How to Remove Xiaomi Shortcuts from Screen: The Complete Guide

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face a situation where the desktop of the device is full of unnecessary elements, this can be system applications that cannot be removed in the standard way, advertising widgets or just randomly scattered icons after updating the MIUI shell or HyperOS. The problem is relevant for users who appreciate minimalism and cleanliness of the interface.

Removing excess elements not only improves visual perception, but can also have a positive impact on the performance of the device. In this article, we will examine all proven ways to clean the screen, from simple settings to using hidden system functions, you will learn how to get rid of preinstalled software and customize the space for yourself.

Before you start taking any drastic measures, you should try standard desktop management techniques. The MIUI shell provides flexible tools for sorting and hiding objects. Most users want to simply clear visual noise without going into system files.

To start, try pinching your finger on an empty area on your desktop. From the menu that opens, select Settings, you can change the grid, change the font size of the icons, or even completely change the theme of the design. Sometimes just changing the theme to the standard helps remove the strange artefacts and unnecessary widgets added by the previous design.

If you're talking about specific app icons that you're not using, you can just move them to folders or delete them. Press the icon and select Remove or drag them to the top of the screen where the cart appears. But system applications won't get removed because they require other methods.

⚠️ Attention: Removing the system shortcuts that control the phone (calls, messages, settings) can cause the device to function unstable.

One of the most annoying features of budget and mid-budget models is the presence of a Hot Apps or Recommendations widget on the desktop.This element takes up space and often contains advertising links. Fortunately, it is easy to turn off through the launcher settings.

To remove this block, follow the following steps:

• 📱 Clutch the empty space on your desktop and go to Settings.
• 📉 Find the section Additional or Still in the bottom corner of the menu.
• 🚫 Turn off the switch Get recommendations or hot apps.
• ✅ Return to the desktop, the widget must disappear.

If the standard shutdown didn't work, maybe the widget is fixed to a specific theme. Try resetting the theme to a standard one through the Theme app. It's also worth checking the settings of the widget itself if it allows editing: sometimes just click on the cross in the corner of the block.

Modern versions of MIUI and HyperOS allow you to hide entire applications without removing them. This is ideal for system software that can not be removed, but that should not cornen the eyes on the screen. Hidden applications cease to appear on the menu and on the desktop, remaining accessible through a special input.

To activate the concealment function, go to Settings → Applications → Hidden Applications. Turn on the switch and select the programs that need to be removed from view. After that, they will disappear from the general list. To run the hidden application, you will need to enter a special code in the search box or use a gesture in the gallery (depending on the OS version).

This is particularly useful for Google or Microsoft services that are built into the system but you're not using it. You don't violate the integrity of the firmware, but you get a clean interface. Remember that hidden applications continue to run in the background and consume resources.

If built-in tools aren’t enough, third-party launchers come to the rescue. Replacing the standard shell with a Nova Launcher, Lawnchair or Microsoft Launcher gives you complete control over every pixel of the screen.

Installing a third-party launcher requires several steps. First, download your preferred launcher from Google Play. Once installed, the system will prompt you to select the default app for the home screen. Choose a new launcher. Now you can configure the grid, animations, and completely remove any elements that you don't need.

It’s important to note that some deep system features Xiaomi may not work properly with third-party shells. For example, hand gestures or swipes to call menus may require additional customization. However, for most users, this is the best way to get a “pure Android” on a Redmi or POCO device.

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Before installing a third-party launcher, take a screenshot of the current layout of the icons, which will help you quickly restore the familiar structure if the new interface seems inconvenient.

For advanced users who want to (radically) clean up the system, there is a method of removing applications through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to remove even system shortcuts that are hidden from the average user, but it requires computer connection and caution.

First, activate Developer Mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on MIUI Version or OS Version 7 times. Then, in advanced settings, enable USB Debugging. Connect your phone to your PC and use the command to delete packets.

An example of a command to remove a particular application is as follows:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.xiaomi.example.app

Where com.xiaomi.example.app is the name of the package being removed, you can find out the exact name of the package through the analyzer applications or in the debugging menu. Be extremely careful: removing critical system components can lead to bootloop.

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB To remove system components, it is warranty-free and can render the phone unusable. Do this only if you understand what each packet that is being removed is responsible for.

Users often confuse app shortcuts with widgets or widget tape elements (left screen). In Xiaomi, this screen is often filled with news, weather and recommendations. To clear it, pinch the empty space on your desktop and select Another → Widget Ribbon (or Google Discover), where you can turn off the display of the tape or choose an alternative source, such as “Without Ribbon”.

And you also need to check the default Tools folder, which is the calculator, voice recorder, scanner, and other utilities, and you can take the tools to your desktop and delete the folder by simply moving all the icons out of it.

Below is a table that helps determine the type of item on the screen and how to remove it:

Not only is cleaning your desktop regularly pleasing, but it also helps you find the right features faster. Don't be afraid to experiment with launcher settings to find the perfect balance between functionality and minimalism. Remember that removing root-free system shortcuts completely is only possible through ADB, and this action requires technical literacy.

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The best way to clean up for most users is to disable recommendations in the launcher settings and hide unnecessary system applications, rather than removing them altogether.