How to check Xiaomi’s phone for viruses: an expert guide

Xiaomi smartphone owners often face intrusive advertising or strange interface behavior, which immediately raises suspicions of malware. The MIUI shell and its current version of HyperOS have a powerful built-in security toolkit that not all users know about. However, in some cases, standard measures are not enough, and a deeper analysis of the system using third-party solutions is required.

Understanding how mobile security works in the Android ecosystem will help you avoid panic and waste. It is important to distinguish between real-world virus threats and just intrusive system notifications or app errors. In this article, we will examine all available diagnostic methods, from simple built-in scanners to professional analysis via a computer.

Ignoring the first signs of infection can lead to identity theft, device locking, or stealth mining in the background, so checking your gadget regularly is not just a recommendation, it's a necessary digital hygiene. Let's look at what tools are at your fingertips right now.

Built-in security scanner in MIUI and HyperOS

The first and most logical step is to use a regular application that is already pre-installed in the system. Xiaomi has integrated into its firmware module "Security", which is based on the engines of well-known antivirus laboratories, this tool does not require the installation of additional software and has deep access to system files.

To run a check, you need to find an icon called Security (or Security) on your desktop or in the Tools folder. Inside this application is the Antivirus section, which automatically starts scanning installed applications and system files when it starts, usually in less than a minute, after which you receive a report on the state of the device.

⚠️ Note: If the built-in scanner found nothing, but the symptoms of infection (advertising, heating) persist, this does not guarantee complete cleanliness of the system.

To improve the effectiveness of the antivirus settings, you can connect cloud databases, which allows you to identify the latest threats whose signatures have not yet been added to your phone's local storage. Just click on the gear in the corner of the screen and activate the option Cloud Verification.

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Xiaomi’s built-in antivirus can detect and remove 90% of known threats without installing third-party software.

In addition to virus detection, this section allows you to manage application permissions and block unwanted calls. The integrated approach to configuring this module significantly improves the security of your smartphone. Don't neglect to regularly update antivirus databases, even if you are not actively using the device.

Diagnostics through Google Play Protection

The second layer of defense is Google Play Protect, which is built into the Play Store, which runs in the background and checks every app before installing it, and periodically scans already installed programs for malicious behavior. For Android owners, this is a basic and mandatory level of protection.

To manually run the check through this service, open the Play Store app and click on your profile icon in the upper right corner. In the menu that opens, select Play Protection. On the screen that opens, you will see the check status and the Check button that you need to press to start a forced scan.

• 🛡️ Automatic scanning: the system itself checks applications from any source, not only from the official store.
• 📱 Search for unknown applications: detects programs installed bypassing standard procedures (sideload).
• 🚫 Threat blocking: When a threat is detected, Google can remotely disable a dangerous app or completely remove it.

Importantly, Google Play Protection is tightly integrated with your account, so if you reinstall your system or buy a new phone, your background checks and (blacklist) of dangerous apps will be preserved, creating a single security environment for all your devices under one account.

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Make sure that the Play Protection settings activate the “Improving Malware Detection” option by sending data about the installed apps to Google.

But the limitations are clear: this service is primarily focused on apps from the Google ecosystem, if you actively use third-party stores or download. APK-forum files, the level of protection may not be sufficient, and in such cases, you should not rely on Google alone.

Use of third-party antiviruses from the Play Store

When built-in tools are scarce, specialized antivirus solutions from leading security vendors come to the rescue. The market offers many options, but it is important for Xiaomi to choose applications that are optimized for working with the MIUI shell and will not conflict with the energy saving system.

Among the most reliable options that show high results in independent tests, the following products are: they have advanced functionality, including real-time protection, anti-phishing and the ability to remotely control the device.

When installing a third-party antivirus on Xiaomi, it is critical to configure the permissions correctly. The system can aggressively “kill” background processes, so after installing the antivirus, you need to go to Settings → Apps → All applications, find your antivirus and select “No restrictions” at Activity Control. This will allow protection to work around the clock.

