How to Detect and Remove Spyware on Xiaomi Smartphone (Redmi, POCO)

Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO MIUI-based smartphones are popular devices with powerful hardware and flexible settings, but that’s what makes them a tasty target for attackers. Spyware can steal passwords, track location, record conversations, or even turn on the camera without your knowledge. Devices with root rights installed from unverified sources, or those previously owned by other owners (for example, bought from hands) are especially vulnerable.

This article is an expert look at how to detect surveillance on Xiaomi even without technical skills, we will analyze the unique signs of infection specifically for MIUI (which often miss common guides), check system logs, hidden processes, and learn how to clean the device without losing data, and also explain why standard antiviruses do not always help and what to do if a spy is sewn in at the firmware level.

Signs of spyware on Xiaomi: what to look for

Spyware rarely gives off vivid symptoms, but Xiaomi has specific “calls” that are worth checking out first:

• 🔋 Unexplained battery consumption – if the phone is discharged in 4-5 hours with minimal load, and in Settings → Battery → Use unknown processes are visible (for example, com.android.system with consumption of 20%+).
• 📡 Suspicious traffic — MIUI shows detailed statistics in Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Traffic. If you go 50+MB at night or in airplane mode, that's a worrying sign.
• 🔊 Spontaneous sounds – clicks, noise in the speaker during calls or voice recording turned on for no reason (checked in Settings → Applications → Resolutions → Microphone).
• 📱 Overheating without loading – if the case heats up to 40–45°C in idle, it could mean the background spy is working (especially if the area next to the processor is warming up).

One of the surest signs is unauthorized activity of the Mi Account. For example, you receive notifications about signing in to the Mi Cloud from an unknown device or see Settings → Xiaomi Account → Devices unfamiliar gadgets. Also beware if after the reboot there are indelible applications with names like System Update, Google Play Services (clone) or Cyrillic characters.

How to check Xiaomi for spyware through built-in MIUI tools

Take your time to install antiviruses — first use the built-in MIUI tools, which are often overlooked. They do not require root rights and work even on locked devices.

1. Checking through the “Security App”

Open the Security app (shield icon) and go to the Scanner section.

• 🛡️ Run a deep scan (not fast!). Look for apps marked "Risk" or "Suspicious."
• 📊 Check the AutoStart Management tab — if there are unknown services with autostart rights there, that’s a bad sign.
• 🔍 In the Privacy section, see which apps have access to geolocation, microphone, or camera in the background.

2. Analysis of active processes through the "Task Manager"

Press the Home button (or swipe up late on new models) to open the Task Manager.

• 🔄 Note processes with the names android., com.qualcomm. or miui. that should not run in the background (e.g., com.miui.analytics is a legitimate service, but if it consumes 10% CPU in the idle, it is suspicious).
• 📛 Remember or photograph the names of unknown processes, which can then be searched (e.g., in the 4PDA forum).

3. Checking system logs (for advanced)

If you're ready to dive deeper, turn on Developer Mode (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version – tap 7 times) and open Settings → Additional → Developer → Logs.

• 📜 Suspicious entries with keywords: root, su, adb, shell, spy, monitor.
• 🔗 Frequently access servers with IP- addresses from China, the United States, or Europe (if you are not using VPN).

⚠️ Warning: Some legitimate Xiaomi system applications (e.g., com.miui.analytics or com.xiaomi.market) may seem suspicious, but they are part of MIUI. They can only be removed without consequences through ADB or root-rights.

Top-5 antiviruses for spy search on Xiaomi (which really works)

Standard antivirus software from Google Play often skips spyware masquerading as system processes. Xiaomi is better off using specialized tools:

For maximum efficiency:

1. Install Kaspersky or Bitdefender.
2. Start a full scan (not fast!).
3. Enable the option to scan system files (if any).
4. Check the Threats section – if an antivirus found RiskTool, Monitor or Spyware, it’s almost certainly a spy.

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Before scanning, disable MIUI optimization in Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization for an antivirus application. Otherwise, the system may suspend its operation in the background.

How to remove spyware from Xiaomi: step-by-step instructions

If you find suspicious software, follow the algorithm:

1. Remove through standard settings

Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management and:

• 🗑️ Find a suspicious app (sort by installation date).
• 🔍 Check its permissions – if the Calculator has access to SMS or geolocation, it is a 100% spy.
• 🚫 Press Delete → Clear data. If the button is inactive, it's system software (read more).

2. Removal of system spies without root rights (via ADB)

If the application is not removed (e.g. com.android.engmode or com.qualcomm.qti.telephonyservice), use ADB:

1. Enable debugging over USB in Settings → For developers.
2. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.name.packet
3. Xiaomi may need to disable Mi Security: Adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.securitycenter first

3. reset to factory settings (if nothing helped)

If the spy is sewn in at the firmware level (for example, through custom recovery), only hard reset will help:

1. Back up your important data (but don’t restore it after you reset it!).
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Choose Delete all data and confirm.
4. After the reboot, don’t restore data from the backup – it may contain a spy!

⚠️ Warning: On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro or POCO X3 Pro), spyware can survive even reset if it is sewn into the recovery or boot partition.

What to do if a spy sewn into Xiaomi firmware

If the reset is still symptomatic, the spy is at the system partition level, which is typical for:

• 📦 Hand-built devices (especially if the previous owner was an “advanced” user)
• 🔧 Phones with custom firmware (e.g. LineageOS or Pixel Experience installed unofficially).
• 🛠️ Appliances that have been repaired in uncertified services (may have flashed modified MIUI).

In this case:

1. Check the firmware version in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. If it’s unofficial (e.g. MIUI by xiaomi.eu instead of MIUI Global), that’s a risk.
2. Download the official firmware for your model from the Xiaomi Firmware website.
3. Fastboot: fastboot flash all name firmware.zip fastboot reboot

For models with a locked bootloader (Redmi 9, POCO M3 and newer), you first need to unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool.

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If you have symptoms after flashing through Fastboot, it is a hardware bookmark (for example, in the communication module), in which case only a replacement of the motherboard will help.

How to Protect Xiaomi from Spyware in the Future

To minimize the risks:

• 🔒 Disable the installation from unknown sources (Settings) → Confidentiality → Special permits → Installation of unknown applications).
• 🛡️ Install real-time antivirus software (e.g. Kaspersky or Bitdefender).
• 🔄 Update regularly MIUI — New versions close vulnerabilities (check Settings) → The phone. → Updating the system).
• 🚫 Don't use root rights unless absolutely necessary. If you need root, install only Magisk (not SuperSU or KingRoot).
• 🌐 Avoid public Wi-Fi or use VPN (e.g. ProtonVPN).

Pay special attention to physical security:

• Do not leave your phone unattended in public places.
• Check USB-C connectors for any foreign devices (for example, a USB condom to protect against data grabbers).
• If you buy Xiaomi with your hands, be sure to do a full reset and firmware through Fastboot.

FAQ: Frequent questions about spies on Xiaomi