Many Xiaomi smartphone users face a situation where you can’t remove an app or change your security settings, often caused by device administrator rights that were activated automatically or negligently, a standard Android feature designed to protect corporate data or ensure antivirus work, but sometimes it interferes with the normal operation of the gadget.
Owners of Redmi and POCO may notice that the app uninstall button is inactive and that there is a risk warning on the security menu. Don't panic, because the system simply follows the security protocols. To regain full control of your gadget, you need to find and deactivate unnecessary privileges in the system menu. In this article, we will detail where to look for these settings and how to safely change them.
The process of disabling rights usually takes no more than a couple of minutes and does not require root rights or a computer connection, but it is important to act carefully so that you do not accidentally disrupt the system services necessary for the proper functioning of MIUI or HyperOS. Below are proven methods for solving this common problem.
Why Administrator Rights Are Needed and Who Requests Them
Device administrator rights in the Android ecosystem allow applications to perform activities beyond the normal user level, such as a program that can force a screen lock, require a complex password, or remotely erase data in the event of a theft, most often by requesting antivirus, corporate clients to work with, and services to search for lost phones.
Sometimes users don’t notice how they’re granting extended rights, which can happen when you install new software from unverified sources or if you read license agreements in a careless way. In Xiaomi, some system optimizers can also request these rights to clean up memory deeply, which then blocks the ability to simply delete them through the standard menu.
⚠️ Warning: If you see an unfamiliar app with a suspicious name on your admin list, don’t be in a hurry to turn it off. First, check its origin in Google Play to ensure that mission-critical system components don’t disrupt the system.
Understanding which app has privileges is the first step to solving a problem, often from a harmless Google Play Protect service or a corporate profile left behind. Other times, the source of the problem is an ad virus masquerading as a system utility.
Finding Active Administrators in Security Settings
The first place to go to check statuses is the security section. In the MIUI and HyperOS shells, the path to these settings can vary slightly depending on the version of the operating system. Usually, just open the standard Security application, which is preinstalled on all Xiaomi smartphones, and inside you find the section related to privacy or special features.
The alternative is through the general system settings. You need to go to the Settings menu. → Passwords and security → Confidentiality → Special features. That's where you find a list of all the apps that have enhanced access rights. If the menu is called otherwise, look for the one that says "Administrators" or "Device Admin Apps".
In the list that opens, you'll see all programs that are currently admins, and active statuses will be ticked or switched, and your job is to look at this list carefully. System components like Find My Device or Android Device Policy can be active by default, and sometimes only need to be disabled for specific tasks.
☑️ Verification of security statuses
Step-by-step instructions for disabling rights
The process of deactivating rights is quite simple, but requires a sequence of actions. Once you have found the list of administrators, select the application you want to restrict. Click on its name to open the detailed control menu. There will be a button or switch that says Disable or Deactivate.
The system will ask for confirmation of your action. The screen will display a warning that the application will lose some features. This is the standard Android security measure to prevent the accidental shutdown of critical services. You need to press the confirmation button, after which the rights will be canceled instantly.
⚠️ Note: Once the administrator permissions are disabled, the application may stop performing its basic functions, such as locking the screen or encrypting data.
If after disabling the rights, the application continues to behave suspiciously or it cannot be removed, it may be protected by additional mechanisms. In this case, try to reboot the device to Safe Mode. To do this, press the turn off button and in the menu that appears, press and hold the "Switch off" item until the offer appears to go to Safe Mode. In this mode, only system applications work, which allows you to safely remove malicious software.
What to do if the switch button is inactive?
Problems with removing applications after removal of rights
There are situations where even after successfully disabling the administrator status, the uninstall button remains inactive, which often happens with Xiaomi system components or applications integrated deep into the firmware, in which case the standard application management menu may not produce the desired result.
To solve this problem, you can use advanced settings. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications. Find the problem program in the list and click on it. If the removal button is gray, try first click Stop, then Clear the data and Clear the cache. Sometimes this will unlock the option of uninstallation.
For advanced users, there is a method of debugging via a computer using USB debugging. This method requires the activation of the developer mode. In the About Phone menu, you need to press the build number 7 times, then activate Debugging over USB in advanced settings. Once connected to the PC, you can use ADB commands to force packet removal.
| Type of application | Can I remove it? | Risk to the system | Recommended action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antivirus (Avast, Kaspersky) | Yes. | Low. | Disable the rights, then delete |
| Google Find My Device | Not recommended | Medium. | Leave it on for search. |
| Unknown APK file | Yes (urgently) | High-pitched | Disable the rights, go to safe mode, delete |
| Corporate profile | Only from the server. | High-pitched | Turn to IT-department |
Using ADB for Advanced Users
If standard methods don’t work, the ADB toolkit comes to the rescue, a powerful tool that allows you to control your device through the command line of your computer, which requires you to download platform tools from the official developer site and install drivers for your Xiaomi.
Before you start, make sure your phone is debugging USB. Connect your smartphone to your computer with a cable and open the command line in the ADB folder. Enter the adb device command and confirm the permission to connect on your phone screen. You can now manage the packages.
adb shell pm list packages -d | findstr "name packet"To remove or disable an application, use the adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 name.packet command. Instead of "name.packet," substitute the exact name of the package that can be found through listing commands. This method allows you to remove even those applications that do not have an uninstall button in the interface, but requires caution not to remove the system component necessary to boot Android.
💡
Use the adb shell pm list packages command to display a complete list of all packages installed and find the exact name of the application you want.
Frequent errors and ways to fix them
One of the most common mistakes is to try to disable the Google Play Services or MIUI System, which can lead to unstable phone operation, constant reboots, or even a “brick” when the device stops booting.
Another problem is that the permission request is cyclical, and some applications, especially those that are malicious, can automatically request administrator permissions over and over again after a reboot, and in this case, a simple shutdown won't help, so you need to find the source of the request in the menu of recently launched applications, or use an antivirus scanner to detect hidden threats.
⚠️ Warning: If after manipulating the administrator rights, the phone starts to work incorrectly, reset to the factory settings. This will return the original state of the system and remove all third-party interventions.
Users also often forget that some features, such as "Second Space" or "Guest Mode" on Xiaomi, can have their own administration settings.Check these sections if the main space seems clean but the problem persists.Resetting all settings in these modes can also solve the problem.
💡
The main reason for the inability to remove the application is the presence of device administrator rights that block the standard uninstallation procedure.
Prevention and safety of Xiaomi devices
To avoid such situations in the future, it is recommended to carefully monitor application requests during installation. Do not grant administrator rights to programs that do not require deep access to the system. Regularly check the list of active administrators in the security settings, especially after installing new software.
Use the built-in virus scanner in the Xiaomi Security app, which effectively detects programs trying to gain unauthorized access, and it is also useful to keep the system updated, as new versions of HyperOS and MIUI have improved access control mechanisms.
Installing apps only from a trusted Google Play store significantly reduces the risk of encountering malware. Third-party sources often contain modified versions of programs that may contain hidden modules to obtain administrator rights without the user's knowledge. Be vigilant and check permissions before installing.