How to Remove a Virus from a Xiaomi Phone: 5 Verified Ways (2026)

Viruses on Xiaomi smartphones are not as rare as you might think. Even if you download apps only from Google Play, the risk of infecting the device remains: malware can hide in ad modules, fake updates or system vulnerabilities, Redmi Note and POCO models with an unlocked bootloader or custom software installed are especially vulnerable.

The main problem is that Android viruses often disguise themselves as system processes, can steal data, display intrusive ads, drain the battery or even block access to settings. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to remove viruses from Xiaomi phones, from simple to radical, taking into account the features of the MIUI firmware. No universal “magic buttons” are only specific actions with explanations of why they work.

Signs of a virus infection on Xiaomi: how to recognize the threat

The first step is to confirm that the problem is indeed a virus, not a MIUI error or hardware failure.

• 📱 Unknown apps on the menu that you haven’t installed (often with names like “System Update,” “Cleaner Pro,” or in Chinese).
• 🔋 A sharp increase in battery consumption - check in Settings → The battery, is there any suspicious processes with consumption of 20%+.
• 💰 SMS or calls to paid numbers you have not made (check history in the Phone app").
• 📊 Advertising in unexpected places: pop-ups, on top of other apps, or even on the lock screen.
• 🔒 Blocking access to security settings or requesting administrator rights from unknown programs.

Especially dangerous is the xHelper virus - it is able to recover after deletion and disguises itself as system files. /system/bin/. If after a reboot the phone again shows ads or brakes, this is a sure sign of infection.

⚠️ Note: Some “symptoms” may be caused by legitimate Xiaomi services, such as mipush (responsible for notifications) or com.xiaomi.midrop (file transfer.

Method 1: Manually remove the virus through MIUI settings

If the virus has not yet been deeply integrated into the system, it can be removed by standard means, a method that is suitable for most advert viruses and Trojans that do not have superuser rights.

Instructions for MIUI 14/13/12:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Show System Processes.
3. Sort the list by installation date – viruses often appear at the end of the list.
4. Check for apps with suspicious names (e.g. com.android.system.update, FlashPlayer, KingRoot).
5. Click on the suspicious app → Delete (if the button is inactive, go to method 3).

Once deleted, restart your phone and check the system behavior. If the virus persists, it could back up /sdcard/Download/ or /data/data/. Use a file manager (such as Mi File Manager) to search for files with.apk,.dex, or.so extensions in unexpected places.

Method 2: Using an antivirus (which works for Xiaomi)

Standard Google Play Protect often skips viruses, so deep validation requires specialized tools. Importantly, not all antiviruses are equally useful. For example, Avast and AVG are known for false positives on MIUI system files, and 360 Security can itself be the source of advertising software.

Recommended antiviruses for Xiaomi:

Procedure:

1. Install the selected antivirus from the official store.
2. Start a full scan (not fast!).
3. If a virus is detected, follow the instructions of the program. Some antiviruses (for example, Kaspersky) may suggest switching to Safe Mode for removal.
4. After cleaning, restart the phone and check again.

⚠️ If the antivirus finds "threats" in the folder /system/priv-app/ (for example, MiuiDaemon.apk), Don’t remove them, they are system components. MIUI. Check the file name on the forums. XDA Developers or 4PDA.

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Before scanning, turn off battery optimization for antivirus in Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization. This will prevent the scan from stopping halfway through the process.

Method 3: Removal of the virus through Safe Mode

If the virus blocks the installation of antivirus or removal of applications, use Safe Mode. In this mode, only system applications are downloaded, which allows you to bypass the restrictions imposed by malware.

How to get into Safe Mode on Xiaomi:

1. Press the power button before the turn off menu appears.
2. Press and hold the option “Switch off power” (or “Disable” in new versions of MIUI).
3. Confirm the transition to safe mode (the inscription "Safe mode" will appear at the bottom of the screen).

In safe mode:

• 🔍 Check the list of applications in Settings → Applications – viruses will be displayed without masking.
• 🗑️ Remove suspicious programs (if the Remove button is inactive, remove administrator permissions in Settings) → Passwords and security → Administrator rights).
• 🛡️ Install the antivirus and start the scan.

Once cleaned, restart your phone as normal, and if the virus comes back, it's hidden in system folders or has root rights.

Method 4: Reset to factory settings (Hard Reset)

If previous methods failed, the radical solution is a complete reset, which will remove all data from the phone, including viruses, but also erase photos, contacts and apps, Xiaomi offers two options for resetting:

• 📱 Through Settings: Settings → The phone. → Resetting settings → Erase all data.
• 🔧 Using Recovery: Turn off the phone, pinch the power + Volume up, select Wipe Data from the menu → Wipe All Data.

Important nuances:

• 🔐 Before resetting, untie your Mi Account in Settings → Xiaomi account, otherwise after resetting the phone will require login / password (Mi Account protection).
• 📁 Make a backup copy through Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset (but don’t restore it after resetting – the virus may return!).
• 🔄 After reset, do not restore data from the cloud immediately – first check your phone for viruses.

⚠️ Note: On models with the bootloader unlocked (for example, after firmware through Fastboot), the reset can lead to a device "brick" (inoperability). If you are not sure whether the bootloader was unlocked, use method 5 instead of resetting.

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Resetting to factory settings is the only reliable way to remove viruses integrated into system files (e.g. xHelper or Triada).

Method 5: Flashing the phone (for power users)

If the virus survived the reset, it could have invaded the section. /system or /vendor. In this case, only a complete flashing through Fastboot or Recovery will help. This method requires technical skills and is suitable for models. Redmi/POCO formal-string.

Step-by-step instructions for firmware through the Mi Flash Tool:

1. Download the official firmware for your model from the Xiaomi Firmware website (choose the Fastboot version).
2. Unpack the archive into a folder without Cyrillic characters (e.g., C:\MiFlash\firmware).
3. Install the Mi Flash Tool and Xiaomi drivers on your PC.
4. Turn off the phone, press Volume Down + Power to log in to Fastboot.
5. Connect your phone to your PC, in the Mi Flash Tool, select a folder with firmware and press Flash.
6. Wait until it's finished (10-15 minutes) and the phone will reboot automatically.

For models with a locked bootloader (such as the new Redmi Note 12), you will need to unlock through the Mi Unlock Tool.This erases all data and resets the Mi Account.

How to protect Xiaomi from viruses in the future

Even after successful removal of the virus, the risk of re-infection remains, and here are the specific protections that are relevant to MIUI 14:

• 🔒 Disable the installation from unknown sources: Settings → Passwords and security → Installation from unknown sources (disable for all browsers).
• 🛡️ Update. MIUI up to the latest version – new firmwares are closed vulnerabilities that are used by viruses (for example, CVE-2022-20427 older).
• 📥 Check the permissions of the applications: if the messenger requests access to the SMS or calls, it's suspicious.
• 🌐 Use it. DNS-filtering: c Settings → Wi-Fi → Additionally. → Settings DNS Please specify 1.1.1.3 (Cloudflare Family) or 8.8.8.8 (Google).
• 🔍 Regularly check active processes through Settings → Annexes → Application management → Launched.

For additional protection, install NetGuard (network blocker) or Island (sandbox for suspicious applications), which restrict viruses from accessing the Internet and personal data.

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MIUI has a built-in Incognito Mode for the browser — use it to visit questionable sites — to prevent malicious APKs from automatically loading.

FAQ: Frequent questions about virus removal on Xiaomi