn how to block pop-ups at the browser level. Following these instructions will return the smartphone to its original speed and eliminate visual noise.
Diagnostics of the source of pop-up advertising
Before you take active action to remove, you need to determine exactly what process or application generates advertising content. Often users begin to randomly remove programs, which does not work if the source is hidden in the system processes. First of all, pay attention to the moment the banner appears: is this happening in a particular application or on the desktop?
The most reliable way to identify the culprit is to use the built-in “Recently Open” feature in the menu of running applications. When an ad pops up on the screen, do not close it immediately, but click the click on the switch to the multitasking menu (usually a swipe from the bottom up or a three-bar button).
Also worth looking at are app icons that don't have a name or have a standard green or grey Android icon. These programs are often hidden in a shared list and don't show up on the desktop, while still running in the background. For deeper diagnostics, you can use Task Manager or third-party monitoring tools, but more often than not, careful monitoring of interface behavior is enough.
Disabling system advertising MSA (MIUI System Ads)
The main source of legal but intrusive advertising in the shell of MIUI is the system service MSA (MIUI System Ads), which is responsible for displaying recommendations in standard applications such as Music, Video, Explorer and Security.
First, you need to access the advanced system settings. Go to the Settings menu → Passwords and security → Access to personal data. In the list that opens, find msa and switch to the off position. The system will require you to wait 10 seconds, then press the “Cancel” button. Importantly, this procedure may need to be repeated 2-3 times, since Xiaomi servers sometimes do not accept the request the first time.
Once permissions are revoked, MSA is also recommended to disable personalization of ads on other system services, which will reduce the number of targeted offers that may appear in application folders or in the notification curtain. These settings are scattered across different menus, so check each item carefully.
☑️ Privacy settings MIUI
Also remember to go to the settings of each standard application separately. For example, in the Security app, you need to go to the settings (cogs) and turn off the option “Receive recommendations.” In the Music app, a similar setting is located in the profile menu.
Finding and Removing Hidden Malware Applications
If ads continue to appear even after the system services are turned off, it is likely that an ad virus has settled on the device, such programs often do not have an icon in the application menu, which makes them elusive, they may be called System Service, Update, Flashlight or have no name at all.
To find a hidden app, go to Settings → Apps → All apps. scroll through the entire list carefully from start to finish. Look for programs without an icon (with a white or transparent icon) or with suspicious names. If you find one, click on it immediately and select Delete.
In some cases, malware blocks the delete button or hides immediately after the screen is turned on, in which case Safe Mode will help. Press the power button, and then hold your finger on the "Stop" button on the screen for a long time until the prompt to go to Safe Mode appears, in which only system applications are launched, which allows you to safely remove the virus.
What to do if the application is not removed?
It’s also worth checking the list of apps with device administrator rights. Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Privacy → Special features → Access to special features. There should be no third-party programs here, except for system programs like Google Play Protect or Find My Device. Having an unknown name on this list is a sure sign of a problem.
Blocking Advertising in Browsers and Notifications
Often, pop-ups are not just from individual apps, but from permissions given to sites in the browser, so a user can accidentally click "Allow" on a site and they will spam notifications even when the phone is locked, and this is not a virus, but an abuse of browser functions.
To fix the situation in Google Chrome, open the app, click three dots in the corner and select Settings. Next, go to Site Settings → Notifications. Here you will see a list of all sites that have access to notifications. Ruthlessly delete or block any suspicious and unknown addresses.
The same steps must be taken for the built-in Mi Browser browser if you use it. Go to the settings, look for the Privacy and Security section and clear the site data or block pop-ups. DNS-Filtering can also help block ad requests at the network level.
| Type of advertisement | Source | Method of decision | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banners in the system | MSA Service | Revocation of access in settings | Low. |
| Windows on the desktop | Viral application | Removing Hidden APK | Medium |
| Notifications from sites | Browser (Chrome/Mi) | Clearing site permits | Low. |
| Advertising in games | Third-party SDKs | Internet shutdown / Premium | Tall. |
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Use an ad-blocking DNS, such as dns.adguard.com. This can be configured in the Private DNS section of the connection settings, which will cut off most ad traffic for all apps at once.
Set up notifications and special features
The Accessibility section of Android is a powerful tool that is often exploited by malware, and apps that gain access to this feature can overlay their interfaces, read user actions, and block ad closure.
Check the list of apps that have access to special features regularly. Go to Settings → Additional settings → Special features. If you see an application here that you did not knowingly install (such as a calculator or a simple flashlight), immediately turn it off. Normal applications rarely require this access.
Also worth noting is the "Master on top of other apps" feature, which allows windows to appear on top of the active interface. Check the list in Settings → Apps → Permissions → Display on top of other applications. Leave this access only for instant messengers (for video calls) and navigators. For all other programs, especially games and utilities, this resolution is redundant and potentially dangerous.
⚠️ Warning: If the ad hasn't disappeared after the app's removal, there may be a tail left in the form of a task scheduler.Rebooting the phone in safe mode will help make sure that the background processes are stopped.
Using antiviruses and cleaning cache
If manual methods don't work, you should use specialized software. The built-in antivirus in Xiaomi's Security app often skips advertising software because it considers it legitimate if it is signed with a known certificate.
It is recommended to install verified scanners, such as Malwarebytes, Kaspersky or Dr.Web Light. Run a full system scan. These programs have more up-to-date signature databases for ad viruses (Adware) and can find what is hidden from the user's eyes.
Once the threats are checked and removed, make sure to clear the cache. The accumulated temporary files may contain scripts that run ads. Use the built-in Cleanup feature in the Security app or manually clear the browser and major applications cache through the storage menu.
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The combination of manual search for hidden apps and scanning with a third-party antivirus gives a 99% guarantee of removing the ad virus from a Xiaomi smartphone.
Cardinal measures: Reset to factory settings
In the most difficult cases, when the ad is embedded deep in the system or the virus masquerades as a system process and is not deleted, the only reliable method is a complete data reset, which will return the phone to the state of “out of the box” by removing all user data and installed applications.
Before starting the procedure, make sure to back up important contacts, photos and documents. Reset will delete all the contents of internal memory. Go to Settings → About Phone → Reset → Erase all data. The phone will restart and begin the cleaning process, which can take up to 10-15 minutes.
After reset, take your time to restore all applications from the backup at once. Use a clean phone for a few hours first. If the ad doesn't show up, it means that one of the apps you installed was the problem. Start installing programs gradually, tracking the behavior of the system.
⚠️ Warning: Do not restore backup of applications (APK-files) immediately after reset, if there is a suspicion of a virus, it is better to download the latest versions from the Google Play Store to avoid re-infection.
Keeping digital hygiene in place will help avoid problems in the future: Do not install apps from unknown sources, read the permissions carefully when installing and update your Xiaomi operating system regularly.