How to permanently disable floating windows on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro: from system settings to ADB

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro with its MIUI shell is known for its useful features, but some of them — such as floating (pop-up) windows — can annoy users. These miniature panels appear on top of other applications, interrupting work: notifications from instant messengers, mini-players, banner ads or system alerts. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to turn them off, from standard settings to hidden settings and ADB commands.

It’s important to understand that the source of floating windows can be both MIUI system services (such as Game Turbo or Second Space) and third-party apps with aggressive advertising. We will analyze both cases and offer solutions proven on the firmware MIUI 11-14 for the Redmi Note 8 Pro (begonia model).

Why do floating windows appear on the Redmi Note 8 Pro?

Before you block pop-ups, you need to understand their nature. On the Redmi Note 8 Pro, they fall into three categories:

• 📱 System windows MIUI: Mini-player music, charging notifications, alerts from Cleaner or Security. Their behavior is regulated in the shell settings.
• 🎮 Gaming overlays: Appear when you run games through the Game Turbo (e.g., a panel) FPS Discord is off the game acceleration menu.
• 📢 Advertising and third-party windows: the most intrusive. Source: rights-based apps SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW (for example, UC Browser, APUS Launcher or Chinese utilities require manual permission revocation.

On the Redmi Note 8 Pro with MIUI Global firmware, floating windows from system applications (such as Music or Downloads) cannot be turned off completely without ADB - the shell limits these settings out of the box. However, they can be minimized or hidden through hidden settings. The third category (advertising) is easier to fight - just revoke permissions from the guilty application.

If the windows appear even after resetting, either a virus (unlikely on stock firmware) or pre-installed software from Xiaomi is to blame, in the latter case only disabling through ADB or removing the package (requires root).

Method 1: Disconnect via MIUI settings (without root)

Let's start with the simplest, the standard shell tools, which are suitable for system and game overlays, but it won't help you to stop ads from third-party apps.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the top right corner and select Special Access → Show on top of other apps.
3. In the list, find apps with an active switch (such as Music, Game Turbo, Cleaner) and turn off the resolution for each.
4. For game overlays, go to Settings → Special Features → Game Turbo and deactivate the option to Show the Toolbar.

Note that some system applications (e.g. Security) will return to resolution after rebooting, and this will require an ADB method (see below).

Method 2: Blocking through Developer Rights (ADB)

If the system windows return after turning off in the settings, you will need to revoke the Android level permission. ADB (Android Debug Bridge: This method works without root, but requires a computer.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on USB debugging: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version to activate Developer Mode. Go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers and turn on USB Debugging.

Redmi Note 8 Pro

Platform Tools

cmd

adb

adb devices

Make sure the device is identified.

package.name

com.miui.player

adb shell pm revoke package.name android.permission.SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW

List of popular MIUI packages for Redmi Note 8 Pro:

Once you have completed the command, restart your phone, and the resolution will be revoked until the next application update, so to secure the result, freeze your system applications via Titanium Backup (requires root) or use ADB to disable them:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 package.name

Method 3: Removing the guilty apps (requires root)

If floating windows generate third-party software (like UC Browser or APUS Launcher) and disabling permissions doesn't help, you have to uninstall the app completely. On stock firmware without root, this is impossible, but there are workarounds:

• 🔧 Shutdown through ADB (without removal: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 package.name The application will remain in the system, but will cease to work for the current user.
• 🗑️ Complete removal from root: Install Root Explorer or Titanium Backup. /system/app/ or /data/app/. Delete the folder with the application and clear the cache in /data/data/package.name.
• 🛡️ Blocking through Magisk: Install the App Systemizer module to convert custom applications to system (and vice versa.

⚠️ Note: Removing Xiaomi system applications (such as Security or Cleaner) can lead to unstable firmware or update errors. TWRP.

For the Redmi Note 8 Pro, it is especially dangerous to remove:

• com.miui.securitycenter – responsible for security;
• com.xiaomi.finddevice – Device Search Service
• com.miui.cloudservice synchronization with Mi Account.

adb shell dumpsys package package.name

In the conclusion, look for the line "requiredFor": - if it is not empty, deletion can disrupt the system.-->

Method 4: Using third-party applications to block

If the previous methods didn't work or you don't want to mess with ADB, there are specialized utilities that come to the rescue.

1. Overlay blockers: 🛡️ App Ops – allows you to disable permissions for individual applications without root (requires) ADB activate). 🔒 Island (from Sandbox developers) – creates an isolated environment for “suspicious” applications.

Firewalls

• 🚫 NetGuard – blocks the network activity of advertising modules.
• 🌐 Blokada - filtering DNS-Requests, preventing ads from being loaded.

After discharge:

• 📱 Do not restore data from backup – this can return the problem.
• 🔍 Install apps one at a time and watch for floating windows.
• 🔧 Turn off automatic updates of system applications in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Three-pointed → Auto-update.

On the Redmi Note 8 Pro with MIUI 12+, after reset, floating windows from system applications (such as Music) can return in 1-2 days. This is due to background synchronization of Mi Account. To prevent this, immediately after reset, turn off sync in the Xiaomi account settings.

How to Prevent Floating Windows in the Future

To prevent the problem from returning, follow simple rules:

• 📥 Install apps only from Google Play or official sources (such as APKMirror). APK.
• 🔍 Check permissions when installing: if an application (such as a flashlight) requests SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW, refuse.
• 🔄 Update regularly MIUI, but not through beta versions – they often contain bugs with overlays.
• 🛡️ Use alternative launchers (like Nova Launcher) that block system overlays.

For advanced users:

• Install custom ROMs (such as Pixel Experience or LineageOS) that do not have MIUI floating windows.
• Use the Xposed Framework with the NoSystemUI module to block system notifications.

💡

The most reliable way to get rid of floating windows on the Redmi Note 8 Pro is to combine disabling permissions via ADB + removing guilty applications (if there is root). MIUI system overlays can only be minimized, but not completely removed without changing the firmware.

FAQ: Frequent questions about floating windows on Redmi Note 8 Pro