How to block pop-up ads on Xiaomi Android

Smartphone owners Xiaomi, Redmi i POCO often encounter intrusive advertising that appears in the most unexpected places: in system applications, on the desktop or on top of open apps. This feature of the shell MIUI and its modern version HyperOS has become a source of irritation for millions of users around the world. However, there are effective ways to restore the purity of the interface and block annoying banners.

First, it is important to understand that advertising is built in at the firmware level to monetize the affordable prices of devices. Complete disabling requires a comprehensive approach, including setting specific applications, changing DNS settings and, in some cases, using third-party software. You can significantly reduce the number of pop-ups if you consistently follow all the steps described in this guide.

Don't panic if you see ads for the first time - this is standard system behavior that can and should be controlled. Let's look at the most effective methods, starting with the simplest built-in options and ending with more in-depth technical solutions.

Disabling personalized advertising in system settings

The first step in the fight for a clean screen is to disable the ad recommendations personalization feature. This won't eliminate all advertising entirely, but it will make them less intrusive and prevent advertisers from collecting data about your preferences. To do this, you need to go to the device settings.

Go to the menu Settings → Password and security → Confidentiality → Special permissions. Here, find an item that may be called Access to personal data or Receiving personalized recommendations. Disable the switch next to this item. The system will ask you to confirm the action - agree with the warning.

It is also worth checking the section Settings → Password and security → Access to personal data (or Authorization and revocation). Find the system service MSA (MIUI System Ads) in the list and revoke permission to access data. This is a critical step, since it is this service that is responsible for loading and displaying advertising content in the shell.

⚠️ Attention: After revoking permission from the service MSA the system may try to restore access several times. You will need to disable it repeatedly 5-10 times in a row until the "Recall" button becomes inactive or disappears.

Do not forget that the interface may vary slightly depending on the version Android and the specific model of your smartphone. If you have not found the exact name of the item, look for keywords related to advertising or personalization.

Removing advertising from Xiaomi system applications

Advertising banners often built directly into standard utilities such as Security, Music, Themes and Explorer. To get rid of them, you need to go into the settings of each application separately. It will take some time, but the result is worth it.

Start with the application Security. Open it, click on the settings gear in the corner and find the item Receive recommendations. Place the switch in the inactive position. Similar actions must be done for the application Topics: go to your profile, select settings and disable receiving recommendations and displaying advertising.

The application Downloads (Downloads) also has a hidden setting. Click on the three dots in the upper corner, select Settings and disable the item Show recommended content. For the application Music the path will be as follows: open the menu, go to Settings → Advanced settings and uncheck the item Show ads.

• 📱 Application Explorer: Menu → Settings → About the application → Disable "Recommendations".
• 🎵 Application FM radio: Menu → Settings → Disable "Recommendations".
• 🧹 Application Cleaning: Often built into "Security", but check the settings of the cleaning widgets.
• 🌤️ Application Weather: Menu → Settings → Disable "Receive recommendations".

After completing these steps, restart your device for the changes to take effect. You will notice that the interface has become cleaner, and extraneous banners have disappeared from the application menu.

Blocking ads by setting up a private DNS

One of the most effective and universal methods of blocking ads in the entire system, including browsers and games, is to use a private DNS with filtering function. This method does not require the installation of additional applications and works at the network connection level.

To implement this method, go to Settings → Connection and sharing → Private DNS. The default mode here is "Auto" or "Disabled". Select an option Hostname of the private DNS provider and enter the address of a special server that filters out advertising requests.

dns.adguard.com

After entering the address, click "Save". Now all DNS requests from your smartphone will go through servers AdGuardthat block known advertising domains. This solution helps eliminate pop-up windows even in applications where there are no advertising settings.

⚠️ Attention: If after enabling private DNS, some applications stop loading content or work incorrectly, try temporarily disabling this feature. Some services may conflict with DNS filtering.

The advantage of this method is that it is systematic: you do not need to configure each application separately. However, it is worth remembering that this method only blocks advertisements loaded over the Internet and does not affect offline banners or elements built into the firmware interface that do not depend on DNS.

Disabling notifications from advertising services

Users often confuse pop-up ads with intrusive push notifications from various services. On devices Xiaomi the source of such messages is often the service GetApps (formerly Mi App Store) or system notifications about news.

To turn off notifications from the store GetApps, go to Settings → Notifications and status bar → Manage notifications. Find the application GetApps in the list and completely block it from sending notifications. You can also go inside the application itself, open the settings and turn off all types of notifications.

