Smartphone users Xiaomi, Redmi i POCO often encounter intrusive pop-ups, banners in pre-installed utilities and advertising recommendations in folders. This is a feature of the company's business model that allows it to keep hardware prices low, but for many owners it becomes a serious irritant. System advertising is integrated deeply into the shell MIUI or new HyperOS, so there is no simple “turn everything off” switch in one place.
To completely clear the interface of commercial content, you need to sequentially go through several system sections and disable personalization in each of them. The process takes about 10-15 minutes, but the result is worth it: the device starts to work quieter, faster and without unnecessary visual noise. In this guide, we will look at each source of annoying notifications and show you how to neutralize them.
Disable the MSA system recommendation
The central element of Xiaomi's advertising ecosystem is the system application MSA (MIUI System Ads). It is this service that is responsible for collecting data about your preferences and displaying targeted advertising in various parts of the interface. Without disabling this component, all other settings will be ineffective, since the server will continue to send content.
First, you need to go to the main settings of your smartphone. Find the section Password and security and go to item Access to personal data. In the list that opens, find the application with the name msa and turn the switch to inactive. The system will warn you about the consequences of disabling and ask you to wait 10 seconds before confirming the action.
⚠️ Attention: The disconnect confirmation button may not be active immediately. If the timer has expired and the button is gray, try closing the access menu and opening it again. Sometimes it is necessary to repeat the disabling procedure 2-3 times in a row for the server to accept the request.
After successfully disabling MSA, advertising in system folders and recommendations should disappear within 24 hours. However, it is worth considering that some built-in applications may have their own independent settings for displaying content that are not directly controlled by this service.
☑️ Disabling MSA
Setting up system applications
Even after disabling the main advertising module, individual utilities such as Explorer, Music, Themes and Securitycan continue to display banners. In each of these applications, you must manually find and deactivate the option to receive recommendations.
Start with the application Security. Open it, click on the gear icon in the upper corner and find the item Receive recommendations. Disable this feature. Similar actions need to be done in the application Themes: go to your profile, then to settings and uncheck the item Show advertisements or Personal recommendations.
- 📂 Explorer: Menu → Settings → About the application → Disable recommendations.
- 🎵 Music: Menu → Settings → Advanced settings → Show ads → Off
- 🎨 Themes: Profile → Settings → Show ads → Off
In new versions of the shell HyperOS paths to settings may vary slightly differ. If you don't find the switch you need right away, carefully study all the subsections of the menu of a particular application. Often, developers disguise these options under general phrases like “Improving the user experience.”
If the application requires a restart after turning off advertising, do so immediately. Some settings are cached and applied only after a complete restart of the application process.
Cleaning the browser and tools folder
The standard browser Mi Browser and folder Tools on the desktop are one of the most active sources of advertising garbage. The browser is configured by default to display the news feed and promotional materials on the start page, which greatly clutters the interface.
To clear the browser, open it and go to settings through the bottom menu. Find the section Privacy and Security. Here you need to disable the option Personal recommendations. It is also recommended to go to the home page settings and turn off the display of the news feed by selecting the “Blank Page” or minimalistic view.
As for the folder Tools, it often contains a "Feed" widget news" or "Wallpaper Carousel", which load advertising content from the network. Press your finger on an empty space on the desktop, go to the desktop settings and disable the function Wallpaper carousel. This will remove advertising slides from the lock screen.
| System component | Where to look for the setting | Toggle name | Default status |
|---|---|---|---|
| System service | Password and security | msa (data access) | Enabled |
| Browser | Browser settings | Personal recommendations | Enabled |
| Explorer | About the application | Recommendations | Enabled |
| Music | Advanced settings | Show ads | Enabled |
Ad blocking via DNS
One of the most effective methods of combating advertising at the level of the entire system is the use of private DNS servers. This method does not require installing third-party applications and works even in apps that do not have internal settings for disabling banners. The principle of operation is to redirect requests to advertising servers to nowhere.
