How to remove wiretaps from Xiaomi phone: the complete guide

Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones running MIUI or HyperOS have powerful built-in protections, but no system is immune to vulnerabilities. If you notice that the battery is discharged faster than usual and the device is heated even in plain, this can signal the presence of hidden malware. Android device owners often face the fact that spyware masquerades as system processes or harmless utilities.

Removing wiretaps requires not only technical knowledge, but also an understanding of how malicious code enters the system. Most of the time, it is caused by installing applications from third-party sources or clicking on phishing links. Data privacy is the first thing that is at risk, so you need to act quickly and consistently to prevent attackers from accessing the microphone, camera or correspondence.

In this article, we will discuss effective methods for detecting and neutralizing threats, from basic permission checks to complete system cleanup. It is important to understand that modern Trojans can have administrator rights, making them impossible to remove in standard ways. You will need care and strict follow-up instructions to ensure the complete security of your Xiaomi.

Primary diagnosis and signs of infection

Before you start taking active action to remove, you need to make sure that the problem really lies in software spying, not hardware wear. The behavior of a smartphone when there is a bug often changes dramatically. Anomalous processor activity can cause the case to heat up even when the screen is off and running applications are not.

Pay attention to traffic consumption. Spyware constantly sends recorded data (audio, video, screenshots) to a remote server. If you haven't watched high-resolution video but the Internet limit is exhausted in a couple of days, this is an alarm bell. It's also worth checking the list of installed applications for programs with names like "System Update", "Wi-Fi Service" or simply without an icon and name.

• 🔋 Dramatic reduction of battery life without changing usage habits.
• 📡 Increased consumption of mobile traffic by background processes.
• 📱 Spontaneously turning on a screen, camera or flash.
• 🔊 Extraneous clicks or noise during phone calls.

Another sign may be the appearance of ads in unexpected places or the inability to turn off certain functions in the settings. If the settings menu is blocked or items become gray (inactive), this means that the malware has received administrator rights of the device, in which case the usual removal through the application menu will be impossible, and more radical measures will be required.

Analysis of installed applications and permissions

The first step in the fight against wiretapping is to thoroughly review the installed software. Attackers often disguise their programs as calculators, flashlights or memory cleaners. Go to Settings → Apps → All applications and carefully study the list. Pay special attention to programs that do not have an icon or name, and those whose installation date coincides with the beginning of the problem.

The critical step is to check permissions. Spyware cannot function without access to a microphone, geolocation, and phone. Go to Privacy Protection → Permission Manager. Here you will see which applications have access to sensitive functions. If a simple calculator requires access to contacts and a microphone, this is a clear sign of malicious activity.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi system applications (such as "Mi Browser" or "Mi Video") may request broad permissions. Don't delete them unless you're sure it's a virus, it's better just limit their background activity and access to data in the settings.

If you find a suspicious application but the Delete button is inactive, it is admin. To disable this status, go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Privacy → Special Access → Device Administrator Access. Find an unknown profile there and click Deactivate. Only then it can be deleted in the standard way.

Using a Safe Mode to Remove Viruses

If the malware actively resists removal or hides immediately after turning on the phone, you need to start the device in safe mode.In this state, Android only loads with system applications, which blocks the launch of third-party spyware, this allows you to safely find and remove the threat without interference of its defense mechanisms.

To enter safe mode on most Xiaomi and Redmi models, you need to press the power button and then hold your finger on the “Switch off” icon on the screen for a long time. The system will suggest going to Safe Mode — confirm the action. An alternative method for some models with a non-removable battery is to press the volume button while loading the Mi logo.

When you're in Safe Mode (there's a sign at the bottom of the screen), go back to the app list, now you can uninstall programs that were previously unavailable, and it's also recommended that you run a full check with the built-in Security antivirus, which is preinstalled in the MIUI shell, which updates the signature databases and is able to detect known threats.

• 🛡️ Blocks the launch of all third-party applications and viruses.
• 🔍 Allows you to see hidden processes in the task manager.
• 🗑️ It allows you to remove applications with administrator rights.
• 🚀 Accelerates the system for diagnostics.

