Owners of the Chinese brand's popular smartphones often encounter intrusive content that appears in standard apps and interfaces. Redmi Note 8, one of the most popular models, was no exception to this rule. The built-in MIUI system is set up by default to display ads, which annoys many users accustomed to pure Android.
Fortunately, the company’s engineers have designed the ability to deactivate most of these features without having to obtain superuser rights or flash the device.The process requires carefulness and consistent action across different settings menus. In this article, we’ll take a look at all the methods available to make smartphone use comfortable and free of unnecessary visual noise.
First, you need to understand that the source of irritation is not viruses, but regular system services such as MSA and MIUI Daemon. Disabling them is a regular procedure, safe for warranty and stable operation of the gadget. The main thing is to act carefully and not miss a single step in the instructions to completely clean the interface.
The first and most important step is to disable the MSA (MIUI System Ads) service, which is responsible for collecting user data and uploading banner ads to standard applications, and without disabling this service, all other settings will be ineffective, as the system will force back permissions to display content.
To do this, you need to go to Settings, then select Password and Security, and find access to personal data. In the list you open, you need to find msa and put the switch inactive. The system will warn you about the consequences, but for comfortable use it is necessary.
And it's important to note that you can't turn off the service the first time, and this is a feature of the MIUI shell that tries to keep the user in its ecosystem, and if you see a countdown timer or an error message, just try again in 10 seconds, and usually on the second or third attempt, the resolution is successfully removed.
☑️ Checking the shutdown MSA
⚠️ Note: After disabling the msa service, some personalized recommendations in the browser or theme store may stop working correctly, but this does not affect the basic functions of the phone.
The next step is to set up the standard Security app, which is also a source of intrusive notifications, and it activates recommendations by default that often look like urgent messages, but are actually just links to games or apps. To remove them, open the Security app and click on the gear icon in the upper right corner of the screen.
In the settings menu, find Receive recommendations and deactivate it, and check the Virus section inside the same app and turn off the Receive recommendations option, which will eliminate pop-ups after the system scan is completed.
And don't forget about other built-in utilities like bootloader and Music. Downloaders, you click three dots in the corner, select Settings and disable recommendations. The same procedure is done in the Music app: go to settings, find Advanced Settings, and tick the box from Show Ads.
Special attention should be paid to the system launcher, which manages the desktop and application folders. This is where most recommended programs appear that the user did not install. To clear the folders, open any of them, click on the folder name and in the menu that appears, find the Recommended Switch.
Once this feature is disabled, the Redmi Note 8 desktop folders will no longer offer you to download new games or utilities. The interface will become clean and contain only shortcuts that you have placed yourself, which greatly speeds up navigation and makes using your smartphone more enjoyable.
Also, check the settings of the desktop itself. Hold your finger on the free screen space, select Settings, and make sure that the wallpaper carousel option is turned off if you are not using this feature. Often, it is through the carousel that advertising images are uploaded to the lock screen.
What is a wallpaper carousel?
The standard Mi Browser browser and the Themes app are some of the most aggressive sources of advertising in the system, they can show ads in the news feed, on the home page and even as push notifications. For the browser, the solution to the problem lies in the deep menu settings.
Open your browser, go to the menu (three bars), select Settings, then Privacy and Security. You need to turn off all items related to personalization and recommendations. In General, find and turn off the option to Receive recommendations. This will remove the news feed from the browser's home screen.
The situation is similar in the Topics app: click on the user profile, select Settings and disable Show Ads and Receive Recommendations, and after that, the store will stop imposing paid themes and fonts on you.
| Annex | The path to adjustment | What to turn off |
|---|---|---|
| Conductor | Menus. → Settings → About the programme | Recommendations |
| Music. | Settings → Advanced | Showing ads |
| Downloads. | Points → Settings | Showing recommended |
| Cleanup | A gear. → General. | Receive recommendations |
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Use Google’s alternative apps (Chrome, Files, Google Music) to completely avoid built-in advertising in standard Xiaomi utilities.
Even after disabling all visible settings, the system may still have hidden identifiers that allow you to collect data for targeted advertising. To maximize your device, you need to reset your MIUI advertising ID. This action will not delete your personal photos or contacts, but reset the ad settings.
Go to Settings → Password & Security → Privacy. At the bottom of the list, find Advertising Services. Inside this menu, activate the Reset Advertising ID switch. The system will confirm the action, and the unique code associated with your device will be changed.
It is also recommended to disable participation in the MIUI quality improvement program. To do this, in the password and security menu, find the Use and Diagnostics (or Join the Improvement Program) and prevent sending data, this will reduce the load on the processor and reduce the amount of information transmitted.
⚠️ Note: Resetting an advertising ID is not an anti-virus measure; it only clears the profile used to display targeted ads.
Sometimes, ads may be caused by user-installed applications that have permissions to create over other windows, often disguised as flashlights, scanners, or other devices. QR-Check the list of installed applications for suspicious names.
If you notice pop-ups at random moments when the phone is lying on your desktop, it is likely that one of the newly installed apps is to blame. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps and carefully study the list. Pay special attention to programs without an icon or with an empty name.
To remove malware, go to Settings → Password & Security → Special Access Rights → Display on top of other apps. Here you can see which programs have the right to override the screen. Disable this right for all suspicious utilities or remove them completely.
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Removing applications with window overlay rights is the most effective way to combat sudden advertising not associated with MIUI system services.
For more advanced users who aren’t afraid to experiment, there’s a method to disable ads via DNS. Using a private DNS allows you to block ad requests at the network level without installing additional apps.
Go to Settings. → Connection and Sharing (or “Other Wireless Networks”). Find Private DNS (Private DNS). Select the hostname of the provider DNS and enter the address in the field: dns.adguard.com. Save settings and restart the device.
This method allows you to block ads not only in the system, but also in many applications and games, but it is worth remembering that when using paid Wi-Fi in hotels or airports (where browser authorization is required), this DNS can interfere with the connection, in which case it will have to be temporarily disabled.