How to Identify and Remove Spyware on Xiaomi Phone: A Step-by-Step Guide

Xiaomi smartphones have long been at the forefront of the market due to a combination of powerful stuffing and affordable prices. MIUI If your phone starts to behave suspiciously — discharge quickly, warm up for no reason, or shows uncharacteristic activity on the network — there is a risk that it has a surveillance program installed on it.

In this article, we will analyze the real signs of infection, learn how to search for hidden applications and services, and remove spyware without harming the system. MIUI, For example, many users confuse spying with background tasks such as Mi Cloud or Security App, and we will show you how to distinguish them.

Important: Some methods require superuser rights, but most checks can be done without them. If you are not sure about your skills, follow the instructions strictly in steps to avoid disrupting the system.

10 Signs of a Xiaomi Spy Program

Spyware rarely reveals its presence openly, but there are indirect symptoms that should alert you.

• 🔋 Dramatic increase in battery consumption – if the phone runs out in 3-4 hours during normal use, check background activity in Settings → Battery → Battery utilization.
• 📡 Unexplained traffic - spies transmit data over the network. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Traffic and compare the cost to previous months.
• 🔊 Extraneous sounds during calls — clicks, echoes, or interference — can indicate wiretapping, especially if they only appear when talking on specific numbers.
• 📱 Spy reboots – some spies restart the system to hide traces of their activity.
• 📁 Unknown files in memory – check folders DCIM, Download or root directory for files with extensions.apk,.dex,.so (they can be seen through the file manager with the display of hidden files).

One of the most insidious signs is the unexpected. SMS If you are not registered with new services, but receive messages like “Your code: 123456”, this may mean that the spy is trying to access your accounts (for example, Mi Account or banking applications).

⚠️ Note: Some parental control apps (e.g., Xiaomi Family Guard) can mimic the symptoms of spyware. Before removing them, check if they are legally installed on your device.

How to check Xiaomi for spyware: step-by-step instructions

Start with basic methods that don't require any special knowledge, and if they don't work, go to advanced diagnostics.

Step 1: Verification of installed applications

Open the Settings. → Annexes → Manage applications and sort the list by installation date ("Last:

• 📌 Apps with names like System Update, Android Service, Google Play Update – spies are often masked under such names.
• 📌 Programs with an empty description or icon in the form of a gray square.
• 📌 Apps you haven’t installed (like Cleaner Pro, Battery Saver Master) are often distributed through phishing sites).

If you find a suspicious app, don't delete it right away. First, check its permissions on the same menu.

• 📞 Call log and SMS
• 📍 Geolocations
• 🎤 Microphone.
• 📷 Camera
• 📂 Files and media

Check the installation date|Examine the permits|Search for information about him on Google|Make a backup copy of the data|Remove via Safe Mode-->

Step 2: Scanning with antivirus

Xiaomi’s built-in Security App isn’t always detects spyware, so install specialized utilities:

• 🛡️ Malwarebytes – Finds hidden threats, including keyloggers.
• 🔍 Kaspersky Mobile Antivirus is effective against surveillance software.
• 📱 Bitdefender Mobile Security – even scans system folders (requires root for full verification).

Before the scan:

1. Update the antivirus databases.
2. Turn off the phone from the internet (so the spy can’t escape).
3. Start a deep scan (not fast!).

⚠️ Warning: Some spies block antivirus installation.If you can't download the program from Google Play, try downloading it APK from the official website of the developer (for example, Malwarebytes).

Step 3: Checking Active Processes

You will need the Developer Assistant app (available from the Mi App Store) or ADB-If you have root, use Termux:

su


ps -A | grep -i "spy\|monitor\|track\|hidden"

Without root rights, you can use them. ADB (Look for processes with suspicious names, for example:

• com.android.system.update (if you haven't updated the system)
• service.host.telecom (can mask interception of calls)
• android.process.media (if it works continuously, not using media)

Where are the spies hiding: hidden folders and system files Xiaomi

Spyware is often disguised as system files or hidden in folders that don't show up by default. On Xiaomi, check the following locations:

Pay special attention to files with extensions:

• 📄.apk – Application installers (can be hidden in the /data/local/tmp/).
• 📄.dex – Dalvik executable files (used for implementation into system processes).
• 📄.So – libraries (may contain malicious code that is loaded dynamically).

