Smartphones of the Redmi 10 line are attractive for their price-performance ratio, but users often encounter intrusive advertising in system shells. This is the result of the company's policy of subsidizing the cost of devices by displaying advertising content in the MIUI interface. Fortunately, there are several effective ways to block these ads without getting root access and without reflashing the device.
In this article we will look at methods for disabling system advertising through standard settings, canceling authorization in the MSA service and using DNS filtering. You can remove banners from Explorer, Music, Themes, and pop-up notifications that interfere with the comfortable use of the gadget. The process does not require deep technical knowledge, but requires care when navigating the menu.
Disabling the MSA service is the main source of advertising
The main agent responsible for delivering advertising content in the MIUI shell is the system application MSA (MIUI System Ads). This is what collects data about your interests and displays topical offers. To stop this process, you must revoke your consent to the service, but the system will in every possible way prevent this action.
Go to the section Settings → Passwords and security → Authorization and revocation. In the list that opens, find the item msa and switch the toggle switch to the inactive state. You will have to wait 10 seconds for the "Recall" button to become active. If the system writes that “Failed to revoke authorization,” simply try again. Usually, on the second or third attempt, the operation is successful.
After revoking rights, the application will stop receiving targeting data. It is also important to disable receiving personal recommendations in other system services. Find GetApps i Mi Videoin the same menu, if you do not use them, and revoke authorization there. This will reduce the load on the processor and reduce the number of background processes.
☑️ Checking whether MSA is disabled
⚠️ Attention: The recall button may be inactive for the first few seconds. Do not try to close the menu ahead of time, otherwise the counter will be reset and the procedure will have to start again.
Configuring Xiaomi system applications
Even after disabling MSA, some built-in utilities continue to show advertising blocks in their interfaces. Each app has its own privacy settings, which must be adjusted manually. Let's start with the most popular source of banners - the Security application.
Open the application Security, click on the gear in the upper corner and select Settings. Scroll down to the item Receive recommendations and disable it. It is also worth going to the section Cleaning inside the security settings and uncheck the item Receive recommendations. This will remove advertising when clearing the cache.
Similar actions are required for other services. In the application Themes go to your profile, click on settings and disable Show ads i Personal recommendations. In “Music” and “Video” the path is similar: profile settings → privacy → disable recommendations. This will take a few minutes, but will make the interface clean.
Hidden settings in Explorer
In the Explorer application, click on the three menu bars, select Settings → About the application. Quickly tap the app icon until the hidden menu appears. You can disable advertising there, but this method does not work on all versions of MIUI.
Blocking ads via private DNS
One of the most radical and effective methods is to use the function Private DNS (Private DNS), available in Android 9 and higher. This method blocks advertising not only in the system, but also in the browser, as well as in some free applications, redirecting advertising requests to nowhere.
Go to Settings → Connection and sharing → Private DNS. By default, the mode is “Auto”. Select an option DNS provider host name and enter the address dns.adguard.com. Save your settings. Now all traffic going to known advertising servers will be blocked at the network level.
This method does not require installing third-party software and works stably. However, it is worth considering that in rare cases, blocking may affect useful content in some applications that use the same domain network for advertising and operation. If some application has stopped loading data, temporarily return the DNS setting to “Auto” mode.
If, after turning on DNS, Wi-Fi in public places with authorization through the browser stops working, temporarily disable Private DNS in the settings.
| Blocking method | Efficiency | Difficulty | Impact on battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSA off | High | Medium | Positive |
| Application settings | Medium | Low | Neutral |
| Private DNS | Maximum | Low | Neutral |
| Third-party blockers | High | High | Negative |
Notifications from browser and third-party sites
Often users confuse Xiaomi system advertising with spam notifications that they accidentally allowed sites in the browser. If you see pop-up messages about winnings or viruses on your desktop, the problem is not in MIUI, but in the settings Chrome or another browser.
To fix this, open the browser, go to Settings → Site settings → Notifications. Review the list of allowed sites and remove any suspicious domains. It is best to click the button Clear and reset permissionsto block all sites from sending notifications by default.
Also check the list of installed applications. Sometimes, along with free software, hidden advertising modules are installed that do not have an icon in the menu. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications and carefully review the list. If you find an application without a name or with a transparent icon, delete it immediately.
⚠️ Attention: The settings menu interface may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI (12, 12.5, 13). If you do not find the item, use the settings search by entering a keyword.
Resetting the advertising identifier
To increase privacy and reset the accumulated profile of your interests, it is recommended to periodically clear the advertising identifier. This will not remove advertising completely, but will make it less relevant and intrusive, since the system will “forget” your previous actions.
Go to the section Settings → Passwords and security → Privacy → Advertising services. Here you will see two useful options. The first one is Reset advertising identifier, click on it to clear the current data. Second - Disable ad personalization, turn on this toggle switch.
After completing these steps, advertising networks will perceive your Redmi 10 as a new device without browsing history. This is especially useful if you're planning to sell your phone or just want to start with a clean slate. Regularly resetting the ID is a good digital hygiene practice.
A comprehensive approach that combines disabling MSA and setting up DNS ensures maximum system cleanliness without losing the warranty.
Frequently asked questions about removing ads on Redmi
Will disabling MSA affect the warranty smartphone?
No, revoking authorization of system applications and changing privacy settings are standard functions of Android and MIUI. These actions do not violate the integrity of the software and do not void your warranty service.
Is it possible to completely remove the MSA application via ADB?
Yes, advanced users can remove MSA via computer using ADB commands. However, we do not recommend that beginners do this, since incorrect removal of system components can lead to unstable operation of the phone or cyclic reboots.
Why did advertising appear again after a system update?
With major MIUI updates, privacy settings may be reset to factory settings. After each major update, it is recommended to re-check the MSA and personal recommendations settings in system applications.
Does DNS block advertising on YouTube?
A regular DNS filter cannot remove advertising inside YouTube videos, since they are broadcast from the same domains as the video itself. To block ads on YouTube, specialized clients or a Premium subscription are required.