How to completely disable ads on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8: 7 proven ways

Advertising in Xiaomi smartphones is one of the most controversial features of MIUI firmware. On the one hand, it allows the company to keep device prices at an affordable level. On the other hand, it annoys users, especially when banners appear in settings, notification center or even on the lock screen. Redmi Note 8, despite its age (model released in 2019), is still actively used, and owners are looking for ways to clean the interface from intrusive advertising.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible methods, from standard MIUI settings to advanced ADB tricks. Importantly, some methods require care, because the wrong actions can lead to system failures. If you’re not sure about your skills, start with the simplest steps.

Also note that after major MIUI updates (e.g., switching from 12th to 13th version), the paths to some settings may change. We have updated the instructions for the latest firmware for Redmi Note 8 (including MIUI 14 based on Android 12).

1. disable personalized advertising in MIUI settings

The safest and most obvious way to do this is to deactivate the options associated with targeted advertising, which won't take away all banners, but will reduce them significantly.

Go to Settings → Google → Advertising and:

• 🔘 Turn off the Personalized Advertising slider (this will block the collection of your interests data).
• 🔘 Click "Reset advertising" ID" — This will reset your current identifier used to display ads.
• 🔘 Enable "Disable Interest-Based Ads" (if such a clause exists).

Then go back to the main settings and open Settings → Applications → Application Management → Settings (cog in the upper right corner) → Special permissions → Show pop-ups. Here you will see a list of applications that are allowed to display pop-up ads. Turn off permission for all suspicious applications, especially for:

• 📱 Mi Browser (if you don't use it)
• 📱 Mi Video / Mi Music
• 📱 Cleaner (cleaning utility)
• 📱 Security (security center)

⚠️ Note: Some system applications (e.g. Security) may stop working properly after the pop-ups are turned off.

2. Removal of built-in Xiaomi applications (without root)

Many banners are created by pre-installed Xiaomi services that cannot be removed by standard means, but can be disabled or removed through ADB (without root rights), a more radical method, but one that yields noticeable results.

First, try to disable unnecessary apps manually:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (e.g. Mi Browser, Mi Video, Mi Music).
3. Press "Disable" (if the button is active).
4. Confirm the action – the application will stop working and show ads.

If the "Disable" button is inactive, you will have to use ADB.

1. Download and install Platform Tools (the official tool from Google).
2. Enable USB debugging on your phone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times to activate Developer Mode), then Settings → Additional → Developers → Debugging over USB.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and type in the command line: adb devices (your device should appear).
4. Run the command to remove an unnecessary application (example for Mi Browser): adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.android.browser

Below is a list of packages that can be safely removed (if you don’t use them):

⚠️ Warning: Do not delete system packages called com.android. or com.miui. unless you are sure of their purpose! this may cause your phone to fail. For example, deleting com.miui.securitycenter will cause security errors.

Download Platform Tools from Google’s official website

Enable debugging over USB on your phone

Connect your phone to your PC and confirm your trusted device

Check the list of packages with the command adb shell pm list packages

Create a backup copy of important data-->

3. Set up background activity restrictions

Many banner ads are created because Xiaomi’s system apps are running in the background and loading data, and limiting their activity will help reduce the number of impressions.

Open Settings → Applications → Application Management, select an application (e.g., Security) and:

• 🔘 Click "Limit background activity".
• 🔘 Disable Auto Start (this will prevent the application from starting when the system starts).
• 🔘 In the "Mobile Data" and "Wi-Fi" section, disable background traffic.

Pay particular attention to the following annexes:

• 🛡️ Security (com.miui.securitycenter) – Security center, often displays ads in notifications.
• 📊 Analytics (com.miui.analytics) – collects data for personalized advertising.
• 🔄 MSA (com.xiaomi.msa.global – Xiaomi’s advertising and statistics service.

After limiting background activity, restart your phone. Advertisements will become smaller, but some features (such as automatic garbage cleaning) may not work properly.

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If important notifications (e.g. updates) have stopped coming after the background activity has been limited, return the settings for system applications to their original state.

4. Use of alternative launchers

Ads in MIUI are often embedded directly into the system launcher (main screen), and replacing it with a third-party one (such as Nova Launcher, Lawnchair or Hyperion Launcher) can completely remove banners on the desktop.

How it works:

• 📱 Download the alternative launcher from Google Play (we recommend Nova Launcher – it is lightweight and flexible to configure).
• 📱 Set it as the default launcher (when you first start the system will prompt you to choose the default launcher).
• 📱 Customize your appearance – most alternative launchers do not contain ads.

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ Complete absence of advertising on the main screen and in the application menu.
• ✅ Ability to fine-tune the interface (icons, gestures, animations).
• ✅ No need to interfere with system files.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Some chips MIUI (For example, built-in weather or calendar widgets may not work.
• ❌ Advertising in settings and notifications will remain (launcher does not affect system menus).

5. Blocking ads through the hosts file (without root)

One of the most effective ways is to edit the hosts file, which blocks access to ad servers, which doesn't require root, but requires a computer and an ADB.

Instructions:

1. Download the ready-made hosts file to block Xiaomi ads (for example, from here).
2. Connect the phone to your PC and execute commands: adb shell su -c"mount -o rw,remount /system" su -c"cp /sdcard/hosts /system/etc/hosts" su -c"chmod 644 /system/etc/hosts" su -c"mount -o ro,remount /system" (replace /sdcard/hosts on the way to your file).
3. Reboot the phone.

If the su command is not working (no root), use an alternative method via ADB without superuser rights:

adb push hosts /sdcard/


adb shell"su -c'mount -o rw,remount /system' || mount -o rw,remount /system"




adb shell"su -c'cp /sdcard/hosts /system/etc/hosts' || cp /sdcard/hosts /system/etc/hosts"




adb shell"su -c'chmod 644 /system/etc/hosts' || chmod 644 /system/etc/hosts"

This method blocks most of Xiaomi’s ad servers, but has limitations:

• 🔄 After updating MIUI The hosts file may be reset – you will have to repeat the procedure.
• 🔄 Some apps (such as Mi Browser) may stop opening pages because of redirect blocking.

💡

Editing a hosts file is one of the most effective ways to block ads, but it requires caution. Incorrect file access rights can lead to network failures.

6. Disabling Advertising in Specific Applications

Some Xiaomi system utilities (e.g. Security, Cleaner, Mi Video) have their own ad settings. Disabling them will not remove banners completely, but will reduce their number.

Security Center (Security):

Mi Video and Mi Music:

• 🎵 Open the app and go to settings (three dots in the corner).
• 🎵 Find the Advertising or Personalization section".
• 🎵 Disable all options related to ad impressions and recommendations.

Mi Browser:

• 🌐 Open the browser, press. ⋮ → Settings → Additionally.
• 🌐 Turn off “Personalized News” and “Recommended Content".
• 🌐 In the Privacy section, disable Interest-Based Advertising".

If the application does not have explicit advertising settings, check the "About the program" section - sometimes there are hidden options to disable banners.

7. Advanced methods: Magisk and custom firmware

If you’re willing to take drastic measures, you can completely remove advertising modules from MIUI with Magisk (root) or switch to custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), which require unlocking the bootloader and can take away warranties, but give you maximum control over the device.

Method 1: Removing advertising modules through Magisk

Method 2: Installation of custom firmware

⚠️ Attention: Unlocking the bootloader resets all data on the phone! Xiaomi can also block the account for 72 hours after unlocking.

Once you install custom firmware, you will lose access to Google Pay services and some banking applications due to the lack of SafetyNet certification.This can be fixed with Magisk modules, but the process requires technical skills.

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing ads on Redmi Note 8