Xiaomi smartphone owners often encounter intrusive banner ads that appear in the most unexpected places, including the lock screen. For users of the Redmi Note 8 Pro, this problem is especially relevant, since the device runs on the shell of MIUI, which is set up by default for aggressive marketing. However, there are several effective ways to completely clean the interface of unnecessary visual noise.
Eliminating ad blocks requires a series of actions in the system settings to be performed consistently. You don't need superuser rights or complex technical manipulations. You just need to follow the algorithm described in this guide carefully to regain the comfort of using the gadget. We'll look at both standard methods of disconnecting through the menu and deeper settings for advanced users.
Reasons for the appearance of banner advertising in MIUI
Advertising in Xiaomi is not a virus, but a built-in feature designed to monetize the company’s budget and mid-budget devices. Developers deliberately implement the msa (MIUI System Ads) code, which is responsible for collecting data and showing targeted content, and understanding this mechanism helps you better navigate your privacy settings.
Most of the time, ads are streamed through standard apps like Explorer, Music or Cleanup, and these are the services that have access to display information on a locked screen, and if you notice that banners appear suddenly after the update, that means that privacy settings have been reset to factory values.
It's important to distinguish between in-front advertising and notifications from the apps you install: the former are generated by MIUI, the latter by third-party programs, the former by system switches, the latter by permission management, and you shouldn't mix these concepts, because the methods of solving problems are fundamentally different.
Disabling the MSA System Service
The centerpiece of the advertising system is the MSA service, which is the first and most important step in the cleanup process of a smartphone, and without deactivating this component, any other settings may not be effective, as the service will force the content to be downloaded.
You first need to go to the settings menu and find the password and security item, and in some firmware versions, this section may be simply called "Security," and there's a key switch that controls the ad engine, and find the "Get recommendations" line and put the slider in an inactive position.
The system will require you to confirm the action by running a countdown for 10 seconds. This is Xiaomi's security mechanism to prevent the function from accidentally turning off. After the time has expired, click "Disable." If you fail the first time, repeat the procedure 2-3 times, since the company's servers can temporarily block the request.
☑️ Checking the shutdown MSA
Setting up the lock screen Wallpaper Carousel
The main source of visual debris on the blocked display of the Redmi Note 8 Pro is the Wallpaper Carousel feature, which not only changes pictures, but also actively loads banner ads to the bottom of the screen, disabling this feature returns a standard static background.
To remove the ads, go to the settings section on the lock screen. In the list of options, find the item "Wallpaper Carousel". Inside this menu, you need to turn off the "Wallpaper Carousel" switch, which will instantly stop the change of images and the display of promotional materials.
If you want to keep the wallpaper changeable but without advertising, you can use an alternative method: in the Carousel settings, find “Update Frequency” and select “Do Not Update.” However, completely disabling the service is a more reliable way to save traffic and battery power.
Hidden settings of the Carousel
Managing Permits and Notifications
Sometimes the ads don't come from system services, but from apps you once gave permission to. Android and MIUI have a notification mechanism that allows programs to display information on top of other windows, and controlling this parameter is critical to the purity of the interface.
Go to the notification settings and look for the “App Notifications” section. Go through the installed program list for Xiaomi utilities like “Security,” “Downloads,” or “Mi Browser.” For each suspicious program, you should limit the rights to display notifications.
Pay special attention to the option “Make a display on top of other applications”, which allows ad windows to pop up even when you are using other programs, and disable this feature for all applications except messengers and calls where it is really needed.
| Annex | Recommended action | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|
| Security | Disable recommendations | Removes banners in the virus scanner |
| Downloads. | Disable notifications | Stops spam after downloading files |
| Mi Browser. | Ad-blocker | Reduces the number of pop-up windows |
| Music. | Disable recommendations | Takes down the playlist ads |
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Use Do Not Disturb mode at night to completely block any pop-up notifications, including system ones, that may wake the screen.
Cleaning the cache and removing updates
In some cases, settings can be lost due to errors in the cached data of system applications. If you have disabled all the switches, but ads on the Redmi Note 8 Pro continue to appear, it is worth doing a data reset for key services.
Find the Wallpaper Carousel or MSA Services app list. Go to Memory and click Clear (or Delete Data). Then click Remove Updates to roll back the app to the factory version, which often contains fewer ad modules than the latest versions.
Once you have done this, be sure to restart the device, and restart is necessary to reread the configuration files and apply new restrictions, and in some cases, you have to repeat the procedure twice to fix the result.
⚠️ Note: When you delete system application updates, the functionality may temporarily change. Don't be afraid if some visual elements of the interface look different - this is normal behavior after a version rolls back.
Using DNS to Block Advertising
A modern and very effective way to combat intrusive content is to use a private DNS, which works at the network level and blocks requests to ad servers before they reach your smartphone. For Xiaomi, this is one of the most powerful methods.
Go to the connection settings and look for Private DNS (usually under Connection and Sharing or Wi-Fi) and select DNS Host Name and enter dns.adguard.com. Save settings.
This will block most ad trackers throughout the system, including browsers and apps, and you will notice that pages load faster, and empty spaces where ads used to be white, and the method does not require the installation of additional software and works immediately after you enter the address.
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Setting up a private DNS is a “silver bullet” that blocks up to 90% of all advertising in the system without the need for root rights or complex software.
Additional system settings
There are a few other hidden places in MIUI where the sources of annoyance are hiding, like the Explorer app, which defaults to popular content. To fix this, open the app, click on the menu and select Settings. Here you need to turn off "Get content."
It's also worth checking the theme settings. Some third-party themes, even free ones, may contain built-in ads. If you're using a custom theme, try switching to a standard Classic or Default theme, which often solves the problem of unexpected banners appearing.
Don't forget about Mi Browser. If you use it, go to its settings and turn on Ad Blocker. In newer versions, this feature is built-in by default, but it should be activated manually to guarantee the result. Alternatively, you can install a third-party browser, such as Vivaldi or DuckDuckGo.
⚠️ Note: After a global firmware update, all ad settings may return to default values. MSA and wallpaper carousels.