Xiaomi shortcuts are like old things in the closet: some are needed daily, some take up space for years, and others have appeared by themselves since the update. If your desktop is littered with icons of apps, widgets or system shortcuts (like Voice Assistant or Quick Actions) that can’t be erased in the usual way, this is for you. We’ll take a look at not only the basic removal methods, but also the hidden MIUI features that even the official guides keep silent about.
Complicating the problem, the manufacturer often blocks the removal of native labels (such as Mi Video, Mi Music or GetApps) by offering only the ability to hide them. After a firmware update, they can return as if nothing had happened. In this article, the current ways for MIUI 14/15 (Android 13/14), running on models from Redmi Note 10 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra.
1. Standard removal: when it works and why it doesn't
To start with, most shortcuts are removed with a long press, but there are nuances that are not covered in the standard instructions.
If you click on an icon and there's no basket or cross at the top of the screen, it means that the label is locked by the system.
- 📱 System applications (Camera, Phone, Messages)
- 🔧 Service widgets (weather, clock, Google search bar)
- 🛡️ Xiaomi applications (Mi Community, Mi Pay, Security)
Even if a shopping cart appears, some shortcuts are automatically restored when they are rebooted or updated after being deleted, which is due to MIUI's policy that considers such applications "an integral part of the ecosystem."
⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI Global for the European market) removing system shortcuts can cause the launcher to crash.Before experimenting, back up to Settings → The phone. → Backup.
| Type of label | Is it removed in the standard way? | Is it re-established after the reboot? |
|---|---|---|
| Icons of third-party applications (WhatsApp, Telegram) | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No. |
| Widgets (weather, clock) | ✅ Yes (holding) → "Remove the widget") | ⚠️ Sometimes (depending on the version) MIUI) |
| System applications (Camera, Phone) | ❌ No. | ❌ No, but you can't delete) |
| Pre-installed Xiaomi apps (Mi Video, GetApps) | ❌ No (only shutdown) | ✅ Yes (can come back after update) |
2. Hiding unnecessary labels without deletion
If a shortcut cannot be removed, it can be hidden, and this method works for all system applications except the main ones (calls, messages, settings).
Instructions:
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Find the app you want (like Mi Music) and tap it.
- Select to Disable (on some firmware - Hide).
- Confirm the action. The icon will disappear from the desktop, but will remain on the menu of all applications.
The downside is that the apps that are disabled continue to take up space in memory and can be updated through the Play Market, and to stop them completely, you also need to:
- 🚫 Disallow auto-start in Settings → Annexes → Permits → Auto-start.
- 🔄 Turn off automatic updates in Google Play (find the app) → three-point → "Turn off auto-update").
3. Removal via ADB: for power users
If standard methods don’t help and the shortcut isn’t critical to the system (like GetApps or Mi Browser), it can be removed via Android Debug Bridge (ADB).
Step-by-step:
- Enable Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (Tap 7 times) Then go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers and activate Debugging over USB.
- Download ADB Tools on your PC and connect your phone over USB (select File Transfer Mode).
- Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (Mac/Linux) in the folder with ADB and type: adb devices Make sure the device is identified (its serial number should appear).
- Find out the name of the package of the unwanted application. To do this, type: adb shell pm list packages | grep "miui" or use the App Inspector app from the Play Market.
- Delete the packet by command (replace com.xiaomi.example with real name): adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.xiaomi.example Flag --user 0 means deletion only for the current user (does not require root rights).
Examples of package names for popular Xiaomi apps:
- com.miui.videoplayer — Mi Video
- com.miui.player — Mi Music
- com.xiaomi.midrop - Mi Drop (file transfer)
- com.miui.hybrid – Quick apps (desktop widgets)
⚠️ Attention: Removing system packages can lead to unstable firmware. Never delete: com.android.settings (Settings) com.miui.home (Luncher) com.miui.securitycenter (Security) These applications are critical to the operation of the system.
Install ADB Tools on PC| Enable developer mode on Xiaomi| Activate debugging on USB| Check connection (adb devices command)| Download packet list (adb shell pm lists) | Create backup data-->
4. Use of alternative launchers
If the fight against labels seems endless, it is easier to change the shell. Alternative launchers (for example, Nova Launcher, Lawnchair or Hyperion) allow:
- 🗑️ Hide any icons (including system icons) without removing them.
