Hey guys! Xiaomi phones are awesome, packing a ton of features for the price. But let's be real, those pesky ads can be a real buzzkill. If you're tired of getting bombarded with unwanted promotions on your Xiaomi device, you've come to the right place. This guide will walk you through simple yet effective steps to banish those ads for good. Let's dive in and reclaim your phone's screen real estate!

Understanding MIUI and Ads

Before we jump into the solutions, it's important to understand why you're seeing ads on your Xiaomi phone in the first place. Xiaomi's Android skin, MIUI, is designed to offer a wide range of features and customization options. To keep prices competitive, Xiaomi incorporates advertisements into certain parts of the user interface. This is how they generate revenue and continue to offer feature-rich phones at affordable prices. However, the good news is that MIUI also provides users with tools to disable or minimize these ads. It might seem a little counterintuitive, but Xiaomi actually gives you control over your ad experience. It's all about knowing where to look and what settings to tweak. We're going to explore those settings in detail so you can take back control of your phone and enjoy a cleaner, ad-free experience. It's worth noting that while you can't completely eliminate all ads, you can significantly reduce their frequency and intrusiveness. So, get ready to personalize your MIUI experience and say goodbye to those unwanted interruptions!

Disabling Personalized Ad Recommendations

The first and most important step in removing ads is to disable personalized ad recommendations. This setting allows Xiaomi to collect data about your usage habits and preferences to serve you targeted ads. Turning this off will significantly reduce the relevance and frequency of ads you see. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open the Settings app on your Xiaomi phone.
2. Scroll down and tap on Password & security.
3. Select Authorization & revocation.
4. Find msa (MIUI System Ads) in the list and toggle it off.
5. Wait for a few seconds until the revoke button appears, then tap Revoke.

By revoking authorization for MSA, you're telling Xiaomi to stop sending you personalized ads. This is a crucial step, and it will make a noticeable difference in the number of ads you encounter. It's like telling the algorithm, "Hey, I'm not interested in your targeted promotions!" Keep in mind that this doesn't completely eliminate all ads, but it's a major step in the right direction. Also, it's a good idea to periodically check this setting to ensure it remains disabled, as system updates can sometimes re-enable it. While you're in the Authorization & revocation section, take a look at the other apps listed. If you see any other apps that you don't recognize or that you don't want to have authorization, you can revoke their permissions as well. This is a great way to further enhance your privacy and control over your device. Remember, taking these small steps can significantly improve your overall user experience and give you a more personalized and ad-free environment.

Turning Off Ads in Individual Apps

Xiaomi’s MIUI displays ads not just in the system but also within its pre-installed apps. Thankfully, you can disable these ads individually for a cleaner experience. Here’s how you do it for some of the most common apps:

Mi Browser

1. Open the Mi Browser app.
2. Tap the three horizontal lines (menu) in the bottom right corner.
3. Go to Settings.
4. Select Privacy & security.
5. Disable Personalized services.

Disabling personalized services in Mi Browser stops the app from tracking your browsing habits to show you targeted ads. This means you'll see fewer irrelevant ads while browsing the web. It's a simple tweak that can greatly improve your browsing experience. In addition to disabling personalized services, you might also want to explore other privacy settings in Mi Browser. You can clear your browsing history, cookies, and cached data to further protect your privacy. Also, consider enabling the "Do Not Track" option, which signals to websites that you don't want to be tracked. While not all websites honor this request, it's a good practice to enable it as an extra layer of privacy. Remember, taking control of your privacy settings in Mi Browser is an important step in creating a more secure and enjoyable online experience. So, take a few minutes to explore the settings and customize them to your liking.

Mi File Manager

1. Open the Mi File Manager app.
2. Tap the three horizontal lines (menu) in the top left corner.
3. Go to Settings.
4. Select About.
5. Disable Recommendations.

Turning off recommendations in Mi File Manager prevents the app from displaying ads for other apps and services. This means you'll have a cleaner and more focused file management experience. It's a small change that can make a big difference in your daily usage. While you're in the settings of Mi File Manager, you might also want to explore other options to customize your experience. You can change the default file sorting order, enable or disable thumbnail previews, and adjust other settings to suit your preferences. Also, consider using a third-party file manager app if you want even more features and customization options. There are many excellent file manager apps available on the Google Play Store, such as Solid Explorer, FX File Explorer, and Total Commander. These apps often offer advanced features like cloud storage integration, dual-pane view, and root access. So, explore your options and find a file manager app that meets your specific needs.

