Budget smartphone owners often face intrusive software that wastes resources. The MIUI-based Redmi 9 is no exception to this rule. Manufacturers pre-installe a host of services that may be useless to the end user and slow down the device.
Proper management of installed software allows you to significantly improve the performance of the gadget. Disabling unnecessary processes reduces the load on RAM and processor, as a result, the interface becomes more responsive, and battery life increases by 15-20%.
In this guide, we will discuss safe methods for deactivating programs without obtaining superuser rights, which components can be touched and which are better left unattended to avoid system failures. Follow the instructions carefully to optimize your smartphone.
Analysis of embedded software and its impact on the system
MIUI is famous for its functionality, but it also brings in an excessive amount of pre-installed software, including both useful utilities and bloatware, which cannot be removed by standard means, and these applications often run in the background, collecting data or showing ads.
Special attention should be paid to battery-consuming applications, which may not be displayed on the desktop but are actively using network connections, and checking power consumption statistics is the first step to understanding what is stopping your Redmi 9.
Not all system processes can be turned off. Some are responsible for basic phone functionality, such as calls, texting, or Internet access. Incorrect deactivation of critical components can result in a cyclical reboot or complete device failure.
⚠️ Warning: Before making any changes to the app list, create a restore point or make sure you have access to Recovery mode.This will bring the device back to life in the event of a critical error.
Understanding the difference between user and system applications is key to secure optimization: User software can be removed or disabled with little or no risk; System software requires more in-depth analysis and caution when manipulated.
Preparing the smartphone for optimization
Before you start to disconnect services, you need to perform a number of preparatory steps, this minimizes the risk of data loss and ensures the stability of the process, first of all, you should back up important contacts and photos.
It’s also worth checking for system updates. Sometimes manufacturers will release patches that already contain patches or make it easier to manage the firmware. Go to Settings → About the phone to check the current version of MIUI.
☑️ Preparing Redmi 9 for optimization
It's important to free up space on the internal drive. Some optimization tools require free space to work. Delete temporary files and cache through a standard cleaner built into the shell.
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Take a picture of a screen with a list of installed applications before you start work, which will help you quickly find and recover an important component that has been accidentally disabled.
Standard shutdown via Android settings
The safest and easiest method of managing applications is built directly into the operating system, it doesn't require any additional software to be installed, and it's available to every user, but the list of programs available to disable is limited.
First, you need to go to the application management menu, find the Apps section or All Apps in the settings, and here is a complete list of the software installed on the device, including hidden system processes.
Select the app you're interested in from the list. If the Disable button is active (not grey), then the program can be safely deactivated. Once clicked, it will disappear from the menu and stop consuming resources, although it will physically remain in memory.
| Annex | You can turn it off. | Risk of failure | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Movies | Yes. | No. | Low. |
| Gmail mail | Yes (unless used) | No. | Average. |
| System launcher | No. | critical | High. |
| Mi video | Yes. | No. | Average. |
If the off button is inactive, the app is critical to Android or the MIUI shell, in which case it cannot be deactivated by standard methods, and more advanced tools will be needed.
Use of Developer Mode and ADB
Disabling deep-built system applications that are hidden from the average user will require the use of USB debugging, a method that allows packets to be managed via a computer using the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) toolkit.
The first step is to activate the developer mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly press 7 times on the MIUI Version. After that, a new section Additional or Advanced Settings will appear in the settings menu, where you need to enable Debugging over USB.
What is ADB and why is it needed?
Connect your smartphone to your computer through a high-quality cable, and you'll see a request for debugging permission on your screen, you'll check the "Always Allow" box and you'll confirm the action, and your computer now has access to the management of the phone's packages.
You will need to download platform tools from the official Android developer site. After unpacking the archive, open the command line in the tool folder. Enter the adb device command to make sure the device is identified correctamente.
A list of all packages can be obtained by the adb shell pm list packages command. To disable a particular application, the adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 name.packet command is used. Be extremely careful when entering the packet name, an error can lead to unstable operation.
List of safe to disable Xiaomi apps
There is a list of apps that you can turn off on Redmi 9 without fear of disrupting the phone’s core features, mostly services that duplicate Google functionality or offer content that you don’t care about.
- 📺 Mi Video / Mi Music are standard media players that are easily replaced by third-party counterparts such as VLC or MX Player.
- 🌏 Mi Browser is a built-in browser, often overflowing with news feed; it can be replaced with Chrome or Firefox.
- 📊 Mi Credit/Mi Pay – Financial services that are only relevant to certain regions and rarely used in other countries.
- 🛒 Mi Store – an app store that duplicates Google Play and often displays ads.
- 📰 Mi News / Glance – news services on a locked screen and in widgets that consume traffic.
You should also look at Google services that you don't use, for example, if you don't watch video on your TV through your phone, you can turn off Google TV. If you don't use cloud storage, you can deactivate Google Drive background sync.
⚠️ Note: Do not disable applications called "Services", "Framework", "Provider" or "System" unless you know exactly what they are intended for, which may result in loss of communication or inability to load the interface.
Disabling these components will free up RAM and reduce the load on the processor, visually you will notice the disappearance of unnecessary icons from the app menu, which will make navigation on the smartphone easier and more enjoyable.
Cleaning Autoboot and Background Processes
Even after some applications are disabled, some may try to run automatically, and the MIUI shell has a special mechanism for controlling the boot that allows you to prevent specific programs from starting.
To get into this section, you need to have access to the developer menu. Go to Settings → Apps → Auto Run. Here you will see a list of programs that start with the phone.
It is recommended to leave autoboot on only for messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) and alarms. Other applications such as marketplaces, browsers and games can be safely turned off. They will start themselves when you open them manually.
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Autoboot control is one of the most effective ways to speed up the start of the smartphone and save battery power in the first minutes after turning on.
You also need to check the permissions of the applications, go to the settings of each suspicious application and revoke the unnecessary rights, especially access to the location and background, which will prevent hidden data collection and energy consumption.
Possible problems and solutions
In the process of optimization, users may face unforeseen difficulties, most often they are associated with the accidental shutdown of an important system component, and if the phone begins to behave strangely, do not panic.
The first sign of an error may be a constant pop-up with a message to stop the process, or the notification panel may disappear or the inability to connect Wi-Fi, in which case you need to return the changes back.
If you used ADB to turn off, turn on your computer, plug in your phone, and type in the command adb shell pm enable name.packet. This will return the app to its functionality. If the phone doesn't turn on, you'll need to reset to factory settings via Recovery.