Another source of "garbage" is the application News (Mi News) or feed Glance on the lock screen. Go to the lock screen settings and disable the Wallpaper carousel (Glance for Mi) function, as it often loads advertising images. For news feeds in a browser or a separate application, disable personalization in their internal settings.

Advertising source	Where to disable	Type blocking
GetApps	Notification settings	Complete ban
Wallpaper carousel	Lock screen	Disable function
Browser Mi	Browser settings	Disable notifications
System tips	Security application	Disable recommendations

Check regularly list of installed applications. Sometimes, along with useful apps from third-party sources, hidden advertising modules are installed that generate pop-up windows on top of other windows.

What to do if advertisements appear on your desktop?

If you see icons for applications that you did not install, or banners directly on your desktop, most likely you have installed a malicious application. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications and carefully review the list. Look for applications without an icon or with an unclear name, installed recently, and delete them.

Using third-party ad blockers

If the built-in tools are not enough, specialized blocking applications come to the rescue. They either work as a local VPN filter or require more complex settings via a computer. The most popular solution is AdGuard.

The application AdGuard is available for download only from the official website of the developer, since the Google Play policy prohibits the placement of full-fledged ad blockers. After installation, the application will create a local VPN connection through which all traffic will be filtered.

In the settings AdGuard it is recommended to enable HTTPS filtering. To do this, you will need to install a security certificate following the instructions in the setup wizard. This will allow you to block ads even within encrypted connections, which significantly increases efficiency.

• 🛡️ AdGuard: a powerful all-in-one tool with settings for each application.
• 🚫 Blokada: A lightweight open source solution.
• 🔒 DNS66: A simple blocker that works exclusively through DNS.

Using such apps may slightly increase battery consumption, since the filtering process requires processor resources. However, for most modern smartphones Xiaomi this impact remains unnoticeable in everyday use.

Advanced methods: ADB and disabling system components

For experienced users who want to achieve a perfectly clean system, there is a method for disabling advertising components through a computer using the utility ADB (Android Debug Bridge). This method allows you to remove or freeze system applications that are responsible for advertising without obtaining root access.

First you need to activate developer mode. Go to Settings → About phone and quickly click 7 times on the item MIUI Version (or OS Version). Then go to Settings → Advanced settings → For developers and enable the item USB debugging.

Connect your smartphone to your computer with a cable. On your PC, open a command line or terminal in the folder with ADB and enter the command to test the connection:

adb devices

A request for debugging permission will appear on the phone screen - confirm it. After successful connection, you can enter a command to disable the advertising service MSA:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.msa.global

⚠️ Attention: Be extremely careful when disabling system packages via ADB. Disabling critical components can lead to system instability or an endless reboot (bootloop). Disable only those packages whose purpose you are 100% sure of.

In addition to MSA, you can disable other advertising modules, such as com.miui.analytics (analytics) or com.miui.daemon (statistics collection). However, before this, it is recommended to create a full backup of your data.

How to get everything back?

If, after disabling components via ADB, the system starts to work incorrectly, you can return everything as it was using the command: adb shell pm enable --user 0 com.miui.msa.global. Replace the name of the package with the one you disabled.

Frequently asked questions about blocking ads on Xiaomi

Why do ads appear again after a system update?

When updating the firmware MIUI or HyperOS Settings can be reset to factory values. System services such as MSAcan be automatically reactivated. It is recommended that after each major update, you re-check your privacy settings and revoke permissions from advertising services.

Does ad blocking affect the operation of legitimate applications?

In rare cases, aggressive blocking (especially through DNS or AdGuard) can break applications that depend on ad networks for loading content or authorization. If an application stops working, add it to the exceptions in your blocker settings.

Is it safe to disable the MSA service via ADB?

Yes, disabling the service MSA (MIUI System Ads) is safe for system stability, since it is solely responsible for displaying advertisements. However, disabling other system daemons without understanding their function can lead to errors. Always check the description of the package before deleting.

Is it possible to completely remove advertising without root access?

It is difficult to completely remove all advertising 100% without root access, since some banners are “hardwired” into the code of system applications. However, a combination of methods: disabling MSA, setting up DNS and using a blocker - allows you to remove 95-99% of all visual advertising, making the use of your smartphone comfortable.

Do you need to pay to disable advertising?

No, all the methods described in the article are free. You do not need to purchase "VIP status" or special licenses to disable advertising in settings. The only paid solutions are premium versions of third-party blocker applications, but their free versions are usually sufficient for basic protection.