Xiaomi: Difference between revisions

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===Advertisements in system apps===

[[File:Mi Video Scareware.jpg|thumb|268x268px|A scareware advert is shown in Mi Video when media playback is paused]]

Xiaomi devices come with several pre-installed first-party apps that contain advertisements, including full-screen deceptive scareware ads urging users to install malware. Workarounds exist to disable ads in some apps, including Mi File Explorer, Mi Browser, MIUI Downloads, MIUI Security, Mi Music, Mi Video and MIUI Themes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=jihad.ptk1 |date=1 Mar 2021 |title=Turn off ads on Xiaomi smartphones & MIUI using simple settings |url=https://c.mi.com/bd/post/10086 |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |via=Xiaomi Community}}</ref> ] In many of their phones such as cheaper Poco phones, a system app that can't be normally searched upon normal means called "MSA" should also be revoked or uninstall via ADB as it introduces ads most of the time a user opens up the phone.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/miui/comments/15jadut/revoking_msa_is_the_best_decision_in_my_phone/</ref>

Xiaomi devices come with several pre-installed first-party apps that contain advertisements, including full-screen deceptive scareware ads urging users to install malware. Workarounds exist to disable ads in some apps, including Mi File Explorer, Mi Browser, MIUI Downloads, MIUI Security, Mi Music, Mi Video and MIUI Themes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=jihad.ptk1 |date=1 Mar 2021 |title=Turn off ads on Xiaomi smartphones & MIUI using simple settings |url=https://c.mi.com/bd/post/10086 |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |via=Xiaomi Community}}</ref> In many of their phones such as cheaper Poco phones, a system app that can't be normally searched upon normal means called "MSA" should also be revoked or uninstall via ADB as it introduces ads most of the time a user opens up the phone.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/miui/comments/15jadut/revoking_msa_is_the_best_decision_in_my_phone/</ref>

Most of the aforementioned apps can be substituted for FOSS alternatives, but they cannot be uninstalled without advanced methods such as ADB.

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Most of the data is sent to servers in Singapore which belong to Chinese tech giant Alibaba Cloud. Users can verify themselves which connections are made by using the connection log feature in an app such as No Root Firewall, NetGuard or [https://f-droid.org/packages/net.kollnig.missioncontrol.fdroid/ Tracker Control]. This shows the phones sometimes suddenly getting really "chatty", at times in the middle of the night.

The only way to mitigate this is to use a custom ROM such as [https://www.e.foundation /e/] or [https://www.lineageos.org LineageOS]. Users who do not have the technical skill to do this should use an app like [https://f-droid.org/packages/net.kollnig.missioncontrol.fdroid/ Tracker Control] from the F-Droid store to limit connections and use an alternate browser such as Firefox (Google Play Store) or [https://f-droid.org/de/packages/org.mozilla.fennec_fdroid/ Fennec] (F-Droid store). Built-in applications should be avoided as much as possible.

The only way to mitigate this is to [[Bootloader unlocking|use a custom ROM]] such as [https://www.e.foundation /e/] or [https://www.lineageos.org LineageOS]. Users who do not have the technical skill to do this should use an app like [https://f-droid.org/packages/net.kollnig.missioncontrol.fdroid/ Tracker Control] from the F-Droid store to limit connections and use an alternate browser such as Firefox (Google Play Store) or [https://f-droid.org/de/packages/org.mozilla.fennec_fdroid/ Fennec] (F-Droid store). Built-in applications should be avoided as much as possible.

===Links to the Chinese government===

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Xiaomi's ecosystem of smart home devices is primarily managed through the '''Xiaomi Home''' (formerly Mi Home) application. Xiaomi does not provide a browser-based control panel for managing devices. Users must install the proprietary Xiaomi Home app on their smartphones. For desktop usage, the only workaround is to run an Android emulator, as there is no official native application for Windows, Linux, or macOS.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chin |first=Sam |date=29 Aug 2025 |title=Which platforms does the Mi Home/Xiaomi Home APP support? |url=https://www.mi.com/global/support/faq/details/KA-515616/ |access-date=15 Mar 2025}}</ref>

===Xiaomi Fitness bands===

Xiaomi has a series of smart watches and fitness bands. While watches are expected to be used alongside a phone, requiring Bluetooth synchronization therefore activation, fitness bands such as the Mi Band series or Redmi Band series could be expected not being used with a phone for sports functions such as heart rate monitoring, steps counting and more. But they need pairing to be first turned on. Pairing requires installing the Mi Fitness app, agreeing to its terms and services and creating an account in order to use the device.

==References==

[[Category:Xiaomi]]

@@ Line 30: / Line 30: @@
 ===Advertisements in system apps===
 [[File:Mi Video Scareware.jpg|thumb|268x268px|A scareware advert is shown in Mi Video when media playback is paused]]
-Xiaomi devices come with several pre-installed first-party apps that contain advertisements, including full-screen deceptive scareware ads urging users to install malware. Workarounds exist to disable ads in some apps, including Mi File Explorer, Mi Browser, MIUI Downloads, MIUI Security, Mi Music, Mi Video and MIUI Themes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=jihad.ptk1 |date=1 Mar 2021 |title=Turn off ads on Xiaomi smartphones & MIUI using simple settings |url=https://c.mi.com/bd/post/10086 |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |via=Xiaomi Community}}</ref> ] In many of their phones such as cheaper Poco phones, a system app that can't be normally searched upon normal means called "MSA" should also be revoked or  uninstall via ADB as it introduces ads most of the time a user opens up the phone.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/miui/comments/15jadut/revoking_msa_is_the_best_decision_in_my_phone/</ref>
+Xiaomi devices come with several pre-installed first-party apps that contain advertisements, including full-screen deceptive scareware ads urging users to install malware. Workarounds exist to disable ads in some apps, including Mi File Explorer, Mi Browser, MIUI Downloads, MIUI Security, Mi Music, Mi Video and MIUI Themes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=jihad.ptk1 |date=1 Mar 2021 |title=Turn off ads on Xiaomi smartphones & MIUI using simple settings |url=https://c.mi.com/bd/post/10086 |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |via=Xiaomi Community}}</ref> In many of their phones such as cheaper Poco phones, a system app that can't be normally searched upon normal means called "MSA" should also be revoked or  uninstall via ADB as it introduces ads most of the time a user opens up the phone.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/miui/comments/15jadut/revoking_msa_is_the_best_decision_in_my_phone/</ref>
 Most of the aforementioned apps can be substituted for FOSS alternatives, but they cannot be uninstalled without advanced methods such as ADB.
@@ Line 39: / Line 39: @@
 Most of the data is sent to servers in Singapore which belong to Chinese tech giant Alibaba Cloud. Users can verify themselves which connections are made by using the connection log feature in an app such as No Root Firewall, NetGuard or [https://f-droid.org/packages/net.kollnig.missioncontrol.fdroid/ Tracker Control]. This shows the phones sometimes suddenly getting really "chatty", at times in the middle of the night.
-The only way to mitigate this is to use a custom ROM such as [https://www.e.foundation /e/] or [https://www.lineageos.org LineageOS]. Users who do not have the technical skill to do this should use an app like [https://f-droid.org/packages/net.kollnig.missioncontrol.fdroid/ Tracker Control] from the F-Droid store to limit connections and use an alternate browser such as Firefox (Google Play Store) or [https://f-droid.org/de/packages/org.mozilla.fennec_fdroid/ Fennec] (F-Droid store). Built-in applications should be avoided as much as possible.
+The only way to mitigate this is to [[Bootloader unlocking|use a custom ROM]] such as [https://www.e.foundation /e/] or [https://www.lineageos.org LineageOS]. Users who do not have the technical skill to do this should use an app like [https://f-droid.org/packages/net.kollnig.missioncontrol.fdroid/ Tracker Control] from the F-Droid store to limit connections and use an alternate browser such as Firefox (Google Play Store) or [https://f-droid.org/de/packages/org.mozilla.fennec_fdroid/ Fennec] (F-Droid store). Built-in applications should be avoided as much as possible.
 ===Links to the Chinese government===
@@ Line 52: / Line 52: @@
 Xiaomi's ecosystem of smart home devices is primarily managed through the '''Xiaomi Home''' (formerly Mi Home) application. Xiaomi does not provide a browser-based control panel for managing devices. Users must install the proprietary Xiaomi Home app on their smartphones. For desktop usage, the only workaround is to run an Android emulator, as there is no official native application for Windows, Linux, or macOS.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chin |first=Sam |date=29 Aug 2025 |title=Which platforms does the Mi Home/Xiaomi Home APP support? |url=https://www.mi.com/global/support/faq/details/KA-515616/ |access-date=15 Mar 2025}}</ref>
+===Xiaomi Fitness bands===
+Xiaomi has a series of smart watches and fitness bands. While watches are expected to be used alongside a phone, requiring Bluetooth synchronization therefore activation, fitness bands such as the Mi Band series or Redmi Band series could be expected not being used with a phone for sports functions such as heart rate monitoring, steps counting and more. But they need pairing to be first turned on. Pairing requires installing the Mi Fitness app, agreeing to its terms and services and creating an account in order to use the device.
 ==References==
 <references />
 [[Category:Xiaomi]]