Owners of the Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite smartphone often face intrusive ads that appear in system applications and even on the desktop.This is a consequence of the MIUI shell, which is set up by default to collect user data for targeted advertising. Although the device has excellent performance, constant pop-ups can be annoying and distracting from the main work.
Fortunately, Android allows you to deeply customize your settings, and disabling ads on this smartphone does not require superuser rights or flashing. It is enough to go through several settings menus consistently and disable specific services responsible for marketing activities. In this guide, we will discuss all known methods of blocking.
Doing this will not only remove visual noise, but also significantly reduce background load on the processor, as the ad modules will no longer need to constantly communicate with servers to receive new banners.
Disconnection of MSA (MIUI System Ads)
The main source of advertising content in the shell is the system application MSA. This service is responsible for displaying banners in standard utilities such as Explorer, Music and Themes. The first step should always be to turn off this service, as it is the basis for most advertising integrations.
First, you need to get into the application management menu. Find the MIUI System Ads list or just msa. It is important not to force the application to be removed through ADB at this stage, namely disable it through the standard interface to avoid possible system verification errors when booting.
When you go to the app menu, you'll see the "Disable" button, and the system may ask you several times about your decision, claiming that it will affect the other components. Ignore these warnings, as the basic functions of the smartphone will remain fully functional without the ad module.
☑️ Checking the shutdown MSA
Note that the shutdown button can only become active after the ten-second wait timer has expired. This artificial restriction is designed to scare the user away, but it is easily bypassed by a simple wait. If you hurry, the button will remain gray and inactive.
Configure the MIUI privacy settings
In addition to the explicit MSA service, the privacy section is responsible for collecting data and personalizing advertising, which stores settings that allow the system to analyze your actions and match the relevant ads, and disabling these functions is a critical step in completely cleaning the system.
You need to go to the password and security settings where the Privacy item is located. In this section, you should find the switch responsible for Getting Recommendations or User Experience. Deactivating this item breaks the connection between your device and the company's analytics servers.
⚠️ Note: After disabling privacy services, some features, such as automatic wallpaper selection or browser news feed, may stop updating or not work properly.
Also worth checking is the settings of your Mi Account if you are logged in to it. There are often separate sections in your profile that allow you to use data to improve services, and disable all marketing and personalization options to minimize your digital footprint.
Managing system applications with advertising
Ads in Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite are often hidden inside specific applications such as Security, Downloads or Themes. Even after the shared MSA service is disabled, these programs can still have their own ad switches that need to be manually extinguished.
Start with the Security app. Go to its settings (usually the gear icon in the corner) and find the "Get recommendations" item, which is responsible for pop-ups suggesting that you clear your memory or speed up your phone, which are actually ad modules.
Similar actions are required for the Themes and Music app, each with its own settings section, often hidden in the back of the menu, where you need to uncheck the recommendations, ensuring that you are not met by a banner when you open the themes gallery.
Be sure to check the settings of the Downloads app. Often this is where advertising junk appears after downloading files from the Internet, and disabling the recommendations in this menu will prevent pop-ups with suggestions to install games or applications.
Blocking ads in the browser and Mi Video
The standard Mi Browser browser and the Mi Video app are some of the most aggressive sources of advertising. They not only show banners inside the interface, but can also notify with news and promotions. They also need to be tamed to make them comfortable.
In your browser, go to the settings and find the Privacy and Security section, where you need to disable personalized recommendations, and it is recommended to install a third-party ad blocker or use the default Incognito mode, if this option is available in your firmware version.
A video player application often offers "online video" with inlays. To only view local files, you need to find the "Online Content" or "Recommendations" switch in the player's settings and turn it off, which will remove the ad tape from the app's home screen.
| Annex | Set-off parameter | Location. | The effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security | Receive recommendations | Settings (cogs) | No pop-up cleaning windows |
| Topics | Showing ads | Profile → Settings | Clean store interface |
| Downloads. | Receive recommendations | Settings → About the programme | No post-download advertising |
| Mi video | Online recommendations | Player settings | Local files only |
Using DNS to block trackers
One of the most effective methods that works at the network level is to change the network. DNS-On Android 9 and above, which is installed on the Mi 8 Lite, there is a built-in function "Private". DNS» (Private DNS). It allows you to redirect all requests through a server that filters advertising traffic.
You don't need to install any apps. Just go to the connection settings, look for Private DNS (usually under "Additional" or "Connect and Sharing") and select Manual Mode. In the hostname field, you must enter the address of the verified blocker.
dns.adguard.comEntering this dns.adguard.com address will make your smartphone ignore requests to known ad servers, which will remove ads not only in the system, but also in many applications and games that use standard ad networks.
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If Wi-Fi stops working in some public places after changing the DNS (for example, in a cafe with browser authorization), temporarily return the DNS settings to Auto mode to get authorization, and then turn on the blocker again.
It's worth noting that this method doesn't require constant action after setup. It works globally for all connections, whether it's mobile internet or Wi-Fi, making it one of the most convenient solutions for lazy users.
Disabling notifications from system services
Even if you have hidden banners inside apps, the curtain notifications can continue to be disturbing, and often system services like Mi Credit or Feedback continue to send spam, and you need to find them on the general notification list and block them from doing anything.
Go to notification and status settings. Scroll through the list to the end where system applications usually hide. Find items with names like MIUI Service, Mi Credit, Get Themes. Each of them must open a detailed menu and completely disable notifications.
⚠️ Warning: Be careful disabling notifications from Google Play Services or System Updates apps, which may cause you to stop receiving important security or app updates messages.
Pay special attention to the Themes app, which often sends notifications about new collections that are disguised advertisements, and completely disabling notifications for this app will not affect the ability to change wallpaper manually.
Additional measures and resetting of advertising identifier
To consolidate the result, it is recommended to reset the advertising ID of your device, which is the line of code that ad networks track your interests, and the reset will not remove the ads completely, but will “nullify” the accumulated profile, making the ads less accurate and intrusive.
This feature is in Google's settings. Find the "Google" section in the phone's general settings menu, then go to "Advertising" and click "Reset Ad ID," and you can turn off ad personalization for your entire Google account.
What if the advertisements returned after the update?
If nothing helps, consider installing a third-party launcher, such as a Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher.This will completely replace the desktop and remove the built-in Xiaomi widgets, which are often the source of advertising traffic on the home screen.
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A comprehensive approach, including disabling MSA, changing DNS and manually configuring each system application, ensures that there is no advertising on the Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite.