Owners of budget smartphones, in particular models Redmi 8, often encounter intrusive advertising that appears in the most unexpected places: in the notification shade, after unlocking the screen, or right inside system applications. This is not always a consequence of infection with a virus; often this is a built-in mechanism for monetizing the shell MIUIwhich is activated by default at the factory.
You can completely get rid of this visual noise without obtaining root access and installing third-party antiviruses, which themselves can become a source of problems. We will walk you through the step-by-step process of disabling advertising identifiers, blocking system services and cleaning your device from malware, turning your phone into a clean and fast tool.
Disabling the MSA system service
The main source of annoying banners in Xiaomi firmware is the system application MSA (MIUI System Ads). It is this process that collects data about your actions and loads advertising content into folders, calendar and “About phone” menu. Disabling it is the first and most important step.
To deactivate the service, go to Settings → Passwords and security → Access to personal data. In the list that opens, find the item msa and switch the toggle switch to the inactive state. The system will try to dissuade you by showing a 10 second countdown timer. You will have to wait and click “Revoke” again.
Sometimes it is not possible to revoke permission the first time due to server errors. If you see an error message, simply repeat the procedure 2-3 times in a row. Usually, on the fourth attempt, the server accepts the request, and the service status changes to “Disabled.”
After disabling MSA, advertising may not disappear instantly, but within 24 hours, while the cached data on Xiaomi servers is updated.
⚠️ Attention: Do not delete the MSA application through third-party file managers with superuser rights unless absolutely necessary. This may cause the launcher to become unstable or the device to reboot cyclically.
Disabling MSA blocks up to 80% of system ads, but does not protect against pop-ups caused by third-party applications you have installed.
Setting individual recommendations
Even after disabling the MSA service, some built-in applications may continue show promotional materials, as they have their own recommendation settings. These options are hidden deep in the menu of each specific system utility.
Start with the Security application. Open it, click on the settings gear in the corner and find the “Get recommendations” item. Disable this feature. Similar actions must be done for the Music, Video, Downloads and Theme Manager applications.
In the Themes application the situation is a little more complicated. Go to your profile (person icon), then go to Settings and disable the “Show ads” and “Personal recommendations” items. This will remove banners from the wallpaper and theme store.
- 🛑 In the Downloads application: Settings → Show recommended content → Turn off.
- 🛑 In the Explorer application: Settings → About the application → Recommendations → Turn off.
- 🛑 In the "Tools" folder: Long-press the icon of any application → Settings → Receive recommendations → Turn off.
Don't forget to check the settings of the launcher itself. A long press on an empty area of the desktop will bring up a menu where you need to select “Settings” and uncheck the “Receive recommendations” option. This will remove the advertising feed to the left of the main screen.
Blocking ads via Private DNS
One of the most effective methods, which works at the level of the entire operating system Android 9 and above (and Redmi 8 works on this particular base or newer) is the use of a protocol DNS-over-TLS. This method blocks requests to known ad servers before they even reach your phone.
You don't need to install any applications. Just go to Settings → Connection and sharing → Private DNS. By default, the mode is “Auto”. Select the “DNS Provider Hostname” option and enter the address in the field: dns.adguard.com.
dns.adguard.comSave the settings. Now all requests to advertising networks will be redirected to the “void”. This method also helps to remove advertising in some free games and browsers, without requiring you to configure each application separately.
What to do if the Internet disappears after changing DNS?
If after entering the address dns.adguard.com the Internet stops working, it means that your mobile operator is blocking this protocol. Return the setting to “Auto” or “Off” and try using the AdGuard application as an alternative.
⚠️ Attention: Using third-party DNS servers may slightly increase the response time when loading sites, but for most users this difference is unnoticeable due to the lack of advertising.
Searching for and removing miner viruses
If advertisements appear as pop-ups on top of all applications, even when you are on your desktop, you most likely have installed a malicious application. Often such apps are disguised as “Flashlights”, “QR Scanners”, “Memory Cleaners” or simple games.
Go to Settings → Applications → All applications. Review the list carefully. Look for applications without an icon, with a blank name, or with suspicious access rights (for example, “On top of other windows”). If you find one, delete it immediately.
Also check the list of device administrators. Go to Settings → Passwords and security → Privacy → Special access rights → Device administrators. Only the Find Device application should be active here. If you see an unknown service with a checkmark there, uncheck it and delete the application.
| Sign of a virus | Where to look | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Pop-up windows on the desktop | Settings → Applications | Delete an application with the “On top of other windows” right |
| Fast battery drain | Settings → Battery | Check the consumption of background processes |
| Inability to delete the application | Settings → Administrators | Revoke administrator rights and delete |
For a deep scan, you can use the built-in scanner in the "Security" application from Xiaomi or install a one-time reliable antivirus, for example Malwarebytes or Dr.Web Light from the official store Google Play.
Resetting advertising identifier settings
Google and Xiaomi use a unique advertising identifier to target content to your interests. Resetting this identifier does not remove advertising completely, but it “resets” the user profile, making advertising less personalized and intrusive.
In your phone settings, find the section Passwords and security → Privacy → Advertising. Click the Reset Advertising ID button. Confirm the action. Now advertising networks will have to collect data about you again.
Also in this menu there is an option “Disable ad personalization”. Activate it. This is a signal to the system that you do not want your interests to be used to select advertisements. The effect accumulates over time.
Carry out this procedure regularly if you feel that advertising has again become too “smart” and knows about your search queries. This is good digital hygiene.
☑️ Full wipe checklist
Extreme measures: Reset to factory settings
If none of the above methods helped and the phone continues to behave inappropriately, the system files may be damaged or the virus has penetrated too deeply. In this case, the only solution is a complete reset.
Before performing this operation, be sure to create a backup copy of all important data: photos, contacts and documents. All data from the internal memory will be permanently deleted.
Go to Settings → About phone → Reset settings → Erase all data. The phone will reboot and begin the cleaning process, which may take 5 to 15 minutes. After turning on, you will receive a clean smartphone, just like out of the box.
⚠️ Attention: After resetting, do not restore the backup copy of applications immediately. Install only the most necessary apps manually so as not to return the virus back with the backup.
Set up your phone as a new device by immediately disabling MSA and setting up Private DNS before you begin active use. This will prevent re-infection or the appearance of system advertising.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it safe to disable the MSA service?
Yes, it is absolutely safe. MSA is solely responsible for the display of advertisements. Disabling it does not affect calls, messages or basic system functions. In rare cases, the feed in the Music application may stop updating, but this is not critical.
Why does advertising appear again after a firmware update?
When updating MIUI globally, privacy settings may be reset to factory settings. After each major update, it is recommended to recheck the permissions for the MSA application and the recommendations settings in system utilities.
Can advertising be a sign of hardware failure?
No, advertising is a software problem. It is not related to a malfunction of the screen, processor or memory. If you see artifacts on the screen (stripes, colored dots), this is a matter of repair, not setting up the software.
Do you need to install an antivirus on Redmi 8 all the time?
For an ordinary user who downloads applications only from Google Play and does not follow suspicious links, constant operation of the antivirus is not necessary. The built-in scanner in MIUI is enough for basic protection.
How to remove ads in the Chrome browser?
Advertising in the browser is blocked by setting a Private DNS (dns.adguard.com). Additionally, in the settings of Chrome itself, you can enable “Safe Browsing” and disable notifications from suspicious sites in the “Site Settings” section.