How to remove unnecessary icons on Xiaomi: from advertising to system icons

You just unpacked a new Xiaomi smartphone or turned on your Mi TV TV, But the desktop is littered with dozens of icons, from GetApps banner ads to duplicate Google Play icons and Mi Video? MIUI Android TV Xiaomi, which is actively integrating its own services, affiliate apps, and even advertising directly into the interface, and the good news is that most of these elements can be removed or hidden without rooting or manipulating them.

In this article, we will analyze all possible types of icons on Xiaomi devices, from system utilities to imposed advertising widgets, and show how to get rid of each of them. MIUI 14/15 (including Redmi, POCO, Black Shark) and Mi TVs TV/Redmi TV Android TV 11/12. If you are a user of Xiaomi Pad or Mi Box – methods will also suit with an adjustment for the OS version.

1. Types of badges on Xiaomi: what can be removed and what can not

Before you start cleaning the screen, it’s important to understand what type of icons you’re dealing with.All icons on Xiaomi devices fall into 4 categories:

• 📱 System applications -- Settings, Phone, Camera -- you can't delete them, but you can hide or disable updates.
• 🛒 Xiaomi’s pre-installed services are Mi Video, Mi Music, GetApps. Often duplicate the functions of Google applications.
• 🎯 Advertising widgets – Mi Advertising banners, recommendations in App Vault, pop-up notifications.
• 🔄 Duplicate icons – for example, two Gallery icons (from Google and Xiaomi) or the Browser.

The most problematic elements are advertising widgets and affiliate apps, like smartphones with a smartphone. MIUI for the global market (version) MIUI Global: Frequently encountered:

• 📦 Facebook, Netflix, LinkedIn – pre-installed under contract with Xiaomi.
• 💰 Mi Credit, Mi Pay – Financial services that do not operate outside of India/China.
• 🎮 Game Center, Mi Game - gaming hubs with aggressive advertising.

On Mi TVs. TV The situation is even worse: in addition to standard YouTube and Prime Video, you will find dozens of local streaming services (for example, Hungama or the Internet). ZEE5 for the Indian market, which cannot be removed through the menu.

2. How to remove app icons on Xiaomi smartphones (MIUI)

On smartphones with MIUI 14/15 There are a number of ways to get rid of unwanted icons, and let's start with the simplest one: hide through the launcher.

Method 1: Hiding icons through launcher settings

This method works for all applications except system applications (e.g. Settings or Phone).

1. Press and hold your finger on the free space of the desktop.
2. Select Screen Settings (or Home Screen Settings).
3. Go to Hide Apps (Hide Apps).
4. Check the boxes for unnecessary apps (e.g. GetApps, Mi Music).
5. Click Ready – the icons will disappear from the desktop, but will remain in the menu of all applications.

⚠️ Attention: Hidden applications continue to work in the background and can consume battery power. To completely disable them, you need to use the following method.

Method 2: Disabling pre-installed applications

If you want to not just hide, but completely deactivate unnecessary services (for example, Mi Video or Mi Browser), do the following:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the app you want in the list (like GetApps).
3. Press Disable (Disable)
4. Confirm the action – the icon will disappear, and the application will stop updating.

🔹 Exceptions: Some system applications (e.g., Security or Mi Account) cannot be disabled – the button will be inactive.

Method 3: Remove via ADB (for power users)

If previous methods did not help, you can use the debugging bridge. ADB To completely remove system applications, this method requires connecting the phone to the computer and installing Android. SDK Platform-Tools.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
2. Activate Debugging by USB in Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.xiaomi.mipicks

Where com.xiaomi.mipicks is the batch name of the application (for example, for GetApps it is com.xiaomi.mipicks, for Mi Video it is com.miui.video).

⚠️ Warning: Removing system applications can cause the phone to run in an unstable way. Before executing commands, make sure that you remove the unnecessary software, not the critical system component.

3. How to remove banner ads and widgets on Xiaomi

One of the most annoying elements in MIUI — These are the banner ads in App Vault (swipe left on the desktop), the pop-up notifications from GetApps and recommendations in Mi Video. These can be turned off, but the methods vary depending on the version of the firmware.

Disabling Advertising in App Vault

The App Vault is a screen with a weather widget, calendar and banner ads that appears when you swipe left, to remove it.

1. Press and hold your finger on the desktop.
2. Select Screen Settings → App Vault.
3. Turn off the App Vault slider.

If this paragraph is not available (currently for the MIUI 14+), Try an alternative method:

1. Open the App Vault (swipe left).
2. Press the gear in the upper right corner.
3. Select Recommendation Settings and turn off all sliders.

Disabling Advertising in System Applications

Ads can appear in Mi Video, Mi Music, Cleaner, and even Settings to remove them:

1. Open the Settings. → Special facilities.
2. Select Remove Ads – this item is not available on all versions MIUI.
3. If no item, turn off personalized advertising in Settings → Confidentiality → Advertising.

🔹 For Mi TVs, TV: Advertising is built into the PatchWall launcher to reduce it:

1. Go to Settings. → Accounts and security → Advertising.
2. Turn off Personalized Ads and Content Recommendations.
3. Reset the Advertising ID: Settings → Annexes → All applications → Google Play Services → Warehouse → Management of space → Reset the advertising ID.

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If the ad continues to appear, try changing the device region to European Union in the settings. → Additionally. → Region and select Italy or Germany – these regions are markedly less adverts.

4. Removal of badges on Mi TVs TV redmi TV

On Xiaomi TVs, icon removal is more difficult than on smartphones, the manufacturer blocks most system applications, and the PatchWall launcher does not allow you to hide interface elements by standard means.