In modern versions of Android, this function is built right into the network settings. Go to the Connection and sharing section (or Advanced settings in older versions of MIUI). Find the item Private DNS server. By default it is set to "Auto" or "Disabled". You need to select the "DNS Provider Hostname" mode and enter a special address.
dns.adguard.comAfter entering the address, save the settings. Now all requests to known advertising networks will be blocked at the connection level. This will speed up the loading of pages in the browser and remove banners from most free applications and games.
⚠️ Warning: Using a third-party DNS may cause some local services or corporate networks to not work if you are connected to Wi-Fi with strict restrictions. In case of problems, simply return the setting to "Auto" mode.
This method is universal and is suitable not only for Xiaomi, but also for any devices based on Android version 9 and higher. It does not consume additional battery power, since it works at the kernel system level.
Setting up a private DNS via dns.adguard.com blocks up to 90% of advertising in all applications without the need to install additional software.
Managing notifications and Push mailings
Users often confuse system advertising with push notifications from installed applications. Many free apps abuse the right to send notifications by sending news, promotions and offers. Control over this flow is exercised through the notification center and settings for specific applications.
Go to Settings → Notifications and status bar → Manage notifications. Here you will see a complete list of all installed apps. Go through the list and turn off notifications for those applications that are not critical (for example, games, stores, news aggregators).
Pay special attention to system ones services such as GetApps (Xiaomi app store). This application often sends notifications about discounts and new games. Go to the settings of the application itself GetApps, find the notifications section and disable everything except important security updates.
- 🔔 Spam from games: Completely disable notifications for mobile games.
- 🛍️ Stores: Leave only notifications about order status or updates applications.
- 📰 News: Unsubscribe from all news channels inside aggregators.
It is also worth checking your account settings Mi Account. Sometimes advertising mailings are sent to the email address associated with your account. Go to the Xiaomi account website and check the subscription settings in your personal account, unchecking the boxes for marketing mailings.
What to do if notifications return?
Some applications may request permission for notifications again after an update. Regularly check the list of permissions once a month to keep the notification shade clean.
Resetting the advertising ID
To target advertising, advertising networks use a unique advertising identifier (Advertising ID) assigned to your device. Resetting this identifier breaks the connection between your profile and the accumulated history of interests, making advertising less personalized and intrusive.
This setting is located in the section Password and security → Privacy → Advertising (the path may differ depending on the version of MIUI). Here you will find the button Reset advertising ID. Click on it. It is also recommended to enable the option Disable ad personalizationif it is available in your region.
Regular ID reset (for example, once a month) prevents advertising algorithms from building an accurate user profile. This makes the ads you see appear more random and less annoying, as they stop following you around for items you searched for a week ago.
⚠️ Note: The privacy settings interface may change with Android security updates. If you do not find the "Advertising" item, use the search in the settings by entering the query "identifier".
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Will disabling advertising affect the operation of applications?
No, the functionality of the applications will not be affected. You will still be able to use all the features of Explorer, music or browser. The only change is the absence of visual banners and recommendations, which do not carry a payload.
Do you need to get root access to completely clear ads?
In most cases, root access is not required. The methods described above (disabling MSA, DNS, application settings) are enough to remove 95% of ads. Root is only needed for deep modification of the system and removal of non-removable system applications, which can be dangerous for beginners.
Why did advertising appear again after a system update?
Major updates to MIUI or HyperOS may reset some privacy settings to factory settings. After each major update, it is recommended to re-check the MSA service status and personalization settings.
Is it safe to use AdGuard DNS?
Yes, it is safe. The server dns.adguard.com is a public and free service from a well-known cybersecurity company. It does not completely encrypt your traffic (like a VPN), but it filters requests to advertising domains without affecting personal data.
Is it possible to remove the GetApps application completely?
Without root access, it cannot be completely removed, but you can disable it. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications, find GetApps and click Disable. This will hide the icon and stop the application from running in the background.