Question Recommended steps to remove ads on new phone?

[littlebigman]

Hello,

My new Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 4G is on its way.

It's supposed to be running Xiaomi HyperOS 2 with Android 14.

I'd like to have confirmation from the experts that those are the recommended steps to remove ads as much as possible:

1. Connection & Sharing -> Private DNS → Use dns.adguard-dns.com or Mullvad
2. Password & Security -> Authorization & revocation -> Deactivate "msa".
3. Shizuku + Canta from Fdroid website to remove pre-installed or user apps

I read that "Universal Android Debloater Next Generation" is not needed for Android 11+.

Thank you.

 

[Madd62]

No. 2 is a good place to start. I cannot comment on the other two but I personally would not recommend for at least an initial period of weeks when you will find other settings on each app that is creating ads.
I have a Poco from 2020 and it has been clear of ads in the main from that time. You do hear that Redmi models have less resistance to turning ads off, but I don't know if that still applies.

My memory is not great on what worked for me, and what I found showed ads last year again. I think it was a feature in the Security app which tidies things up and runs Avast Security to do a sweep. I don't believe in it but it's fun to watch all the Security App features do whirly gig animations when you run them. (Sue me. I never grew up)

I never used the Mi Browser and one or two other apps like their Music app.

I was considering getting one of those Redmi 14 4G models at the occasional great discount available here in the UK, so curious how you find it.

 

[littlebigman]

No. 2 is a good place to start. I cannot comment on the other two but I personally would not recommend for at least an initial period of weeks when you will find other settings on each app that is creating ads.
I have a Poco from 2020 and it has been clear of ads in the main from that time. You do hear that Redmi models have less resistance to turning ads off, but I don't know if that still applies.

My memory is not great on what worked for me, and what I found showed ads last year again. I think it was a feature in the Security app which tidies things up and runs Avast Security to do a sweep. I don't believe in it but it's fun to watch all the Security App features do whirly gig animations when you run them. (Sue me. I never grew up)

I never used the Mi Browser and one or two other apps like their Music app.

I was considering getting one of those Redmi 14 4G models at the occasional great discount available here in the UK, so curious how you find it.

Thanks. I'll turn off MSA first, and wait a few weeks to see if the other steps are really needed.

I use Opera because it can display tabs horizontally, so ads in the MIUI browser is a non-issue.

I'd much rather unlock the bootloader and install LineageOS and be done with it, but Xiaomi only makes it harder to install a custom ROM these days.