How to remove the default phone app on Xiaomi Redmi

Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often face intrusive duplication of system functions when two call icons appear on the desktop after upgrading or buying a new device. This causes confusion and irritation, especially when you need to make a quick call. The standard MIUI or HyperOS shell allows you to flexibly adjust priorities, but hidden settings sometimes confuse users. To remove an extra application or change it to a more convenient one, you can not get superuser rights, if you know the exact algorithm of actions.

The process of deactivating or replacing the system caller depends on the version of the Android operating system and the specific firmware modification. In some cases, it is enough to change the default settings, in others it will require disabling through the application menu. It is important to understand that completely removing the standard component of Google Dialer or MIUI Dialer without special tools is impossible, since this is a critical module of the system, but it can be made invisible to the user or redirect all calls to third-party software.

In this guide, we will discuss all legal and safe ways to solve the problem of duplication, learn how to forcefully change the application for calls, how to hide unnecessary icons and what to do if standard methods are blocked by the system. Complete removal of the system application Phone is possible only through ADB-Computer commands, which requires caution. Follow the instructions carefully so that mobile communication does not disrupt the operation of the mobile communication.

Why Redmi has two apps for calling

The main reason for the conflict is the policy of Google and the desire of Xiaomi to keep its interface.Beginning with certain versions of Android, the search giant requires manufacturers to use the standard Google Dialer to certify devices.However, MIUI has historically used its own shell for calls, which leads to the simultaneous installation of both components.

The situation is aggravated by the firmware update, which can automatically reset default settings, returning the native interface to Xiaomi, while the user is accustomed to the functionality of Google, and duplication is often found on global versions of smartphones designed for the international market, where regulatory requirements are stricter.

Having two active apps not only takes up space on the menu, but can also consume RAM resources. While they work minimally in the background, visual noise and the risk of accidentally launching the wrong application create discomfort. Understanding the nature of the conflict helps you choose the right method of resolving it.

⚠️ Warning: Trying to remove both call apps at the same time will cause the call function to be completely inoperable.Always leave at least one active component in.

It’s worth noting that in the new versions of HyperOS, Xiaomi has begun to integrate Google’s services more aggressively, gradually abandoning its own development in basic features, which means that in future updates, the problem may solve itself, but for now users have to resort to manual configuration.

Changing the application by default through system settings

The easiest and safest way to solve the problem is to tell the system which application should handle incoming and outgoing calls, which does not remove the extra application, but makes it inactive for the user, redirecting all actions to the selected option.

To start, you need to go to the smartphone settings menu. Find the Apps section and select All Apps. The top right corner of the screen often has a three-point menu where you need to select the default App option. If this option is not available immediately, try searching by settings by entering the default request.

In the list that opens, look for the Phone or Dialer category, and if you click on it, you'll see a list of available calling apps, and if you want to use it all the time, like Google Phone or MIUI Phone, it'll remember that choice and stop asking every time you call.

If after the selection, the system continues to offer choices every time you call, the shell protection may have worked, so try clearing the data of both applications before prioritizing, which will eliminate all time conflicts and allow the system to correctly write the new parameter.

Forced Disconnection through the Application Menu

When a simple change of priorities is not enough and the extra icon continues to horn your eyes, you can resort to the shutdown function, which hides the application from the menu and stops all its background processes, effectively turning it into a system file invisible to the user.

Go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find the phone app you don’t plan to use. Be careful: the names may be similar, so look at the icon and developer (Google LLC or Xiaomi Inc.).

Inside the menu of the selected application, find the Disable or Disable button. If the button is active, the system will prompt you to confirm the action. Once confirmed, the icon will disappear from the desktop, and the application will stop updating and consuming resources.

It is important to understand that on some versions of MIUI, the shutdown button for system components may be blocked (gray).This is a manufacturer's restriction to prevent accidental system disruption.

⚠️ Warning: Do not disable the app unless you are sure that the second (main) is fully functional and configured, otherwise you risk being left without communication at a critical moment.

After shutting down, it is recommended to restart the device, which will allow the system to redistribute resources and permanently remove the remnants of the processes of the disabled component from RAM.

Using third-party launchers to hide icons

If system methods block the shutdown, and you don't want to change the application by default, you can use a visual solution. Third-party launchers allow you to flexibly manage the desktop, hiding unnecessary elements without interfering with system files.

Install a popular launcher, such as Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher from the Play Market Store. Once installed and assigned to the main one, go to the launcher settings. Find Hidden Apps or Hide Apps.

In the list of installed programs, find the extra phone application and check the box in front of it. the icon will disappear from the screen, but the application itself will remain in the system and continue to work in the background if it is necessary for some functions, but you will no longer interfere.

This is ideal for those who are afraid of making changes to system settings, and it's completely reversible: just remove the tick in the launcher settings, and the icon will come back to its place, and it's a safe way to customize the Redmi interface.

Remember that when you reset or delete the launcher, hidden icons can reappear on the desktop, so this method should be considered as a temporary or cosmetic solution.

Radical removal via ADB (for advanced)

For users who want to completely clean the system of excess software, there is a method of debugging via USB. This method requires connecting the smartphone to the computer and using the command line, it allows you to remove even those applications that are not disabled by standard methods.

You need to activate the developer mode before you start. → About phone and quickly press 7 times on the item Version MIUI (or OS). Then in the advanced settings, turn on the debugging by USB.

Connect your phone to your PC, install ADB drivers, and start the command line. Enter a command to delete the packet. For a standard Xiaomi caller, the command looks like this:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.global.extra

However, be extremely careful. Removing the wrong package (like the basic framework) can lead to a bootloop (cyclical reboot) of the phone.Always check the packet name before typing in. For Google Dialer, the packet is usually called com.google.android.dialer, and for MIUI, it's called com.android.dialer (depending on region).

⚠️ Note: Removing system applications through ADB When you reset your settings to the factory (Hard Reset), all the remote components will return to their places.

If you realize that you have made a mistake after deleting, you can return the application with the command adb shell cmd package install-existing name packet.

Possible problems and ways to solve them

Users may experience a variety of errors during the setup process, such as when the default application changes, calls may stop appearing on the screen during a conversation, which is solved by clearing the new app's cache and checking the permissions to display on top of other windows.

Another common problem is that you can't select an app because the select button is inactive, which often happens if Safe Mode is on or if conflicting antiviruses are installed. Try temporarily disabling third-party defenders.

If you upgrade to a new version of Android and your settings are off, just repeat the default application selection process. Updates often reset user preferences for the sake of the new system's stability.

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If after all the manipulations the phone behaves strangely (contacts disappear, no speakerphone), reset the application settings (not data!) in the recovery menu.

In rare cases, the duplication is caused by a Google account sync error: Try logging out and logging in again by pre-deleting the Google Play cache, which will update the device's configuration files.

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The most reliable way is not to delete the system application, but to correctly prioritize the default application settings, which ensures that the communication is stable.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)