How to remove duplicate icons on Xiaomi smartphones: the complete guide

You open the app menu on your Xiaomi, and there are two, three or even four identical icons of the same messenger, game or system tool. Is the situation familiar? Duplicate icons on the desktop and in the list of programs occur after you update MIUI, reset your settings or install applications from third-party sources. But why is this happening — and most importantly, how do you fix it without losing data?

In this article, we will discuss 5 proven methods to get rid of repetitive icons: from simple actions in the launcher settings to advanced commands through the launcher. ADB. You will learn which duplicates can be removed safely and which should not be touched (so as not to break the system), as well as how to prevent their occurrence in the future. POCO on MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS.

Why do you see the double icons on Xiaomi?

Duplicate icons are not a bug, but a feature of MIUI and HyperOS shell.

• 🔄 System Update: When You Move to a New Version MIUI Some applications are “twined” – the old version remains in memory, and the new one is installed on top of it.
• 📱 Factory reset: After a hard reset, the system can restore icons from the backup by creating copies.
• 🛠️ Manual cloning of applications: functions like "Dual applications" (Settings) → Special facilities → Double applications) create separate copies of messengers.
• 📦 Installation APK Third-party sources: If you downloaded an app from a non-Google Play app and then updated it through the store, both versions may remain.
• 🤖 Launcher conflict: using third-party shells (e.g., Nova Launcher) simultaneously with the native launcher MIUI.

It's important to understand that not all duplicates are equally safe to delete, for example, if you manually cloned WhatsApp for a second account, removing the "extra" icon will lead to the loss of chats, while duplicate system utilities (such as the Camera or Gallery) often appear due to update errors - they can be safely cleaned.

⚠️ Warning: Before removing the duplicates, check if they are connected to the dual application function. → Annexes → Dual applications – if the application is on the list, its copy is protected by the system.

Method 1: Remove duplicates through launcher settings

The easiest method is to use the built-in MIUI shell tools, which are suitable for duplicates that appear after a system update or application installation.

Instructions:

1. Press and hold your finger in the free desktop space until the menu appears.
2. Select Desktop Settings (or Launcher Settings on newer versions).
3. Go to Application Management or Hide Apps.
4. In the list, find the duplicate application (they may differ in Cyrillic/Latin or version).
5. Click on the unnecessary copy and select Delete or Hide.

If the Remove option is inactive, the application is protected by the system.

• 🔧 Try disabling it (this hides the icon, but doesn't delete files).
• 📌 Or use the method of ADB (described below).

Back up important data | Check if the application is being used in Double Apps | Make sure you have enough battery power (minimum 30%) | Close all background processes-->

Method 2: Reset the launcher settings (without data loss)

If duplicates appear after each update, the problem may be in the launcher's cache, resetting its settings will return the standard desktop look, but will not delete your data or installed applications.

How to reset:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search box, type Launcher (or MIUI Launcher for older versions).
3. Select the application and click Storage → Clear cache and Clear data.
4. Reboot your smartphone.

After the reboot:

• 🔄 Icons will return to the standard appearance (may have to re-arrange widgets).
• 🗑️ System application duplicates (e.g., two calendars) should disappear.
• ⚠️ If the doubles are left, proceed to the next method.

⚠️ Attention: on some models (POCO F5, Redmi Note 12) Launcher resets can temporarily remove the themes. They will recover after re-applying the theme in Settings → Theme.

Method 3: Remove via ADB (for power users)

If the duplicate application is not removed by standard methods, Android Debug Bridge (ADB) will help. This method requires connecting the smartphone to the computer, but it is guaranteed to remove even protected system copies.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on USB Debugging on your smartphone: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on the MIUI Version to activate Developer Mode. Go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers and turn on USB Debugging.

Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.

ADB Tools

adb.exe

adb devices

Make sure your smartphone is on the list.

adb shell pm list packages | grep 'app' name'

For example, for Google Chrome, use grep chrome.

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 name.packet

Example: adb shell pm uninstall-k --user 0 com.android.chrome.

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ Removes even system duplicates that cannot be touched through the interface.
• ✅ Doesn't require root rights.
• ✅ It works on all versions. MIUI HyperOS.

⚠️ Note: Do not delete packages with the names com.miui. or com.android. - this may cause the system to fail.

💡

If you are not sure about the name of the package, use the adb shell dumpsys package name packet command to see detailed information about the application, including its icon and version.

Method 4: Using third-party launchers

If the duplicates appear due to a conflict between system and third-party launchers (for example, after installing a Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher), the solution is simple - go back to the standard shell or configure the display in an alternative launcher.

How to configure Nova Launcher to hide duplicates:

1. Install Nova Launcher from Google Play.
2. Press and hold your finger on your desktop → Nova Settings.
3. Go to Apps and Widgets → Hide Apps.
4. Check the duplicate applications.
5. Save the settings and restart the launcher (long press on the Home button → Restart).

Advantages of third-party launchers:

If you decide to return to the standard MIUI launcher, do the following:

1. Open Settings → Applications → By default.
2. Select Launcher and install MIUI Launcher.
3. Reset the device.

💡

The side launchers don't physically remove the takes, they just hide them from view, and if you go back to the standard shell, the takes can reappear.

Method 5: Manually cleansing through the file system (for advanced ones)

This method is suitable if duplicate icons are associated with remnants of old versions of applications in folders. /data/app or /system/priv-app. Root rights or access through ADB permit-extended.

Instructions:

1. Connect to your smartphone via ADB or a root-access file manager (such as Root Explorer).
2. Go to /data/app/ This is where user applications are stored. Look for folders with duplicate programs (e.g. com.whatsapp-1 and com.whatsapp-2).
3. Delete the folder with the unnecessary copy (pre-return!).
4. For system applications, check the folder: /system/priv-app/ Delete files carefully - an error can lead to bootloop (locked smartphone turn on).
5. Reset the device.

Examples of ways for popular doubles:

• 📷 Camera: /system/priv-app/MiuiCamera/ or /system/priv-app/Camera2/
• 📁 gallery: /system/priv-app/MiuiGallery/
• 🎵 Music: /system/priv-app/MiuiMusic/

⚠️ Note: if after removing the folder, the smartphone stopped booting, restore it through TWRP Or firmware through the Mi Flash Tool. Always backup before manual cleaning!

How to Prevent the appearance of doubles in the future

To prevent duplicate icons from reappearing, follow these tips:

• 🔄 Update. MIUI Right: Use only official firmware from Settings → Update system. Avoid "dirty" custom firmware installation (always do wipe) dalvik/cache into TWRP).
• 📦 Install applications from one source: If downloaded APK with APKMirror, do not update it through Google Play (and vice versa). For critical applications (banks, instant messengers), use only official stores.
• 🛠️ Configure “Dual Apps” carefully: Before cloning, check if the app supports multi-accounts (e.g., Telegram or Telegram). VK After use, delete the clones through Settings. → Special facilities → Dual annexes.
• 🔍 Clean the cache regularly: Once a month, clear the launcher cache and Google Play Services.Use the built-in Security utility → Cleanup.

If you frequently encounter duplicates after updates, consider disabling automatic updates for individual apps:

1. Open Google Play → click on the avatar → App and device management.
2. Select the application → click on three points → Disable auto-update.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the duplicates of icons on Xiaomi