How to remove shortcuts from the screen Xiaomi: from simple icons to system applications

Xiaomi’s MIUI-based desktop is often hijacked by unnecessary shortcuts — both randomly created duplicates and preinstalled system applications that cannot be removed in the standard way. Even after the phone is rebooted, icons return, and an attempt to drag them into the cart ends with the message “Delete is impossible: this is a system application.” In this article, we will analyze all the working methods of cleaning the screen — from basic to hidden MIUI functions that are not documented in the official certificate.

Complicating the problem, the algorithms differ from MIUI 12 to MIUI 15, for example, MIUI 14 introduced a new launcher with a modified “App Vault” widget management logic, which many users confuse with conventional shortcuts. We tested all methods on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+, POCO X5 Pro and Xiaomi 13 Ultra models – instructions are relevant for most of the brand’s devices released after 2020.

1. Standard removal: when it works and why it doesn't

The most obvious way to do this is to hold your finger on an unnecessary icon until the menu appears, and in most cases, the system will offer options:

• 🗑️ Remove – available only for custom shortcuts (e.g. duplicates or weather widgets).
• 📱 Application information – leads to settings where you can disable or remove updates (but not the application itself).
• 🔒 Block – hides the icon from random clicks, but does not remove it from the screen.

If you don't delete, you're trying to remove a system application (e.g. Mi Video, Mi Music or GetApps), in which case the standard method won't work, and the menu may not appear if:

• 🛡️ The phone is on mode for children (limits changes to the desktop).
• 🔄 Launcher works in lightweight mode (found on weak models such as Redmi). A1).
• 📱 Installed side launcher (for example, Nova Launcher or Hyperion), which intercepts the control of icons.

⚠️ Warning: Do not confuse shortcuts with the App Vault widget (round icon on the left on the home screen). It cannot be removed by standard means - only disable in the launcher settings (Settings → Desktop → App Vault).

2. Disable system applications through settings

If the icon belongs to a pre-installed app (such as Mi Pay or Mi Community), it can be disabled to hide it from the screen.

1. Hold your finger on the icon and select “Application Information”.
2. Click “Disable Remove Updates” if the “Disable” button is inactive.
3. Confirm the action in the dialog window.

Once disabled, the application will disappear from the desktop, but will remain in the list of all programs (Settings → Applications → Application Management). To return it, just find it again in this list and click “Enable”.

Check if the application is critical to MIUI (e.g. Security or Settings)

Backup important data (if the application syncs files)

Remember the name of the application for possible inclusion later

Reboot your phone after disabling 3-5 apps (to avoid crashes)

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Some applications (such as Google Play Services or MiuiDaemon) cannot be disabled, the system will block the button, in which case only hiding through the launcher (see next section) or manual removal through ADB (for power users) will help.

3. Hiding icons through launcher settings

If you can't turn off the app, you can hide it from the desktop display list, which works for all versions of MIUI, but the path to settings is different:

For MIUI 12-13:

Settings → Desktop → Hide applications

For MIUI 14-15:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → [three dots in the upper right corner] → Hide applications

In the list that opens, tick the programs you want to remove from the screen. They will stay in the system, but they will not appear on the menu and on the desktop. To return them back, repeat the path and uncheck.

⚠️ Note: Hidden apps won’t show up in search results over the phone (for example, when swiping down on the home screen).If you need to temporarily run such an application, find it through Settings. → Annexes → Application management.

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If the icons still appear on the screen after hiding, try resetting the launcher settings: go to Settings → Applications → Application Management, find the MIUI Launcher (or Lawnchair for POCO), click Storage → Clear Data. This will return the standard desktop look, but delete all your icon location settings.

4. Removal via ADB: for power users

If previous methods didn’t work (like you want to completely remove Mi Browser or Mi Music), you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB).

Step-by-step:

1. Enable Developer Mode on Phone: Go to Settings → About the phone and 7 times click on the item "Version" MIUI».
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate “Debugging by USB”.
3. Connect your phone to your PC, install ADB drivers (for example, via Google’s Mi PC Suite or Platform Tools).
4. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type:

adb devices

(The name of your device should appear)

adb shell pm list packages | grep 'miui'

(Shows a list of all Xiaomi system packages)

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.videoplayer

(Replace com.miui.videoplayer with the desired application package name)

Once the command is executed, the icon will disappear from the screen and the application will be deleted for the current user (but will remain in the system).

adb shell cmd package install-existing com.miui.videoplayer

5.Resetting the launcher to factory settings

If after all the manipulations on the desktop there are “ghost” icons (for example, from remote applications) or the location of widgets is lost, resetting the launcher will help, this method does not affect user data, but will return the standard screen design.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the MIUI Launcher (or Lawnchair for POCO) in the list.
3. Click on “Storage” → “Clear Data” and confirm the action.

Once you reboot your phone, the desktop will go back to factory-style, and all the shortcuts and widgets you've added manually will disappear, and you'll have to reconfigure them, and this method also helps if you:

• 🔄 The launcher is frozen and does not respond to swipes.
• 📱 Icons are superimposed on each other or displayed as gray squares.
• 🔍 Searching on the phone does not find the apps that are in the system.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi) 9A, POCO M3) Resetting the launcher can lead to the loss of desktop wallpaper.

Standard icon retention |Switch off via settings |Shide in launcher |ADB (for experienced) |Shide launcher Reset |Never delete

6. Features for different Xiaomi models

Desktop management algorithms may vary depending on the device series, and here are the key nuances for popular lines:

On devices with MIUI for POCO (such as POCO X5 Pro), the additional App Categories feature is available, which automatically sorts icons by folder to disable it:

Settings → Desktop → Application Categories → Turn off

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On the Xiaomi Pad 5/6 and other tablets of the brand, the shortcut removal algorithm is identical to smartphones, but because of the large screen, icons can “spread” around the desktop. To fix this, press your finger in the free space of the screen → Home Screen Settings → Grid Size and select a smaller value (for example, 4×5 instead of 5×6).

7.What to do if the labels return after the reboot

If the deleted icons reappear after the phone is restarted, the problem lies in one of three factors:

1. Launcher Auto Update: MIUI can restore standard shortcuts after updating system applications.
2. Sync with Mi Account: If you are logged in to a Xiaomi account, your desktop settings can sync with the cloud.
3. Launcher cache failure: damaged data leads to the “sticking” of icons.

Decisions:

• 🔄 Turn off Auto Update for Launcher: Go to Play Store → My apps. → Launcher MIUI → [three-point] → Turn off auto-update.
• ☁️ Log out of Mi Account (temporary solution): Settings → Xiaomi account → Get out.
• 🧹 Clear the launcher's cache: Settings → Annexes → Launcher MIUI → Warehouse → Clear the cache.

If the problem persists, try installing a third-party launcher (like a Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher) that will completely replace the standard interface. MIUI And it allows you to flexibly customize your icons without any limitations. MIUI (App Vault or Super Wallpapers will be unavailable.

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing shortcuts on Xiaomi