Owning a budget smartphone is often accompanied by compromises, and Xiaomi Redmi 8 is no exception. Despite its excellent autonomy and robust body, users face aggressive marketing policies of the manufacturer, introducing advertising blocks into system interfaces. These are not just banners in the browser, but deeply integrated algorithms that can pop up when unlocking the screen, in application folders or even on top of running programs.
Advertising content is generated by system services such as MSA (MIUI System Ads) and msf, which are by default active immediately after the device is first turned on. For many Redmi 8 owners, this becomes a serious distraction and traffic consuming problem. Fortunately, the MIUI-enabled Android operating system allows you to disable most of these features without obtaining superuser rights.
In this guide, we will break down a step-by-step algorithm that will help you completely clear the interface of intrusive sentences. We will touch not only on standard settings, but also on hidden parameters available through the developer menu and special codes. It is important to understand that completely removing ads requires a comprehensive approach: disabling specific services, configuring system applications and blocking advertising domains.
Analysis of advertising sources in MIUI
Before you start to shut down, you need to understand where exactly the stream of unwanted content is coming from on your Redmi 8. MIUI is built so that different types of notifications are responsible for different services. The main source is msa service, which is responsible for displaying ads in system applications. However, there are other components, such as miuiDaemon or GetApps, which can also generate traffic.
Often users confuse system advertising with notifications from third-party applications, such as installed games, memory cleaners, or even weather widgets, and it is important to distinguish between these sources, because the methods of dealing with them are radically different. If the ads appear as pop-ups on top of the desktop or in the notification curtain without an obvious source, this is usually the work of system processes.
⚠️ Warning: Some system services responsible for data collection and advertising are critical to the stability of the shell MIUI. Do not attempt to delete them through system files or third-party root managers without creating a full backup.
For accurate diagnosis, you can use the built-in activity monitor. Go to Settings → About Phone → Kernel Version and click on the build number several times to activate the developer mode if it is not already on, which will allow you to deeper into the settings of processes running in the background.
Disabling system advertising through settings
The first and safest step is to turn off personalized ads in your account’s main settings, which won’t remove all banners instantly, but will significantly reduce their relevance and frequency, and you’ll need a stable Wi-Fi or mobile internet connection.
Find Settings → Passwords & Security → Privacy → Advertising Services. You need to put the Ad Personalization switch in an inactive state. The system will alert you that the ads will become less useful, but that's exactly what we need. After that, the ad ID will be reset.
Then you have to turn off the "Receive recommendations" function in system applications, this is done individually for each component. For example, in the "Security" application, you need to click on the settings gear and remove the tick from "Receive recommendations." Similar actions are repeated for "Conductor", "Downloads" and "Music".
- 🔹 Go to Settings. → System and device → Advertising and disable "Personalized Advertising".
- 🔹 Open the Security app, press the gear and turn off Get recommendations".
- 🔹 In the Downloads app, go to the settings and turn off "Show recommended content".
- 🔹 In "Music" and "Video" also find the settings and remove the boxes from the items related to recommendations.
Xiaomi’s system may take 10 to 30 minutes to update configuration files on the server and apply the new rules on the Redmi 8 device.
Deactivation of MSA Service and System Processes
MSA (MIUI System Ads) is the main engine of shell advertising, and turning it off is a key step in the fight for a clean interface, but it won't just turn it off: it will resist and demand waiting, you'll need patience and follow the instructions accurately.
Go to Settings → Applications → All Apps. In the upper right corner, click on three dots and select "Show System Processes." Find the msa app in the list. Click on it and select "Disable." The countdown timer will appear for 10 seconds. Click "Disable" again. If the system fails or the timer doesn't appear, repeat the procedure several times in a row.
☑️ Shutdown checklist MSA
Beyond msa, you have to look at the miuiDaemon process, which is responsible for collecting usage statistics, which are also used to target content, and the mechanism for disabling is similar: you find it in the list of system applications, you select "Disable" and you wait for the timer to end.
⚠️ Note: When you turn off msa, the Internet connection must be active. If you try to do so without the network, the system may not receive the command or give a synchronization error.
Once you successfully shut down these services, restart your smartphone, which is a must-have step to clear the cache of system processes and apply new constraints, and once you turn on, you'll notice that the interface is more responsive and the intrusive sentences are gone.
Setup of Xiaomi system applications
Even after the core services are disabled, some of Xiaomi’s built-in apps can continue to show content, including the Mi Browser browser, the Music, Video and Themes app, each with its own notification and start page settings.
Start with the browser. Open Mi Browser, go to settings (three bars → Settings). Find the Privacy & Security section and disable all personalization items. It is also recommended to clear the start page of the news feed, leaving only the search bar.
The Themes app is often a source of pop-ups with suggestions to install new wallpaper or fonts. Go to the user profile in the Themes app, open the settings and disable the "Receive Notifications" and "Show recommendations" items, which will save you from constant reminders about sales.
| Annex | The path to adjustment | What to turn off | The effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conductor | Menu → Settings | About us. → Recommendations | Removes banners on the main |
| Downloads. | Three points → Settings | Showing recommended | A clean download history |
| Security | A gear. → General. | Receive recommendations | No publicity in the cleanup |
| Music. | Menu → Settings | Showing ads | Absence of banners in the player |
Hidden settings of the application Topics
Remember to check these apps regularly through the GetApps store or Google Play. Sometimes, after the update, the settings may reset and you will have to repeat the procedure. This is a feature of the MIUI shell on budget devices.
Blocking Advertising at DNS Level
The most effective method that works globally for the entire device is to use a private DNS.This method blocks requests to known ad servers even before they reach your phone.For Redmi 8 with Android version 9 and above, this is a native feature.
Go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Private DNS. Select Host Name of DNS Provider and enter the address: dns.adguard.com. Save settings. Now all traffic going through Wi-Fi and mobile network will be filtered.
This method is particularly effective against advertising in free games and apps that do not have their own disabling settings, but it is worth considering that some sites or services may not work correctly if their advertising domains match the main ones.
- 🔹 Open the connection settings.
- 🔹 Select "Private" DNS".
- 🔹 Enter dns.adguard.com.
- 🔹 Press "Save".
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If some websites or apps have stopped working after DNS is turned on, try temporarily switching the DNS to Auto mode, which will help diagnose the problem.
Verification of work DNS-The filter is simple: open your browser and try to go to a test site with ads. If the page loaded but the ad units are missing (or there is no space for them), then the setup was successful. This is the only way to block ads inside third-party applications without removing them.
Managing Notifications and Folders
Often users complain about ads that appear as notifications in the curtain or as icons in folders on the desktop.This is not always system advertising Xiaomi, often it is the result of installing third-party apps with aggressive policies.
To combat notifications, use long-tap on the notification itself. The system will suggest "Disable notifications" or "Settings." Select the source app and prevent it from showing notifications. This is the most effective way to get rid of spam in the curtain.
For desktop folders, they often show a line called "Recommended Apps." To remove it, open the folder, click on the folder name (or three dots/cogs inside it), and disable "Recommended Apps." The folder will become clean and contain only your shortcuts.
⚠️ Be careful with applications such as "Memory Clearing", "Flashlight" or "Scanner" QR". They are the most common source of pop-up ads on the full screen.
Regularly auditing installed applications will help keep the system clean, and remove programs that you do not use, especially those that have been installed in addition to other useful utilities.
Additional methods and resetting settings
If standard methods haven’t helped clean up the Redmi 8 completely, more drastic measures can be taken, one of which is to turn off the wapstart service via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), but this requires a computer connection and certain skills.
A more affordable option is to reset your advertising ID settings. Go to Settings → Passwords & Security → Privacy → Advertising Services and click Reset Advertising ID. This will break the link between your device and your accumulated interest profile.
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Integrated use DNS-Filtration and manual shutdown of services MSA It gives a 99% guarantee of getting rid of advertising in the system Xiaomi.
As a last resort, if the ads become unbearable and interfere with work, you can perform a complete reset of the device (Wipe Data).Be sure to back up important data before that. After reset, do not restore the applications from the old backup immediately, but install them again, carefully monitoring the permissions.