How to permanently remove ads on the lock screen Xiaomi Redmi Note 8

Your Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 lock screen is littered with annoying ads? You're not alone, thousands of users are facing this problem after MIUI updates. Ads are due to Xiaomi's built-in services that are activated by default in firmware. The good news is that it can be turned off without installing third-party apps or obtaining root rights.

In this article, we’ll look at all the working methods, from standard MIUI settings to radical measures like reset to factory settings. It’s important to understand that some methods may vary depending on the firmware version (e.g. MIUI 12 vs MIUI 14). If you use the Redmi Note 8 Pro or another Note model, most instructions will do too – the differences are minimal.

Before you start, check the version of MIUI in Settings → About Phone. This will help avoid confusion with the location of menu items. Also note that after some updates, the ad may return - you will have to repeat the procedure.

Why does Redmi Note 8 have a lock screen ad?

One reason is the built-in monetization of MIUI. Xiaomi has integrated advertising services directly into system applications to compensate for the low price of smartphones.

• 📢 Banners with offers of games or applications (for example, "Install" PUBG Mobile!")
• 🔗 Links to shares in Mi Store or affiliate services
• 🎁 "Gifts from Xiaomi (often led to advertising landing pages)
• 📊 Content recommendations based on your activity

The main sources of advertising:

In Redmi Note 8, the most common reason for blocking screen ads is msa (Mi System Ads), which works even if you don’t use standard Xiaomi apps, which collects data about your activity and displays “personalized” ads, and you can turn it off, but not through the usual settings, you will need access to hidden settings.

⚠️ Note: Some methods (e.g., disabling msa through ADB) You may be able to disrupt system notifications. Before you change, back up your data to Settings. → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

Method 1: Disabling Advertising through the standard MIUI settings

Let's start with the simplest method, which works on most versions of MIUI 11-14, which requires no additional tools and takes less than a minute.

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings → Lock screen.
2. Scroll down and find the Recommendations (or Show Recommendations).
3. Turn off the slider near this point.
4. Return to the main settings menu and go to Applications → Application Management.
5. In search, type in msa, select Mi System Ads, and click Disable (or Remove Updates if the button is active).

If there is no recommendation, try an alternative path:

• 🔧 Settings → Additionally. → Special facilities → Advertising and recommendations
• 🔧 Settings → Accounts and synchronization → Mi Account. → Advertising

Check out the MIUI version.

Make a backup copy of the data

Battery charge > 50%

Connect to Wi-Fi (for stability)-->

After shutting down, restart your phone. Ads should disappear within 5-10 minutes. If that doesn't happen, move on to the next way.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware (MIUI 12.5 Enhanced and newer) the paragraph msa can be hidden. ADB-command (see Method 3).

Method 2: Remove system applications (without root)

Some Xiaomi apps (Mi Video, Mi Browser, Cleaner) automatically add ads to the lock screen, which can be removed without obtaining root permissions, but you will need a computer and an ADB (Android Debug Bridge) program.

Steps:

1. Download ADB Tools and unpack the archive.
2. On your phone, activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. 7 times click on MIUI Version. Return to Settings → Additional → Developer. Enable USB Debugging.

ADB

adb devices

There should be a device with a serial number.

adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.systemAdSolution


adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.xiaomi.midrop




adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.analytics




adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.bugreport




adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.cloudservice

After you execute the commands, restart your phone. The ads on the lock screen should disappear.

💡

If system functions (e.g. cloud backup) have stopped working after uninstalling applications, restore them with the adb shell cmd package install-existing com.miui.cloudservice command.

List of applications that can be safely removed:

• 🎬 Mi Video (com.miui.video) – shows ads in widgets
• 🌐 Mi Browser (com.android.browser) - adds a news feed
• 🧹 Cleaner (com.miui.cleanmaster) – sends notifications about “garbage"
• 📊 Analytics (com.miui.analytics) – collects data for targeted advertising

Method 3: Disabling Advertising through ADB (Advanced Method)

If previous methods didn't work, you'd have to use ADB to shut down system services, which works on all versions of MIUI, but requires care.

Instructions:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and make sure that ADB recognizes the device (the adb device command).
2. Execute the command to disable msa: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.systemAdSolution
3. Turn off personalized ads: adb shell settings put global device_provisioned 1 adb shell settings put secure user_setup_complete 1
4. Reboot the phone.

If the ad returns after the reboot, add these commands:

adb shell settings put global captive_portal_detection_enabled 0


adb shell settings put global captive_portal_server false

These commands disable the internet connection check that Xiaomi sometimes uses to display ads.

⚠️ Attention: Some teams ADB You can reset your network settings. After you do it, check your Wi-Fi and mobile Internet connection.

Method 4: Reset to factory settings (radical method)

If nothing works, the last option is a complete reset, which will delete all data from the phone, but it is guaranteed to remove the ads (until the next MIUI update).

How to reset:

1. Create a backup of important data (photos, contacts, messages).
2. Go to Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset → Reset settings.
3. Choose Delete all data and confirm the action.
4. After rebooting, set up your phone as new, but do not sign in to your Mi Account during the initial setup phase.

After discharge:

• 🔒 Do not update the firmware immediately – check if the advertisement has appeared.
• 🔒 Turn off automatic app updates on Google Play.
• 🔒 Do not install the standard Xiaomi apps (Mi Video, Mi Browser).

On Redmi Note 8, a factory reset removes all traces of advertising services, but only before the first MIUI update. To avoid the return of advertising, turn off automatic system updates in Settings → About Phone → System Update → Three Points → Settings → Auto Update.

Standard settings of MIUI

Removing applications through ADB

Disconnecting msa via ADB

Reset to factory settings

Nothing helped.-->

Method 5: Using third-party launchers and blockers

If you don't want to mess with the settings, you can just replace the standard lock screen.

• 📱 Launchers: Nova Launcher, Action Launcher (allows you to hide standard widgets) MIUI)
• 🔒 Adblockers: Blokada, AdGuard (blocking Xiaomi ad servers)
• 🛡️ VPN Filtered with 1.1.1.1 (from Cloudflare) or NextDNS

Instructions for AdGuard:

1. Download AdGuard from Google Play.
2. Launch the app and turn on the protection.
3. Go to Settings → Filters → Add a filter.
4. Enter the URL: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/princeakash/Anti-Adblock-Killer-Filters/master/anti-xiaomi-adblock.txt
5. Update the filters and restart the phone.

For Nova Launcher:

1. Install the launcher and make it the main one.
2. In the launcher settings, turn off Show MIUI widgets.
3. Install an alternative lock screen (such as AcDisplay or Always On AMOLED).

The downside of this method is that it doesn't remove ads completely, it just hides them behind an alternate interface, and when you go back to the standard MIUI launcher, the ads can reappear.

How to prevent the return of advertising after updates?

Xiaomi regularly updates its advertising services, so after installing a new version of MIUI, ads can return.

1. Turn off automatic system update: Go to Settings → About Phone → System Update. Click on three dots in the upper right corner → Settings. Turn off Auto Update and Autoboot over Wi-Fi.
2. Block ad domains via hosts file: Download the AdAway app (root required). Add to the blacklist domains: ad.mi.com tracker.mi.com data.mistat.xiaomi.com sdkconfig.ad.intl.xiaomi.com
3. Check msa activity regularly: In Settings → Applications → Application Management, look for msa. If it is activated again, turn it off via ADB.

If you still decide to update MIUI after installing the new version immediately:

1. Turn off the recommendations on the lock screen.
2. Remove the updates for msa.
3. Follow the ADB commands from Method 3.

💡

The most reliable way to avoid advertising is to disable automatic updates. MIUI use ADB-commands after each manual update installation.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Many users have trouble trying to remove ads, and here are the most common mistakes and solutions:

Another common mistake is installing unofficial firmware in an attempt to get rid of advertising, which can lead to:

• 🚨 Loss of warranty
• 🚨 Unstable operation of the phone
• 🚨 Problems with banking applications (due to lack of certification)

If you still decide on custom firmware, choose proven options like LineageOS or Pixel Experience, but remember: this is an extreme measure.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions