Users of Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones often encounter intrusive banner ads that appear in the most unexpected places of the interface. Owners of the Redmi 8 Pro are no exception, since the MIUI shell is set to display promo materials by default.
Fortunately, the built-in Android system and the shell capabilities allow you to completely eliminate this visual noise without having to get super-user rights. You don't have to install third-party launchers or complex scripts to return the device to its original appearance. You just need to go through several points in the system settings to block the sources of advertising content.
In this guide, we will take a closer look at the process of cleaning your gadget’s interface, not only the standard switches, but also the hidden mechanisms of the system applications that are responsible for targeted content. Follow the instructions Step-by-step to ensure that the Redmi 8 Pro is comfortable to use.
The Nature of the Appearance of Advertising Banners in MIUI
The MIUI advertising integrations are not a virus or a bug, but a conscious decision by developers to monetize budget devices. The system uses a special service that analyzes your actions and selects relevant offers. On the Redmi 8 Pro, this mechanism runs in the background, consuming some of the CPU resources and traffic.
The main source of intrusive content is the MSA (MIUI System Ads) system application, which is responsible for collecting statistics and displaying banners in standard utilities. While the service is active, you will not get rid of pop-ups completely, even if you turn off some notifications.
⚠️ Note: Complete removal of system components through ADB It is recommended to use the standard shutdown methods described in this article to maintain the warranty and stability.
In addition to MSA, specific apps such as “Security,” “Downloads,” “Music,” and “Themes” are responsible for advertising, each with its own personalization settings that need to be adjusted separately, and ignoring these settings will leave banners in separate menu sections.
Disabling the MSA System Service
The first and most important step is to deactivate the main ad module, and without this action, all other settings may not be effective, as the service will try to regain its rights every time it connects to the network, a process that takes only a minute, but requires care.
You need to go to the settings menu and find the password and security section, and depending on the version of MIUI, the path may vary slightly, but the logic remains the same.
Once you find the right switch, the system will ask you to wait 10 seconds before confirming an action, which is a security mechanism that prevents important functions from accidentally turning off. Press the "Disable" button and wait for the slider to disappear.
☑️ Checking the shutdown MSA
If the MSA switch is activated again after the reboot, check for system updates. In newer versions of the firmware, the switching algorithm can be changed and the procedure will have to be repeated. Also make sure the device has the correct time and date, as this affects the operation of the security certificates.
Set up personalization and advertising ID
Even after the main service is disabled, the system still has a unique ad ID that is used for targeting, and resetting this ID and banning its use significantly reduces the relevance of the remaining promotional content, an important step in improving privacy.
To do this, go to the privacy settings section, where the Advertising Services block is often hidden in the submenu or requires careful search, and this is where the Advertising ID key setting is stored.
In the window that opens, you need to activate the "Disable Ad Personalization" option, which will break the link between your online behavior and the ads you show, and the system will stop considering your interests when creating advertising results.
| Parameter | Current status | Recommended action | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSA Service | Active. | Shut down. | Removes the main advertisement |
| Advertising ID | Active. | Reset and disable | Reduces targeting |
| Recommendations (Folders) | Included. | Turn it off. | Cleaning the desk |
| Wallpaper carousel | Included. | Turn it off. | Removes juicy screen ads |
Remember to also reset the advertising ID by clicking the corresponding button on the same menu, which will create a new random ID, which will completely confuse the data collection algorithms, and then you can move on to more subtle interface settings.
Cleaning the lock screen and wallpaper carousel
The most prominent display of ads on the Redmi 8 Pro is often the Wallpaper Carousel, which automatically changes the background image and adds news widgets, which are essentially disguised ad units, and disabling this feature will return a static background.
To remove this item, go to the lock screen settings. Find wallpaper carousel or "Glance" (name depends on the firmware region), inside this menu will be a switch that activates or deactivates the service.
Once the function is turned off, the system will suggest you choose a static image or gallery for the background. Choose any option you like, and the lock screen will be clean. There will be no more news feeds and promo banners when you turn on the display.
⚠️ Note: After the wallpaper carousel is turned off, some thematic notifications may stop coming if they were tied to this service.
If the standard shutdown didn't work and the banners stayed, try clearing the wallpaper carousel app data through the app management menu. Find it in the list of all programs, click "Clean" and select "Clean All." This will remove the cached ad modules.
Elimination of advertising in system applications
Xiaomi's built-in utilities, such as Explorer, Downloads and Security, also have their own ad modules. They're less aggressive than MSA, but can still show recommendations. Each app takes seconds to set up.
Start with the Security app. Open it, click on the settings gear in the top right corner, and find "Get recommendations." Turn off this switch. Repeat the same procedure for Explorer and Downloads.
In the Themes app, ads can appear on the homepage. Go to the user profile (human icon) and turn off "Show ads" or "Personal recommendations" in the settings, which will clear the theme store from intrusive banners.
- 📱 Security: Settings → Get recommendations (Off).
- 📂 Conductor: Settings → About the annex → Get recommendations (Off).
- ⬇️ Downloads: Three menu points → Settings → Show recommended content (off).
- 🎨 Topics: Profile → Settings → Personal recommendations (off).
Remember that after updating system applications, the settings may reset to factory values. Periodically check these points, especially after major updates to MIUI to keep the interface clean.
Blocking Advertising through DNS (Advanced)
For users who want to achieve maximum results, it is recommended to use a network-level lock, a method that does not require the installation of additional applications and works globally for the entire system, and is especially effective against advertising in the browser and some games.
Modern versions of Android, including those on the Redmi 8 Pro, have a built-in Private DNS feature that allows you to forward requests through a server that filters ad traffic, which is a safe and legal way to do so.
Go to the connection settings (Wi-Fi and Internet). Find the Private DNS section (usually in the advanced settings). Select the Host Name mode and type in the address: dns.adguard.com. Save the changes.
dns.adguard.comAfter settings are applied, the device may require a reconnection to the network. Check the Internet: sites should load, but banner ads in many applications and browsers will disappear. If the Internet is lost, then the entered address is not available or blocked by the provider.