Owners of the popular Redmi Note 8 Pro smartphone often encounter intrusive banner ads that appear in standard apps and even on the desktop.This is a feature of the branded MIUI shell, which monetizes entry- and mid-range devices through built-in advertising. Fortunately, the system provides users with enough tools to completely eliminate this visual noise.
The process of cleaning the interface does not require obtaining superuser rights or flashing the device. It is enough to consistently go through the system settings and disable several specific services responsible for collecting data and displaying advertising content. In this article, we will discuss each step in detail so that your Xiaomi works exclusively for you.
Before we get started, it’s worth noting that completely disabling ads requires care, as some menu items can be hidden or renamed in different versions of the firmware.We’ll look at a universal method that is relevant to most current versions of MIUI installed on the Redmi Note 8 Pro.
Disabling the MSA service, the main source of advertising
The centerpiece of the advertising ecosystem in Xiaomi smartphones is the MIUI System Ads system application, also known by the acronym msa. It is this process that collects data about your actions and generates targeted offers. To block it, you need to find the appropriate item in the authorization and advertising menu.
Go to the settings section, then select Password and Security and find Access to Personal Data. From the app list that opens, find msa and turn off the access slider, and the system will alert you to the possible consequences and start a countdown timer of 10 seconds.
⚠️ Attention: When you try to shut down msa, the system may repeatedly give you an error or write that the action is impossible to perform. 3-5 once in a row until a confirmation message appears.
After a successful shutdown of the main service, it is also recommended to restrict Internet access for other system components that may duplicate banner display functions, which will create an additional barrier to unwanted traffic.
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After disabling the MSA, restart the smartphone so that the changes take effect and the cache of the advertising modules is cleared.
The next step is to turn off personalized advertising, go back to the Password & Security menu, select Access to Personal Data, and find Advertising Services (or miot), disable access to the service, and deactivate the Receive References switch in the window that opens.
Configure standard applications of the MIUI system
The ad integrations in the Redmi Note 8 Pro are deeply embedded in standard software. Even after disabling msa, individual apps like Music, Them, or Explorer can continue to display banners if they don't change their individual settings.
Start with the Security app, which often gives out junk notifications with promotional offers. Open the app, click on the settings gear in the top right corner, and find the "Get recommendations." Deactivate this switch. It's also worth going to the "Clean up" section inside the app and disable the same option there.
- 🎵 Music app: Open the menu (three bars), select Settings, then Advanced Settings, and turn off Show Ads».
- 🎨 Themes app: Go to the user profile, select Settings, find the "Show Ads" item and turn it off. Also uncheck the "Personal Recommendations" box».
- 📁 Explorer: In the Explorer menu, select Settings, then About App and disable Get Recommendations».
Don't forget to check the settings of the Downloads app. Often, that's where the recommendation pops up after you download the files, and you need to find the About section in the bootloader settings and turn off the "Receive recommendations" option.
☑️ Verification of system applications
Special attention should be paid to the Task Manager app (or just the menu of running apps). Sometimes ads can appear as news cards when swiping left on your desktop. To remove this, press the empty area on your desktop, go to settings and turn off Google or Yandex tape, as well as the Wallpaper Carousel feature if it is not used.
Eliminating Advertising in Notifications and Folders
One of the most annoying features of MIUI is the appearance of advertising notifications from system applications such as Memory Cleanup or Antivirus, which are often disguised as important system warnings, prompting the user to click on a link.
To get rid of them, you need to go to the settings of each suspicious notification. Hold your finger on the notification that comes in and select "Notification Settings" (or "More"). In the menu that opens, just turn off the notifications for the app, usually for applications with names like Security, MIUI Daemon or Mi Video.
Advertising can also be hidden inside the folders on the desktop, and when you open the app folder at the bottom, you may see a line called "Recommended Apps." To fix this, open any folder, click on its name (or three folder dots/settings), and find the "Recommended Apps" switch.
⚠️ Warning: After updating the firmware, folder settings may reset. Periodically check folders for new ad units, especially after major updates MIUI.
If the ads continue to appear as pop-ups in random applications, this may indicate the presence of malware. Unlike Xiaomi’s system advertising, these windows require antivirus installation and device screening for hidden miners or Trojans.
Disabling Advertising through DNS Settings (for Advanced)
A more radical and effective method of blocking advertising is the use of private advertising. DNS-This method allows you to cut off advertising traffic at the network level without requiring the installation of third-party applications.
To implement this method, go to the “Settings” of the smartphone, select “Connect and share” (or “Wi-Fi» → «Setting up DNS»). Find the item "Private" DNS» (Private DNS). The default is "Auto." Select "Host Name Provider" mode. DNS» (or “Manually”) and enter the address of a trusted blocker.
dns.adguard.comAfter you enter the address, save the settings. From now on, all requests to known ad servers will be blocked, which not only removes banners, but can also speed up the loading of pages in the browser, since it will not waste time downloading advertising content.
What to do if Wi-Fi stops working?
It is important to understand that this method may conflict with some local area networks or corporate Wi-Fi that require authorization through the portal, and if you encounter connection problems in public places, the DNS will have to be temporarily disabled.
Comparison of Ad Blocking Methods
There are many ways to combat intrusive banners on the Redmi Note 8 Pro, but not all of them are equally effective and safe. Below is a table comparing the main methods in terms of complexity and effectiveness.
| Method | Difficulty | Efficiency | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSA shutdown | Low. | High (systemic advertising) | Minimum |
| Set-up of applications | Medium | Medium (local advertising) | Absent. |
| Private DNS | Low. | Maximum (web and applications) | Possible Network Conflicts |
| ADB team | Tall. | Maximum (complete removal) | Risk of loss of warranty/data |
For most users, the best solution is to combine the first three methods: disabling msa, manually configuring applications, and activating dns.adguard.com, which provides a balance between the purity of the system and the stability of its operation.
Using ADB (Android Debug Bridge) to remove system packets is a powerful tool, but it requires a PC connection and some knowledge. Mistakes in removing critical system components can lead to a smartphone bootloop.
Debugging by USB and removing system packages
If standard methods have failed or you want to achieve perfect system cleanliness, you can use a debugging tool, which allows you to remove or freeze system applications that cannot be removed in the usual way, but using this method requires extreme caution, since deleting critical system files can make the phone inoperable.
To start, activate the developer mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click 7 times on MIUI Version. After the message “You became a developer” appears, go back to the main settings menu, select “Additional” → “For developers”.
In the developer menu, find and enable the item “Debugging by USB.” Confirm the warning system. Now the smartphone is ready to connect to the computer. You will need a PC with the ADB toolkit installed and a USB cable connected.
- 💻 Connect your phone to your PC and allow debugging on your smartphone screen.
- 📦 Install a package management program on your PC, such as Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools or use the command line.
- 🚫 Find ad-related packages (e.g. com.miui.misys, com.miui.daemon) and remove or freeze them.
⚠️ Warning: Never remove system components whose purpose you do not know.Remove Google Play services or system frameworks MIUI This will require re-flashing of the device.
After all the manipulations, it is recommended to restart the device and check its operation for a few days.If you notice instability in the operation of certain functions (for example, notifications stopped coming or auto-brightness did not work), remote components may have been necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is it safe to completely disable the MSA service?
Will the ads return after the MIUI update?
Can I remove ads without disconnecting the internet?
Why is there no “Recommendations” in some apps?
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A comprehensive approach, including disabling MSA, setting up DNS and manually cleaning applications, ensures maximum comfort using the Redmi Note 8 Pro without intrusive advertising.