How to remove Xiaomi antivirus: a complete guide to all MIUI models

Xiaomi’s built-in antivirus is part of the MIUI Security ecosystem, which automatically scans the device for viruses, malware and suspicious activity. For many users, this tool becomes more of a burden than a protection: it consumes battery resources, shows false positives on secure files and slows down the smartphone, especially for owners of devices with limited technical characteristics (for example, Redmi 9A or Poco C31), where every percent of the processor is on the account.

In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to remove Xiaomi antivirus – from simple disabling to complete removal of system components (including methods for devices with unlocked bootloader). MIUI And what to do if the antivirus continues to work after the reset, and the instructions are valid for all firmware versions, including: MIUI 14 and HyperOS.

Why Xiaomi Antivirus Can Hinder Your Phone

On paper, the built-in scanner should protect the device, but in practice, users face a number of problems:

🔋 Increased battery consumption: background checks of files and apps can eat up to 10-15% Charges per day, even if you don't manually run the scan.
⚠️ False positives: Antivirus often blocks harmless ones APK-files (e.g. modified versions of apps or games from third-party sources).
🐢 Slowing down the system: on weak devices (Redmi) 8A, Poco M2) Real-time scanning can cause lags when opening applications.
📥 Unnecessary notifications: persistent alerts about “potential threats” in files downloaded from telegrams or instant messengers.

In addition, Xiaomi antivirus is integrated into the system application com.miui.securitycenter, which makes it difficult to remove it without superuser rights. Even after disabling through the settings, it can be activated again after updating the MIUI or restarting the device.

⚠️ Warning: Complete removal of system antivirus deprives you of official support Xiaomi warranty repair. If the device is guaranteed, it is better to limit the disabling scanning.

Method 1: Disable antivirus via MIUI settings (without root)

The safest method is to deactivate the scan without removing the app itself.This does not require superuser rights and is suitable for all models, including the Xiaomi 13 Pro and Redmi Note 12.

Instructions:

Open the Security app (the shield icon).
Go to Antivirus (or Virus Protection in newer versions of MIUI).
Press on. ⚙️ Settings in upper right corner.
Turn off the switches: 🔍 Automatic scanning 📥 Scanning of uploaded files 🔄 Background updates

Permit management

Auto-start

Antivirus.

After this action, the antivirus will stop working in the background, but its icon will remain in the application menu. To hide it, you can use a launcher from a third-party developer (for example, Nova Launcher).

Open Task Manager and make sure that the com.miui.securityscan process is not active|

Try to download. APK-File – No notifications about scanning should be|

Restart your phone and check if the antivirus is back on|

Make sure there are no active scans in the security settings-->

Method 2: Remove antivirus updates via ADB (without root)

If disabling through the settings does not help (antivirus is automatically turned on), you can remove its updates using the help of the ADB-This method does not require superuser rights, but it will require the phone to be connected to a computer.

Preparation:

🖥️ Install. ADB and Fastboot Tools on PC.
📱 Turn on Debugging. USB on the phone: Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Press 7 times to activate Developer Mode, then return to Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB.
🔌 Connect your phone to your PC and confirm your debugging permission.

Instructions:

Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with adb.exe.
Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices should appear the name of your device.
Run the command to remove antivirus updates: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.securityadd If the command doesn't work, try: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.antivirus
Reboot your phone: adb reboot

This method only removes antivirus updates, leaving the base version (which is less aggressive). If you want to completely uninstall the component, root rights will be required.

⚠️ Attention: After update MIUI Antivirus may recover. To avoid this, before updating, disable the automatic installation of system applications in the settings of Google Play Store.

Through the MIUI settings|

With ADB|

Removal through root|

No, I'm using antivirus |

Another option-->

Method 3: Completely remove antivirus with root rights

If you're willing to sacrifice the warranty and have an unlocked bootloader, you can completely remove the antivirus from the system.

🔓 Unlocked bootloader (instructions for Xiaomi here).
📱 Established custom recovery (TWRP Or OrangeFox).
🛠️ Root access (for example, via Magisk).

Steps to remove:

Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or FX File Explorer).
Go to /system/priv-app/ and delete the following directories: SecurityCenter MiuiSecurityAdd (if any) Antivirus (in some firmware)

/system/app/

security*

com.miui.securitycenter

Settings → Applications → Application Management

Reboot the phone.

After that, the antivirus will be completely removed, but with it, other functions of the Security Center (such as garbage cleaning or traffic control) may disappear, and to restore them, you will have to install alternative applications from Google Play.

What if other MIUI functions have stopped working after removal?

If you have lost memory cleaning or permission management options after removing the antivirus, install alternative utilities: - Garbage Cleanup: CCleaner or Files by Google. - Traffic Control: GlassWire or My Data Manager. - Autorun Management: Greenify (requires root). If you need system functions, restore deleted files from the backup or reflash the phone.

How to prevent antivirus from turning on after the MIUI update

Even after disabling or deleting the antivirus may return after updating the firmware. To avoid this, follow the following steps:

Before updating MIUI, back up your current firmware through TWRP (if there is root).
Turn off automatic update download: Go to Settings → The phone. → Update the system. ⚙️ → Auto-update and select "Off.".
If the update is already downloaded, delete its file: Go to Settings → Warehouse → Find the file. Downloaded_rom and delete the file with the.zip extension.

Magisk

Install the Disable MIUI Anti-Virus module from the Magisk repository.
Or add a line to /system/build.prop: ro.miui.antivirus.enabled=0

If the antivirus is still back after the update, repeat the steps from Method 2 (ADB) or Method 3 (root).

Method of disconnection	Root is required.	Difficulty	Risk to the system	Restored after update
Through MIUI settings	❌ No.	⭐ Very easy.	⚠️ Low.	✅ Yes.
ADB-team	❌ No.	⭐⭐ Middle-Average	⚠️⚠️ Medium.	✅ Yes (partially)
Removal through root	✅ Yes.	⭐⭐⭐ Hardly.	⚠️⚠️⚠️ High-pitched	❌ Not if you block updates)
Magisk module	✅ Yes.	⭐⭐ Middle-Average	⚠️⚠️ Medium.	❌ No.

What to do if the antivirus blocks the installation APK-file

One of the most common problems is that Xiaomi’s antivirus block the installation of applications from unknown sources (APKs), and even after it is disabled, errors such as “Installation is blocked” or “App can cause harm” can occur.

Decisions:

📁 Allow installation from source: Go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → ⚙️ Special access → Install unknown applications. Select the browser or file manager you download from APK, and allow installation.

Disable MIUI check

Enable Developer Mode (as in Method 2).
Go to Settings → Additional → For developers.
Activate the option to Disable MIUI (or MIUI Optimization in Android 10+-based firmware).

Use detours

Rename the extension APK-file on.zip, then back to.apk after downloading.
Install APK via ADB: adb install path/to/file.apk

⚠️ Attention: Installation APK From unknown sources, there is always a risk of malware infection. Before installing, check files through online scanners like VirusTotal.

Alternative antivirus for Xiaomi: what to install instead of built-in

If you have removed the standard antivirus but want to keep the protection, consider the following alternatives:

Antivirus	Free version	Background scanning.	Battery consumption	Suitable for weak devices
Bitdefender Mobile Security	✅ Yes (with limitations)	✅ Yes.	⚡ Low.	✅ Yes.
Kaspersky Mobile	✅ Yes.	✅ Yes.	⚡⚡ Medium.	✅ Yes.
Malwarebytes	✅ Yes.	❌ No (manual scanning only)	⚡ Very low.	✅ Yes.
Avast Mobile Security	✅ Yes.	✅ Yes.	⚡⚡⚡ High-pitched	❌ No.

For maximum performance on weak devices (Redmi 7A, Poco C3), Malwarebytes is recommended - it does not work in the background and does not load the system. If you need full protection, choose Bitdefender or Kaspersky, but be prepared for a slight increase in battery consumption.

💡

Before installing a third-party antivirus, check its compatibility with your version of Android. Some applications (such as Avast) may conflict with MIUI and cause the processor to overheat.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi antivirus

Can you remove Xiaomi antivirus without root?

It is impossible to completely remove the system application without root, but you can disable its functionality through settings or ADB (see Method 1 and Method 2).

Why does Xiaomi Antivirus block legitimate apps (e.g. modified games)?

The built-in antivirus uses signature databases from Tencent and Avast, which often label modified APKs (including mod games, patched apps or third-party files) as "potentially dangerous." This is a false positive because the antivirus cannot distinguish malicious code from legal changes. Solution: disable scanning of downloaded files (see Method 1) or install APK via ADB.

Will the antivirus return to factory settings after resetting the phone?

Yes, when you completely reset, the antivirus will recover, because it is part of the MIUI firmware. To avoid this: Before reset, backup through TWRP (if there is root). After reset, immediately disable the antivirus through ADB or settings. If you have a bootloader unlocked, install custom firmware without built-in antivirus (for example, LineageOS).

Can removing the antivirus cause your phone to become infected?

Xiaomi antivirus itself is not critical to security, as modern versions of Android have built-in protection (Google Play Protect). However, without it, the risk increases: Install malicious APKs from unverified sources; Phishing via SMS or messengers (antivirus sometimes blocks suspicious links); Attacks through vulnerabilities in outdated applications. Recommendation: if you remove antivirus, install an alternative (for example, Bitdefender) and do not download files from dubious sites.

How to check if the antivirus is removed?

To make sure that the antivirus is deactivated: Open Settings → Applications → Application Management and find Security or Antivirus. If the Disable button is active, it works. Run the ADB command line and execute: adb shell pm lists | grep -i antivirus If the output is empty - the antivirus is deleted. Try downloading the test APK (for example, with APKPure) - there should be no notifications about scanning.