Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones, which run MIUI shells or the new HyperOS, offer users incredible flexibility in the configuration of the interface. However, the abundance of pre-installed applications and the specific logic of the launcher often lead to cluttering of the desktop. Many unnecessary icons, widgets and folders not only visually pollute the screen, but can reduce the performance of the system, forcing the processor to actively process graphic elements.
Users often experience a situation where standard removal methods fail, or the label disappears but its tails remain in the system, which may be due to launcher features, administrator rights for system applications, or synchronization with a cloud account. Understanding how the Android operating system manages the display of items in conjunction with MIUI is key to bringing order.
In this material, we will discuss in detail all ways to clean the working space: from simple dragging icons to using the engineering menu and the use of the workspace. ADB-You will learn to distinguish between application shortcuts, widgets and system links, and learn how to safely dispose of unnecessary software without risking damage to firmware.
Basic methods of removing icons and applications
The most obvious and easiest way to get rid of the extra item on the desktop is the standard removal procedure. Depending on the version of the MIUI shell or HyperOS, the algorithm of actions may vary slightly, but the basic principle remains unchanged. Usually, just click on the icon and hold your finger for one to two seconds until an action menu or vibration appears, signaling the transition to edit mode.
Once you activate the edit mode, you have a basket or a Remove button at the top or bottom of the screen. If you drag the shortcut to that zone, the app will be removed from the device completely, including all of its data. However, be careful: system applications like Security or Settings will not be removed this way, they will only disappear from the desktop, remaining in the menu of all applications.
- 📱 Press and hold the label until the menu appears.
- 🗑️ Drag the icon to the "Delete" zone or click the cross.
- 📂 To remove it from the folder, open it and repeat the procedure.
- ⚙️ System applications can only be hidden from the desktop.
It's important to distinguish between deleting the shortcut and deleting the application itself. A shortcut is just a link leading to the executable program file. If you remove the shortcut from the desktop but leave the application on the menu, it will continue to take up space in memory and may run in the background. To fully clean up, you need to use the application management menu.
⚠️ Note: When removing system shortcuts (calendar, notes, voice recorder), make sure you don’t have important data inside them, as in some versions, you can use the system labels. MIUI Removing the shortcut may initiate cleaning of the app cache.
If standard deletion does not help or the label returns after the reboot, this may indicate the presence of malware or aggressive advertising in one of the installed applications.
Managing widgets and interface elements
Users often confuse app shortcuts with widgets, interactive elements that display information in real time. Weather, news, pedometer or calendar widgets take up significantly more space on the screen and consume more battery resources. Deleting the widget is similar to removing an icon, but has its own nuances depending on the type of widget.
In HyperOS and the latest versions of MIUI, widgets can be embedded directly into the desktop as part of a smart folder or negative first screen, and to remove such an element, you need to go into edit mode, select a widget, and select an uninstall option. If the widget is part of the system tape, you can turn it off in the desktop settings.
Special attention should be paid to the Negative First Screen (the widget tape to the left of the main screen), which is often filled with unnecessary news and recommendations cards, and to clean it, swipe to the right, click on the settings button (usually a gear or a three-dot menu) and deselect unnecessary modules.
- 🌤️ Weather widgets often require separate removal through the widget settings menu.
- 📰 News feed can be completely turned off in the desktop settings.
- 📊 Interactive graphics consume more charge than static icons.
Some widgets can stick on the screen without reacting to touch, in which case the launcher reboot will help. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications, find the desktop (or Launcher) and select Stop or Clear cache.
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If the weather widget shows the wrong temperature or isn’t removed, check the permissions for the Weather app in the Security section – it’s possible that the ad blocker is interfering with its proper operation.
Folder settings and application grouping
Grouping applications into folders is an effective way to visually unload the desktop without removing the desired programs. In MIUI and HyperOS, folders have advanced functionality: they can have different sizes, background colors, and even display content without opening. However, improperly configuring folders can lead to them taking up too much space or behaving unpredictably.
