The MIUI interface installed on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones is famous for its functionality, but often overloaded with unnecessary elements. Users often face a situation when the home screen appears shortcuts of applications they do not use, or system widgets that occupy usable space. This not only visually clutters the interface, but can be confusing when searching for the right features. Device owners often wonder whether it is possible to completely clean the desktop of unnecessary “garburden” and how to do it safely for the system.
Removing shortcuts is not always a straightforward process, because the MIUI shell has its own behaviors. Some icons are shortcuts, others are full-fledged applications, and others are system components that cannot be removed by standard methods without the risk of disrupting the device. Understanding the difference between these types of objects will allow you to effectively organize the screen space and speed up access to really important functions. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available ways to clean the interface.
It is important to note that the approach to removal depends on what exactly you want to hide: the user installed application, system service or weather widget. Incorrect actions with system files can lead to unstable operation of the launcher, so we will only consider proven and safe methods.
Difference Between Deleting an Application and a Shortcut
The first thing a Xiaomi user needs to understand is the fundamental difference between removing the app itself and removing its icon from the desktop. When you just drag and drop the icon into the cart or click “Delete” in the context menu, you often only remove the shortcut, leaving the program installed in the device’s memory.
If your goal is to free up memory and get rid of the program completely, simply removing the icon is not enough, in which case you need access to the application management menu. For preinstalled software such as Mi Video, Mi Music or games from partners, the option is often available to “disable” that hides the application from the list and removes its icon, effectively freezing the process.
- 📱 A shortcut is just a link to an app that does not free up your phone’s memory.
- 🗑️ Deinstallation – Complete removal of the program and all its data from the device.
- ❄️ Disconnection - system function MIUI to hide and stop the work of embedded applications.
For regular user apps downloaded from Google Play or GetApps, the icon removal process is often combined with uninstallation. However, if you have previously created multiple copies of shortcuts for quick access (for example, for different accounts in instant messengers), deleting one icon will not affect other copies and the application itself. Always check the list of installed programs in the settings to make sure that you completely delete.
Standard removal of icons in MIUI
The basic method of removing shortcuts in the MIUI shell is intuitive and implemented through long-term clicking on the object. This method is suitable for most user applications and widgets. However, depending on the firmware version (Global, China, EEA) and the type of launcher (MIUI Launcher or Google Now), the algorithm of actions may vary slightly. In the classic Menu mode, all applications are on a separate list, and only shortcuts are located on the desktop.
To remove an unnecessary item, do the following: find the icon on your desktop, pinch it with your finger for 1-2 seconds before the vibration and action menu appear. In the window that opens, select the option “Delete” (basket icon) or “Delete application” if the system offers a choice. If the basket icon does not appear, then this is a system element that requires a different approach.
☑️ Label removal algorithm
In No Menu mode, when all applications are located on desktops, deleting the icon often leads to a complete uninstallation of the application. Beware: the system can immediately request confirmation of deletion of all data. For system applications that cannot be deleted, the button will be inactive or absent. In such cases, forced deletion is impossible without root rights, but you can use the concealment function.
⚠️ Note: If you remove the system application shortcut (such as Explorer or Themes), you may lose quick access to important functionality. Make sure you have an alternative way to run this program through search or settings.
Hiding system applications and embedded software
Many users want to get rid of Xiaomi’s standard apps that can’t be removed in the usual way, including Mi Cloud, Mi Browser, and analytics services, and because the “Delete” button is blocked for them, the only standard solution is Hide Apps, which allows you to remove icons from the general list and from the desktop, leaving them available only through a special password or in settings.
To activate this feature, go to Settings, select the Apps section, and find Hide Apps. In some versions of MIUI, this item is located inside the launcher settings: Settings → Desktop → Hide Apps. Here you will see a list of all installed programs. Switch toggles against the apps you want to hide.
Once you activate the hidden icons disappear from the desktop and menu, and to bring them back or launch a hidden application, you need to use a special gesture (like dividing your fingers on the desktop) or enter a password if it was set, which is a great way to keep the system intact, but visually clear the interface of unnecessary visual noise.
| Type of application | Can I remove it? | Can we hide it? | Risk to the system |
|---|---|---|---|
| User-generated (from Play Market) | Yes. | Yes. | No. |
| System (Telephone, Messages) | No. | Partially. | High-pitched |
| Xiaomi Services (Mi Video, Mi Music) | No (only turn off) | Yes. | Low. |
| System processes (Security) | No. | No. | critical |
What happens if you hide the security app?
Set up widgets and folders on the desktop
Weather, news and pedometer widgets are not just icons, but mini-apps that occupy a significant screen area. In MIUI, they are often built into the top of the desktop by default. Removing such items requires a slightly different approach. Press and hold the widget until it begins to vibrate, then drag it to the top of the screen where the red zone "Delete" or cross icon appears.
It's convenient to use folders to group the remaining icons, which reduces the number of objects on the screen to a minimum. Create a folder by dragging one icon to another and giving it a name. You can store up to a few dozen apps inside the folder. However, it's worth remembering that overloaded folders can open longer on older smartphone models.
You can also turn off certain items in your desktop settings, such as the Settings → Desktop section, which often includes the option “Show the Weather Widget” or “Wallpaper Carousel” and disables these features instantly removes the corresponding blocks from the home screen, making it cleaner and easier to perceive.
- 🌤️ The weather widget takes up to 1/4 screen and can be removed or replaced with a more compact analogue.
- 📁 Folders allow you to group up to 50 icons in one place, freeing up space.
- 🔄 Wallpaper carousel - a system widget that can be turned off in the screen lock settings.
💡
Use third-party widgets from Google Play. They often look concise and consume fewer resources than standard MIUI widgets, which constantly update data in the background.
Using third-party launchers for full customization
If standard MIUI tools do not achieve the desired minimalism, the most radical and effective solution is to install a third-party launcher. Launcher is a program that completely replaces the desktop interface, application menus and control panel. Popular options such as Nova Launcher, Lawnchair or Microsoft Launcher give full control of each icon.
Once you have an alternative launcher, the system will suggest you choose the default one, and newer versions of Android and MIUI will require you to allow access to special features and sometimes disable battery optimization for the new launcher, and once activated, you can not only remove icons, but also resize them, hide names, configure grids, and even create invisible shortcuts.
⚠️ Note: When switching to a third-party launcher, some gestures may stop working MIUI (For example, swipes to call menus or curtains, you have to reconfigure the navigation or use standard buttons.
The advantage of third-party launchers is that you can create profiles, you can make one Job profile with a minimum set of icons, and another Home with full functionality, switch between them takes seconds, and many launchers have built-in application hiding feature that works more efficiently than the system in MIUI.
Advanced Methods: ADB and System Garbage Removal
For power users looking to remove system applications permanently (rather than just hide them), there is a method using debugging by USB tool ADB (Android Debug Bridge. This method allows you to remove even those components that do not have a "Delete" button, but it requires you to connect to a computer and execute commands in the terminal.
Before starting the procedure, you need to activate the developer menu. To do this, go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on MIUI Version 7 times. Then, in the advanced settings, turn on Debugging over USB. Connect the phone to your PC, install drivers and ADB, then enter a command to delete the package in the command line:
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 name.packetFind the name of the package (e.g. com.miui.videoplayer) using analysis applications such as App Inspector. Be extremely careful: removing critical system packages (e.g., those associated with telephony or screen) can lead to bootloop (cyclic reboot) and require reflashing the device.
💡
Using ADB is the only way to physically remove Xiaomi system apps without root rights, but it requires high accuracy and understanding of the structure of Android packages.