Xiaomi smartphone owners often face intrusive ads that appear in the most unexpected places of the interface.The Redmi Note 8T model, despite its popularity and excellent specs, was no exception to the rule.The built-in MIUI system is set by default to showcase content from partners, which can annoy users accustomed to pure Android.
Fortunately, most of the ad modules can be deaktivated manually without obtaining superuser rights.The process requires care, as the settings are scattered across different menu sections. In this article, we will detail how to clean the interface of your Redmi Note 8T from banners, pop-ups and recommendation tapes.
Turning off ads will not only improve visual experience, but also positively affect the autonomy of the device. Background processes responsible for downloading marketing content consume traffic and battery power. When you remove the extra load, you will notice that the smartphone has become a little faster.
Main source of advertising: disabling MSA
The main culprit behind pop-ups and banners is the MSA (MIUI System Ads) service, which collects user preferences and broadcasts targeted ads, and to stop this process, you need to find the appropriate item in the security and authorization settings.
Go to the Settings menu, then select Password and Security. In the list that opens, look for Access to Personal Data or Authorization and Security, where the msa switch is located. When you try to disable it, the system will insist on staying, making you wait 10 seconds before confirming.
⚠️ Attention: After the first shutdown of the msa service, the ads may not disappear instantly.The process of completely removing cached ads takes up to 24 hours.
If you fail to turn off the service the first time, repeat the procedure several times in a row. Sometimes it takes 3-4 attempts for the system to finally agree to disable the module. This is the standard behavior of the MIUI shell, aimed at preserving advertisers.
It's important to understand that disabling system advertising doesn't disrupt the basic functions of your smartphone. You'll still be able to use all apps, but the interface will be cleaner. For some users, this is a critical step for comfortable use of the gadget.
Setup of security applications and downloads
In addition to the MSA system module, individual Xiaomi applications have their own advertising recommendations settings, most often banners appear in the standard antivirus and download manager, these programs are deeply integrated into the system, so they require a personalized approach to setting up.
To start, open the Security app, which is standard across all Redmi devices. Click on the gear icon in the top right corner to enter the settings. Find the Receive Recommendations switch and put it inactive, which will remove the ads from the main antivirus window.
Next, you should go to the Download app. Open it, click on three dots in the corner of the screen and select Settings. You also need to find Show recommended content and disable it. After that, banner ads in standard utilities will no longer appear.
☑️ Verification of system applications
Remember that system updates can bring these settings back to factory values. Periodically check the menus after major MIUI updates to keep the interface clean. This will only take a minute, but save you nerves in the future.
Cleaning the desktop and tape Mi Video
One of the most visible parts of Xiaomi’s advertising ecosystem is the Glance News Feed and Widget (formerly Mi Video), which is often located to the left of the first desktop screen. Many users accidentally swipe there and see a stream of videos and articles saturated with advertising inserts.
To get rid of this, make a long tap on the free desktop space. In the bottom menu that appears, select Settings or Additional. Find the option of the Widget Ribbon or App Ribbon and switch it to No or Unplug, which will completely remove the left screen with news.
It’s also worth checking the settings of the Mi Video or Mi Browser app itself, if you use them. Push notifications and Recommendations are often hidden inside their menus, and disabling these features will prevent notifications from appearing with a request to watch a new video or read an article.
⚠️ Note: Some versions of the firmware may call the news feed Google Discover, which is disabled through Google settings, not the desktop menu.
Once you clean your desktop, your smartphone navigation will be faster and more predictable, and you won't accidentally open commercials to find the right icon, which is especially important for the Redmi Note 8T, which has a great color reproduction screen that is a shame to spend on low-quality advertising.
Advertising personalization and identifiers
To target ads, the system uses a unique advertising identifier, which resets or disables ads that are less personalized, although it does not completely remove them, but it is an important step in protecting your privacy and limiting data collection.
Go to Settings, then Password and Security, and select Privacy. In this menu, look for Advertising Services. Here you will see the Advertising Personalization switch that you want to turn off. It is also recommended to click Reset Advertising ID.
This procedure doesn't remove ads completely, but it resets your accumulated profile of interests. For a system, you become a new user, and it takes time for the algorithms to start picking up content again, combined with disabling MSA, this gives you the maximum effect.
Note that the location of these settings may vary slightly between MIUI versions, so if you don’t find a location, search for the settings by entering the word “advertising” or “identifier”.
Comparison of Ad Blocking Methods
There are several ways to combat intrusive content on the Redmi Note 8T. They vary in implementation complexity and efficiency. Below is a table that will help you choose the best method for your needs.
| Method | Difficulty | Efficiency | Risks. |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSA shutdown | Low. | Tall. | Minimum |
| Set-up of applications | Low. | Medium | No. |
| Private DNS | Medium | Very high. | Possible network errors |
| Installation of modified firmware | Tall. | Maximum | Loss of guarantee |
As you can see from the table, disabling embedded MSA services is the safest and most effective method for the average user. It does not require special knowledge and does not affect the stability of the smartphone. Using Private DNS is also effective, but requires customization.
Installing custom firmware like Xiaomi.eu or LineageOS eliminates advertising altogether, as these versions are devoid of Chinese services, but this process is difficult for beginners and can lead to loss of warranty or “bricking” of the device if errors occur.
For most Redmi Note 8T owners, a combination of the first two is enough to make smartphone use comfortable without the risk of damaging the software, and one should not resort to radical measures unless they are urgently needed.
Blocking through DNS (Advanced)
A more advanced method that allows you to block ads not only in the system, but also in the browser and some applications is the use of private DNS. This method redirects requests to the ad servers to nowhere, preventing them from loading.
Go to Settings, select Connection and Sharing (or Wi-Fi). DNS (Private DNS). Select the Host Name option of the provider DNS and enter the address: dns.adguard.com. Save settings.
dns.adguard.comOnce you have set up, reboot your smartphone. This method works at the network level, so ads will be blocked in all applications that use a standard network connection. However, if the ad server changes address, the method may stop working until the lock lists are updated.
If you notice problems with the Internet, just return the DNS settings to Auto or Disconnected.