To create a folder, drag and drop one app icon to another. Once you create the folder, you can change its name to add up to 6-9 apps depending on the size of the grid. Newer versions of the shell offer a feature called folder widgets that show the contents of the folder on a larger scale right on the desktop.
| Type of element | A place in memory | Impact on RAM | Deleting method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annex label | Minimum | Absent. | Drag in the basket |
| widget | Average. | Permanent. | Long pressing → Delete |
| folder | Minimum | Absent. | Removing all labels inside |
| System reference | Zero. | Absent. | Only through ADB or root |
If the folder stopped opening or the icons inside it got confused, try changing the font size or scale in the screen settings. Sometimes this resets the rendering errors of the interface. You can also try changing the theme to the standard one to eliminate third-party conflict.
☑️ File checks.
Hiding applications and “Without hands” mode
Xiaomi smartphone owners often want to hide certain apps from prying eyes without removing them completely, and MIUI has a Hidden Apps feature that allows you to remove icons from the shared menu and desktop, making them available only through a special gesture or password.
To activate this feature, go to Settings → Apps → Hidden Apps. Here you can select the programs that you want to hide. Once activated, you will need to spread your fingers across the screen in the menu of all applications (gesture depends on the version of MIUI) or enter the installed code.
And then there's Second Space, which creates a completely separate space in the phone with its apps, photos and accounts, a radical but effective way to remove shortcuts to personal or work apps from the main screen, switching between spaces through a password or fingerprint.
- 🔒 Hidden applications are not visible in the search for the system.
- 👆 Gesture to call hidden apps is customized individually.
- 📸 Photos inside hidden apps are also protected from viewing in the gallery.
If your goal is to save battery, it’s best to use the Activity Limit feature or forced stop rather than simply hiding the label.
⚠️ Warning: Do not hide critical system applications (Phone, Messages, Settings) as access to them through the standard interface will be lost, which can make it difficult to manage the device.
Removing System Garbage and Label Advertising
One of the most annoying problems Xiaomi users face is the emergence of ad shortcuts and folders with games that the system automatically creates, often after updating the firmware or installing applications from unreliable sources, such labels can lead to scam sites or suggest installing dubious software.
To combat advertising debris, the first thing you need to do is turn off the MSA (MIUI System Ads) service. Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Access to personal data, find msa and turn off the switch. You will need to wait 10 seconds, then confirm the disconnection.
It's also worth checking the list of apps for unknown programs with names like "Clean Master," "Battery Saver," or just no name or icon, which are the ones most often responsible for pop-up ads and creating fake labels, and removing them solves the problem 90 percent of the time.
Hidden sources of advertising
If the ad label cannot be removed in the standard way, try to find its parent. Press the label, click About (if available) and see which package is responsible for displaying it.
Advanced Methods: ADB and Disabling System Components
For experienced users who want to remove shortcuts to system applications that are not removed in the usual way (e.g. Mi Video, Mi Music, GetApps), there is a method using USB debugging and the ADB tool (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to forcibly disable or remove system packages without root rights.
First, you need to activate the developer mode. Go to Settings. → About the phone and 7 times quickly click on the build number MIUI. Then in the menu "For developers" include "Debugging by" USB» and “Installation through USB» (inserted SIM-map and account).
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.videoplayer
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.player
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.xiaomi.mipicksExecuting these commands through the computer will remove the corresponding applications for the current user, and their shortcuts will disappear from the desktop forever. However, be extremely careful: removing critical system components (for example, com.android.phone) can lead to the device’s failure.
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Use of the ADB-commands are the most effective way to remove system debris, but it requires accuracy. Always check the name of the package before removing it on specialized forums.
After cleaning procedures, it is recommended to restart the smartphone. If you accidentally delete something extra, you can restore the system applications deleted through ADB with the cmd package install-existing command, but the easiest way to do a complete reset.