Smartphone owners Xiaomi, Redmi i Poco often face an annoying phenomenon: the system regularly displays advertising banners or pop-ups in the most unexpected places. This can happen when unlocking the screen, opening standard applications, or even on top of the desktop. This situation is not only annoying, but also significantly reduces the performance of the device, consuming processor and RAM resources.
The reason lies in the aggressive monetization policy of the shell MIUI and its new version HyperOS. Developers are integrating system services that are responsible for displaying personalized recommendations. Fortunately, most of these functions can be deactivated manually without resorting to installing third-party software or obtaining root access. In this article, we will analyze a step-by-step algorithm for completely clearing the interface of digital noise.
Disablement of the MSA service is the main source of advertising
The main culprit for most pop-up windows is the system application MSA (MIUI System Ads). It is this service that analyzes your actions and selects appropriate advertising content. To stop it from working, you need to find the service in the list of applications and revoke your consent to receive recommendations.
The disabling procedure has one feature: the revoke consent button may not work the first time. This is done intentionally to make it difficult for the user to opt out of advertising. If you press a button and it becomes inactive or an error message appears, simply wait 10 seconds and try again. It usually takes 3 to 5 attempts for the system to finally accept your request.
To perform this operation, go to the menu Settings → Passwords and security → Access to personal data. In the list that opens, find the item msa and turn the switch to inactive. Confirm the action by pressing the button Revoke. After this, the timer will count down 10 seconds and the service will be stopped.
☑️ Algorithm for disabling MSA
⚠️ Note: Once data access is revoked, the MSA app may remain in the device's memory, but will no longer download new content. Complete removal of a system component without root access is impossible and not recommended, as this may disrupt the operation of other system functions.
Setting up personalization in system applications
Even after disabling the main advertising service, individual Xiaomi applications may continue to show recommendations. This is due to the fact that each standard utility has its own personalization settings. They must be disabled individually for each service you use.
The most common ad units are found in the Security, Music, Themes, and Downloads applications. To remove them, you need to go to the settings of a specific application. Usually the path looks like this: open the application, click on the profile icon or gear in the corner, find the section About the app or Settings and disable the “Receive recommendations” item.
Let's look at an example settings for the popular Security tool. Go to the application, click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Settings. Scroll down the list to the "Advanced Settings" section and find the Get recommendationsswitch. Similar steps should be repeated for the theme store and music player, if you use them.
If you do not use the standard Mi Browser, it is better to immediately disable its notifications in the general system settings or install an alternative browser, for example, Chrome or Firefox, which do not have a built-in news feed.
Removing ads on the lock screen and in folders
One of the most annoying types of pop-up content is wallpaper carousels and advertising slides on the lock screen. This function is called Wallpaper Carousel (Glance). It automatically changes the screensaver and shows news or advertisements every time you pick up the phone.
To get rid of this, go to Settings → Always on screen and lock screen. Find the item Wallpaper carousel and disable it. It's also worth checking your desktop folder settings. In new versions of MIUI, when you open the application folder, recommended apps may appear at the bottom.
To disable advertising in folders, open any folder on the desktop, click on its name (to open the folder settings) and remove tick the item Recommended content. This action will remove the bottom block with offers to install new games or utilities, making the interface clean and minimalistic.
| Advertising source | Where to look for the setting | What to disable |
|---|---|---|
| Lock screen | Settings → Lock screen | Wallpaper carousel |
| Application folders | Folder settings (name) | Recommended content |
| Music application | Settings → Advanced | Show advertising |
| Themes application | Profile → Settings | Personal recommendations |
| Downloads | Three dots → Settings | Get recommendations |
Why do ads come back after a reset?
If you perform a full factory reset (Hard Reset), everything changes, including disabling MSA and personalization, will be reset. When setting up the phone for the first time, the system will again offer to enable all services by default, so you will have to go through the disabling procedure again.
Blocking pop-up windows in the browser
Often users confuse MIUI system advertising with pop-up windows of websites in the browser. If windows only appear while surfing the Internet, the problem lies in your web browser settings or installed extensions. The built-in Xiaomi browser has powerful tools for filtering such content.
Go to the browser settings and find the section Privacy and security. Here you need to activate the “Pop-up blocker” function. It is also recommended to enable tracking protection, which will prevent targeted advertising from appearing on the sites you visit.
If you use a third-party browser, for example Chrome or Yandex, the logic of actions is similar. In your browser settings, find the item Site Settings → Pop-ups and redirects and disable their display. This effectively blocks most intrusive banners that try to open a new window on top of the current one.
⚠️ Attention: The settings interface may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI (12, 13, 14) or HyperOS. If you do not find the specified item, use the search in the settings by entering the keyword “advertising” or “recommendations.”
Disable notifications from dubious applications
Sometimes pop-up windows are not a system function, but the result of the activities of applications you have installed. Free utilities, flashlights, QR code scanners, and simple games often ask for permission to show notifications and then use it to show full-screen banners.
To identify the culprit, pay attention to when the window appears. If this happens immediately after launching a particular game or app, that is the problem. Go to Settings → Notifications and status bar → Manage notifications. Review the list of applications and turn off notifications for those apps that do not need it.
Pay special attention to applications with suspicious names or without an icon. Sometimes malware disguises itself as system processes. If you find an application that you cannot remove or that constantly shows ads even when turned off, it is recommended to scan your phone with an antivirus or remove recently installed software.
MIUI system advertising and advertising notifications from applications are two different things. The first is disabled in the Xiaomi system and services settings, the second is controlled through the Android notification manager.
Using Private DNS for global blocking
For those who want to achieve maximum effect and block ads not only in the system, but also in most applications and games, there is an advanced configuration method Private DNS (Private DNS). This method does not require the installation of additional apps and works at the network connection level.
The essence of the method is to redirect DNS requests through a server that automatically filters out domains of advertising networks. You don't need to be a programmer, just enter one line in the network settings. This solution is effective against most banners, but can sometimes conflict with some specific services.
Go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Private DNS. Select the “DNS Provider Hostname” mode and enter the following value:
dns.adguard.comSave the settings. Now all traffic on your device will pass through AdGuard filters. You will notice that the number of pop-ups and banners in free applications and the browser will be reduced to almost zero. If, after enabling this function, some applications or sites stop working, you can always return the mode to “Auto.”
The Private DNS method also helps save mobile traffic, since advertising banners often weigh a lot and load in the background, even if you don’t see them.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it safe to disable the MSA service? Will this break the phone?
Yes, it is absolutely safe. The MSA service is solely responsible for serving advertisements. Disabling it will not affect calls, messages, camera or other important system functions. The phone will continue to work stably, perhaps even faster due to the reduced load on the processor.
Why is the "Recall" button not pressed the first time?
This is a deliberate limitation of the MIUI interface. The system forces the user to confirm his intention several times. If the button does not respond or gives an error, just wait 5-10 seconds and try pressing again. Usually it takes 3-4 attempts.
Will advertising disappear after updating to HyperOS?
In the new HyperOS shell, Xiaomi promised to reduce the amount of advertising, but it did not disappear completely. The principles of disabling remain the same: you need to manually disable personalization in privacy settings and individual applications.
Is it possible to remove the Xiaomi browser completely?
It is impossible to completely remove the system browser without obtaining root access, since it is part of the firmware. However, you can turn off its notifications, deny access to data and not use it by installing an alternative from the Play Market.
Will resetting the settings help remove ads forever?
No, resetting the settings will return the phone to its factory state, where advertising is enabled by default. After the reset, you will have to go through the procedure of disabling MSA and other personalization services again.