- 🔒 Block the addition of new shortcuts (for example, after updating) MIUI).
- 🎨 Customize the appearance of the desktop (icon size, fonts, gestures).
Instructions for Nova Launcher:
- Install the launcher from the Play Market and select it as the main one (the first launch will see an offer).
- Hold your finger in the free space of the desktop → Settings Nova.
- Go to Application Settings → Hidden Applications.
- Check the boxes that you want to hide.
- To completely remove widgets, go to Widgets and swipe the unnecessary ones left.
The advantage of the method is that even if MIUI returns shortcuts after the update, they will not appear in the alternative launcher, but system notifications from hidden applications will still come.
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If after installing the alternative launcher, MIUI gestures (for example, swipe up to return to the home screen) stop working, turn on the option “Use system navigation buttons” in its settings.
5.Reset launcher settings: when nothing helps
If after experimenting with labels, the desktop starts to glittle (icons are gone, widgets don't open, or the launcher is constantly rebooting), resetting its settings will help, which will return the standard MIUI look, but will remove all your customizations.
How to drop the launcher:
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Find the MIUI Launcher (or com.miui.home) and tap it.
- Select Warehouse. → Clear the data.
- Confirm action. The phone will reboot and the launcher will return to factory settings.
After discharge:
- 🔄 All shortcuts and widgets will disappear (they will have to be reconfigured).
- 📁 The folders on the desktop are unpacked.
- 🎨 The wallpaper and theme will be dropped to standard.
⚠️ Note: On some models (Xiaomi) 12T, Redmi Note 11 Pro+) If after the procedure the screen starts to twitch when scrolling, restart the device in safe mode (Power button) → Click "Switch off" → Confirm safe regime).
6. Features for different Xiaomi models
MIUI firmware on different devices can behave differently, and this is what you need to know for owners of specific series:
| Model/Series | Features of working with labels | Recommendations |
|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 10/11/12 | On these models, the GetApps and Mi Community shortcuts return after each major MIUI update. | Use ADB to remove or install a launcher with shortcut blocking function. |
| Xiaomi 11/12/13 | Weather and watch widgets can’t be removed in the standard way, but they can be replaced with Google’s. | Install the Google Weather or Chronus widget over the system, then hide the original through the launcher settings. |
| POCO F3/F4/F5 | On POCO Launcher, shortcuts are removed more easily, but after resetting to factory settings, MIUI Launcher returns. | Before reset, fix the current launcher as the main one in Settings → Home. |
| Xiaomi Pad 5/6 | On tablets, the Mi Video and Mi Music shortcuts are integrated into the system launcher and are not removed even through ADB. | Use the Desktop mode (Settings → Home → Desktop Mode) to hide unnecessary icons. |
For models with global firmware (MIUI Global), there are stricter restrictions on removing system applications than for MIUI China. If you are willing to sacrifice the warranty, you can reflash the device on MIUI EU (European version), where there is more freedom in settings.
What if after removing the label, the application continues to work?
7.How to Prevent New Labels from Appearing
To prevent labels from appearing again, you need to block the sources of their addition:
- 📦 Turn off automatic application installation: Settings → Annexes → Application management → ⚙️ (three-point) → Auto-installation of applications
- 🔄 Stop updating system applications: Open Play Market, find an unnecessary app (like Mi Browser), click on three dots → "Turn off auto-update".
- 📵 Limit background activity: In Settings → Battery and productivity → Battery management set for unnecessary applications Limited mode.
- 🛡️ Turn off the recommendations MIUI: Settings → Home. → Application recommendations (disable)
If shortcuts appear after the MIUI update, before installing the new firmware:
- Back up your current launcher settings (in alternative launchers like Nova, this is done manually through export).
- Remove unnecessary apps through ADB before upgrading.
- After the update, immediately reset the launcher cache (Settings → Applications → Launcher → Storage → Clear the cache).
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The most reliable way to avoid returning shortcuts is to use an alternative launcher (like Nova) and disable system updates for unnecessary apps in the Play Market.