How to remove unnecessary icons from the screen of Xiaomi phone: from apps to system icons

Xiaomi’s desktop is quickly filled with redundant icons: duplicate apps, promotional widgets or system icons that can’t be removed in the standard way. Unlike iOS or “pure” Android, the MIUI shell has its own features of managing the main screen – you can’t just drag the icon into the cart, like on Samsung or Google Pixel. In this article, we will analyze all the working methods from basic (hiding icons in the app menu) to advanced (disabling system icons through ADB or resetting the launcher).

Complicating the problem is that Xiaomi regularly updates the MIUI interface, and the paths to settings may vary depending on the firmware version (12, 13 or 14) and the smartphone model (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T, etc.). We took these nuances into account and collected universal solutions that work on most of the brand’s devices. If you tried to remove the icon, but it returned after the reboot, here you will find an explanation of why this happens and how to fix it.

1. Basic method: Hiding icons through the application menu

The easiest method is not to remove icons physically, but to hide them from view, and this is true for applications that cannot be uninstalled (such as Mi Video, Mi Music or GetApps). MIUI has an inbuilt feature to hide icons, but it works in a non-obvious way.

How to hide the icon:

• 📱 Long press the free space on the main screen. → Select Screen Settings (or Launcher Settings in older versions).
• 🔍 Go to the Hidden Applications section (in MIUI 14 Ways may be different: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Hidden).
• ✅ Check the apps you want to remove with ticks, and they will disappear from the home screen, but they will remain on the menu of all apps.

⚠️ Attention: Hidden applications continue to run in the background and consume resources. If the goal is to free up memory, it is better to use the shutdown method (section 3).

2. Removal of application icons (uninstallation)

If the icon belongs to an app you are not using, it can be removed completely. However, in MIUI, many pre-installed programs (Mi Browser, Mi Pay, Themes) do not have an uninstall button, in which case disabling (section 3) or using ADB (section 5) will help.

How to remove the usual application:

• 📦 Hold your finger on the app icon → In the menu that appears, select Delete (or the basket icon).
• 🚫 If there is no Delete button, it means that the application is system. Try clicking Application Information. → Remove updates (this will return it to the factory version).
• 🔄 For some applications (such as Google Duo) you may need to turn it off first in the device administrator settings: → Passwords and security → Device administrators.

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If after removing the icon remained on the screen, restart the phone or update the launcher: press your finger in the free space of the screen → Screen settings → Update.

3. Disabling pre-installed applications

If an application cannot be removed, it can be disabled, removing the icon from the screen and stopping background processes, and works for most preinstalled programs (Mi Community, Mi Remote, Cleaner), but not for mission-critical system services.

Step-by-step:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the app you want in the list (use search if it’s not in the visible area).
3. Click on it → select Disable (in some versions of MIUI, the button may be called Remove Updates → Disable).
4. Confirm the action. The icon will disappear from the home screen and from the app menu.

⚠️ Warning: Disabling system applications (such as MiuiDaemon or SecurityCenter) can cause unstable phone performance or interface errors.

Backup of important data

Remember the name of the disabled application

Check feedback on the effects of disabling forums (e.g. 4PDA)

Prepare for a possible launcher reset (the badges may get lost)-->

4.Resetting the launcher to factory settings

If after manipulating the icons, the main screen began to work incorrectly (the icons disappear, duplicates appear, the launcher slows down), resetting its settings will help. This will return the standard location of the icons, but will delete all your folders and widgets.

How to drop the launcher:

• 🔧 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 Find the Launcher app (may be called MiuiHome or POCO Launcher on devices POCO).
• 📛 Press Warehouse. → Clear the data and clear the cache.
• 🔄 Reboot the phone, and when it's turned on, the badges will return to factory-style.

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Resetting the launcher doesn’t delete apps or their data, it only returns the standard home screen design, and it’s a safe way to bring back a clean interface without completely resetting the phone.

5. Advanced Method: Removing Icons Through ADB

For power users willing to work with the command line, there is a way to remove even system icons via Android Debug Bridge (ADB).This requires connecting the phone to a computer and enabling developer mode.

Step-by-step:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times).
2. Enable debugging via USB: Settings → Additional → For developers → Debugging via USB.
3. Connect your phone to your PC, install it. ADB-Drivers and open the command line in the folder with adb.exe.
4. Follow the command to check the connection: Adb devices should appear the name of your device.
5. Remove the app icon (e.g. Mi Browser): adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.browser Replace com.android.browser with the application package you want (you can find it through the App Inspector in the Play Market).

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB Do not delete packages called miui, android or system without understanding their purpose. A list of safe packages for Xiaomi can be found on thematic forums (for example, a list of safe ones for removing packages for Xiaomi, XDA Developers).

6.Alternative launchers: a radical solution

If standard methods don’t work, you can completely replace the MIUI shell with a third-party launcher (for example, Nova Launcher, Lawnchair or Microsoft Launcher).

• 🎨 Changes in size and style of icons.
• 🗑️ Remove any icons (including system icons) without any consequences for your phone.
• 📂 Automatic sorting of applications by folders.
• 🔒 Hiding apps from prying eyes (with a password).

How to install an alternative launcher:

1. Download the launcher from the Play Market (we recommend Nova Launcher for flexibility of settings).
2. Open the app and follow the setup instructions.
3. In Settings → Applications → By default → Launcher, select the new launcher as the main one.

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Nova Launcher allows you to hide icons of even system applications without risking the stability of the phone. To do this, hold your finger on the icon → Change → Hide.

7. Frequent problems and their solutions

When working with icons on Xiaomi, users encounter typical errors. Here is how to fix them:

⚠️ Note: If after manipulating icons, the phone starts to brake or issue errors (for example, "Luncher App Stopped"), follow the following steps:

1. Reset the device.
2. Clear the launcher cache: Settings → Applications → MiuiHome → Clear the cache.
3. If the problem persists, reset the launcher settings (Section 4).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions