Xiaomi Advertising: How to permanently remove pop-up banners on top of all windows

Xiaomi smartphone owners are regularly faced with a problem: banner ads suddenly appear on top of all open applications, blocking the screen and interfering with work. It is not just an annoying bug, this is how the monetization of the MIUI brand shell works, which shows ads even in the system menus. But the good news is that most of these pop-ups can be disposed of without root rights or complex manipulation.

In this article, we will look at all the working methods, from disabling ads in MIUI settings to using third-party tools like ADB or alternative launchers. It is important to understand that some methods may differ depending on the firmware version (for example, MIUI 12 vs MIUI 14) and regional build (global, Chinese, European).

If you're tired of banners that pop up when you unlock the screen, in the settings menu, or even during games, read on. Spoiler: The most radical solutions (like completely removing system applications) require unlocking the bootloader and may be unwarranted. But first, let's try the safe options.

Why does Xiaomi have ads on top of all windows?

Pop-up ads in MIUI are not a virus or a system failure, but a conscious strategy of the company. Xiaomi monetizes its firmware through integrated advertising modules that are loaded through system applications:

• 📱 Launcher (MIUI Home) — is responsible for the desktop and the application menu, and it is he who most often shows banners when swiping down or unlocking.
• 🔍 Security – the application scans the system and simultaneously displays ads in notifications.
• 🛒 Mi Browser, Mi Video, Mi Music – branded applications with built-in ad units.
• 📊 Cleaner – A memory freeing utility that often shows promo content.

The thing about MIUI is that it can even appear in places where it's not logically supposed to be.

• 🔓 When unlocking the screen (the banner covers the pin code or print).
• ⚙️ Settings menu → Accounts or Settings → Connections.
• 🎮 While playing games or watching videos (pop-up with a suggestion to install the application).
• 📱 On the lock screen (advertising over time and notifications).

Important: Chinese versions of MIUI typically have more ads than global or European builds, and if you bought a phone in China or stitched it with Chinese firmware, the problem may be more acute.

Method 1: Disabling Advertising in MIUI Settings (without root)

The easiest and safest method is to deactivate the ad units through system settings, which works on most models (Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4/X5, Mi 11/12/13), but may vary depending on the version of MIUI.

Follow the instructions:

1. Open the Settings. → Xiaomi Account (or Mi Account).
2. Go to Account Settings → Advertising (or Personalized Ad Recommendations).
3. Turn off Personalized Advertising (or Recommendations) slider.
4. Go back to the main Settings menu and select About Phone.
5. Tap the MIUI version several times until the message “You are a developer!” appears.
6. Return to Settings → Additional settings and select Developer.
7. Find the option to Turn off MIUI ads (or Turn off MIUI ads) and activate it.

If you don't have a "Disable MIUI Advertising" option, your firmware version doesn't support this option, so move on to the next one.

⚠️ Note: On some models (POCO F3, Redmi K40) After disabling personalized advertising, banners may disappear not immediately, but after 1-2 reboots. If the ad remains, clear the Launcher cache (Settings) → Annexes → Application management → Launcher → Clear the cache).

Method 2: Block ads via ADB (without root but with PC)

If system settings don’t work, the next step is to use Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This method does not require superuser rights, but requires a computer and a computer. USB-The idea is to disable permissions for system applications that display ads.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install ADB Tools on your PC (Windows, macOS or Linux).
2. On your phone, activate USB Debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 taps → For developers → USB Debugging).
3. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.
4. Open the command prompt (or Terminal) in the adb.exe folder and type:

adb shell pm hide com.miui.systemAdSolution

If the team doesn’t work, try an alternative:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.systemAdSolution

Then, execute commands to disable ads in other system applications:

adb shell pm hide com.xiaomi.midrop


adb shell pm hide com.miui.analytics




adb shell pm hide com.miui.cloudservice




adb shell pm hide com.miui.cloudbackup




adb shell pm hide com.miui.yellowpage

Once you've done the commands, restart your phone. The ads should disappear.

⚠️ Attention: MIUI 14 and later, the pm hide command may not work - use pm disable-user. Also note that after resetting the phone to factory settings, all changes through the ADB They will fly and the procedure will have to be repeated.

Method 3: Use of an alternative launcher

If the ads appear primarily on the desktop or in the app menu, the radical solution is to install a third-party launcher, which will not remove the ads from system applications (for example, from Security or Cleanup), but will eliminate banners when swiping and unlocking.

The best options for Xiaomi:

• 🏆 Nova Launcher is flexible, no advertising, gesture support. POCO redmi.
• 🎨 Lawnchair – open source launcher, imitates Pixel Launcher, but without advertising.
• ⚡ Hyperion Launcher – Optimized for performance, blocks system pop-ups.
• 🔧 Smart Launcher 6 – automatically sorts apps and doesn’t show banners.

How to install and configure:

1. Download the launcher from Google Play.
2. When you first start, select it as the default launcher.
3. In the launcher settings, disable all options related to recommendations and news (for example, in Nova Launcher it is Nova Settings → Desktop → Disable Google Discover).
4. Remove or hide MIUI widgets that may show ads (such as a weather or calendar widget).

The downside is that some MIUI features (like Dual App or Game Mode) may become less accessible, and system advertising in Settings or Security will remain.

💡

If after installing an alternative launcher, some system applications (such as Camera or Gallery) stopped opening, go back to Settings → Applications → By default and reset the launcher settings to standard.

Method 4: Remove system applications (requires unlocking the bootloader)

This is the most radical method, which is guaranteed to remove advertising, but has serious consequences:

• 🔓 Requires unlocking the bootloader (will result in a phone reset and loss of warranty).
• 🛠️ Need root rights (for example, through Magisk).
• ⚠️ The risk of “bricking” the phone with incorrect actions.

If you are ready for this, follow the instructions:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Mi Unlock Tool (instructions on the Xiaomi website).
2. Install Custom Recavers (TWRP) and get root through Magisk.
3. Download Titanium Backup or SD Maid to remove system APKs.
4. Remove the following apps (return the following first!):

After deleting, restart your phone. Ads should disappear completely, but some features (such as themes or cloud backup) may not work properly.

⚠️ Note: Removal of system applications may result in inability to obtain OTA-To return the ability to update "over the air", before deleting, back up the deleted APK (For example, use Titanium Backup and restore them before upgrading.

Method 5: Blocking Advertising via DNS or VPN

If previous methods have not helped or seem too complicated, you can block Xiaomi ad servers at the network level.

• 🌍 Private DNS (Android tuning).
• 🔒 VPN Ad-blocking (e.g. AdGuard) VPN or Blokada).
• 📡 Locked router DNS (Like a Pi-hole).

Instructions for Private DNS:

1. Open Settings → Connections → Private DNS
2. Select the host name of the Private DNS provider.
3. Enter one of the addresses:

dns.adguard.com


one.one.one.one




dns.google

To block via VPN:

1. Download AdGuard VPN or Blokada from Google Play.
2. Enable the option of blocking advertising in the application settings.
3. Activate. VPN-linkage.

This method blocks not only Xiaomi ads, but also third-party banners in apps and the browser.

💡

DNS/VPN locking is the only method that works even after the phone is reset to factory settings, as it does not affect system files.

What to do if the advertisement remains?

If none of the methods worked, check the following:

1. Update your firmware. Newer versions of MIUI (like MIUI 14 or HyperOS) may have less advertising. Check for updates in Settings → About Phone → System Update.
2. Check regional firmware. There are more ads on Chinese versions -- if you have one, consider reflashing to a global or European version.
3. Remove suspicious apps. Sometimes, ads are caused by viruses. Scan your phone through Malwarebytes or Dr.Web.
4. Reset. The last option is Settings → Additional → Restore and Reset → Reset. This will delete all data, but return the system to a "clean" state without advertising.

If the problem persists, maybe the ads are not shown by the system, but by a specific application, to figure out who is responsible:

1. Start Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Sort the applications by the date of last use.
3. Check if the ads appear after opening a specific APK.

FAQ: Frequent questions about advertising on Xiaomi