How to completely remove spyware from your Xiaomi phone: 7 proven ways

Spyware on Xiaomi, Redmi or smartphones POCO They can steal personal data, track location, intercept messages, and even turn on the microphone without your knowledge. According to Kaspersky, one in five mobile viruses is designed specifically for surveillance in 2023, and Android devices are their primary target. In this article, we will discuss how to identify spyware on your Xiaomi, even if it masquerades as system processes, and completely remove it without a trace.

Feature of Xiaomi smartphones – built-in shell MIUI, It's not the same as targeted spyware that's installed by attackers, but we'll look at both standard methods (antivirus scanning) and advanced methods, such as checking through the Internet. ADB Importantly, some spies may block antivirus installations or hide their presence in the app list.

Signs of a spy program on Xiaomi

The first step is to confirm that there is a spy on the phone, and here are 10 key symptoms to keep you alert:

• 🔋 Fast battery discharge even in standby mode (spyware often runs in the background, consuming resources).
• 📶 Unexplained traffic: Mobile internet or Wi-Fi is consumed when you are not using your phone.
• 📱 Spontaneous reboots or brakes when opening certain applications (for example, messengers).
• 🔊 Extraneous sounds during calls (interference, echo) - it is possible to intercept conversations.
• 📁 Unknown files in the Download folders, DCIM or the root directory (for example, with the extension.apk,.dex).
• 📱 SMS from unknown numbers with links or codes (may be an attempt to remotely manage the data).
• 🔒 Antivirus blocking: it is impossible to install or update Dr.Web, Kaspersky, Malwarebytes.
• 📡 Activity GPS, When you are not using navigation (checked in Settings) → Confidentiality → Permits → geodata).
• 📦 Suspicious apps in the installed list (e.g., with names like System Update, Android Service, com.qualcomm.telephony).
• 🔄 Changes to settings you have not made (such as enabled Developer Mode or permission to install from unknown sources).

If you've noticed at least 3-4 The list of signs, the probability of infection is 80%. But don’t panic: modern spies often masquerade as legitimate processes, so a comprehensive check is needed. for example, the com.android.phone app is a normal system component, and com.android.phone.secure is already suspiciously.

Method 1: Antivirus scanning (fast method)

So, to start with, the simplest thing is to test with specialized antivirus software, and the important thing is that not all antiviruses are equally effective against spyware. AVG Advanced threats are often missed, whereas Dr.Web or Bitdefender detect them 90% of the time (AV-Comparatives 2023).

Here's the step-by-step instruction:

1. Download one of the verified antiviruses: 🛡️ Dr.Web Light (free version with basic verification). 🛡️ Bitdefender Mobile Security (paid, but with a 14-day trial). 🛡️ Kaspersky Mobile Antivirus (good for spy detection in system folders).

shut down the internet

thoroughness

Dr.Web

Antivirus → Full check.

Android.Spy

Trojan-Spy

RiskTool

Don't remove them immediately.

safe-haven

⚠️ Warning: Some spies may mimic the antivirus by showing false scan results. If the problem persists after removing the threats, this is a reason for manual checks.

Method 2: Manually verifying installed applications

Antiviruses don't always detect spyware, especially if it's embedded in system applications or uses super-user rights (root), in which case manual audit of the list of programs will help. → Annexes → Application management and pay attention to:

• 📦 Apps with suspicious names: com.android.system.update (if not update) MIUI). com.qualcomm.telephony (if you don't have a Qualcomm processor). com.google.android.gms.persistent (may be legitimate but often replaced). android.engine, service.host, update.system.
• 🔄 Programs with administrator rights (checked in Settings) → Passwords and security → Device administrators: Spyers often request these rights to block deletion.
• 📥 Applications installed without your knowledge (sort the list by installation date).
• 🔒 Programs with access to SMS, calls, geodata (checked in Settings) → Confidentiality → Permits).

If you find a suspicious app:

1. Try to remove it in the standard way (Tap) → "Delete").
2. If the "Delete" button is inactive, revoke the administrator's rights (see above).
3. If that doesn't help, use it. ADB (about it in method 4).

💡 Useful tip: Take a picture of all installed applications (especially system ones) before you delete them. If the phone starts to glitches after cleaning, you can restore critical components.

Method 3: Checking network activity (for advanced)

Spyware often calls home, sends data to remote servers, and you can track that through network traffic analysis.

1. Install Packet Capture or NetGuard (the latter blocks suspicious connections).
2. Start capturing traffic and use your phone as usual 5-10 minute.
3. Check the logs for suspicious domains or IP-Addresses, dangerous signs: 🌍 Domains with random letters (for example, xqz123.server.ru). 📡 Connecting to servers in China if you do not use Chinese services. 🔄 Continuous requests to one IP (It could be a spy command center).

Example of dangerous addresses (according to Malwarebytes 2026):

⚠️ Note: Some legitimate applications (e.g, MIUI Or Google Play Services, they send data to Xiaomi or Google servers, don't block it if you're not sure! Focus on unknown domains.

Method 4: Removing a Spy Through a ADB (skilled)

If spyware blocked deletion or hid in system folders, Android Debug Bridge will help (ADB). It's a tool for low-level phone control through a computer. ADB This method can damage the system – only use it if others fail to work.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on Developer Mode on Xiaomi: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version. Go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers. Activate Debugging on USB.

ADB Tools

File transfer

ADB

adb devices

If the phone appears in the list, enter:

adb shell

pm list packages -f

Look for suspicious names (see list of known spies).

com.malware.spytrack

pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.malware.spytrack

Flag. --user 0 Delete the application only for the current user (without root rights).

If the team returns the error DELETE_FAILED_DEVICE_POLICY_MANAGER, So the spy blocked the deletion through the device's policies, and then the only way to do that is to reset to the factory settings. 6).

💡

Before use ADB Create a backup of your data via adb backup -apk -shared -all -f backup.ab. This will save your apps and settings in case of a crash.

Method 5: Checking for root access

Many spies (like Cerberus or FlexiSpy) are installed with super-user (root) rights, which allows them to hide from antivirus and gain full control of the system.

1. Install the Root Checker app.
2. Run a check. If you get a "Root access detected," your phone is hacked.
3. Check for root management applications: com.topjohnwu.magisk (Magisk Manager). eu.chainfire.supersu (SuperSU). com.koushikdutta.superuser (Superuser).

If root is found but you haven’t installed it:

1. Disconnect your phone from the internet (airplane mode) immediately.
2. Try to remove the root manager through ADB (see method 4).
3. If you do not succeed, complete the reset (method 6).

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro) POCO X3 Pros have factory unlocking of the bootloader, which makes it easier to install spies. If you bought the phone from hand, check the status of the bootloader through the command:

fastboot oem device-info

If Device unlocked: true, the phone has already been hacked.

Method 6: Complete reset to factory settings

If none of these methods worked, the nuclear option is to reset the phone to factory settings, which will delete all the data, including spyware, but also erase photos, contacts and applications. SD-map SIM-Maps – some spies may be saved on them.

Instructions for Xiaomi:

1. Back up important data (via Settings → About Phone → Backup or manually on PC).
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Select Erase All Data (not “Settings Reset”!).
4. Enter your password (if required) and confirm.
5. After the reboot, don’t restore data from the backup – it may contain a spy!
6. Set your phone up as new, install the antivirus right away and check the system.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Mi 11 or Redmi) K40) A reset over a menu may not remove a spy if it's sewn into recovery:

fastboot erase userdata


fastboot erase cache




fastboot reboot

Method 7: Flashing the phone (last resort)

If the spyware survived even after being reset, it could have been sewn into the firmware (for example, through a modified software). boot.img). This is typical of phones bought with hands or on dubious sites, in which case only a complete flashing of the official version will help. MIUI.

Instructions:

1. Download the official firmware for your model from the Xiaomi Firmware website.
2. Unpack the.tgz file and place the firmware folder in the root of the phone’s memory.
3. Load the phone into Recovery mode (turn off, then pinch Power + Volume up).
4. Select Install update.zip and confirm the installation.
5. After restarting, reset the data (method 6).

We also recommend checking the privacy settings. MIUI:

1. Go to Settings → Privacy → Special permissions.
2. Disable access to microphone, camera and geodata for unnecessary applications.
3. In the Advertising section, disable Personalized Recommendations (this will reduce Xiaomi’s data collection).

FAQ: Frequent questions