Owners of the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro smartphone often encounter intrusive banner ads that can appear in the most unexpected places of the MIUI interface. Despite the fact that this model is no longer the flagship of the current year, it remains popular due to its transparent design and performance, but the software shell continues to require attention for comfortable operation. The MIUI system installed on the device, by default contains many built-in services that broadcast content from the company’s partners, which can annoy the user.
Completely removing junk requires a comprehensive approach, because simply disabling one setting will not be enough. You will have to go through several system sections to block all possible channels of unwanted content. In this article, we will discuss in detail the algorithm of actions that will help make your Mi 8 Pro cleaner and faster.
It's worth noting that some system applications may try to reset their settings after updating the firmware, so if you notice a return of banners, you'll have to repeat the procedure for setting some parameters, and the main thing is to act consistently and carefully check each menu item to avoid missing hidden switches.
Disabling MSA and system advertising
The first and most important step is to deactivate MIUI System Ads (MSA), a process that is responsible for collecting user data and delivering targeted ads to standard applications, and without disabling this component, all other activities may be ineffective as the service will constantly try to download new content.
To start, go to the smartphone settings menu and find the Password and Security section, select the Personal Data Access section. From the app list that opens, find msa and put the slider inactive, and the system will warn you that some features may be affected, and suggest that you wait 10 seconds before confirming the action.
⚠️ Warning: The shutdown confirmation button may be barely noticeable or only appear after a few attempts — MIUI This process is particularly complicated.
After successful disabling of the MSA, it is also recommended to limit advertising personalization. To do this, in the same settings section, find Advertising Services and turn off the Receive Recommendations option. This action will break the link between your device ID and the ad servers, which will significantly reduce the number of targeted impressions.
☑️ Checking the ad-off
Set up standard Xiaomi applications
Even after the MSA system service is disabled, individual Xiaomi utility apps can continue to show promotional materials. Each system component, whether it is a conductor, memory cleanup or music, has its own hidden content display settings that are activated by default when installed or updated.
Consider the main applications where advertising is most common, and ways to eliminate it:
- 📁 Explorer: Open the application, click on three dots in the corner, select Settings → About the application and disable the item Get recommendations.
- 🧹 Security (Cleanup): Go to the app, click on the settings gear in the corner and find the option to Receive recommendations by turning it off.
- 🎵 Music and Video: In the settings of these players, you also need to find the Additional settings section and remove the tick from the Receive recommendations item.
- 📄 Mi Browser: This is a separate ecosystem that requires a personalized approach, which will be discussed below.
Remember that the menu interface may vary slightly depending on the version of the installed MIUI firmware. If you do not find the exact name of the item, look for synonyms or similar options in the About or Additional section.
Why is the ad coming back?
Cleaning up Mi Browser from pop-up windows
Xiaomi’s standard browser is often the main source of user annoyance due to the abundance of news feeds and pop-ups. To turn it into a minimalist surfing tool, you need to perform a number of additional settings beyond the usual disabling recommendations.
Go to your browser settings (three bars in the bottom menu) and select Settings. Go to Privacy and Security. Here you need to turn off a few items: Use Safe Browsing (sometimes this helps remove unnecessary warnings), as well as all the items related to notifications and personalization. Pay special attention to the Notifications section - prevent sites from asking permission to display notifications.
Also in the main browser settings, find the Home page and select the No News option or set your own start page. This will remove the endless news feed that consumes traffic and distracts from work.
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Alternative browser: If the Mi browser continues to be annoying, just install Chrome, Firefox or Brave. They don't have built-in ads from Xiaomi and run more staidly on older versions of Android.
Notifications from applications and download folder
Users often confuse system advertising with notifications from installed apps or games. Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro owners may encounter banners that appear thanks to the aggressive policies of some free programs installed from Google Play or third-party sources.
To identify the culprit, look at the text of the notification or banner. If there is an app name, immediately go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Notification Management. Find a suspicious app and completely disable it from showing notifications or delete it.
The Download folder deserves special attention. APK-files downloaded accidentally can run ad windows on top of other applications. Check this folder regularly through the file manager and delete unknown installers.
| Type of advertisement | Source | Elimination method |
|---|---|---|
| Banners in the interface | MSA Service | Disconnection in Password and Security |
| Recommendations in folders | System applications | Settings within each application |
| Pop-ups | Third-party annexes | Prohibition of notifications or deletion |
| Newsfeeds | Mi Browser / Global settings | Disabling the main page with news |
Using DNS to Block Advertising
One of the most effective modern methods of combating advertising is the use of private DNS, which allows you to block advertising requests at the network level without installing additional applications and without loading the Mi 8 Pro processor.
To set up, go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Private DNS. Select DNS Host Name (or Manual) and enter the address of the trusted Blocker Server. One of the most popular and verified options is the address:
dns.adguard.comOnce you save your settings, the phone may need to reboot or reconnect to the network, a method that blocks ads not only in the browser, but also in many free games and applications, making it much more enjoyable to work with the smartphone.
⚠️ Note: When using a third party DNS Some apps or sites may not work properly or load properly.If you experience problems accessing resources, temporarily return the settings. DNS auto-mode".
Additional measures and resetting of advertising identifier
To consolidate the result, it is recommended to periodically reset the advertising ID of your device, this will not remove the advertising completely, but will make it less personalized and intrusive, as the advertising networks will lose the accumulated profile of your interests.
Find the Google section in the settings (usually at the bottom of the settings list or under Accounts and Sync) and select Advertising and click Reset Ad ID. You can also turn on the option to Disable Ad Personalization.
Remember to update your apps regularly through official channels, but be wary of updating your MIUI system components if you use custom blocking techniques. Sometimes newer firmware versions close loopholes we used to disable ads.
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A comprehensive approach, including disabling MSA, configuring DNS and checking application rights, ensures maximum purity of the Xiaomi system.