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After deleting all suspicious files, be sure to restart your phone in the usual way to exit Safe Mode and check if the problem has been resolved.

Checking for special features and availability

A special threat category is Trojans that use Accessibility, a tool designed to help people with disabilities, but hackers use it to intercept keyboard input, read messages, and control the screen, and if the malware gains access to this feature, it can take screenshots of banking applications and steal passwords.

Check this section is mandatory. Go to Settings → Additional Settings → Special Features. Check all active services in the list that opens. Any service that you don't know the name or has a logo that doesn't match system applications should be immediately disabled. Often viruses are masquerading as "Update Service," "Google Play Protect" (with an error in spelling) or "System Helper."

In modern versions of HyperOS and MIUI 14/15, when you try to turn on the special features service, you get a warning that it can be dangerous, the system even requires you to enter a confirmation code or wait 10 seconds for you to realize your actions, and if you did not turn on this feature consciously for accessibility needs, turn it off immediately.

⚠️ Note: If you can't turn off the special features service (shutdown button is gray or immediately returns to "On"), then the virus has already blocked control.

Scanning through Google Play Protect and third-party antiviruses

Xiaomi’s built-in protections are effective, but you should use powerful third-party solutions to recheck. First of all, make sure that Google Play Protect is active. This service scans applications even outside the Play Market store. To start the check, open the Google Play Store, click on the profile icon and select Play Protection → Check.

If the built-in scanner found nothing, but the symptoms persist, install a specialized antivirus from a well-known vendor, such as Kaspersky, Dr.Web or Malwarebytes. These programs have deeper access to the file system and can detect scripts hidden in the cache or system folders.

When a threat is detected, follow the antivirus's recommendations, most often it will suggest deleting the file or moving it to quarantine, it is important to restart the device after treatment and re-scan to make sure that the antivirus signature databases are cleaned up regularly.

Radical method: Reset to factory settings

If none of the above methods helped to get rid of the wiretapping, the only guaranteed way is a complete data reset (Hard Reset), which completely erases all data from the internal drive, including viruses, personal photos, contacts and applications. Before starting the operation, be sure to back up important data in the Mi Cloud cloud or on your computer.

To perform the reset, go to Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset → Erase all data. The system will ask you to enter the unlock password and the password from your Mi Account (this is anti-theft protection). Once confirmed, the cleanup process will begin, which can take from 5 to 15 minutes.

Settings → About the phone → Reset settings → Erase all data

There is also a Recovery reset method that is useful if the phone is not loading or the virus is blocking the input to settings. To do this, turn off the phone and press the Volume Up + Power buttons at the same time (on some models Volume Down + Power). In the menu that appears, select the language (English), then Wipe Data → Wipe All Data → Confirm.

• 💾 Removes 99.9% of known viruses and spies.
• 🧹 Completely clears the cache and temporary files of the system.
• ⚙️ Returns the software to its original state.
• 📉 Deletes all user data without recovery.

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A complete reset is a nuclear weapon in the fight against viruses, and after that, the phone will be like a new one from the store, but you will lose all the data, so backup is critical.

⚠️ Warning: After reset, do not rush to restore applications from the old backup immediately. There is a risk of re-introducing the virus. It is better to install important applications again from the official store, and copy files selectively, having previously checked them on the PC.

Prevention and protection in the future

Once the wiretapping is successfully removed, it is important to prevent re-infection. The main reason for the virus to enter is the user's own actions. Never install applications from unknown sources (APK-Files from forums, Telegram channels or sites with "modified" versions of programs.The official Google Play Store and GetApps (Mi Store) undergo strict security checks.

Update your operating system regularly. In MIUI and HyperOS updates, Xiaomi regularly closes security vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit. Enable automatic updates in the Settings menu → About Phone → MIUI version.

It is also recommended to set a strong password or biometric security (fingerprint, facial recognition) to the device’s entrance, which will prevent unauthorized people from physically accessing your phone, another common way to install spyware.