How to Remove the MIUI Desktop on Xiaomi Redmi: The Complete Guide 2026

Why users want to get rid of the standard MIUI launcher

The MIUI desktop on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones is not just a background with icons, but an interface with unique logic that is not popular with everyone. Many owners of Redmi Note 11, Redmi 12 or POCO X5 are faced with the fact that the standard launcher slows down, imposes unnecessary widgets or simply inconvenient to use, especially annoying the inability to turn off advertising in system applications that are integrated directly into the interface.

But the problem isn't just advertising. MIUI Home (the official name of the launcher) has a number of limitations:

• 🔄 There is no flexible gesture setting – many actions are tied to fixed combinations.
• 📱 No support for alternative icons or themes from third-party developers.
• 🐢 Noticeable lags when scrolling the screen if many apps are installed.
• 🔒 It is impossible to completely disable system applications (such as Mi Video or Mi Music) that take up space on the desktop.

Fortunately, on all Xiaomi smartphones with an unlocked bootloader, you can completely replace the MIUI Home with an alternative launcher, and on some models - even without root rights.

Method 1: Installation of a third-party launcher without root rights

The safest and fastest method is to simply install an alternative launcher from Google Play. MIUI Home, but will allow it to "go around" making the new launcher the main. POCO Android 11 and newer.

The best options to replace:

• 🌟 Nova Launcher – Flexible gesture setting, icon pack support, optimized for performance.
• 🚀 Lawnchair – a lightweight open source launcher, imitates “pure” Android.
• 🎨 Hyperion Launcher – modern design with support for dynamic wallpaper and adaptive icons.
• ⚡ Microsoft Launcher – Windows integration, notification synchronization.

How to set and make the main:

1. Download the selected launcher from Google Play.
2. Open the app and follow the setup wizard.
3. When the request “Always use this launcher?” appears, click Yes.
4. Go to Settings → Applications → Default → Launcher and select a new one.

Make a backup copy of wallpaper and widgets

Check the vacant space (minimum 200 MB)

Disable battery optimization for launcher

Restart the phone after installation-->

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI After the system update, the launcher may reset to the standard. To avoid this, prior to the update, fix the alternative launcher in the default settings.

Method 2: Disable MIUI Home via ADB (no root rights)

If you don't have to completely remove the launcher but want to hide it from the system, you can turn off MIUI Home via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which does not require root rights, but requires a connection to a computer.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔧 Does not delete system files - only deactivates the application.
• 🔄 It's easy to get it all back with one team.
• 📱 It runs on Redmi 10, Redmi Note 11 Pro and other models with a locked boot loader.

Step-by-step:

1. Enable Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Click 7 times on MIUI Version. Go back to Settings → Additional → Developer. Activate USB Debugging.

ADB

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.home

Method 1

⚠️ Attention: After disconnection MIUI Home Some system features (such as Second Space Mode or Child Mode) may not work properly. Before executing a command, check if you are using these features.

Method 3: Complete removal of MIUI Home (root required)

If you are ready for radical measures and you have root rights, you can completely remove MIUI Home from the system, which is suitable for experienced users, since improper actions can lead to a bootloop.

What will be required:

• 📱 Smartphone with unlocked bootloader and root rights (for example, through Magisk).
• 🖥️ Utility. ADB file manager with root access (e.g., Root Explorer).
• 🔄 Backup of the system (required!).

Instructions:

1. Make a backup through TWRP or Orange Backup.
2. Open ADB Shell or terminal with root rights.
3. Run the command to delete: su pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.home
4. Install an alternative launcher and restart the device.

If you have problems starting the system after removal, restore the backup or reinstall MIUI Home via the command:

adb install miui-home.apk

(The miui-home.apk file can be extracted from your model's firmware.)

💡

Before removing MIUI Home, check if it is used as a system component for other features. For example, on some firmware, POCO Launcher depends on com.miui.home and may stop working.

How to Get MIUI Home Back

If you decide to return to a standard launcher after experimenting, you can do this in several ways depending on which removal method you used.

If you've been off through ADB:

1. Connect the phone to the PC.
2. Follow the command: adb shell pm enable com.miui.home
3. Go to Settings → Applications → By default and select MIUI Home.

If removed with root rights:

• Restore the backup via TWRP.
• Or install MIUI Home manually from firmware: adb install /path/to/miui-home.apk

If the phone doesn't load:

• Download to Fastboot and run the original firmware through the Mi Flash Tool.
• Use TWRP to restore the system partition.

💡

Before any manipulation of system applications, always back up via TWRP or Orange Backup.This is the only way to quickly restore the phone to work if you make a mistake.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When replacing the launcher, users often encounter common errors, and here are the most common ways to correct them:

If the weather widgets or notifications stop working after the launcher is replaced, check the resolution settings for the new launcher in Settings → Applications → Permissions. Some features (such as Always-on Display) may require an active MIUI Home.

Alternative solutions: custom firmware

If you don't like the launcher, but also MIUI in general, you might consider installing custom firmware. It's a radical method, but it gives you complete freedom of customization.

Popular firmware for Xiaomi Redmi:

• 🌍 LineageOS – “clean” Android without unnecessary bells and whistles.
• 🔥 Pixel Experience – The interface is like Google Pixel.
• ⚡ ArrowOS – Optimized for Performance.
• 🎯 Havoc-OS – Maximum customization.

What you need to install:

1. Unlocked bootloader (Bootloader).
2. Installed TWRP or other custom recaveri.
3. Backup of all the data.
4. The firmware that is suitable for your model (e.g. Davinci for Redmi K20).

⚠️ Note: Installing custom firmware voids warranty and may result in data loss. On some models (e.g. Redmi Note 12 with MediaTek), unlocking a bootloader requires waiting 168 hours (7 days) after a Mi Account is linked.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions