Owners of brand smartphones Realme often encounter intrusive advertising notifications that appear in the most unexpected places of the interface. This could be a pop-up window after installing an application, a banner in the system file manager, or an offer to install the game directly on the lock screen. This behavior of the system is due to the company’s policy, which seeks to reduce the cost of devices through monetization through software. However, for many users this becomes a serious irritant that reduces the comfort of using the gadget.
The good news is that most advertising sources can be deactivated manually, without resorting to installing third-party software or obtaining superuser rights. The setup process requires care, since shell developers Realme UI regularly change the location of the switches in new versions of Android. In this article, we will analyze in detail each step necessary to create a “clean” system, devoid of unnecessary information noise.
Before making changes, it is important to understand that completely disabling all marketing mechanisms may take some time. You will have to go through several sections of the settings, since the system does not provide a single “Remove all advertising” button. We'll look at both basic privacy settings and more advanced methods, including changing DNS servers.
Disable personalized advertising in the system
The first and most important step is to prevent the system from collecting data about your actions to display targeted ads. By default, this feature is turned on to help the algorithms suggest content that is more likely to generate interest. To disable, you need to go to section Settings, then select item System settings or Advanced settings depending on the firmware version.
In the menu that opens, find the subsection related to privacy. Here you are interested in the item Advertising or Advertising Personalization. Inside you will see a switch that needs to be turned off. Also in this section there is often a reset advertising identifier button. Clicking on it resets the accumulated interest profile, making your digital identity less transparent to algorithms.
After completing these steps, the system will stop using your unique ID to select ads. However, this does not guarantee the complete disappearance of advertising, since some system applications may show contextual offers that are not tied to the user profile. However, the number of irrelevant notifications should be significantly reduced.
⚠️ Warning: After resetting your advertising ID, you may begin to see ads that are less interesting to you for a short period until the system starts collecting data again (if you accidentally turn the feature back on).
Check this section periodically after major system updates. Sometimes the settings are reset to factory settings, and the function has to be disabled again.
Managing system recommendations and notifications
The main source of irritation for owners Realme are the so-called “recommendations”. They may appear in folders on the desktop, in the notification shade, or when the screen is unlocked. Most often, these messages are disguised as useful tips or news, but are essentially hidden advertisements for partner applications and services.
To get rid of them, you need to go to the settings of the specific system application that generates spam. For example, if advertisements appear in the games folder, go to the settings of this folder and disable the “Show recommendations” option. Similar actions must be performed for the application Browser, Music i File manager. Each of them has its own set of switches responsible for receiving news and promotional materials.
Special attention should be paid to the application Global search (Global Search). It is often responsible for desktop widgets and the search bar at the bottom of the screen. In its settings, you need to find the “Feed” or “Recommendations” section and completely disable receiving content. This will also speed up the operation of the device, since the process will not have to constantly download data from the network.
- 📱 Go to
Settings→Notifications and status bar→Management notifications. - 🔍 Find system applications in the list: Security, Music, Browser, Themes.
- 🚫 Disable the “Allow notifications” sliders for each of them, if they are not are critical for you.
Don’t be afraid to turn off notifications from system utilities. This will not affect the operation of the phone, but will only save you from visual garbage. If in the future you need important information from an antivirus or cleaner, you can always turn them back on manually.
Configuring the built-in browser and file manager
The standard browser from Realme and the pre-installed file manager often become the main channels for delivering advertising content. These applications are configured in such a way as to actively interact with the user, offering him various goods and services right during use.
To disable advertising in the browser, open the application and go to its settings through the menu (usually three dots or lines in the corner of the screen). Find the section Privacy and security or Advanced. Here you should activate the built-in ad blocker, if available, and be sure to disable the “Receive notifications”, “Show news on the main page” and “Personalized recommendations” options.
In the file manager, the situation is similar. Go to the app's settings (often hidden in the More menu or under the profile icon). Look for items related to “Recommendations,” “Hot Topics,” or “News.” Disabling these features will clear the interface of banners, which are usually located at the top of the screen or in the bottom navigation bar.
| Application | Settings section | What to disable | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Browser | Privacy | Personalization, News | Clean home page |
| File manager | General / About the application | Recommendations, Advertising | No banners in the file list |
| Phone manager | Settings (gear) | Get recommendations | Clean cleaner interface |
| Music | Settings | Online content, News | Only local tracks |
If you do not use standard applications, the most radical but effective solution would be to disable them completely or replace them with third-party analogues from Google Play. This is guaranteed to save you from the manufacturer’s built-in monetization mechanisms.
☑️ Cleaning system applications
Using a private DNS to block ads
One of the most effective methods of combating advertising at the system-wide level is setting up a private DNS servers. This method allows you to block requests to known advertising networks before they reach your device. The method works globally: advertising will disappear not only in system applications, but also in most games and third-party apps.
To configure, go to Settings → Connections and sharing (or Additional settings) → Private DNS. By default, the value here is "Auto" or "Disabled". You need to select the "DNS provider host name" mode (Private DNS provider hostname) and enter the address of one of the popular blockers.
dns.adguard.comAfter entering the address, the system can save the settings. require a reboot or simply apply the changes instantly. Now all DNS requests will go through servers AdGuard, which filter out advertising traffic. This significantly saves mobile traffic and speeds up loading pages in the browser.
⚠️ Warning: If you are using a corporate Wi-Fi network or specific services that rely on specific DNS records, enabling private DNS may break their functionality. In this case, return the setting to “Auto” mode.
It is worth noting that this method is not a panacea. Ads integrated directly into the application code (for example, in some free-to-play games) may continue to appear because they are loaded from the same domains as the main content. However, for banner advertising and pop-up windows, this method is extremely effective.
What to do if the Internet is lost after setting up DNS?
If, after entering the address dns.adguard.com, access to the network is lost, the server may be temporarily unavailable or your provider is blocking it. Try alternative addresses, for example, from other blocker providers, or temporarily disable the function.
Disabling the MSA ad service
Many advertising mechanisms on devices with shell Realme UI are based on the system service MSA (MIUI System Ads, although the name stuck and on other Android-based shells, including Realme and OPPO). This is a background process that is responsible for loading and displaying advertising content in various parts of the system.
Unfortunately, in the latest firmware versions, the ability to completely remove or force stop this service is often blocked by developers. However, you can try to limit her rights. Go to Settings → Applications → Manage applications. In the list, find the application with the name MSA or System Ads.
If the “Disable” or “Stop” button is active, use it. If the system displays a message that this is a critical application, try revoking its permissions. Go to the Permissions section and deny access to the Internet, storage and location. Without network access, the service will not be able to load new advertisements.
- 🛠 Find in the list of applications MSA or Advertisement service.
- 🔒 Click "Permissions" and turn off access to
InternetandStorage. - 🔄 Reboot the device to apply the changes.
Sometimes this service can masquerade as other system processes. If you do not find an explicit mention of MSA, look for applications with similar functionality in the “System Processes” section. Be careful and do not disable services related to phone operation, calls or security updates.
Blocking Internet access for the system advertising service is a compromise option if complete removal of the service is impossible without root access.
Resetting settings and extreme measures
If none of the above methods helped completely clear the smartphone advertising, the problem may lie in the third-party application you installed. Often, users accidentally install apps that generate pop-ups on top of other applications. These could be “memory cleaners”, “flashlights” or dubious antiviruses.
Analyze the list of recently installed applications. If advertisements start appearing immediately after installing a particular app, remove it immediately. Also check if applications have the “On top of other windows” right. This permission allows them to display advertisements at any time, even when you are on your desktop.
In the most extreme cases, when the system is infected with an ad virus or the settings have gone critically wrong, a full reset to factory settings may be required. Before doing this, be sure to create a backup copy of all important data, as this procedure will delete all information from the internal memory of the phone.
⚠️ Attention: Resetting to factory settings will delete all photos, contacts and applications. Make sure that you have saved everything important to the cloud or to your computer before starting the procedure.
After the reset, do not restore applications from the backup copy en masse. Install them one at a time, carefully checking to see if the ads return. This will help identify the culprit and avoid re-infecting the system.
When restoring data after a reset, select the “Set up as a new device” option so as not to return old problematic settings and applications.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why do advertisements appear again after a system update?
When updating the firmware Realme UI settings are often reset to factory settings. This means that all the personalization and recommendations switches can be turned back on automatically. After each major update, it is recommended to re-check the settings sections described in this article.
Is it safe to use third-party DNS to block ads?
It is safe to use trusted DNS services such as AdGuard DNS. They only filter requests to ad servers and do not have access to your personal data, passwords or correspondence. However, the use of unknown private DNS servers can lead to leakage of information about the sites you visit.
Is it possible to completely remove the system application "Browser"?
It is completely impossible to remove system applications without obtaining root access. You can only disable them or remove updates and return them to the factory version. Complete removal requires the use of a computer and ADB debugging tools, which is not recommended for ordinary users due to the risk of system disruption.
Does disabling advertising affect the speed of a smartphone?
Yes, disabling advertising services and personalization has a positive effect on performance. The system spends less CPU and RAM resources on loading banners and analyzing user data, which can make the interface more responsive, especially on budget models.