Xiaomi phone ads

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esawers

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#250825 27-May-2019 13:26

My brother has a Xiaomi Mi Note 5, and until recently we were all impressed with what it delivered for the price.

But now he is getting ads everywhere, on the lock screen, while using any apps - it pops up full screen ads everywhere.

I googled it and i've changed about 8 different things in the Settings, and in the app settings including revoking the MSA permissions, and even trying to turn off Data and Wifi to MSA, but the ads are still coming up. I am about to reimage it but I don't imagine it is gonig to help.

Does anyone have a fix or is it just a feature of Xiaomi phones now?

Linux

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#2246485 27-May-2019 13:33

What Apps has the end user installed recently?

rb99

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#2246488 27-May-2019 13:36

This was the first thing the great god Google came up with, which I guess you've seen.

https://www.xda-developers.com/xiaomi-miui-ads-hamper-user-experience/

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esawers

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#2246505 27-May-2019 13:47

Linux: What Apps has the end user installed recently?

He only uses Facebook and messenger on this phone, I dont think he has any games or anything.

We are in the final stages of backing everything up to 'Micloud' and will then reset it, but I think we are going to have the same problem.

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#2246506 27-May-2019 13:48

That is disgusting I would smash the phone into many bits and send it back to the company

esawers

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#2246511 27-May-2019 13:50

rb99:

This was the first thing the great god Google came up with, which I guess you've seen.

https://www.xda-developers.com/xiaomi-miui-ads-hamper-user-experience/

Thanks, there is another couple of things in there I haven't tried yet.

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#2246513 27-May-2019 13:50

Looks like @rb99 has given you the answer!

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zyo

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#2246559 27-May-2019 15:15

What rom is it using.
Flash the EU version and see if it makes any difference.

Echoe

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#2246580 27-May-2019 15:52

I have just looked on XDA, there is an incredible amount of active development for the Mi Note 5. You could look at installing something like Lineage OS on the device. It is another option the might work for him, as Zyo said try flashing the newest EU rom and see if it makes a difference.

Amosnz

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#2246582 27-May-2019 15:54

Or try something like Blokada. https://blokada.org/index.html

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NikT

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#2246591 27-May-2019 16:14

Where was this handset purchased from, and what software version is it running? What country/region is set in the settings?

Aggressive pop-up ads do not at all sound like the stock MIUI experience. There are very few ads when set to the NZ region (and only for low-end phones), they're unobtrusive, and all of them can be turned off. On the face of it it seems likely the device is running a third-party seller's modified ROM or has some sketchy apps installed.

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jonb

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#2246602 27-May-2019 16:58

Sounds like he's downloaded a dodgy app from a dodgy popup ad on a dodgy site to me. Not necessarily a dodgy site in that sense but any which brings those fake warnings like ,warning virus detected on your [phone name] or similar.
I have the Note5 and the only adverts I saw are on the far left shortcuts screen on homepage for 'suggested apps' which can turn off. It's very easily click and install dodgy adware from a pop up ad on most Android still -factory reset..

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tanivula

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#2246677 27-May-2019 21:02

Setting your region to China or India opens the phone up to ads, this is well known with Xiaomi phones. If you're fond of miui then I'd highly recommend a xiaomi.eu rom. There are heaps of other ROMs such as pixel experience.

But the sudden increase in ads really does sound like rouge app. Have a look on settings in permissions for apps that can draw over apps.

esawers

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#2246822 28-May-2019 09:40

rb99:

This was the first thing the great god Google came up with, which I guess you've seen.

https://www.xda-developers.com/xiaomi-miui-ads-hamper-user-experience/

I made all of these changes last night (except for deleting apps as I read that it will cause problems later and he's not technology literate) and it's still showing ads.

It was bought from Joy-buy with a Global rom on it. I can't remember what country it is set up for but I wouldn't have chosen anything that wasn't close to NZ. I will try a reset tonight.

esawers

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#2246824 28-May-2019 09:42

Echoe:

I have just looked on XDA, there is an incredible amount of active development for the Mi Note 5. You could look at installing something like Lineage OS on the device. It is another option the might work for him, as Zyo said try flashing the newest EU rom and see if it makes a difference.

Thanks, I looked into these last night as well. Ideally something that had access to Micloud for ease of use/backups (he's concerned about not getting his Messages back) - I read that only Miue has access?

tanivula

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#2246870 28-May-2019 10:58

esawers:

Thanks, I looked into these last night as well. Ideally something that had access to Micloud for ease of use/backups (he's concerned about not getting his Messages back) - I read that only Miue has access?

Yeah, MIUI backup only works with MIUI ROMS, I would highly recommend a xiaomi.eu ROM - these are definitely ad free! Alternatively, you could export all his SMS using a 3rd party program (there are heaps of them on the play store). OR install google messages (which I think can backup to google drive).