Originally written by Amit Kumar, updated by Dibyajyoti Kabi. First published April 7, 2019. Updated October 24, 2026.
To disable ads on a Xiaomi, Redmi or Poco phone, revoke the msa service under Authorization & revocation, turn off Personalized ad recommendations in Settings > Privacy > Ad services, then turn off Recommendations inside each system app like Security, Music, Themes and File Manager. There’s no single switch, so you have to go app by app.
When this post first went up, it was written for MIUI 10. Xiaomi has since moved to HyperOS, and some menus have moved, so I’ve rewritten it for HyperOS and kept the MIUI paths where they’re different.
Key points
- Xiaomi has no single switch that turns off every ad.
- Revoking msa stops the main system ad service.
- Turning off personalized ads stops ad tracking, but doesn’t remove ads on its own.
- Each system app has its own Recommendations toggle.
- Some toggles turn back on after a big update, so check them again later.
How do I revoke msa on Xiaomi?
msa is the system service that shows ads across MIUI and HyperOS. Turn it off first. You need an internet connection, and the phone often refuses a few times before it works.
- Open Settings.
- On HyperOS, go to Fingerprints, face data & screen lock, or Passwords & security on some models. On MIUI, go to Additional settings.
- Tap Authorization & revocation.
- Turn off msa.
- Wait about 10 seconds, then tap Revoke.
- If you see Couldn’t revoke authorization, try again. It can take 5 or 6 tries.
Android Authority’s Xiaomi ad guide lists the same msa steps for both MIUI and HyperOS.
How do I turn off personalized ads?
- Open Settings > Privacy, or Settings > Additional settings > Privacy on MIUI.
- Tap Ad services.
- Turn off Personalized ad recommendations.
This stops Xiaomi from using your habits for ads. It doesn’t remove the ads, so do the app steps below too.
How do I turn off ads in Xiaomi system apps?
Turn off Recommendations in each app. The names can be a little different by model, but they’re usually in the app’s own settings.
| App | Where to turn off ads |
|---|---|
| Security | Open the app, tap the gear icon, turn off Receive recommendations |
| Cleaner | In Security, tap Cleaner, then the gear icon, turn off Receive recommendations |
| File Manager | Menu or settings icon > About > turn off Recommendations |
| Music | Settings > Advanced settings > turn off Receive recommendations |
| Mi Video | Account or Profile > Settings > turn off Online recommendations |
| Themes | Profile > Settings > turn off Show ads or Recommendations |
| Downloads | Menu > Settings > turn off Show recommended content |
| GetApps or App Vault | Settings > turn off Recommendations |
You can also open Settings > Apps > System app settings to reach many of these toggles from one place.
How do I stop ads in Mi Browser?
- Open Mi Browser and go to Settings.
- Tap Privacy & security and turn off Personalized services or Recommended for you.
- Under Advanced, set the start page to a site you pick.
The easier fix is to install Chrome or another browser and set it as your default under Settings > Apps > Default apps.
How do I stop spam notifications on Xiaomi?
- Open Settings > Notifications & status bar > App notifications.
- Find any app that sends promo notifications.
- Turn its notifications off, or turn off just the promo category.
Frequently asked questions
Will turning off ads void my warranty?
No. All of these steps use normal settings, so there’s no root or unlocking involved.
Why did ads come back after an update?
Big HyperOS or MIUI updates can reset some toggles. Run through the steps again after each major update.
Can I find hidden settings with secret codes?
Some, yes. My list of Xiaomi and Redmi secret codes covers the codes that still work on HyperOS and MIUI.
Related guides
- List of Xiaomi and Redmi secret codes for HyperOS and MIUI
- How to use picture-in-picture mode on MIUI 10
- How to downgrade from MIUI 10 to MIUI 9
- MIUI 10 posts
- More guides on removing ads
That’s it. It takes about ten minutes, and your Xiaomi phone feels a lot cleaner after.
If you still see ads somewhere, leave a comment with your phone model, HyperOS or MIUI version and the app showing them, and I’ll find the toggle for you.
