Disable Ads in MIUI Apps: Step-by-Step Guide

MIUI can show recommendations and promotional content in system apps such as File Manager, Downloads, Security, and Themes. You can reduce these ads by turning off MIUI’s advertising service and disabling recommendations in individual apps; menu names and availability vary by device and software version.

What You’ll Need

• A Xiaomi, Redmi, or POCO phone running MIUI, with the screen unlocked.
• A few minutes to check the system settings and the apps where ads appear.
• Internet access is not normally required, but may help if a setting or system app needs updating.

Step-by-Step

1. Turn off the system advertising service. Open Settings and use its search field to look for Authorization & revocation. Open the matching option, find msa (often displayed as msa), and switch it off. Confirm the revocation if prompted. On some MIUI versions, the route is Settings > Passwords & security > Authorization & revocation. If you cannot find it, search Settings for “revocation” or check the relevant settings categories on your version.
2. Disable personalized ad recommendations. In Settings, search for Ad services or Personalized ad recommendations. Open the result and switch off the personalization option if present. This reduces ad targeting; it may not remove every advertisement, and on some versions the option is located under Passwords & security > Privacy or a similarly named privacy section.
3. Turn off recommendations in File Manager. Open File Manager, tap its menu or settings icon, then open Settings or About if needed. Switch off Recommendations, Show recommendations, or a similarly named option. The exact label depends on the app version.
4. Check Downloads. Open the Downloads app and open its menu or settings. If you see Show recommended content or Show ads, turn it off. Some versions do not provide an ad switch in Downloads; if it is absent, do not assume another setting has failed.
5. Check Security. Open the Security app and tap its settings icon. Look for Receive recommendations, Recommendations, or a similar switch and turn it off. Also check individual Security tools, such as Cleaner, if they display recommendations and offer their own setting.
6. Check Themes and other MIUI apps. In Themes, open the profile or account area, then settings, and disable recommendations if an option appears. Repeat this check for apps where you actually see promotional content, such as Music, Browser, or Mi Video. These apps can use different menus, and some may not have an available switch.
7. Restart and review. Restart the phone, then open the apps you changed. Check whether promotional panels have disappeared. If an app still displays ads, revisit its own settings and check for a recommendation toggle after updating the app.

Common Mistakes

• Expecting one switch to remove everything. Turning off msa or personalized recommendations does not necessarily remove ads embedded in every system app. Check each relevant app separately.
• Confusing personalization with ad display. Disabling personalized recommendations can stop ads being tailored to you without stopping all ads. Look for app-level recommendation controls as well.
• Changing unrelated permissions. Revoking authorization for msa is different from disabling permissions for every system app. Avoid switching off services you do not recognize just to chase ads; this can affect features without helping.
• Assuming menu labels are identical. MIUI releases, regions, and app updates can change wording or move settings. Use Settings search and look for equivalent terms such as “recommendations” or “personalized ads.”
• Missing a confirmation prompt. If the phone asks you to confirm revocation, complete the prompt. Otherwise, the change may not take effect.

Tips

• Turn off recommendations only in apps that show them; this makes it easier to identify which change worked.
• Take note of the original setting before changing it. You can restore it if an app behaves unexpectedly.
• Keep system apps updated through the phone’s normal update options. An update may rename a setting or restore a default, so recheck the switches if ads return.
• Some promotions are part of an app’s content rather than MIUI’s ad system. A setting that blocks recommendations may not hide sponsored posts, banners, or promotional items provided by a third-party service.
• Turning off ad personalization does not necessarily turn off data collection for other purposes. Review the phone’s privacy controls separately if you want to manage other data settings.

Troubleshooting

You cannot find Authorization & revocation: Search Settings for “authorization” or “revocation.” If neither appears, check whether the phone uses a different software interface or whether your region’s version places the option elsewhere. Do not install unofficial tools to force the setting.

The msa switch turns back on or revocation fails: Make sure you are connected to the internet if the phone needs to process the request, then try again and accept any confirmation. Restart the phone and check the switch. If the problem continues, update the system through the built-in updater and consult the device’s support resources; do not remove system components manually.

Ads remain in one app: Open that app’s settings and look specifically for recommendations, promotional content, or ads. Some app versions have no control, and some advertisements are supplied as content. Disabling the system advertising service cannot guarantee removal of every promotion.

A setting is missing or has a different name: Search within the app’s settings, check its About or profile menu, and install available updates using normal system channels. Labels can vary by model, region, and MIUI release.

Ads return after an update: Updates can reset preferences or introduce new recommendation controls. Repeat the checks for msa, ad personalization, and the affected apps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will disabling msa remove every ad?
No. It can reduce system advertising, but individual apps may have separate recommendation settings or show promotions that the service does not control.

Does turning off personalized ads stop ads from appearing?
Not necessarily. It generally limits personalization; the number of ads may stay the same. Use app-level switches to reduce recommendations where available.

Is it safe to revoke msa authorization?
It is a built-in setting intended to manage the service’s authorization. If revocation does not work or causes an unexpected issue, restore the setting and use official device support rather than removing system files.

Why do the steps look different on my phone?
Menus vary by model, region, MIUI release, and app version. Search Settings for the feature name and check each app’s own settings.

Can I disable ads in every MIUI app?
No single method guarantees that. Some apps offer a recommendations switch, while others may not provide one or may display sponsored content from another source.

Will these changes affect app updates?
They should not prevent ordinary app updates, but an update can move or reset a preference. Recheck the relevant switches if recommendations return.

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