Method 1: Resetting the PatchWall launcher

If unnecessary icons appear on the home screen (such as Prime Video or Hungama Play), try resetting the launcher settings:

1. Open Settings → Applications → All applications.
2. Find PatchWall (or Launcher).
3. Select Warehouse. → Clear the data.
4. Reboot the TV.

After resetting, the launcher will return to the factory settings, and some of the unnecessary icons may disappear.

Method 2: Disabling updates for unnecessary applications

Many pre-installed apps (such as Netflix or Amazon Prime) cannot be removed, but you can prevent them from being updated:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications.
2. Select an unnecessary application (for example, ZEE5).
3. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Remove Updates.
4. Turn off auto-update in Google Play → Settings → Auto-update apps.

⚠️ Note: On some Mi models TV (Like Mi. TV 4A or Mi TV 4X) Disabling updates can cause errors in the launcher. Before performing actions, check the firmware version in Settings → On TV.

Method 3: Install a third-party launcher (Android only) TV)

If you are tired of the PatchWall restrictions, you can install an alternative launcher, for example, ATV Launcher or Leanback Launcher:

1. Enable installation from unknown sources: Settings → Security and limitations → Unknown sources.
2. Download. APK-Launcher file (e.g. from apkmirror.com) and install it via File Manager.
3. Launch a new launcher and set it up as the main one in Settings → Annexes → Default launcher.

🔹 Restriction: On Android TVs TV 12+ Xiaomi blocks the default launcher change, in which case you will have to manually launch the third-party launcher each time.

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On Xiaomi TVs, you can not completely remove system applications without root rights. The maximum is to disable their updates and hide icons through a launcher reset.

5. How to remove duplicate icons (for example, two Galleries)

On Xiaomi devices, duplicate icons are often found – for example, two Galleries (from Google and Xiaomi), two Browsers or two Calendars. MIUI includes both standard Android apps and branded counterparts from Xiaomi.

Method 1: Disabling the double through settings

To leave only one application:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find a duplicate app (like Google Gallery or Mi Gallery).
3. Click Disable or Remove Updates (if the Remove button is inactive).

Method 2: Hiding through the launcher (without shutting down)

If you do not want to disable the application completely, but do not want to see it on the desktop:

1. Press and hold the double icon.
2. Drag it up the screen to the Remove (or Hide) label.
3. Confirm the action – the icon will disappear, but the application will remain in the system.

🔹 Tip: If you prefer Google Photos over Mi Gallery, turn off sync in Xiaomi’s proprietary app to avoid duplication of photos in the cloud.

Method 3: Replacement of standard applications with alternative applications

To avoid duplicates, you can assign one application to the main default:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Applications by default.
2. Select a category (e.g. Browser or Gallery).
3. Specify your preferred app (e.g. Chrome instead of Mi Browser).

Then, duplicate icons can be hidden or disabled as described above.

6. Removal of icons from the lock screen

On the lock screen MIUI You can display Camera icons, Flashlight icons, Google Assistant icons, or even banner ads. You can take them down.

Disabling icons on the lock screen

Instructions for smartphones:

1. Go to Settings → Lock screen.
2. Select the Lock screen shortcuts (Lock screen shortcuts).
3. Turn off the sliders next to unnecessary icons (like Camera or Google).

To remove advertising on the lock screen:

1. Open the Settings. → Lock screen → Additional settings.
2. Turn off recommendations and Mi Advertising.
3. If there is no item, reset the lock screen settings: Settings → Lock screen → Resetting settings.

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi Note 12 or Redmi Note 12) POCO X5) Advertising on the lock screen may return after the update MIUI. In this case, only a complete disabling of the msa service (Mi System Ads) will help. ADB:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.systemAdSolution

7.What to do if icons return after the update

One of the most common problems is returning deleted icons after updating. MIUI Android TV. This is because the firmware restores the standard launcher settings and pre-installed applications.

How to prevent the return of badges

Here are a few ways to fix the changes:

• 🔄 Turn off auto-update MIUI: Go to Settings. → The phone. → Updating the system → Three points. → Settings → Turn off auto-update.
• 🛡️ Block Updates for Unneeded Apps: On Google Play, Click Three Lines → My apps and games. → Find an unnecessary application → press three points → Cancel the update.
• 📦 Use a third-party launcher: Install a Nova Launcher or Lawnchair and set it up as a primary.This will prevent a desktop reset.
• 🔧 Disable Xiaomi services: In Settings → Find MiuiDaemon and msa, then turn them off (this may disrupt some features, such as themes).

For Mi TVs, TV The only reliable way is to shut down the Internet during updates or use a firewall to block Xiaomi servers (for example, through a router).

Recovering Hidden Icons After Resetting

If the icons still return after the update, repeat the steps from the previous sections. ADB, But it comes back, execute the command again:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 name packet

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

adb shell pm list packages | grep "keyword"

For example, to search for all apps with the word miui:

adb shell pm list packages | grep "miui"

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Check the list of apps regularly after updates MIUI. Xiaomi often adds new services and ad modules that may reappear on the desktop.

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing Xiaomi badges

Table: Comparison of badge removal methods on Xiaomi

Now your Xiaomi desktop is clean of unnecessary icons, and the system runs faster without the background activity of unnecessary apps. If some icons still remain or returned after the update, repeat the steps from the relevant section or try alternative methods (for example, changing the launcher or disabling services through the service). ADB).

Remember: MIUI Android TV Xiaomi has optimized for the Chinese and Indian markets, where pre-installed services and advertising are part of the company's business model. Fortunately, most of these elements can be deactivated by diving a little into the settings.