Owning a modern smartphone Xiaomi is often overshadowed by the manufacturer’s aggressive monetization policy. Users are faced with the fact that pop-up advertising appears in the most unexpected places: when unlocking the screen, in the settings menu, or even on top of open applications. This is not just an annoying factor, but also a real security threat, since some banners can redirect to malicious resources.
Fortunately, the ecosystem Android and shell MIUI (or new HyperOS) provide enough tools to combat this phenomenon. You don't have to have programming skills or get root accessto get back a clean interface. In most cases, the problem can be solved by properly configuring system parameters and disabling personalized recommendations.
In this article we will analyze a step-by-step algorithm of actions that will help you completely clear your device of annoying banners. We will cover both standard privacy settings and specific services responsible for displaying content. Be prepared to devote about 10-15 minutes to this process to enjoy the operation of your smartphone without unnecessary visual noise.
Disable MSA system advertising in the settings
The main culprit for the appearance of banners in the system is the service MSA (MIUI System Ads). This is a system process that runs in the background and is responsible for delivering advertising content to various shell interfaces. Disabling this service completely is the first and most important step to a clean screen.
To deactivate MSA, you need to go to the settings menu. Find the section Passwords and security and select item Access to personal data. In the list of applications that opens, find msa and move the switch to the inactive position. The system will warn you that disabling may affect the operation of some functions, but for the average user these changes are invisible.
Please note that you may not be able to disable the service the first time. The interface Xiaomi often requires confirmation of an action through a 10-second countdown timer. If the Cancel button is grayed out, simply wait until the time expires and try again. Sometimes it is necessary to perform this procedure 2-3 times in a row for the system to finally allow the shutdown.
⚠️ Attention: If you do not find the “Access to personal data” item in the specified location, try using the search in the settings. Enter the word "msa" or "advertising" into the search menu bar to quickly locate the desired section.
After a successful shutdown advertising module it is recommended to restart the device. This is necessary to ensure that all background processes associated with displaying banners are completed correctly and do not start again the next time you turn on the phone.
☑️ Disabling the MSA service
Setting privacy and recommendations settings
In addition to the MSA service, there are separate switches in the system that are responsible for receiving personalized recommendations. These settings are scattered across different menus, and disabling them requires care. Ignoring these items may result in advertising disappearing from the notification shade, but remaining in folders or the Security application.
Go to the section Settings and find the item Passwords and security. Here you are interested in the subsection Privacy. Scroll to the bottom of the page to the “Advertising Services” block. You need to disable the option Personalized advertising. This action will prevent the system from analyzing your actions to select advertisements, although the ads themselves could theoretically remain, but will become less relevant.
Next return to the main settings menu and find section Advanced settings. In some versions MIUI it may be called simply "Advanced". Find the item Receive recommendations and make sure the switch is turned off. This function is often responsible for the appearance of news and promotional materials in the interface.
- 🔍 Disable "Personalized advertising" in the Privacy section.
- 🚫 Disable "Receive recommendations" in Advanced settings.
- 📱 Check the settings in the "Security" application (green shield icon).
- ⚙️ Disable recommendations in the "Themes" and "Music" application.
Particular attention should be paid to standard applications from Xiaomi. Go to the application Security, click on the gear in the upper right corner and find the "Receive recommendations" item. Similar steps must be repeated in applications Themes, Music and Video. Each of them has its own hidden switch, which is often activated by default when updating the software.
After updating the firmware, always check the recommendations settings again. MIUI developers often reset these settings to default values, returning advertising to the interface.
Blocking ads in the browser and third-party applications
If system methods did not help completely get rid of pop-up windows, the problem may lie in the browser or installed third-party applications. Often, users accidentally allow sites to send notifications that are disguised as system messages or advertisements.
First, check the settings of your main browser. If you use Google Chrome, go to menu (three dots) → Settings → Site settings → Notifications. Review the list of allowed sites and remove all suspicious resources. If you do not recognize the domain, it is better to block access for all sites at once, allowing only verified ones.
An alternative and more effective method is to use DNS filtering. This method blocks ads at the network connection level, without requiring the installation of additional applications. You need to go to Settings → Connection and sharing (or "Other connection settings") → Private DNS.
dns.adguard.comEnter address dns.adguard.com in the private DNS settings field and save the changes. This server automatically filters requests to known advertising networks. The method works in almost all applications and browsers, significantly speeding up page loading due to the absence of loading advertising scripts.
⚠️ Attention: Using a third-party DNS may slightly increase network response time in rare cases. If you notice problems connecting to certain sites, return the setting to Auto.
It's also worth checking the list of installed applications. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications. Carefully review the list for apps without an icon or with suspicious names (for example, "Flash Player", "Cleaner", "Battery Saver") that you did not knowingly install. Such apps are often a source of aggressive advertising.
Analysis of permissions and removal of miner viruses
Sometimes pop-up advertising is a consequence of infection of the device malware. Miner viruses or advertising Trojans can masquerade as system processes or useful utilities. They require careful review of the permissions they ask for during installation.
The critical permission for displaying ads on top of other windows is "Display on top of other applications". Attackers use it to display banners at any time. To check who has this right, go to Settings → Privacy protection → Special. capabilities (or "Access to special functions") → Display on top of other applications.
In the list that opens, you will see all apps that can draw windows on top of the interface. Study the list carefully. System applications like Phone, Messages or Launcher must have this permission. However, if you see a simple flashlight, calculator or game there that does not need this permission to work, disable it immediately.
| Application type | Do I need the "On top of windows" permission | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) | Yes (for calls) | Leave enabled |
| Launcher (Desktop) | Yes | Leave on |
| Flashlight / Calculator | No | Disable |
| Games (single) | No | Disable |
| Unknown applications | No | Delete |
If you find an application that you cannot remove in the usual way ("Delete" button is inactive), which means it has received device administrator rights. Go to Settings → Passwords and security → Privacy → Device administrators (the path may differ in different versions of MIUI). Uncheck the suspicious application, after which you can remove it through the standard application menu.
What to do if the virus is not removed?
If the malicious application is not removed even after removing administrator rights, try booting your phone into safe mode. To do this, hold down the power button, and when the reboot menu appears, hold your finger on the “Switch off” or “Reboot” item for a long time until you are prompted to enter safe mode. Only system applications work in this mode, which will allow you to remove the virus.
Resetting advertising and identifier settings
Even after disabling all visible switches, a unique advertising identifier (Advertising ID) may remain in the system. It is used by networks to track your interests. Resetting this identifier helps to “reset” the accumulated profile and reduces the frequency of targeted advertising.
To complete this procedure, go to Settings → Passwords and security → Privacy → Advertising. Here you will see two useful options. The first one is Reset advertising ID. Click on it to generate a new random number that will not be associated with your previous browsing history.
The second option is Disable ad personalization. Make sure it is activated. This will send a signal to advertising networks that you do not want to receive ads based on your interests. Although this does not guarantee the complete disappearance of advertising, it will become less intrusive and random.
In new versions HyperOS the logic of working with advertising has become even more transparent. There is now a single privacy control center where you can revoke all consents to data processing for advertising purposes with one touch. It is recommended to visit this section regularly, especially after major system updates.
Regular resetting of the advertising identifier (once every 1-2 months) effectively prevents advertising networks from creating a detailed user profile.
Radical measures: USB and ADB debugging
If standard methods do not produce results, you can use a more advanced method via USB debugging. This method allows you to disable system components that do not have an interface for the average user. It requires connecting your smartphone to your computer.
First you need to activate developer mode. Go to Settings → About phone and quickly click 7 times on the item MIUI version (or OS version). After this, a section For developerswill appear in the "Advanced settings" menu. Turn on the item Debugging USB.
Connect the phone to the PC with a cable. You will need to install the utility ADB (Android Debug Bridge) on your computer. After installing and configuring the drivers, open a command prompt on your computer and enter the following command to disable the adware:
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.msa.globalThis command will forcefully remove the MSA service for the current user without affecting the system partition (which is safe under warranty). You can also disable other advertising services, for example com.miui.analytics (analytics) or com.miui.daemon (statistics collection), by entering similar commands replacing the package name.
⚠️ Attention: Be extremely careful when using ADB. Disabling critical system processes (such as those related to your phone or contacts) may cause your device to become unstable. Enter commands only for those packages whose purpose you know for sure.
Interfaces and menu item names may differ slightly depending on the version MIUI or HyperOS, as well as on the firmware region (Global, Chinese, European). If you cannot find a specific item, use the built-in settings search or check the official documentation for your specific model.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why did advertising appear again after disabling MSA?
Most often this happens after a system update. The update MIUI may reset your privacy settings to default values. You need to go through the process of disabling the MSA service and checking application permissions again.
Is it safe to use AdGuard DNS on your phone?
Yes, it is completely safe. DNS filtering only redirects requests to ad servers to “nowhere”, preventing them from loading content. Your personal data is not transferred to third parties, and Internet speed may even increase.
Can advertising be a sign of a serious virus?
Yes, if advertising appears on top of all windows, even when the screen is off or in system menus where it should not be. In this case, it is recommended to scan your phone with an antivirus (for example, Dr.Web or Kaspersky) and check the list of device administrators.
Does disabling advertising affect the operation of applications?
No, disabling MSA system advertising and personalized recommendations does not affect the functionality of applications. You will still be able to use the theme store, music and other services, they just won’t have promotional banners.
What to do if the MSA disable button is not pressed?
The system intentionally complicates this process. Try turning off your internet (Wi-Fi and mobile network) before attempting to disable the service. Sometimes this helps to bypass server verification. Also make sure that you keep the switch turned off during the entire countdown.