How to remove ads on a Xiaomi phone · Seawall
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Setup guide · Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO

How to remove ads on a Xiaomi phone

Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO phones show ads in their own system apps. Set Seawall as Private DNS to block ad servers, then turn off msa and recommendations: a few settings, a few minutes.

  • About five minutes
  • No app to install
  • HyperOS and MIUI

In short

Open Settings › Connection & sharing › Private DNS and set your Seawall address. Then turn off msa in Settings › Passwords & security › Authorization & revocation.

  1. Settings
  2. Connection & sharing
  3. Private DNS
Get your Seawall address

Block ads on Xiaomi with Private DNS

The steps are the same on HyperOS and MIUI. If a menu moved on your version, type its name into the search in Settings.

  1. Get your Seawall address

    Create a Seawall account and copy your personal address from it.

    Seawall address

    example.dns.seawalldns.com

    This is an example. Your personal address appears after you sign up. Get yours

  2. Open Private DNS

    Go to Settings › Connection & sharing › Private DNS.

    1. Settings
    2. Connection & sharing
    3. Private DNS

  3. Paste your address

    Choose “Private DNS provider hostname” and paste your Seawall address. Type it exactly, without https:// or spaces.

  4. Tap Save

    Ads stop loading right away, in apps and browsers, on Wi-Fi and mobile data. If an app was already open, close and reopen it.

  5. Check that it works

    Open the ad blocker test on your phone. All 24 addresses should show “blocked”.

    Run the ad blocker test
Private DNS on a Xiaomi phone, illustration

Turn off ads in Xiaomi apps

Most ads on Xiaomi phones come from the system itself. These settings turn them off; calls, apps and updates keep working.

  1. Turn off msa

    msa delivers ads to Xiaomi’s system apps. Find it in Authorization & revocation and turn it off. If it switches back on, wait a few seconds and try again.

    1. Settings
    2. Passwords & security
    3. Authorization & revocation

  2. Personalized ad recommendations

    Turn off Personalized ad recommendations in Ad services.

    1. Settings
    2. Passwords & security
    3. Privacy
    4. Ad services

  3. Recommendations in system apps

    In Security, Cleaner, File Manager, Downloads, Music and Themes, open each app’s settings and turn off recommendations. The switch is often called Receive recommendations.

  4. Stories on the lock screen

    If your lock screen changes wallpapers with stories and ads, turn off Wallpaper carousel or Glance in the lock screen settings.

    1. Settings
    2. Lock screen

  5. Advertising ID

    Delete your advertising ID. Apps then can’t use it to link your activity for ads.

    1. Settings
    2. Google
    3. Ads

If something doesn’t work

“Private DNS server cannot be accessed”

Android shows this when it can’t reach the address in Private DNS. Check that your Seawall address is typed exactly, without https:// or spaces. If a public Wi-Fi blocks encrypted DNS, switch to mobile data or set Private DNS to Automatic while you’re on that network.

msa turns back on

Turn it off again after a few seconds: it can take two or three tries. After a system update, check it again.

Ads still show in some Xiaomi apps

Some come from the same servers as the app’s content, so DNS can’t tell them apart. Turn off recommendations in that app’s settings.

A Xiaomi app stopped loading content

Themes or another system app may need a server Seawall blocks. Allow it in your account or pause protection for 10 minutes.

Pop-ups over other apps or on the home screen

That’s adware: an app that shows ads by itself. Open Settings › Apps and uninstall apps you don’t recognize or installed just before the pop-ups started.

Ads in YouTube, Facebook or Instagram

These apps serve ads from the same servers as their videos and posts, so DNS can’t tell them apart. Seawall blocks the ad networks that other apps, games and websites use.

Xiaomi ad questions

Why does my Xiaomi phone show ads?

Xiaomi phones show ads in some system apps, such as Security, Cleaner, File Manager and Themes, through a service called msa. Seawall blocks Xiaomi’s ad servers, and the settings above turn the rest off.

Does it work on Redmi and POCO?

Yes. Redmi and POCO phones run the same software, HyperOS or MIUI, so the steps are the same.

What is msa, and is it safe to turn off?

msa stands for MIUI System Ads: it delivers ads to Xiaomi’s system apps. Turning it off doesn’t affect calls, apps or updates.

Does it work on HyperOS?

Yes. Private DNS and the ad settings are in the same places on HyperOS and MIUI. If a menu moved, type its name into the search in Settings.

How do I remove ads from the lock screen?

Turn off Wallpaper carousel or Glance in Settings › Lock screen. Seawall also blocks the ad servers these stories load from.

How do I turn Seawall off?

Open Private DNS again and choose Off or Automatic. To let everything through for a moment instead, pause protection for 10 minutes in your account.

Set up your other devices

Get your Seawall address

Then follow the steps above. It takes about five minutes.

Try it freeRun the ad blocker test