How to remove ads on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8: the complete guide

Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often face intrusive marketing content that is embedded in the MIUI shell. This phenomenon has become so common that many users come to terms with constant pop-ups, considering them an inevitable evil. However, system advertising is not only annoying, but also consumes traffic, and slows down the device.

Fortunately, there are proven ways to block ad modules without having to obtain superuser rights or flash the device.The process of cleaning the system from msadvertising and other services takes only a few minutes. In this article, we will detail how to permanently rid the Redmi Note 8 of advertising garbage.

You don’t need to be an IT expert to perform these settings, as all activities are done through a standard menu.

We will look at both software methods for disabling services and DNS settings that block network-level advertising.

Follow the instructions consistently to ensure maximum cleaning efficiency of your gadget.

Disabling MSA service in system settings

The first and most important step is to deactivate the MIUI System Ads service, which is responsible for displaying banners in standard applications.

It is this component that collects data about your preferences and translates content to folders, browsers and settings menus.

To start, open the Settings menu of your smartphone and go to the Password and Security section.

In the list that opens, look for access to personal data (or “Authorization and privacy” in new firmware versions).

In a long list of system processes, you need to find an element called msa (MIUI System Ads).

⚠️ Warning: Once the msa slider is turned off, the system can start a countdown of 10 seconds and require re-confirmation. It's a safety mechanism that you just have to wait and press "Disable" again.

Once you disable this setting, ads in standard apps should disappear almost instantly.

However, some built-in utilities may have their own customization of advertising recommendations that require special attention.

Set up personalized recommendations

Even after the main service is turned off, some Xiaomi apps continue to offer “recommended content.”

These settings are hidden deep within the menu of each system application and require manual intervention.

Most often, advertising notifications come from the Security app, which is the control center of the system.

Go to the Security app, click on the settings gear in the upper right corner.

Scroll down to Receive Recommendations and turn off this switch.

A similar procedure must be repeated for the Download and Explorer application.

In each of them, in the settings menu (usually three dots or a gear), you need to find the Recommendation option and deactivate it.

This will prevent news feeds and advertising blocks from appearing in the interface of these utilities.

It is worth noting that after updating the firmware, these settings may reset, so periodically check their status.

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If you can’t find the “Recommendations” item in the app, try clearing its cache through the “Apps” menu» → «All applications» → Select the application → «Memory» → «Clean up».

Blocking Advertising through Private DNS

The most effective method that works globally for the entire device is to use a secure DNS.

This method allows you to block ad servers even before they load the banner on your screen.

The method works at the level of the Android operating system and does not require the installation of third-party software.

Go to Settings → Connection and Sharing (or “Wi-Fi and Internet”).

Find a private item DNS-server (Private) DNS).

Select the DNS Host Name (or Manual) option and enter the following line:

dns.adguard.com

After entering the address, click "Save".

Now all traffic on your Redmi Note 8 will pass through AdGuard filters, screening out advertising requests in apps and browser.

It is important to understand that this method may conflict with some corporate networks or parental controls.

If you notice problems connecting to certain resources, temporarily disable this feature.

Cleaning up the Mi Browser and Chrome browser

Xiaomi’s standard browser is known for its aggressive policy of displaying news and advertising.

Even with system services disabled, it can continue to show pop-ups.

For a complete cleanup, open the Browser and go to the settings menu (three bars → Settings).

Find the Privacy and Security section and enable pop-up locks.

Also in the Home page, turn off the display of the news feed.

If you use Google Chrome, the situation is a little different, as it doesn’t have an ad blocker built in.

In this case, reliance on a Private DNS (described above) becomes critical.

Additionally, you can install extensions to block if the browser supports their installation.

Remember to regularly clear history and cookies, as advertising trackers use them for targeting.

Managing Notifications from Applications

Often, advertising does not come from the system, but from the applications you installed in the form of push notifications.

Many free programs abuse permissions to display notifications.

To stop this flow, go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Notification management.

Here is a complete list of all applications that have the right to display messages on the screen.

Carefully go through the list and turn off notifications for games, stores and questionable utilities.

Pay special attention to applications with names like “Memory Cleanup”, “Flashlight” or “QR Scanner”.

They are often the source of advertising spam.

Leave notifications on only for messengers, mail and important system services.

Also check the settings of specific apps: often they have hidden “Show Ads” switches inside them.

Comparison of blocking methods

There are many ways to combat intrusive content, but not all are equally effective.

Below is a table that will help you choose the best strategy for your case.

As you can see from the table, the combination of disabling msa and using DNS gives the best result.

Manual cleaning of each application takes a long time, but allows you to fine-tune the behavior of the system.

The use of third-party applications-blockers can lead to increased battery consumption.

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A comprehensive approach, combining system services shutdown and network filtering through DNS, ensures that there is no advertising.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Now, your Redmi Note 8 should be significantly cleaner and faster.

Regularly checking your privacy settings will help keep the system in optimal condition.

Use the methods described above to make your device comfortable without unnecessary visual noise.