How to remove icons from the Xiaomi desktop: the complete guide

Modern Xiaomi smartphones, which run on the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS, often come with a crowded desktop. A first-time user may encounter dozens of pre-installed shortcuts that take up space and create visual noise. Many of these programs are system or advertising, and simply removing them using standard methods is not always obvious to a beginner. In this article, we will detail all the ways to clean the interface, from simply moving to folders to deep system cleaning through the computer.

You need to understand the difference between removing the app itself and hiding its label. In the Xiaomi ecosystem, there are often situations where the program is built into the firmware and does not allow itself to be removed without root rights or special tools. However, you can also free the desktop from unnecessary icons with less radical methods. We will look at safe algorithms that do not violate the guarantee and stability of your gadget.

Desktop cleaning is not just aesthetics, it's also a way to improve interface response speed. When there are fewer widgets and shortcuts on the screen, the system needs fewer resources to render graphics. Next, we'll move on to step-by-step instructions that will help you turn a cluttered screen into a minimalist and convenient space to work with.

Basic methods for removing standard applications

The easiest way to get rid of an unnecessary icon is the standard uninstallation procedure, which works for all apps you downloaded yourself from the Google Play store or GetApps. You just hold your finger on the icon until the context menu appears, and select Delete. The system will request confirmation, and after clicking OK, the program will be completely erased from the device memory along with all the data.

The situation with a pre-installed cell from Xiaomi or partners (e.g. Facebook, Booking, local services) looks different. When you try to remove such shortcuts, you will often see a “Delete” button that is either missing or replaced by the “Disable” option, this is done so that the user does not accidentally disrupt the system components, if the delete button is gray or missing, then the application is system status.

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Before mass removal of applications, back up important data, as some system services may be associated with custom settings.

It's important to note that even if you can't remove the program completely, you can limit its background activity, which will prevent battery consumption and traffic. Go to settings, find the Applications section, and select an unnecessary service, where you can force the process to stop and clear the cache, which often makes the icon less "aggressive" in resource consumption.

• 📱 Press the icon on the desktop to call the control menu.
• 🗑️ Click on the cross or the Remove button at the top of the screen (Edit Mode).
• ⚙️ For system programs, use the “Application Information” menu to disable.

Hiding icons through “No attachment” mode and folders

If you can't remove the system application and it's annoying to be on the home screen, the best solution is to change the style of the desktop. The MIUI shell offers a "No Embedded" mode that changes the logic of the display of programs. In this mode, all installed applications are in a special menu (swipe up or menu button), and only widgets and shortcuts are left on the desktop, which you add manually. This allows you to create a completely clean interface.

To activate this mode, you need to go to the settings, select Desktop, and switch to Classic style. After that, all the icons will disappear from the desktops and gather in a single list. You can manually drag to the home screen only what you really need, such as your phone, messages and browser. All other shortcuts will remain hidden in the application menu without taking up extra space.

Another effective way to organize space is to create themed folders, so you can put all the rarely used standard utilities (calculator, voice recorder, scanner) into one folder called System or Tools and put it on the second screen or in the dock, and it doesn't physically remove the icons, but visually cleans the main workspace, making navigation more comfortable.

Folders are especially important for small-screen devices, where every square inch of space is important, and grouping allows you to reduce the number of swipes you need to find the right program, and folders can also be called emojis or short codes, which speeds up visual recognition of content.

Using Second Space Mode to Separate Content

The unique feature of Xiaomi smartphones is the ability to create Second Space, which is actually creating a second user profile inside a single device, with its own set of apps, photos and, importantly for our theme, its desktop, you can leave all the necessary work applications in the main space, and in the second you can transfer or install entertainment content, games and social networks.

This method allows you to remove icons from the main screen by simply moving them into a second space. For example, if you don't want to see the game shortcuts on your desktop during work hours, switch to the Job profile, where they simply don't exist. Switching between spaces is done by fingerprint or pin code, which takes a fraction of a second. This is the perfect way to keep order without removing programs.

Set up the second space requires an initial investment of time, but the result is worth it. You get two isolated environments: one for personal use, one for work or study, each of which can have its own set of widgets, its own wallpaper and its own icon layout, system applications are duplicated, but you can simply not display their shortcuts on the desktop of the second profile.

It’s worth remembering that notifications from apps in the second space won’t come while you’re in the main profile, and vice versa.This can be both an advantage to concentration and an inconvenience if you’re waiting for an important call from the messenger while you’re in “working” mode.

Deep cleaning through ADB and computer

For advanced users who want to remove really unnecessary system components (Mi advertising services, analytics, unnecessary browsers), there is a method of debugging over USB. Using the ADB tool (Android Debug Bridge) allows you to give commands to the system directly, bypassing standard interface restrictions. This is the most effective way to clean up the firmware from garbage that can not be removed by the usual way.

To start, you need to activate the developer mode. Go to About Phone and quickly press 7 times on the build number. MIUI. Then in the advanced settings, turn on “Debugging by” USB». Connect your smartphone to your computer, install drivers and platform ADB. After connecting via the command line, you will be able to manage device packages.

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

The command above removes the application for the current user (user 0) without affecting the system partition recovery. This is safe in the sense that the device does not lose the warranty software, and you can always return the application by resetting to factory settings. However, removing critical components such as Security, Explorer or the system framework is strongly discouraged - this can lead to a cyclical restart (bootloop).

There are ready-made lists of safe to remove packages for various Xiaomi models. Before entering commands, be sure to check with current databases, as in new versions of MIUI, dependencies between applications can change. A mistake in the name of the package or removing a key service can disrupt the phone.

Blocking Advertising and System Notifications

Often users want to remove icons or widgets because they are constantly showing ads or intrusive notifications. In the Xiaomi ecosystem, MSA (MIUI System Ads) is responsible for this service, disabling this service allows you to remove advertising icons from folders and news widgets from the desktop, making the interface cleaner without removing the applications themselves.

To turn off personalized ads, go to settings, find the Password and Security section, and select Access to Personal Data. Find "msa" in the list and turn off the slider. The system will ask you to wait 10 seconds and confirm the action. It is also recommended to turn off "Receive recommendations" in the settings of each built-in application (Music, Video, Explorer, Downloads).

Removing the Cards widget (or Widget Ribbon), which is to the left of the first desktop, also helps to clear the space, by going to the desktop settings and turning off the Widget Ribbon or Google Discover option, and then swiping to the right will only open search or empty space, depending on your settings.

After disabling advertising services, the icons may not disappear instantly. In some cases, you need to restart the device or clear the cache of a particular application through settings. If the icon remains but stops showing ads and consuming resources, the goal can be considered achieved.

Alternative launchers as a solution to the problem

If Xiaomi’s standard interface seems overloaded and difficult to set up, a radical solution would be to install a third-party launcher.The launcher is an app that completely replaces the desktop, app menus and often notification bar. Popular options include Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher.

When you install an alternative launcher, you have full control over each icon. You can hide any application, change its icon, size, signature font. Many launchers allow you to create complex scenarios, such as hiding social media icons at certain times of the day, which gives you flexibility not available in the standard MIUI shell.

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Third-party launcher is the safest way to radically change the appearance of the smartphone without the risk of damaging the system files of the firmware.

However, using third-party launchers on Xiaomi has its own peculiarities: the MIUI shell aggressively unloads background processes, so the launcher can “fly out” by returning you to the standard screen. To avoid this, you need to go to the battery settings, find the launcher installed, select “No restrictions” and fix the application in memory (lock app) through the menu of recent applications.

Also, consider that some MIUI features, such as control gestures or specific widgets, may not work properly or at all on a third-party launcher. Before a full migration, it is recommended to test the selected launcher for a couple of days to make sure it is stable on your version of Android.

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