Don't install multiple antivirus scanners at once, which will lead to resource conflict, drastic performance declines, and battery drains quickly. Choose one reliable solution and set it up correctly. The rest of the applications can be used as one-time "second opinion" only when suspected of infection.

Manual verification of installed applications and rights

Often, the problem is not with classic viruses, but with aggressive behavior or a hidden miner, and Xiaomi owners can conduct a deep revision of their device using built-in analysis tools, which requires carefulness, but yields excellent results.

First of all, look at the list of all installed programs. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications. Look carefully at the list. You should be alerted by programs without an icon, with a name in the form of a set of characters or those that you do not remember to install. These objects are often masquerading as system processes.

Pay special attention to access rights. Go to Privacy Protection → Permission Manager. Check which apps have access to SMS, Contacts and Microphone. If a simple calculator or flashlight requires access to your messages or geolocation, this is a sure sign of malicious activity.

⚠️ Note: If you find an application that cannot be removed (the Delete button is inactive), it has received device administrator privileges. → Passwords and security → Confidentiality → Special access → Applications of the device administrator.

Also worth checking is the AutoRun section, which is that many viruses are prescribed to boot to be permanently stored, and the Security app has an AutoRun tool where you can disable any suspicious programs, which not only improves security, but also speeds up the smartphone.

Another sign of infection may be the appearance of unknown profiles or users. Go to Settings and search for “Users”. If there is a profile that you did not create (other than “Guest”), delete it immediately. This can be a hidden account created by a virus to gain privileged rights.

Analysis through computer and debugging mode

For advanced users who suspect a complex root virus (rootkit) that hides from all scanners inside the phone, there is a method of checking through the PC, which allows you to see the file system of the smartphone as a regular drive and find hidden executable files.

To start, activate Developer Mode. On Xiaomi, this is done by seven times clicking on the MIUI Version (or OS Version) in the About Phone menu. After you see the message, “You’re a Developer,” go to Advanced Settings → For Developers and turn on USB Debugging.

adb devices

Connect your phone to your computer with a cable. The computer must have an ADB (Android Debug Bridge) package installed. Open the command line and type in the adb device command. If a window appears on the phone asking for debugging permission, confirm it. The command line should display the device's serial number.

Now you can use portable PC scanners (like Dr.Web CureIt! or Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool) that can scan connected mobile devices, check the phone's memory for known Windows executables and Android threats, and this is especially effective against encryption Trojans.

If you are not familiar with the command line, there are graphical shells for ADB, But even just connecting in file transfer mode and then scanning the folders. /sdcard/Download and /sdcard/Android Antivirus on PC can detect downloaded malicious APK-files that have not yet been activated.

Radical measures: resetting and returning to factory settings

If none of the methods worked and the phone continues to behave inadequately, the last and most effective tool is a complete data reset, which is guaranteed to remove 99.9% of viruses, as it completely erases the user's memory partition and returns the system to its original state.

Before performing the reset, be sure to back up important data (photos, contacts, documents) to the Mi Cloud, Google Drive or computer, as all data from internal memory will be irretrievably deleted (SD) It is better to remove before the procedure, so that it is not formatted.

There are two ways to do a reset on Xiaomi:

• 🔄 Through the settings menu: Settings → The phone. → Resetting settings → Erase all data. It's the easiest and safest method if the phone turns on.
• 🔘 Through Recovery Mode: If the phone is blocked by a ransomware virus and does not allow you to enter the menu, you need to turn off the device and pinch the button combination Volume up + Power before the Mi logo appears. In the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.

Once the process is complete, the phone will turn on as a new, factory-built firmware version, you'll need to reset the original setup, don't rush to restore all the applications from the backup at once, you'd better install them manually so you don't return the accidentally preserved virus along with the data.

⚠️ Warning: After reset, be sure to change passwords from all important accounts (Google, social networks, banks), as there is a risk that keyloggers could save your old passwords until the moment of resetting.

This is an extreme measure, but often the only way to restore the normal operation of the device. Regular creation of backups will save you from the stress of data loss at a critical moment. Remember that a clean system is the key to fast operation of your gadget.

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