How to Remove Unnecessary Icons From Xiaomi Screen: The Complete Guide

Xiaomi’s smartphone screen eventually becomes a mess of unnecessary icons, widgets and system icons? You’re not alone: Statistically, 68% of MIUI users have tried to clean the home screen at least once. The problem is that standard methods (dragging into the cart or holding a finger) don’t work with all types of icons. System applications, preinstalled services and widgets are often glued to the screen dead, and removing them can cause malfunctions in the phone.

In this article, we’ll break down 5 proven ways to remove icons from the Xiaomi screen – from basic actions to hidden MIUI 14/15 features.

• 🗑️ Remove application icons (including system icons)
• 👁️‍🗨️ Hide badges without uninstallation
• ⚙️ Disable widgets and notifications on the desktop
• 🔄 Reset the screen settings to factory
• 🛠️ Correct errors if the badges are missing themselves

Important: The methods work on all current models – from Redmi Note 12 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra, but some features may not be available on budget devices with a lighter version MIUI (Like Redmi. A2). Before starting, we recommend you to back up your data through Settings. → The phone. → Backup.

1. How to remove application icons from the main screen

The most obvious way is to drag the icon into the basket that appears at the top of the screen when you hold your finger on the icon, but this method only works for user applications (installed from Google Play or APK), and system programs (such as Security, Themes or Mi Video) cannot be removed.

If the basket doesn't show up:

1. Keep your finger in the free screen space until the edit menu appears.
2. Drag the icon up - the basket should "appear" in 1-2 seconds.
3. If the icon is not deleted, but only disappears from the screen, the application is system, and it must be disabled (more about this in the next section).

For Xiaomi with MIUI 15, a group removal feature has been added: hold your finger on the icon, then tap on the other icons you want to remove, and drag them all together into the basket.This will save time if you need to clear the screen of dozens of unnecessary shortcuts.

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If the icon reappears after you delete it, check if it's added to the Favorites folder in the app menu. Delete it from there.

2. Hiding system icons without deletion

System applications (e.g. Camera, Contacts or Mi Community) cannot be removed by standard methods, but they can be hidden or disabled.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the app you want in the list (use the search at the top).
3. Slip it and select:

• 🔕 "Disable" - the application will disappear from the menu and stop working (but will remain in the system).
• 👁️ "Hide – the icon will disappear from the main screen, but the application will remain available through search.

Caution: Disabling system services (such as Miui Daemon or SecurityCenter) can cause errors in the phone’s operation, including the inability to connect to Wi-Fi or mobile network.

For Xiaomi with MIUI 14 and later, there is an alternative way to hide through the launcher:

1. Hold your finger in the free space of the screen → Launcher settings.
2. Select Hidden Apps and tick the ones you want to remove.

Check the name of the app on Google

Create a backup copy of the data

Remember the path to settings (Settings → Apps)

Do not disable services with the word "System" or "Core"-->

3. Removal of widgets and notifications from the screen

Widgets (weather, calendar, player) and notification icons (such as the Mi Home icon or Google) are removed differently from regular apps.

• 📱 Hold your finger on the widget. → Remove button (or basket icon).
• ⚙️ If there is no button, go to Launcher Settings. → Widgets and disable unnecessary ones.

For notifications on the home screen (for example, badge icons with numbers on icons):

1. Open Settings → Notifications and Status bar.
2. Select App icons and turn off the option to Show Number.

On some models (Redmi Note 11, POCO X5), notifications can be turned off directly from the app menu:

1. Keep your finger on the icon → Information about the application.
2. Go to Notifications and deactivate the slider.

4. Reset screen settings to factory

If the screen is full of icons and manual removal takes too long, you can reset your desktop settings to factory settings, which won’t delete your data (photos, contacts, messages), but will return the standard layout of icons and widgets.

Instructions:

1. Hold your finger in the free space of the screen → Launcher settings.
2. Scroll down and select Reset Settings.
3. Confirm the action (a password may be required).

After discharge:

• ✅ All user folders and widgets will disappear.
• ✅ System application icons will return to standard places.
• ❌ The programs you install will remain in the application menu (they must be manually removed).

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware (MIUI Global for the European region, a launcher reset can return previously deleted system widgets (for example, Mi Pay or Mi Credit). To avoid this, disable them in advance through Settings. → Annexes.

5. If the badges are gone: how to return

Sometimes icons disappear from the screen without you, after a MIUI update, a launcher crash, or a conflict with a memory optimizer.

If none of the methods worked, try reinstalling the launcher:

1. Download the original APK launcher for your model from the APKMirror website.
2. Install the file by pre-allowing installation from unknown sources.
3. Reboot the phone.

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Before reinstalling the launcher, make sure you download a version compatible with your firmware.The wrong version can cause the phone to cyclically reboot.

6. Additional methods: ADB and third-party launchers

For power users, there are radical icon removal methods that defy standard settings, one of which is the use of ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to completely remove system applications, but requires a computer connection and knowledge of commands.

Instructions:

1. Turn on USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times, then go back to Additional → For Developers).
2. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command:

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

To find out the name of the package, use the command:

adb shell pm list packages | grep 'keyword word'

⚠️ Note: Removing system packages through ADB It can make the phone inoperable, like deleting it. com.android.launcher3 Before experimenting, check the list of safe packets for your model to remove.

Alternatively, install a third-party launcher (e.g., Nova Launcher or Hyperion Launcher) that allows:

• 🎨 Customize the transparency and size of icons.
• 🔒 Block the emergence of new widgets.
• 📂 Grouping applications into smart folders.

The downside of third-party launchers is that they can conflict with proprietary MIUI features (like gestures or an always active display).

FAQ: Frequent questions about badges on Xiaomi