How to remove icons from the desktop on Xiaomi: hide, delete or disable forever

Xiaomi desktop is littered with unnecessary icons? System applications like Mi Video, Mi Music or GetApps take up space, and weather and calendar widgets only get in the way? In this article, we will examine all the ways to clean the screen, from simple concealment to the complete removal of system shortcuts without root rights.

The problem is that MIUI (Xiaomi shell) aggressively adds shortcuts to the desktop after updates or installing new apps. Even if you manually remove the icon, it can come back after a reboot. We tested all methods on the Xiaomi 13 Pro, Redmi Note 12 and POCO F5 with MIUI 14/15 — and only picked working solutions.

Important: some system applications (e.g., com.miui.weather2 for the weather widget) cannot be removed without consequences, they can only be hidden or disabled.

1. How to remove application icons from the desktop (without deleting)

The fastest way is to simply drag and drop an icon into the app menu, but this method is not suitable for system shortcuts (like Theme Store or Security) that MIUI blocks from moving.

What to do:

• 📱 Press your finger on the app icon (not system!) for 1-2 seconds.
• 👆 Drag it up the screen to the "Delete" label (or "Remove" on newer versions). MIUI).
• 🗑️ Release your finger – the icon will disappear from the desktop, but will remain in the app menu.

Limitation: You can’t remove widgets (like weather or pedometer) or system shortcuts like “Mi Home”**, which require other methods (see sections below).

2. Hiding system icons through MIUI settings

MIUI allows you to hide some system applications, but not all of them, like you can remove GetApps or Mi Pay, but not Settings or Phone.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Tap on "Three dots» (⋮) in the upper right corner and select “Hide Apps».
3. Check the boxes for unnecessary applications (e.g. com.xiaomi.mipicks for GetApps).
4. Click “Ready”** – icons will disappear from the desktop and from the application menu.

Important: The apps that are hidden in this way will not receive updates through the Play Store, so to return them, repeat the steps and uncheck the boxes.

The application is not system-based (for example, not “Settings” or “Phone”)

You have an alternative (e.g., instead of Mi Music, you use Spotify)

You do not plan to use a hidden app in the future.

You remember the name of the app to return it if necessary.

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3. Removal of widgets from the desktop

Widgets (weather, calendar, pedometer) are removed differently than normal icons. They can not just drag to the basket, you need to use a special menu.

Step-by-step:

• 📱 Press your finger on the widget (for example, on a weather block) for 1-2 seconds.
• 🔄 In the menu that appears, select “Delete widget” (or “Remove»).
• ❌ Confirm the deletion – the widget will disappear immediately.

If the widget is not deleted:

• 🔒 This is a system widget (like Xiaomi's Weather**). Try turning it off in the settings:
• 🔄 Restart your phone – sometimes widgets “wilt” and don’t get deleted the first time.

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If the weather widget returns after rebooting, turn off automatic updates in its settings: Settings → Apps → Weather → Auto Update → Turn off.

4. Disable system applications via ADB (no root rights)

For advanced users, if hiding through settings doesn’t help, you can disable system applications using ADB (Android Debug Bridge).

What you need:

• 💻 Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → Tap 7 times. → Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).

Instructions:

1. Download ADB Tools and unpack the archive.
2. Connect the phone to the computer and confirm access for debugging.
3. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB.
4. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
5. Disable the unneeded app (e.g. Mi Video): adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.videoplayer

List of popular packs to disable:

⚠️ Warning: Disabling system applications (e.g. com.miui.home for launcher) can cause the interface to crash.Before experimenting, back up or remember the command to return: adb shell pm enable com.miui.videoplayer

Use of alternative launchers (Nova, Apex, Lawnchair)

If the standard MIUI launcher doesn't offer flexibility, install a third-party.

• 🌟 Nova Launcher – the most customizable, supports gestures and hiding icons.
• 🎯 Apex Launcher – lightweight and fast, with support for them.
• 🏡 Lawnchair is minimalist, open source.

How to hide icons in Nova Launcher:

1. Install Nova Launcher from the Play Store.
2. Hold your finger on the desktop → «Settings»**.
3. Go to App Settings → Hide Apps.
4. Tick the boxes of the application that you want to remove from the screen.

⚠️ Note: When using third-party launchers widgets MIUI (weather, pedometers, etc. may not work properly, for example, the weather widget will stop updating automatically.

6. Removal of system applications with root rights (for experienced)

If you have root access, you can delete the system applications forever, which is risky, but gives you complete control of the desktop.

What you need:

• 📱 Phone with unlocked bootloader and root rights (for example, via Magisk).
• 🛠️ Root Explorer or Titanium Backup.

Instructions for Root Explorer:

1. Open Root Explorer and go to /system/app or /system/priv-app.
2. Find a folder with an unnecessary app (e.g. MiuiVideo for Mi Video).
3. Hold your finger on the folder → select “Delete” or “Rename” (add at the end of the name.bak).
4. Reboot the phone.

List of safe applications to remove (checked on MIUI 14/15):

• 🎵 MiuiMusic - Music player.
• 🎬 MiuiVideo - video player.
• 🛒 MiuiMipicks - App Store GetApps.
• 🌐 Browser - Mi Browser.

⚠️ Note: Deleting system components like com.miui.home or com.android.systemui will result in a phone brick!

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root rights give you complete control of the system, but they give you no guarantees and increase the risk of errors. Use this method only if you are confident in your actions.

7.How to prevent new icons from appearing on your desktop

To prevent the desktop from filling up automatically, disable the following settings:

• 📥 Auto-add shortcuts after installation: Settings → Desktop → Add icons of new applications → Turn it off.
• 🔄 Update of widgets: Settings → Annexes → [Name of the widget] → Auto-update → Turn it off.
• 📢 Banner advertisements MIUI: Settings → Notifications and status bar → Promotional notices → Shut down.

We also recommend:

• 🔍 Check the Unused folder** regularly in the app menu (there) MIUI Constructs rarely used programs).

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning Xiaomi desktop