Why news appears on the lock screen and how to fix it
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro lock screen is loaded by default with a news widget from MIUI that shows feed from Yandex.Dzen, MSN or other services. For many users, this becomes an annoying factor: unnecessary notifications, unnecessary traffic and slowing down unlocking. Fortunately, you can turn this feature off in several ways, both through standard settings and using hidden system settings.
Complicating the problem is that different versions of MIUI (11 to 14) may have different paths to settings, and some options are hidden behind regional restrictions. For example, the global firmware Redmi Note 8 Pro (codename begonia) often lacks a direct button to disable widgets. In this article, we will discuss all current methods, including those that work even after resetting.
Method 1: Disconnect via lock screen settings
The most obvious way is to use the built-in MIUI options, which is suitable for most users and does not require additional manipulation.
- Open Settings on your Redmi Note 8 Pro.
- Go to Lock Screen (or Lock and Protect in some versions).
- Find the lock screen style or lock screen settings.
- Stick to the current style (usually MIUI or Classic).
- At the bottom of the screen will appear a switch Show recommendations or News Feed – turn it off.
If there is no such switch, then your firmware version uses a different mechanism, in which case try an alternative path:
- 🔍 In the same section, the Lock screen, find additional settings.
- 📱 Scroll down to Lock screen widgets and disable all available options.
- 🔄 Restart the device to make the changes effective.
☑️ Checking the news blackout
⚠️ Attention: In the firmware MIUI 12.5+ European region (EEA) The news item may be called the Lock Screen Magazine.
Method 2: Remove the News system application
If standard settings don't work, you can go the radical way of removing or disabling the system app that's responsible for the news, and you'll need root rights or ADB access.
No root (via ADB):
- Connect Redmi Note 8 Pro to your computer and enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times to activate Developer Mode).
- Open the command line (CMD or Terminal) and type:
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.weather2
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.yellowpageFrom root (via Root Explorer or ADB):
- 📁 Find and delete files:
- 🔄 Reset the device.
What if the ADB does not recognize the device?
| Method | Root is required. | Reversibility | Risk to the system |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disconnection through settings | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No. |
| ADB-team pm uninstall | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes (can be returned) | ⚠️ Low. |
| Removal APK-file | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No (needs a reflash) | ⚠️⚠️ Medium. |
| Change of DNS | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No. |
⚠️ Attention: Removal of system APK-files without backup can lead to a cyclic reboot. TWRP Or Mi Flash Tool.
Method 3: Blocking news via DNS
If you don't want to delete apps, but news keeps coming, you can block the domains from which they're downloaded, and this works without rooting and doesn't require complicated manipulation.
Instructions:
- Open the Settings. → Wi-Fi (or Mobile Network).
- Tap on the current network and select Change Network (or Additional Settings).
- In the DNS 1 and DNS 2 field, type:
1.1.1.1
1.0.0.1Or use AdGuard DNS:
176.103.130.130
176.103.130.131These DNSs block advertising and tracking domains, including those used by MIUI for the newsfeed.
- 🔄 Reboot the phone.
- 📵 Clear the app's cache Settings → Annexes → Application management → Settings.
- 🔍 Check if the news has gone away.
💡
If some websites (e.g. banking sites) have stopped working after the DNS change, return the standard DNS from the provider or use Google DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4).
Method 4: Reset the lock screen settings
Sometimes news comes back after a MIUI update or a phone reset, in which case resetting the lock screen settings without losing data will help.
How to do this:
- Go to Settings → System and device → Additional → Resetting.
- Select Reset the lock screen settings (not to be confused with a full reset!).
- Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.
After discharge:
- ⚙️ Configure the lock screen again by selecting the style without widgets.
- 🔒 Install. PIN or pattern lock (if previously used).
- 📱 Check for no news.
💡
Resetting the lock screen does not delete photos, apps or accounts; it returns only visual lock and notification elements to factory settings.
Method 5: Using third-party launchers
If all of the above methods fail, you can bypass the limitations of MIUI with an alternative launcher that supports lock screen customization, such as:
- 📱 Nova Launcher + Sesame Lock Screen.
- 🔧 Action Launcher with Quicktheme setting.
- 🎨 Smart Launcher 6 (has built-in options for blocking widgets).
How to set up:
- Install the selected launcher from Google Play.
- Set it as the default launcher in Settings → Applications → By default.
- In the launcher settings, find the Lock Screen or Widgets section and disable all unnecessary elements.
Important: Some launchers may conflict with MIUI system services, causing delays when unlocking. Before installing, check the reviews for your model (Redmi Note 8 Pro).
What to do if the news comes back after the update
After updating MIUI (for example, from 12.5 to 13), the lock screen settings are often reset.
- 📵 Before updating, turn off automatic download of updates in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
- 🔧 After the update, repeat steps from Method 1 or 2 (settings may return the news feed).
- 📁 Create a backup of your current settings through Settings → Additionally. → Backup.
If the news comes out even after all the manipulations, check out:
- 🔍 Are there any duplicate applications installed (e.g. Yandex or MSN News manually.
- 📡 Is Mi Cloud Sync active, which can restore settings after a reset.
- 🛠️ Is the beta version not being used? MIUI (They often include experimental widgets).