How to completely remove tabs on your Xiaomi phone: 5 working methods

Tabs in the MIUI interface are one of the most controversial features of Xiaomi firmware. On the one hand, they provide quick access to frequently used applications, but on the other hand, they take up precious space on the screen, slow down the system and sometimes just annoy users. If you want to get rid of unnecessary tabs in the app menu, on the home screen or in system utilities, this article will help you do it as efficiently as possible.

We will look at all the current ways to remove tabs on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, taking into account the features of different versions of MIUI 12/13/14 and HyperOS. It is important to understand that not all tabs can be removed by standard means - some require hidden settings or even superuser rights. But don't worry: we will explain each method in detail so that you can choose the most suitable for your model.

Why are there unnecessary tabs on Xiaomi

Before we move on to deletion, it's worth figuring out where these tabs come from and whether they can be prevented in the future.

• 📦 Pre-installed system applications — MIUI automatically creates tabs for Xiaomi services (e.g. Mi Video, Mi Music, GetApps) even if you don’t use them.
• 🔄 Updates to the firmware - after upgrading to the new version MIUI HyperOS can also add additional tabs with new features (e.g. Game Turbo or Second Space).
• 📱 UI personalization – some Theme Store themes add their own tabs (for example, for weather or calendar).
• 🤖 Performance optimization – the system can create temporary tabs for frequently used applications to speed up their launch.

Interestingly, some models (such as the Xiaomi 13 Pro or POCO F5) have tabs even after resetting to factory settings, which is due to Xiaomi’s policy of integrating its services into the device ecosystem as much as possible. Fortunately, most of these tabs can be removed — you just need to know the right way.

Method 1: Removing tabs through launcher settings

The simplest method, which works on most devices without the need to obtain root permissions, is suitable for removing tabs on the home screen and in the application menu.

1. Press the empty space on the home screen until the settings menu appears.
2. Select the screen settings (or Home screen settings in English firmware).
3. Go to the Tab Management section (may be called App drawer or Categories).
4. Find the tab you want to delete and swipe it left or click on the basket icon.

On some firmware (e.g. MIUI 14 for Redmi Note 12), this path may be slightly different: Settings → Home screen → Screen style → Tab settings.

⚠️ Note: On HyperOS devices (e.g. Xiaomi 14), standard tab removal may be blocked. In this case, try first to disable system optimization in Settings → Special facilities → Simplified regime.

If the tab you want isn’t in the list to remove, it’s system-based and requires other methods, such as GetApps, which is not usually removed through the launcher, but requires a separate approach, which we’ll discuss later.

Method 2: Disabling system applications (without root)

Many tabs are tied to system applications that can be disabled through settings. This won't remove them completely, but hides them from the interface and frees up resources.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Show All Apps.
3. Find an app that is associated with an unnecessary tab (e.g. Mi Video, Mi Music, Cleaner).
4. Click Disable (or Disable) and confirm the action.

After disabling the application, the corresponding tab should disappear from the main screen or menu. If this does not happen, restart the device.

⚠️ Note: Do not disable applications with System names UI, MIUI Core or Android System – This can cause the phone to run unstable or lose functionality completely!

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If the tab is left after disabling the application, try clearing the launcher cache. To do this, go to Settings → Applications → Launcher (or MIUI Launcher) and click Clear cache.

Method 3: Using ADB to remove system tabs

For experienced users who are not afraid of the command line, there is a more radical method - deleting through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to get rid of even those tabs that are not deleted by standard means.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and tool ADB.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times, then return to Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 USB-cable.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect the phone to your computer and allow debugging over USB.
2. Open the command prompt (or Terminal on Mac/Linux) and type: Adb devices Make sure your device appears in the list.
3. To remove the tab-related app, use the command: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 title.package For example, to delete Mi Video: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.video
4. Reboot the phone.

Important: Some system applications may recover after being removed via ADB after a firmware update. To avoid this, back up a list of disabled packages before upgrading.

Method 4: Removing tabs with root rights

If you're willing to go to radical lengths to get root access, you can remove any tabs, including the most stubborn system tabs, which is suitable for advanced users, as it requires unlocking the bootloader and installing Magisk or SuperSU.

What needs to be done:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Xiaomi Unlock Tool (requires a Mi Account and wait 7-14 days).
2. Install custom recovery (TWRP or OrangeFox).
3. Please use Magisk to obtain root rights.
4. Use a root-enabled file manager (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer) and delete application files from the /system/priv-app/ or /system/app/ folder.

Example: To remove the GetApps tab, find and delete the /system/priv-app/GetApps/ folder, then restart the phone.

⚠️ Attention: Deleting root-righted system files can cause a device to fail if you delete something critical.Always back up through TWRP before modification!

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Getting root rights voids the warranty on the device and may disrupt some features (such as Google Pay or banking apps).

Method 5: Resetting settings to factory

If none of the above methods worked, and unnecessary tabs continue to appear, you can use the last resort – reset to factory settings, which will delete all user data, but also clean up system settings, including undeletable tabs.

How to reset:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select Delete All Data (or Factory Data Reset).
3. Confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed (it will take 5-10 minutes).
4. After the reboot, set up the phone as new, but don’t restore data from the backup – this can bring back unnecessary tabs.

The downside of this method is that it deletes all data from the device, including photos, messages and installed applications, so make sure to back up important information before resetting.

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If you’re afraid of losing data, try creating a new user first in Settings → System → Multiplayer. The new tab profile will have fewer defaults, and you’ll be able to migrate only the apps you need.

What to do if the tabs appear again

Sometimes, after updating the firmware or rebooting the device, the deleted tabs return, because MIUI automatically restores some system components to prevent them from reappearing:

• 🔄 Turn off automatic application updates in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Settings (⚙️) → Auto-update of applications.
• 📵 Freeze system applications with Titanium Backup (root required) or App Quarantine (no root, but less efficient).
• 🛡️ Install custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience) that doesn’t have Xiaomi apps pre-installed.
• 🔧 Use an alternative launcher (like Nova Launcher or Lawnchair) that ignores system tabs MIUI.

If you notice tabs coming back after a specific action (like connecting to Mi Account or updating your firmware), try doing that action in flight mode or without an internet connection – sometimes this helps bypass automatic synchronization.

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing tabs on Xiaomi