Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face a situation where the standard interface ceases to respond to commands or requires a forced update. Users wonder how to remove the desktop on chiaomi, meaning either a full reset of the launcher settings or cleaning up system data that causes errors. It is important to understand that the desktop system application is a critical component of the Android operating system and the shell of MIUI or HyperOS.
Completely removing this component without obtaining superuser rights is impossible and makes no sense, as it will lead to the inoperability of the device. However, there are many ways to “clean” its condition by returning factory settings or replacing the standard interface with a lighter counterpart. In this article, we will discuss safe reset methods that will help eliminate lags, freezes and visual errors without losing personal data.
Before we start taking drastic measures, we need to determine what is causing the discomfort. Sometimes the problem is not the application itself, but rather the overflowing cache or widget conflict. We'll look at the algorithms for different versions of firmware that are relevant for 2026-2026.
Why you may need to reset your desktop
The main reason why users are looking for a way to remove the desktop in shaomi is the unstable work of the system. Launcher is responsible for displaying icons, widgets, folders and animations, so any failures in its code instantly affect the user experience. Often problems arise after a failed firmware update or installing incompatible themes.
System errors can accumulate over time, especially if you actively change wallpaper, weather widgets or use heavy live wallpaper.In such cases, the Android operating system may not properly handle requests for rendering graphics, which causes the screen to go out, icons to disappear, or the device responds to touch with a noticeable delay.
⚠️ Warning: Before performing any actions to reset system applications, make sure you have a backup of important data.While clearing the launcher is usually safe, unforeseen failures are always possible.
Another common cause is a lack of RAM, where when RAM is filled with background processes, the system aggressively unloads active applications, including the launcher, which can lead to constant restarts of the interface, which looks like a serious failure, in which case simple data cleaning can temporarily alleviate the situation, but it is better to close the unnecessary applications.
Users also often want to remove the standard desktop to replace it with a third-party, more functional or minimalist one. The standard MIUI launcher is sometimes criticized for intrusive advertising and redundancy of features that not everyone needs. Replacing the interface is a legitimate desire to customize your device to suit your own needs.
Cleaning the cache and system launcher data
The safest and most effective way to remove the current state of the desktop is to clean up the data, which does not remove the application completely, but returns it to a post-purchase state, resetting all the settings for the location of icons and widgets, which does not require root rights or a computer connection.
The procedure is done through the standard smartphone settings menu, so you need to find the partition responsible for managing installed applications and find the system component there. The names may vary slightly depending on the version of the HyperOS shell or MIUI, but the logic remains the same for all Xiaomi devices.
It's important not to confuse cleaning with removing updates. Resetting will return the icon grid to its factory appearance, and your personal files (photos, contacts) will remain intact. However, the location of the apps on the screen will be reset, so it makes sense to take a screenshot of the desktop in advance so that you can quickly restore everything.
☑️ Checklist before launcher reset
Once you clean it, you'll notice that the desktop looks completely new, and all the folders you've created, all the calendar widgets and the weather will go back to standard settings, often solving problems with the floating interface or non-clickable areas of the screen.
Step-by-step: reset via settings
You need to follow several menus in sequence. The interface may vary slightly on different models, for example, the Redmi Note 13 or Poco F5, but the main points remain unchanged.
First, open the main settings menu of your device. Usually, the gear icon is in the notification curtain or on the home screen. Find a section called "Apps" or "All Apps." In some firmware versions, it may be hidden inside the "Advanced Settings" option.
Settings → Applications → All applications → Desktop → Clean → Clean everythingIn the list of applications, you need to find an item called "Desktop" (or "Launcher", "System Launcher"). Note that it may not have an icon or it will be standard gray. Don't confuse it with "Security" or "Conductor".
Once you log in to the app menu, you'll see either "Clear" or "Storage" buttons, click on it and select the "Clear All Data" option, and the system will alert you that the settings will be reset. Confirm the action.
| Action. | Description | Risk of data loss |
|---|---|---|
| Clearing the cache | Deletion of temporary files | No. |
| Clearing the data | Resetting launcher settings | Only the location of the icons |
| Removal of updates | Retracement to factory version | No. |
| Forced stopping | Resetting the process | No. |
Once the process is complete, the screen may blink, and you'll see a standard greeting screen or an empty desktop. This is normal behavior. Now the interface should run smoothly, without previous errors.
How to remove or disable third-party launchers
If you have previously installed alternative desktops like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher and now want to get rid of them, the procedure will be different. Third-party apps are removed the same way as any other programs from Google Play.
However, if a third-party launcher is set as the default, a simple deletion can cause the interface to temporarily disappear until the system switches to standard.To avoid confusion, it is better to first return the standard Xiaomi launcher as the primary one, and then remove the third-party one.
- 📱 Go to Settings and find the "Applications" item».
- 🔍 Select “Default Apps” or “Application Management».
- 🏠 Find the Home app and select the system launcher MIUI.
- 🗑️ Now find the third-party app in the list and click “Delete».
In some cases, third-party launchers may embed their services deep into the system, especially if they require advanced permissions.If a normal uninstallation doesn't help or the app reappears, check the autoboot list. Often such programs are prescribed to autorun to take up space immediately after the reboot.
⚠️ Note: Deleting a third-party launcher won’t affect your personal files, but it can reset widget settings that were unique to that application (such as weather widgets or a third-party developer’s calendar).
If you want to completely clean up the traces of third-party software, after removal, it is recommended to use the built-in cleaner in the Security app from Xiaomi. Android/data And then we'll ask them to delete them, and it will free up space in the memory and prevent future conflicts.
Using ADB for Advanced Removal
For power users who want to cut out the system launcher completely (which is not recommended without replacing), there is a method through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires connecting the smartphone to the computer and having the appropriate drivers, it allows you to remove even those system applications that are hidden from the average user.
Before you start, you need to activate the developer mode, and you can click seven times on the build number in the About Phone section, then turn on the Developer menu to debug via USB, and without this step, the computer will not be able to send commands to the device.
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.launcherThe command above is designed to remove the standard Android launcher, but on Xiaomi the package may be called differently, for example, com.miui.home.Be extremely careful: by removing the single desktop with no installed alternative, you will get a device with a black screen, managed only through ADB or Recovery.
If your goal is to just get rid of ads or unnecessary services, it's better to use ADB to disable, not delete. The app that's disabled doesn't work, doesn't consume battery, but it can be easily returned back by pm enable. This is a safer approach to modifying the system.
Possible problems and solutions
After resetting or replacing the desktop, users may experience a number of typical problems, such as missing the bottom navigation bar (Back, Home, Menu buttons) or stopping swipe management, which often happens if the new launcher does not have the necessary permissions or conflicts with MIUI system gestures.
Another common problem is the disappearance of the Watch or Weather widget. Xiaomi's standard widgets are tied to the system launcher. When you switch to a third-party interface, they may stop showing correctly, in which case you need to re-add widgets through the desktop editing menu, clamping the empty space on the screen.
- 🔄 Reboot: If the interface is behaving strangely, perform a complete reboot of the device, not just turn off the screen.
- 🎨 Topics: Check if a third-party theme is active, which can break the desktop layout».
- 📉 Memory: Make sure the device is at least free 1-2 GB of internal memory for correct cache operation.
In rare cases, after a launcher resets, alarm or reminder settings may go off if they were tied to widgets. Always check critical functions after making system changes. If the problem is not solved, perhaps the cause is deeper - in the damage to the system files of the firmware.