How to permanently remove ads from the lock screen Xiaomi Redmi 8

Owners of budget smartphones like the Redmi 8 often face intrusive content that suddenly appears on a locked screen.It's not a virus, but a feature of MIUI firmware that monetizes the device through ad integrations. For many users, this becomes a serious problem, disrupting the comfort of using the gadget.

Fortunately, Android security and Xiaomi shell settings allow you to completely deactivate this functionality without losing warranty. Removing ads does not require obtaining superuser rights (Root) or complex reflashing. It is enough to go through several steps in the settings menu consistently to return a clean interface.

In this guide, we will look at everything from simple switches in the interface to shutting down system services. The most effective way is comprehensive, including disabling MSA service and cleaning up personalized recommendations. Follow the instructions carefully so that you do not miss any source of pop-ups.

The nature of advertising in the MIUI system

The Redmi 8’s advertising content is streamed through a special system component, often called MSA (MIUI System Ads), which runs in the background, analyzes your actions and loads banner ads into standard apps and lock screens, and understanding how this mechanism works helps to better combat its manifestations.

Xiaomi is implementing advertising as a way to reduce the final cost of the device, making it more accessible to the mass buyer. However, the user does not have to put up with this if he is willing to spend a few minutes to set up.

Often users confuse standard app notifications with system banners. System ads usually look like a card offering to download a game or subscribe directly to the desktop or when unlocked. Malware, in turn, can create other windows on top of windows, requiring antivirus installation or memory cleaning.

Disabling personalized recommendations

The first step to a clean interface is to disable the function, which is officially called Get Recommendations, which is responsible for the appearance of news and suggestion cards on the lock screen and in folders, and this option is located in the hidden settings menu of the system.

You need to go to Settings → Password & Security → Privacy → Special Permissions. You need to find “Get recommendations” and switch the slider to “Off” and this action will prevent the system from collecting data about your preferences for targeted advertising.

• 🔒 Open the security settings for your Redmi 8.
• 📉 Find the privacy and special permissions section.
• 🚫 Disallow access to the recommendation function.
• ✅ Confirm the action in the pop-up warning window.

Once these steps are done, the ads in the standard widgets and lock screen should disappear, but to ensure that all ad modules are completely removed, several more steps must be taken to shut down system services, and recommendations are just the tip of the iceberg behind which the deeper integration of advertising services hides.

Deactivation of MSA (MIUI System Ads)

MSA is the main engine of the ad machine in Xiaomi smartphones. It has a built-in mechanism for protection against accidental removal: when you try to turn it off, the system will ask you to wait 10 seconds before confirming the action. Many users give up at this stage, but with patience, you can succeed.

To turn off, go to Settings → Password and Security → Data Access. In the list, find the msa (MIUI System Ads) app and turn off the Mobile Data and Wi-Fi switch. After that, click Stop or Disable. The system will start counting down to 10 and hit OK.

If you fail to turn off the service the first time and the timer resets, repeat the procedure 3-4 times. Usually on the 3rd or 4th time the system stops resisting and allows you to complete the shutdown. This is the standard behavior of MIUI firmware aimed at preserving advertising traffic.

⚠️ Note: Do not delete the msa application through third-party root file managers unless you are an experienced user. Forced deletion of system files can lead to a cyclic device restart (bootloop.

Setting up the “Security” application and cleaning

The Security app on Redmi 8 is often a source of intrusive notifications about “junk” in memory or viruses, which are actually advertising hooks. To clear this module of unnecessary functionality, you need to go to its internal settings.

Launch the Security app, click on the gear icon in the top right corner, and here you are interested in "Receive recommendations" and "Join the MIUI Improvement Program." Disable both settings. It's also recommended to turn off virus notifications if they're annoying, leaving only background checks.

You also need to check your memory cleanup settings. In the cleaning menu, click on the gear and remove the boxes from the news or advertising items. Memory cleanup should work quickly and without any questions, rather than becoming a marketing platform.

Disabling Advertising in System Applications

Banners can appear not only on the lock screen, but also inside standard applications: Music, Video, Explorer, Downloads. Each of these applications has its own recommendation switch, which must be disabled separately.

Consider an example of how to set up a Explorer app. Open it, click on the menu (three bars), select Settings → About app (or just Settings depending on the version). Find "Get recommendations" and turn it off. Similar actions should be repeated for Music and Video apps.

The Downloads app is similar. Click on three dots in the corner, select Settings → Show recommended content and deaktivate this feature. This will remove the news feed and suggestions that were displayed on the main download screen.

Don't forget to also check the Themes app, and in its settings (Profile → Settings), you need to turn off "Show Ads" and "Auto-Update Themes" so that the store doesn't remind you of itself with pop-ups. System applications are deeply integrated into the shell, so they require a customized approach to each module.

Using DNS to Block Advertising

The most radical and effective method that works at the operating system level is to configure a private DNS. This method allows Redmi 8 to block requests to ad servers before they reach your device, which works not only in the browser, but also inside applications.

To set up, go to Settings → Connection and sharing → Private DNS-Select the option "Host Name of the provider" DNS» (or "Manually") and type in the address: dns.adguard.com. Save settings. Now all traffic going to known advertising domains will be cut off.

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Use of the DNS-filtering (e.g. AdGuard) DNS) can slightly increase the response time when you initially connect to sites, but will significantly accelerate the loading of pages due to the lack of downloading advertising scripts.

The advantage of this method is that it does not require you to turn off system services that may be necessary for some MIUI functions to work properly. However, if you use public Wi-Fi with authorization via a web page (caaptive portal), DNS can interfere with authorization.

⚠️ Note: When using a third party DNS-The address of the server make sure that you trust the provider of this service. dns.adguard.com is public and secure, but in corporate networks the use of external DNS It may be prohibited by security policies.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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A comprehensive approach, including disabling MSA, setting up DNS and banning recommendations in each application, guarantees 100% rid of advertising on Redmi 8.