How to remove an unnecessary icon from the screen Xiaomi: from applications to system icons

The desktop of the Xiaomi smartphone quickly fills with unnecessary icons: these can be installed applications, weather widgets, system utilities like Security or Theme, or even advertising shortcuts from MIUI. If you tried to swipe the icon into the basket, but it came back - do not be surprised: in the firmware Xiaomi has nuances. In this article, we will analyze all possible ways to remove, from basic to hidden system functions.

Many users confuse deleting an icon with completely uninstalling an application. In fact, the icon can be simply hidden (it will remain in the application menu), removed from the shortcut (if it is a duplicate), or completely uninstalled. And then there are system icons — removing them requires superuser rights or a rollback to factory settings. We will look at each case separately, with MIUI 12-15 versions.

Before you start, check your shell version: go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. This is what makes certain features available. For example, MIUI 14 has a separate widget management section, and MIUI 15 has made it easier to hide system applications.

1. How to remove the app icon from the main screen

The simplest case is that you installed a program (like TikTok or VKontakte) and its icon automatically appears on your desktop, so you don't have to delete the app itself to remove it, you just need to untag it.

Hold your finger on the icon for 1-2 seconds until it starts to shake and the toolbar appears at the top of the screen. In MIUI 14/15, you will see three options:

• 🗑️ Delete – transfers the icon to the cart (the application remains in the menu).
• ⚙️ Settings – allows you to change the name of the shortcut or disable notifications.
• 📱 Information – opens the application page in the settings (from here you can uninstall it completely).

If you choose to Delete, but the icon returned after the reboot, it means that it is a system application (for example, Mi Video or Mi Browser).

⚠️ Note: Do not confuse deleting the shortcut with deleting the app. If you swipe the Google Play Store icon into the shopping cart, the store itself will remain in the system and will be available through the application menu (swipe up from the bottom panel).

2. Hiding system icons (without root rights)

MIUI is known for selling unnecessary system applications like Mi Pay, Mi Community or Cleaner to users, which cannot be removed without superuser rights, but can be hidden from the desktop and application menu.

Do the following:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on three dots in the top right corner and select Hide Apps.
3. Check the boxes for unnecessary programs (for example, Mi Music or Mi Game Center).
4. Confirm the action. The icons will disappear from the desktop and from the menu.

To return hidden apps, repeat the path and uncheck the boxes. This method works on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones with MIUI 12 and later.

Another way to hide icons is to turn them off in the launcher.

• 🔧 Hold an empty space on the desktop → Desktop settings.
• 📌 Choose Hide Apps and Mark Unnecessary Apps.

3. Removal of widgets and folders with icons

If a widget (such as Weather or Calendar) is attached to the screen, removing it is different from removing normal icons. Press the widget for 1-2 seconds, then drag it up to the screen to Remove (in MIUI 15) or in the basket (in MIUI 12-14).

Icon folders are more complicated, and if you created a folder manually (for example, for social networks), you can delete it like this:

• 📂 Open the folder and tap on its name at the top.
• 🗑️ In the menu that appears, select Delete folder.

System folders (like Tools or Google) cannot be deleted, but can only be renamed or moved to another screen.

4. Complete removal of applications (including icons)

If you want to get rid of the app and its icons forever, you need to uninstall it through your settings, which works for most user programs (like Facebook, Instagram), but not for system programs.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the desired application in the list (you can use the search).
3. Put it on him. → Delete (or Disable if the delete button is inactive).

For apps downloaded from Google Play, there is a faster way to:

• 📱 Open Play Market.
• 🔍 Go to the Installed → All right.
• 🗑️ Find the program and click Delete.

⚠️ Note: Some applications (such as Mi Browser or Mi Video) cannot be removed by standard methods, even if they are not system-based, in which case adb (section 5) or factory resets (section 6) will help).

💡

Before you uninstall the app, check if it is linked to important features, such as uninstalling the Google Services Framework could disrupt your Google account.

5. Removal of system icons via ADB (for advanced)

If you're willing to take drastic measures, you can uninstall system applications using Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a method that requires a computer and enabled USB debugging, but you can even get rid of Mi Security or Cleaner.

Step-by-step:

1. Enable Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version. Go back to Settings → Additional → Developer. Activate USB Debugging.

ADB-driver

adb.exe

adb devices

(The name of your device should appear).

Mi Browser

com.android.browser

adb shell pm list packages | grep miui

adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 name packet

For example, for Mi Music:

adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.player

Once the command is executed, the icon will disappear forever, but the application will remain on the system and will not be updated. To return it, you will need to reset your settings or manually reinstall it via adb install.

💡

The ADB method does not require root rights, but only applies to the current user, and after resetting or updating MIUI, remote applications can return.

6. Reset the launcher settings (if the icons are not deleted)

If after all the manipulations, the icons continue to appear (for example, after the MIUI update), resetting the launcher settings will help, which will return the desktop to its factory appearance, but will not affect your files or installed applications.

Do the following:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 Find the Louncher (or Lawnchair if you use custom).
• 🔄 Slip the vault. → Clear the data.
• 🔄 Then click Resetting (if there is such a item).

Once you reboot the device, the desktop will be clean, but all your wallpaper, widgets, and folders will be reset, and the apps will remain installed, but their icons will have to be re-posted.

⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi models (such as the Redmi Note 10 Pro), a launcher reset may cause the second desktop to disappear.To return it, clamp the empty space on the screen. → Desktop settings → Number of screens.

7.Alternative launchers: a radical solution

If standard methods don’t help, consider installing a side launcher (like Nova Launcher, Lawnchair or Hyperion) that allows you to completely customize your desktop, including hiding any icons, resizing them, and even replacing icons.

Advantages of alternative launchers:

• 🎨 Complete control over the appearance of the icons (you can use your own icon packs).
• 🔍 Ability to hide applications without restrictions (unlike a standard launcher) MIUI).
• 📱 Additional gestures (such as swiping down for search or double tapping to lock).

To install a third-party launcher:

1. Download it from Google Play (like Nova Launcher).
2. After installation, click Home and select a new launcher as your primary.
3. Configure the icons to hide in the launcher menu (usually in the Settings → Hidden Applications section).

The disadvantage of this method is increased battery consumption (side launchers work in the background) and possible conflicts with MIUI. On some models (for example, Xiaomi 13) after updating the system, the launcher can be reset to the standard one.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When removing icons, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ones and ways to solve them:

Another common mistake is the confusion between deleting the icon and uninstalling the app. For example, if you remove the Google Chrome shortcut from your desktop, the browser itself will remain on the system and be available through the menu. To completely remove it, you need to go to Settings → Apps and select Delete.

💡

If new icons appear on the desktop after the MIUI update (for example, Mi AI or Xiaomi Cloud), do not rush to remove them through ADB. Often they disappear after 1-2 reboots or you can hide them through the launcher settings.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions