How to permanently disable redirects to Xiaomi Redmi 4X: system settings and hidden features

Xiaomi Redmi 4X (codenamed santoni) is still a popular budget smartphone, but many users face an annoying problem: the device spontaneously redirects from one site to another, opens advertising pages or even blocks access to certain resources. 80% of the time, it is not the sites themselves that are to blame, but the built-in MIUI services, third-party applications or malware that penetrated through vulnerabilities of old firmware.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible causes of a Redmi 4X redirect, from harmless browser settings to hidden system services that Xiaomi has integrated into MIUI to “improve the user experience.” You’ll learn how to turn off redirects through the phone’s menu, which apps to remove first, and what to do if the problem returns after a reset.

Why Redmi 4X is redirecting to other sites: 4 main reasons

Redirects on a smartphone are rarely accidental, most often the result of one of the four perpetrators:

• 🔍 Built-in services MIUI: Xiaomi is actively using analytics and personalized advertising, and services like Msa (Mobile Services Analytics) and MiuiDaemon can modify network traffic by replacing it with a new model. DNS-request.
• 🦠 Adware and malware: Outdated version of Android (7.1 Nougat on Redmi) 4X) vulnerable to exploits, especially if you have installed APK Viruses like HiddenAds or AgentSmith masquerading as system processes.
• 🌐 Switched network settings: If someone accessed your Wi-Fi or mobile hotspot, they could change the settings. DNS-servers to malicious (for example, 185.222.20.253 or 45.11.12.13).
• 📱 Browsers and applications with redirect scripts: Even legitimate programs (e.g., legitimate programs, UC browser APUS Launcher) may contain code for redirecting to affiliate sites.

Fun fact: Redmi 4X with MIUI 9/10 firmware is 3 times more likely to have a problem than newer models, which is because Xiaomi stopped releasing security updates for the santoni after 2019, leaving users without protection from modern threats.

Method 1: Disabling analytics and personalized advertising in MIUI

The first thing to do is to block system services that collect data and can affect network traffic. On Redmi 4X, this is done through the hidden Msa menu:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Go to About Phone → click 7 times on the MIUI version to activate the developer mode.
3. Return to the main settings menu and select Additional → For developers.
4. Activate the USB Debugging Switch (this is temporary, to access hidden settings).
5. Now enter the msa request in the settings search box and select Msa Settings.
6. Turn off all the switches on this menu, especially: 🔄 Auto update (Auto-Update) 📊 Data collection (Data collection) 🎯 Personalized Ads (Personalized Advertising)

After this, restart the phone. If the redirect was linked to Msa, it should disappear. However, this method only works for "clean" firmware without modification.

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On Redmi 4X with custom firmware (e.g. LineageOS), the Msa menu may not be available, in which case use the ADB-disabled method (described below).

Method 2: Manually clean DNS and reset network settings

If the problem is DNS swapping, it can be solved without any complicated manipulation. The Redmi 4X has two options:

Option A: Reset DNS via Wi-Fi settings

1. Open the Settings. → Wi-Fi.
2. Click on the current network and hold its name for 2 seconds, then select Change the network.
3. Scroll down and find the DNS field. By default, it may be something like 114.114.114 (Chinese DNS from Xiaomi).
4. Replace it with 8.8.8.8 (Google) or 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare).
5. Save the changes and reconnect to the network.

Option B: Complete reset of network settings

If the DNS substitution is fixed at the system level, only a hard reset will help:

1. Go to Settings → System and device → Additional → Resetting.
2. Select Network Reset (not to be confused with a full reset!).
3. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.

After resetting, all stored Wi-Fi networks and passwords will be deleted, but malicious redirects associated with the network will disappear.

Method 3: Remove malicious applications (including hidden ones)

On Redmi 4X, some system applications cannot be removed in the standard way, but they can be disabled or uninstalled via ADB.

To remove system applications, follow the following steps:

1. Install ADB Tools on your computer and connect Redmi 4X over USB (don’t forget to enable USB Debugging in the developer settings).
2. Open the command line and type: Adb devices Make sure the device is defined.
3. To delete, for example, com.miui.msa.global, type: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.msa.global
4. Reboot the phone.

✅ Debugging is on. USB

✅ Drivers installed ADB PC-only

✅ Backup of important data is made

✅ Battery charge > 50%

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Warning: Removal of system applications can lead to unstable MIUI operation. If errors occur after uninstallation, restore the application by command:

adb shell cmd package install-existing com.miui.msa.global

Method 4: Blocking redirects via hosts file

The hosts file in Android is responsible for matching domain names with IP-If you add entries to it to block ad domains, it can stop the redirect. 4X You can edit hosts only with root rights or through ADB.

Here's how to do it:

1. Download the ready-made locking hosts file (for example, from AdAway) and save it to your phone.
2. Connect to the device via ADB and execute: adb shell su mount -o rw,remount /system cp /sdcard/hosts /system/etc/hosts chmod 644 /system/etc/hosts reboot

Step-by-step:

1. Download the firmware for santoni from the official Xiaomi website (Fastboot section).
2. Unpack the archive into a folder without spaces in the title (e.g., C:\MIUI\).
3. Turn off the phone and press Volume Down + Power to log into the Fastboot.
4. Connect the device to your PC and start the Mi Flash Tool.
5. Select the firmware folder and click Refresh → Flash.
6. Wait for the process to finish (5-10 minutes) and the phone will reboot automatically.

⚠️ Note: Fastboot flashing erases all data, including photos and contacts. If you have an unlocked bootloader but no backup, it will not be possible to restore information.

If you're not sure about your skills, you should go to a service center. The wrong firmware can turn the Redmi 4X into a brick.

What to do if the redirect is returned?

If after all the manipulations the problem appears again, this is a sign:

1. The malware activity at the kernel level (like Triada or Ztorg), in which case only complete flashing with data and cache formatting will help.
2. Switching IMEI or serial number (occurs on hands-on phones). Check the IMEI with *#06# and compare it to the sticker under the battery.
3. Vulnerabilities in the modem (such as the DirtyCow exploit for Qualcomm).Update the modem firmware via QFil.

For diagnosis, use:

• 🛡️ NetGuard – Monitoring application network activity.
• 🔍 Fing – To check devices on your network.
• 📡 PingTools Network Utilities for analysis DNS and routing.

If you suspect that your phone is hacked, do not enter passwords from banking applications and do not connect to important accounts until the device is completely cleaned.

FAQ: Frequent questions about redirects to Redmi 4X