How to Remove Ads from Xiaomi Redmi 8: 5 Verified Ways

Xiaomi Redmi 8 is one of the most popular budget smartphones, but its owners often face intrusive advertising in system applications, notifications and even on the lock screen. Unlike flagship models where advertising can be turned off through premium features, in Redmi 8 this process requires deep tweaks or technical manipulation. In this article, we will examine all the current methods, from standard methods in MIUI to radical solutions like custom firmware.

It is important to understand that Xiaomi ads come in two types: system (built into MIUI) and applications (from third-party services like Mi Browser or Mi Video). The first can be removed through settings or ADB, the second – only by blocking traffic or removing applications. We will consider both options, including the nuances for a specific model of Redmi 8 (codenamed olivelite).

If you're not ready to experiment with firmware, start with the first three methods -- they don't require root rights and are suitable even for beginners. For advanced users, at the end of the article, there's a section on alternative firmware and modified versions of MIUI without ads.

1. Disabling Advertising through the standard MIUI settings

The safest way is to use the built-in MIUI options. In Redmi 8, they are partially hidden, but are available without additional tools.The main thing is to upgrade your smartphone to the latest version of MIUI (preferably MIUI 12.5 or later), as some menu items may not be available in older versions.

Go to Settings → About Phone and check the version of MIUI. If it is older than 12.0, update via Settings → System Update.

• 📱 Advertising in Notifications: Settings → Notifications → Additionally. → Recommendations → turn off the slider.
• 🌐 Advertising in Mi Browser: Open the browser, click ⋮ → Settings → Main settings → Recommended content → Turn off all options.
• 🎬 Advertising in Mi Video: Launch the app, go to Profile → Settings → Recommendations → deactivate the displays.
• 🔍 Personalized Advertising: Settings → Confidentiality → Advertising → Personalized recommendations → turn off.

These actions will remove up to 70% of ads, but system banners (like Security or Themes) will remain.

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If after disabling the ad returns, reset the application settings through Settings → Annexes → Application management → ⋮ → Resetting. It'll delete the cache and the data from the ad services.

2. Blocking Advertising through ADB (without root)

Using Android Debug Bridge (ADB) method, you can disable the system components responsible for displaying ads. This does not require root rights, but you need to connect the smartphone to your computer and enable debugging over USB.

First, prepare the PC:

1. Download Google’s ADB Tools and unpack the archive.
2. Turn on Redmi 8 Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times to activate Developer Mode).
3. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.

Now connect the phone to the PC and execute commands in the terminal (command line) in order:

adb devices


adb shell pm hide com.android.browser




adb shell pm hide com.miui.systemAdSolution




adb shell pm hide com.xiaomi.midrop




adb shell pm hide com.miui.analytics

These commands hide the system applications responsible for analytics and ad impressions. After a smartphone reboot, the banners should disappear. If you need a deeper cleanup, use the additional command list:

⚠️ Attention: After update MIUI Hidden applications can be activated again. To avoid this, repeat the procedure or use a script to automatically apply commands when downloading (requires Tasker or analogues).

3.Use of DNS-filters and VPN

If the advertisement is delivered via the Internet (e.g. in a browser or apps), it can be blocked at the DNS level, which does not require changes to the system, but only works for online advertising.

Configure the alternative DNS on Redmi 8:

1. Go to Settings → Connections and Sharing → Private Network (VPN) → DNS settings.
2. Choose Private. DNS And enter the address: 🛡️ AdGuard DNS: dns.adguard.com 🌍 Cloudflare (family filter): 1.1.1.3 🔒 NextDNS: 45.90.28.167 (requires registration for customization)

Save the settings and restart the phone.

To block ads in apps (such as games), use a traffic filtering VPN:

• 🛡️ AdGuard VPN — Free tariff with basic filtering.
• 🔍 Blokada – Open source software with support for user rules.
• 🌐 1.1.1.1 from Cloudflare – simple interface, but limited settings.

DNS and VPN will not remove the system banners in MIUI, But it will significantly reduce the amount of advertising in the browser and third-party applications. ADB.