On Xiaomi, spyware is often masquerading as updates MIUI For example, a file called com.miui.systemAdSolution may be legitimate. com.miui.systemAdSolution.v2 — Always check names against official Xiaomi documentation.

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If you are not sure about the file name, copy the file name and search it. Add the words "malware" or "spyware" to the query. For example: com.android.system.update malware site:kaspersky.com

How to Uninstall a Xiaomi Spyware without Losing Data

If you find a spy, act carefully to avoid damaging the system.

Method 1: Remove through Safe Mode

Restart your phone in Safe Mode (click the power button) → long tap on "Switch off» → «Reboot in Safe Mode. This mode disables all third-party applications, including spyware:

1. Go to Settings. → Apps and remove suspicious software.
2. Check the Download folders and DCIM Remaining files available.
3. Restart your phone in normal mode.

Method 2: Resetting to factory settings

If a spy is deeply embedded in the system, only a hard reset will help.

• Back up your contacts, photos, and documents (but don’t restore apps after you reset!).
• Delete your Mi Account in Settings → Accounts. → Mi Account (otherwise, after resetting the phone will require the old password).
• Remember. IMEI phone number (dial *#06#).

For discharge:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select “Delete all data”.
3. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.

⚠️ Warning: After reset, do not restore data from the backup made before the spy was removed! it may contain malicious code. Move files selectively, checking them with antivirus.

Method 3: Removal via ADB (for power users)

If a spy blocks the deletion, use it. ADB:

adb shell


pm list packages | grep "suspicious name"




pm uninstall -k --user 0 name.package

For example, to remove the com.spytracker.app package:

pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.spytracker.app

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If the phone is unstable after removing the spy (for example, restarts or does not connect to the network), reset to factory settings. This means that the malware has damaged the system files.

How to protect Xiaomi from spyware in the future

Prevention is always cheaper than cure.

• 🔒 Disable the installation from unknown sources (Settings) → Privacy → Special permits → Installation of unknown applications).
• 🔄 Update regularly MIUI — New versions of the system close vulnerabilities that are used by spies.
• 🛡️ Use two-factor authentication for Mi Account and banking applications.
• 📵 Do not connect to public Wi-Fi without VPN (For example, ProtonVPN or Windscribe).
• 📱 Check application permissions when installing (for example, the messenger does not need access to geolocation).

One of the most reliable ways is to block the installation. APK Google Play Protect:

1. Open the Google Play Store → click on the profile avatar → Play Protect.
2. Enable the option to “Scan your device for threats.”
3. Activate “Improved Scanning” (you will need to send application data to Google).

We also recommend installing Xiaomi’s Security Patch manually if the automatic update is disabled.

1. Download the latest patch from the official website.
2. Move the file to the root directory of the phone’s memory.
3. Go to Settings. → The phone. → Updating the system → press three points → «Select the update file».

What to do if the spyware is back after being deleted

If the phone is suspicious again after cleaning, it means:

• 🔄 Spy embedded in firmware (for example, through custom recovery).
• 📡 The device is infected through SIM-map (rarely seen, but possible).
• 🔌 Malware installed at bootloader level (reflashing required).

In such cases:

1. Check it out. SIM-If you have problems again, replace it.
2. Frisk your phone through the Mi Flash Tool (instructions on the official website). Use stable global firmware (for example, stable global firmware, miui_UMIGlobal_V12.5.1.0.RJBMIXM Xiaomi Mi 11).
3. Check your Mi Account for suspicious devices in Settings → Mi Account → Devices, remove all unknown gadgets.

If you’re not sure, go to Xiaomi’s service center, and they have deep diagnostic tools (like the Mi Diagnostic Tool) that aren’t available to ordinary users.

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Never use miracle utilities to remove spies from dubious sites. They often contain their own malware. Trust only official antivirus and Xiaomi tools.

FAQ: Frequent questions about spyware on Xiaomi