Pop-up banners, intrusive notifications and full-screen videos can turn using a modern smartphone into a real hell. This problem is especially acute for owners of brand devices Xiaomi, where aggressive monetization is built right into the system shell MIUI and its successor HyperOS. However, advertising junk is also found on “pure” Android from other manufacturers, often penetrating through free applications or incorrect browser settings.
Fortunately, there are many effective ways to get rid of visual noise without having to obtain root accesswhich could void the device warranty. In this article, we will analyze in detail the algorithms for disabling system advertising in the smartphone settings, private DNS settings for global tracking blocking, as well as methods for clearing the browser from annoying push notifications.
Performing the steps described below does not require deep technical knowledge, but will require you to be careful when searching for specific menu items, since the interface may differ slightly depending on firmware versions. We have prepared step-by-step guide that will help return your gadget to its original clean interface and significantly speed up its operation by disabling background advertising processes.
Disabling system advertising in the MIUI and HyperOS shell
Smartphone owners Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco face advertising more often than others, since it is part of the company's business model, which allows it to keep hardware prices low. The first step to cleaning the system is to deactivate the service msa (MIUI System Ads), which is responsible for delivering advertising content to system applications.
To do this, go to the device settings section and find the item responsible for authorization and reviews. Here you need to disable the content recommendation switch, after which the system will ask you to confirm the action several times. It is important to take your time and wait for the 10-second timer before the final shutdown, otherwise the process will have to start again.
⚠️ Attention: After disabling the msa service, advertising may not disappear instantly. The system requires 24 to 48 hours to fully synchronize changes and clear the cache of advertising identifiers.
In addition to the main service, advertising modules are integrated into separate system utilities, such as “Explorer”, “Music”, “Themes” and “Downloads”. In each of these applications, you need to go to the settings (usually through the icon with three dots or a gear) and find the item “Receive recommendations” or “Show ads”, and then turn the toggle switch into an inactive state.
☑️ Checklist for disabling advertising in Xiaomi
Don't forget about the "Tools" folder on the desktop, where widgets with news feeds and advertising banners are often hidden. A long press on the “Wallpaper Carousel” or “News” widget will allow you to either delete it or disable the display of promotional materials in the settings of this particular widget, which will significantly clear the main screen.
Blocking ads by setting up a private DNS
The most universal and effective method of combating advertising not only in applications, but also in the browser is to use technology Private DNS (Private DNS). This method works at the operating system level Android (starting from version 9.0) and redirects all DNS requests through a server that automatically filters out domains known as sources of advertising and trackers.
To activate this function, the user does not need to install third-party software. Just go to the network settings and enter the address of a special server. The most popular and reliable solution is the service AdGuard DNS, which provides free protection against most types of advertising traffic.
dns.adguard.comEnter the above string in the “Private DNS Provider Hostname” field. After saving the settings, the phone will automatically begin filtering incoming traffic. This can lead to the fact that some free applications that exist solely through advertising will stop displaying content correctly or refuse to launch at all.
What to do if the Internet is lost after turning on DNS?
If you lose access to the network after entering the address, try rebooting the device. If the problem persists, your mobile operator may be blocking third-party DNS servers. In this case, return the setting to “Auto” or “Disabled” mode and try using the AdGuard application with a local VPN filter.
The advantage of the method is its energy efficiency: unlike blocking applications, the operation of which requires the constant creation of a local VPN tunnel and consumes battery power, system DNS works at the level of network requests and has virtually no effect on the autonomy of the smartphone.
Setting up a private DNS is the “gold standard” of ad blocking, which does not require installing additional applications and works globally for the entire system.
Cleaning the browser from pop-up notifications and banners
Often users confuse system advertising with spam notifications that they accidentally allowed various websites to send through the browser. If messages about winnings, viruses or news of dubious content regularly appear on the lock screen or in the notification curtain, the problem lies in the browser settings Chrome, Yandex or Firefox.
To solve the problem, you need to go to the settings of the browser you are using, find the “Notifications” or “Sites” section, and view the list of resources that have the right to send push notifications. Any suspicious domain should be immediately removed from the allowed list or completely blocked from sending notifications for all sites.
- 🚫 Block pop-up windows: In your browser's privacy settings, be sure to activate the "Block pop-up windows" option to prevent advertising tabs from opening when accidentally clicked.
- 🧹 Data clearing: If advertising continues to bother you, perform a complete clearing of the cache and cookies in the browser settings - this will delete saved tracker scripts.
- 🛡️ Safe viewing: Make sure that the “Safe Browsing” function is enabled, which warns about dangerous sites and blocks the download of malware.
It is also recommended to install specialized extensions for mobile browsers, if they are supported. For example, for Firefox on Android, addons are available uBlock Originthat work as effectively as on desktop computers, cutting out advertising blocks directly from the code of the loading page.
If you use a browser from Yandex, go to the settings and enable the built-in "Anti-shock" and ad blocker - they filter quite effectively banners on Russian-language sites without the need to install add-ons.
Managing permissions and removing virus applications
The source of aggressive advertising that appears on top of all windows, even on the desktop, is often free utilities: QR code scanners, memory cleaners, simple games or flashlights. Attackers disguise malicious code as harmless apps that request permission “over other applications.”
To identify the culprit, you should go to your phone’s settings, select the “Applications” section and carefully study the list of installed software. Particular attention should be paid to apps without an icon or with an empty name, which are often hidden at the end of the list. Such applications must be uninstalled immediately.
⚠️ Attention: If the “Delete” button is grayed out, then the application has device administrator rights. Go to the security settings, section “Device administrator applications”, uncheck the suspicious app and only then delete it.
It is also worth checking the permissions for all installed apps. Go to the permissions menu and see which applications have access to display on top of other windows. If you see a simple calculator or voice recorder there, this is a clear sign of malicious behavior that requires uninstallation.
For prevention, it is recommended to regularly scan the device using a reliable antivirus, for example Dr.Web or Kaspersky. They are able to detect hidden miners and Trojans that are not displayed in the standard list of applications, but consume resources and generate advertising traffic.
Comparison of ad blocking methods
The choice of the optimal protection method depends on your goals: do you want to remove only Xiaomi system banners or do you need total blocking across the entire Internet. Below is a comparative table of the main methods that will help you decide on a strategy.
| Method | Efficiency | Complexity | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disable MSA (Xiaomi) | High (system only) | Medium | None |
| Private DNS | High (system + browser) | Low | Minimum |
| Applications (AdGuard) | Maximum (including YouTube) | Low | Medium (working in the background) |
| Manual cleaning of permissions | Spot (from viruses) | High | None |
As can be seen from the table, the combination of disabling the system service msa and settings Private DNS covers 90% of the needs of the average user. The use of full-fledged blocking applications is justified only if you need to filter content within specific applications that ignore system DNS settings.
Advanced settings and limitations of methods
It is worth understanding that no method gives a 100% guarantee, especially when it comes to advertising within ecosystem applications Google or video hosting YouTube. System DNS settings often cannot filter out advertising that is downloaded from the same domains as the main content of the video stream.
To block ads on YouTube on Android, there are specialized clients, such as YouTube ReVanced, however, their installation requires downloading modified apk files from unverified sources, which carries certain security risks. The user must independently assess the balance between comfort and data protection.
⚠️ Attention: Settings interfaces may change with each firmware update. If you do not find the described menu item, use the search in your phone settings by entering the keywords “advertising”, “recommendations” or “msa”.
Also keep in mind that too aggressive blocking may disrupt the operation of some legal services that use advertising networks for analytics or authorization. In such cases, it is recommended to add exceptions to the blocker settings or temporarily disable Private DNS for a specific site.
Complete freedom from advertising requires compromises: either you put up with partial filtering for the sake of system stability, or you use complex third-party solutions with potential security risks.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it safe to disable MSA service on Xiaomi?
Yes, it is absolutely safe. The service msa is solely responsible for displaying advertising and collecting statistics for marketing purposes. Disabling it does not affect the performance of the phone, calls, messages or basic system functions.
Why did advertising appear after updating Android?
Often after major system updates, some privacy settings are reset, or the system applications themselves are updated, returning the advertising settings to factory settings. In this case, you must repeat the procedure for disabling recommendations in each application.
Can Private DNS slow down the Internet?
In rare cases, if the server dns.adguard.com is overloaded or poorly routed by your ISP, the speed of opening pages may decrease slightly. If you notice problems with speed, try changing the DNS address to an alternative one, for example from Cloudflare (although it does not block ads by default).
How to remove ads in the "Downloads" folder?
Open the "Downloads" application, click on the three dots in the corner, select "Settings" and find the "Show advertising" option recommendations." Turn it off. Also check the settings of the Explorer application if you use it to view files.
Will these methods help remove ads in games?
Setting up Private DNS often blocks advertising videos in free games. However, if the game developer has built advertising directly into the code or uses the same domains as the game server, blocking may not work or may result in a level loading error.