4. Removal of advertising through modified firmware

If standard methods don’t work, consider installing custom firmware. For Redmi 8 (olivelite), the following options are available:

• 📱 MIUI Advertising free: modified versions of official firmware (e.g, MIUI EU Xiaomi.eu, where all advertising components have been removed.
• 🤖 LineageOS: "clean" Android without branded services Xiaomi. requires unlocking the bootloader.
• 🔧 Pixel Experience: Google Pixel’s firmware interface, but may be less stable on Redmi 8.

The installation process shall include:

1. Unlock the bootloader via Mi Unlock Tool (requires a Xiaomi account binding and a wait of 7-30 days).
2. Installation of custom recavéri (TWRP) for olivelite.
3. Flash firmware via fastboot or TWRP.

⚠️ Note: Installing custom firmware will void the warranty and may result in data loss or a "brick" of the device if an incompatible version is selected. TWRP or Mi PC Suite.

For beginners, we recommend starting with Xiaomi.eu – a modified MIUI with remote advertising, but saved branded features (for example, Game Turbo or Second Space).

Unlock the bootloader through Mi Unlock Tool|

Download TWRP for Redmi 8 (olivelite)|

Make a backup of data (photos, contacts, SMS) |

Download firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.eu Stable)|

Charge your phone at least 60% |

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5. Manual removal of advertising applications (requires root)

If you have root rights, you can manually remove the system apps that are responsible for advertising, which is 100% effective, but you need to be careful, because removing critical components can disrupt your smartphone.

List of safe packets to remove on Redmi 8:

com.android.browser (Mi Browser)


com.miui.analytics (Xiaomi Analytics)




com.miui.systemAdSolution (System Advertising)




com.xiaomi.midrop (Mi Drop)




com.miui.msa.global (Push notifications)




com.miui.player (Mi Music)




com.xiaomi.joyose (Mi Remote)

Use:

• 📱 Root Explorer - Go to the Root Explorer /system/app or /system/priv-app and delete folders with packet names.
• 💻 ADB root: run the command adb shell su -c'pm uninstall -k --user 0 PACKET'S NAME'.
• 🔧 Titanium Backup – allows you to freeze applications without completely removing them.

After deleting, clear the cache through Settings → Storage → Clear the cache and restart the device. If errors occur (such as Themes or Security not working), restore the deleted packets from the backup.

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Uninstall system applications without root is impossible. If you are not ready to get root rights, use the methods from the previous sections (ADB or custom firmware).

6.Alternative solutions: launch without a Xiaomi account

Some of the ads in MIUI are tied to your Mi Account, and if you don't use branded services (cloud, sync, Mi Home), you can do without having to link your account, which will reduce the amount of personalized ads, but it won't completely eliminate them.

How to run Redmi 8 without a Xiaomi account

1. When you first turn on at the setup stage, connect to Wi-Fi, but skip the login step (click Miss or Sign in later).
2. If the system requires binding, turn off the Internet (airplane mode) and complete the offline setting.
3. After you start, go to Settings → Accounts and Sync and delete all associated accounts.

Without a Xiaomi account, you will lose access to:

• 📱 Cloud storage Mi Cloud.
• 🔄 Synchronization of notes, contacts, SMS.
• 🏠 Managing Smart Devices Mi Home.

However, system updates and basic features (calls, SMS, camera) will work, and this method is suitable if you use your smartphone as a "bell ringer" or with alternative services (Google, Yandex).

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When removing ads, users often face problems, and here are the most common ones and ways to solve them:

• 🔄 Advertising returns after update: MIUI It restores hidden applications. The solution is to repeat. ADB-commands or disable automatic updates to Settings → Updating the system → ⋮ → Settings → Auto-update.
• 📵 Branded applications do not work: if Topics or Security no longer open after removing packages, restore them through TWRP backup or re-follow MIUI.
• 🔌 ADB Does not see the device: check if the debugging is enabled USB And if you have drivers installed on your PC, try another cable or port. USB.
• 🔒 bootloader blocked: if Mi Unlock Tool gives an error, wait 7-30 Days (block time for new accounts) or use alternative tools like Fastboot Enhance.

If the smartphone is unstable after manipulation (for example, quickly discharges or overheats), reset to factory settings via Settings → About Phone → Reset. This will return all system applications, but remove user data.

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Before any changes to your system, back up your system via TWRP or Mi PC Suite, which will allow you to roll back the changes if something goes wrong.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions