Xiaomi smartphone owners often face a situation where pre-installed software takes up precious space and consumes battery resources. Standard methods of removing through the settings menu in this case do not work, since system applications are protected from accidental uninstallation. This is especially true for users who prefer to use alternative services or just want to “lighten” their MIUI or HyperOS operating system.
There are several proven ways to do this, from safely shutting down to completely removing it through your computer, and the specific method you choose depends on your technical background and your ultimate goal. It is important to understand that interfering with system processes requires care, as removing critical components can lead to unstable device operation.
In this article, we will take a look at all the options available, assess their risks and benefits, learn how to properly prepare your smartphone, what tools you will need, and how to avoid common mistakes that can turn your phone into a brick.
Preparation of the device and inclusion of debugging
Before you start manipulating system files, you need to do a series of preparatory steps, without which no advanced method will work, and the first step is to activate the developer mode, which is hidden by default for the user's security.
To do this, go to the Settings. → About the phone and find the line "Version" MIUI» (or "Version" OS»). You need to press this paragraph quickly. 7-10 Once in a row, until the notification "You became a developer" appears, after which a new section will appear in the settings menu. → For developers.
Inside the developer menu, you need to find and activate the USB Debugging Switch. When you connect your smartphone to your computer, you'll see a request for debugging permission on the screen -- be sure to confirm it by ticking the "Always Allow from this computer" box, which is a critical step to establish a connection.
☑️ Xiaomi Preparing to Remove Applications
It is also worth taking care to back up important data, and while the methods described are considered relatively secure, any changes to the system carry minimal risk of failure, save contacts and files to the Google cloud or external media.
Disconnection method through settings (Safe option)
The simplest and least risky way is to turn off applications, which doesn't physically delete files, but completely stops them from working, using memory and battery, and simply stops displaying in the menu and running in the background.
To use this method, go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find a service you want, like Google Play Music or Google Movies. Click on it and select the "Disable" button. If the button is active, the system will stop the component.
⚠️ Warning: Do not try to disable system components with names like Google Play Services, Google Play Store, or Framework, which will cause notifications to break down and other applications to work.
The advantage of this is that it can be reversed, and you can turn the app back on at any time, and it will work like nothing has happened, and it's ideal for those who are afraid of harming the system but want to take it away.
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If the “Disable” button is inactive (gray), the application is critical to the MIUI system and cannot be deactivated by standard means.
However, it is worth considering that the application files still take up space in internal memory. For devices with a small amount of storage (32-64 GB), this can be a significant disadvantage, since it will not be possible to free up space in this way.
Removal via ADB (No root rights)
The most popular and effective method among advanced users is the use of the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) toolkit, which allows you to control the smartphone system from a computer via the command line, which does not require obtaining superuser rights (root), which preserves the guarantee on the device.
To start, you need to download the Platform Tools package from the official Android developer site. After unpacking the archive on your computer, open the folder, press the Shift key and right-click on the empty place, selecting "Open PowerShell window" or "Command line".
Connect the phone to the PC with a cable. Enter the connection check command:
adb devicesIf the list shows the serial number of your device with device status, then the connection is established. If the status is unauthorized, look at the phone screen and confirm access. Then you can proceed to delete the packets.
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 name packetList of popular Google packages to remove
It is important to know the exact name of the package, which often differs from the name of the application on the menu. A spelling error will lead to the message "Package not found". To search for package names, you can use special analyzer applications available in the Play Market, such as App Inspector.
Use of specialized utilities (Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools)
For those who don't want to work with a black command-line screen, there are graphical shells, and one of the most well-known and reliable programs is Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools from developer Szaki, a free cross-platform app that is tailored specifically to the Xiaomi ecosystem.
The interface is a list of all the apps installed with clear names and icons. You don't need to know the technical names of the packages. Just tick the boxes against the unnecessary Google services and click Uninstall. The program will generate and execute the necessary commands.
- 📱 Security: The program tags system applications, warning of the risks of removing them.
- 🔄 Universality: Works on Windows, macOS and Linux without the complicated installation of drivers.
- 🛠️ Functional: Allows not only to remove software, but also to clean the cache, change the region and check the unlock status of the bootloader.
When using the utility, you also need USB debugging enabled. Once connected, the program automatically determines the device model and the list of installed software, which greatly speeds up the process and reduces the risk of human error when typing commands.
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Using graphical slits like Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools reduces the risk of error by 90% compared to manually typing commands into the console.
Comparison of System Software Removal Methods
To choose the best way, you need to compare them by key parameters: complexity, safety and efficiency. Below is a table that will help determine the method that is suitable for your situation.
| Parameter | Disconnection in settings | ADB (Command Line) | Graphical Utilities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | Low. | Tall. | Medium |
| Freeing Memory | No. | Yes. | Yes. |
| Risk of system failure | Minimum | Medium. | Low. |
| Recovery capability | Instant. | Reset or reinstall only | Depends on the utility. |
As you can see from the comparison, the command line gives you maximum control, but it requires knowledge. Graphics utilities are the middle ground for most users. Disabling in the settings is only suitable for a temporary solution or if you are categorically afraid to climb into the “inner” of Android.
It is worth noting that after a major update to the MIUI firmware, some applications removed through ADB may return, as the system checks the integrity of the package, in which case the procedure will have to be repeated.
Possible risks and system recovery
Removing system components is always a risk, and even if you're confident in your actions, the human factor hasn't been reversed, and the most common problem is removing an important service that's needed for the interface or communication, in which case the phone can go into an endless bootloop or stop catching the network.
⚠️ Warning: If after deleting applications, the phone stopped booting, the only solution is to flash the device with full wipe data (delete all data).
To keep yourself safe, write down the names of all the packages you plan to remove before you delete. If you use ADB, the command to return the remote application looks like this:
cmd package install-existing name packetHowever, this command will only work if the application files have not been completely erased, but only deleted for the current user. In the case of complete removal, only resetting to factory settings or flashing through Fastboot mode will help.
Don't delete apps you don't know what they're doing. It's better to leave an extra megabyte busy than to get a broken smartphone. Always check the information about the package online before you delete it.