Mi Security App

1. Open the Mi Security app.
2. Tap the Settings icon in the top right corner.
3. Scroll down and disable Recommendations.

Disabling recommendations in Mi Security app stops the app from suggesting other apps and services that you might not be interested in. This helps to keep the app clean and focused on its core function of protecting your device. It's a simple change that can make a noticeable difference in your daily usage. In addition to disabling recommendations, you might also want to explore other settings in Mi Security app to customize your experience. You can adjust the virus scan frequency, enable or disable real-time protection, and configure other settings to suit your needs. Also, consider using a third-party security app if you want even more features and protection. There are many excellent security apps available on the Google Play Store, such as Bitdefender Mobile Security, Norton Mobile Security, and Avast Mobile Security. These apps often offer advanced features like anti-theft protection, call blocking, and web protection. So, explore your options and find a security app that meets your specific needs.

App Installation Ads

MIUI is known to show ads while installing new applications. Here’s how to disable them:

1. Open the Mi Security app.
2. Tap the Settings icon in the top right corner.
3. Scroll down and tap Cleaner.
4. Disable Receive recommendations.

Turning off receive recommendations in the cleaner settings of Mi Security app prevents the app from showing ads while you're installing new applications. This can be a particularly annoying type of ad, so disabling it can greatly improve your experience. It's a simple change that can make a big difference in your daily usage. In addition to disabling recommendations, you might also want to explore other settings in the cleaner section of Mi Security app. You can adjust the cleaning frequency, enable or disable automatic cleaning, and configure other settings to suit your needs. Also, consider using a third-party cleaner app if you want even more features and control. There are many excellent cleaner apps available on the Google Play Store, such as CCleaner, SD Maid, and AVG Cleaner. These apps often offer advanced features like duplicate file removal, app hibernation, and custom cleaning schedules. So, explore your options and find a cleaner app that meets your specific needs.

Disabling Ads in Folders

MIUI sometimes displays promoted apps in default folders. To remove these:

1. Open the folder you want to clean.
2. Long-press on the name of the promoted app.
3. Select Uninstall or Remove.

Removing promoted apps from folders helps to keep your home screen clean and organized. It's a simple way to get rid of unwanted clutter and focus on the apps that you actually use. In addition to removing promoted apps, you might also want to customize your folders to further enhance your organization. You can rename folders, change their icons, and rearrange the apps within them to suit your preferences. Also, consider using a third-party launcher app if you want even more customization options. There are many excellent launcher apps available on the Google Play Store, such as Nova Launcher, Apex Launcher, and Action Launcher. These apps often offer advanced features like custom icon packs, gesture controls, and theme support. So, explore your options and find a launcher app that meets your specific needs.

Using a Custom ROM (Advanced)

For tech-savvy users who want a completely ad-free experience, using a custom ROM is an option. Custom ROMs like LineageOS or Pixel Experience offer a clean Android experience without any pre-installed bloatware or ads. However, this method is more complex and requires unlocking your phone's bootloader, which may void your warranty and carries some risk. If you're comfortable with these risks, you can find plenty of tutorials online on how to flash a custom ROM to your Xiaomi device. Just be sure to do your research and follow the instructions carefully.

Switching to a custom ROM can provide a completely different user experience compared to MIUI. You'll get a stock Android interface with no ads or bloatware, and you'll also have access to the latest Android updates more quickly. However, it's important to note that custom ROMs may not always be as stable or feature-rich as the stock ROM. Some features like the camera or fingerprint scanner may not work perfectly, and you may encounter bugs or glitches. Also, installing a custom ROM can be a time-consuming and technical process, so it's not for everyone. If you're not comfortable with flashing ROMs, it's best to stick to the methods described above for disabling ads within MIUI.

Conclusion

So there you have it! By following these steps, you can significantly reduce the number of ads on your Xiaomi phone and enjoy a cleaner, more streamlined user experience. While it might take a bit of time to go through all the settings, the result is well worth the effort. Enjoy your ad-free (or at least ad-reduced) Xiaomi phone! Remember to periodically check these settings, as system updates can sometimes reset them. Keep tweaking and optimizing your phone to get the most out of it!