How to remove shortcuts from Xiaomi desktop: the complete guide

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face a situation where the desktop is full of icons that interfere with navigation or simply are not used.The standard shell of MIUI, and now the new HyperOS, provide many tools for customization, but the process of removing interface elements may not be obvious to beginners. Some shortcuts disappear after a simple clamping, while others require a deeper dive into the system settings.

In this article, we will take a look at all the existing methods of cleaning the screen from unnecessary icons. You will learn to distinguish regular applications from system components, understand how to work with folders and widgets, and learn the secrets of removing preinstalled software that is usually hidden from the user. It is critical to understand the difference between removing a shortcut and completely uninstalling an application so that you do not accidentally disrupt the operation of the operating system.

We're going to look at both the standard shell tools and advanced computer-based methods that can get rid of even programs that have been blocked by the developer from the Remove button, and the right organization of screen space not only improves visual perception, but can also have a positive impact on interface response speed.

Basic methods for removing applications and shortcuts

The easiest way to clean your desktop is to use the standard shell functionality. When you press and hold your finger on any icon, the system goes into edit mode, at which point most applications can be dragged to the top of the screen where an area will appear with the "Delete" or basket icon, which is safe and only removes the shortcut if the application is system-based, or completely removes the program if it was installed.

However, depending on the version of MIUI or HyperOS, the behavior of the system may differ. In some configurations, with a long press, a pop-up menu appears where you want to select "Delete." If you are the owner of a new device, the interface may suggest compressing the icon with your fingers to remove it, and it is important not to confuse deletion with moving to a folder or to another desktop page.

For apps downloaded from Google Play or GetApps, the uninstallation process is often accompanied by a confirmation request.The system will alert you that all app data will be erased.This is the normal protective reaction of the Android operating system to prevent accidental loss of important information. Always read pop-up notifications carefully before final confirmation of an action.

💡

If when you delete the application, the system writes “failed to delete”, try first to disable it in the settings, and then repeat the deletion procedure.

Working with system applications and undeleteable shortcuts

The situation is complicated when it comes to preinstalled software. Manufacturers often include a set of applications in the firmware that cannot be removed in the standard way. In the application management menu, the delete button for them is inactive (gray), in which case the operating system allows only the "Disable" action to be performed.

Disabling an application hides its label from the desktop and menus of all programs, and also stops all associated processes.This is an effective way to combat “bloat” of the system, known as bloatware. Once disabled, the application ceases to consume RAM and battery power, effectively becoming remote to the user, although the files remain in the system partition.

To disable such an application, go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find an unnecessary program (such as Mi Browser, Mi Video or Google services you don't use) on the list, and if the Remove button is not available, select Disable. The system will warn you of the possible consequences, but for most user services it is safe.

⚠️ Warning: Never disable system components called "System Framework" or "Security", "MIUI System" or "Google Play Services" This can lead to unstable smartphone performance or cyclical reboot.

There is also a category of shortcuts that are not apps, but links to the settings or functions sections, which can be deleted in the same way as normal icons, but sometimes they tend to come back after a system update or reset, a behavior that is embedded in the logic of the MIUI shell for quick access to company services.

Removal of widgets and interface elements

Xiaomi's desktop is often decorated with widgets like weather, news, step counters, or music players. While useful, their excess pollutes the interface. Removing the widget is different from removing the app. When you press the widget long enough, you have a "Delete widget" or cross zone at the top of the screen. Drag the item into that zone instantly clears the space.

Some widgets are part of the theme, and if you installed a third-party theme from Themes, it could add its own widgets that are not removed in the standard way, so you need to return a standard theme or theme that does not contain these elements. To do this, go to the Topics app. → Profile → Themes and choose a classic design.

And the folders deserve special attention. Sometimes people don't want to delete the app, they want to delete the folder itself. And that's to extract all the shortcuts inside the folder. Once there are fewer than two items left in the folder, it will automatically disappear. That's the standard behavior of the Android graphical shell.

Use of desktop editing mode

MIUI and HyperOS have a powerful editing mode, which is caused by a two-finger pinch (finger mixing on the screen) or a long tap on an empty area. In this mode, you see thumbnails of all the pages of the desktop, and you can not only remove shortcuts, but also entire pages.

If one of the pages has only system shortcuts that can't be removed, or it's just empty, it can be eliminated completely. In editing mode, click on the settings icon (usually a gear) or simply drag the unnecessary page to the delete zone if the interface allows, which will free up space and make it easier to navigate with swipes.

In the same mode, Card Mode or Classic Mode is often available, and switching between them changes the logic of displaying the app menu, which can visually remove unnecessary shortcuts from the home screen by hiding them in a separate menu, a popular method among users who prefer minimalism.

Advanced Method: Removal through ADB (for experienced)

For users who want to achieve perfect system cleanliness, there is a method of removing system applications through a computer using the ADB tool (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to remove even what is hidden from the average user, turning the phone into a virtually “pure” Android.

To start, you need to enable USB debugging. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly press 7 times on MIUI Version (or OS Version) until you become a developer. Then, in advanced settings, activate USB Debugging. Connect your phone to your PC and enter a command to delete the package.

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

For example, to remove the Mi browser, the command will look like an adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.browser. This method requires caution: removing critical system packets can "brick" the device, requiring firmware reflashing. Always check the name of the package on the Internet before deleting.

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB-Do not delete packets containing the words "framework", "provider" or "service" unless you know their exact purpose.

Cleaning up MIUI Advertising and Recommendations

Often, users understand "tags" as pop-up recommendations or icons in the Tools folder, and MIUI is known for its aggressive advertising policy, and to remove advertising shortcuts and recommendations, you need to disable the MSA (MIUI System Ads) service.

Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Access to Personal Data. Find the "msa" list and turn off the switch. The system will resist for 10 seconds, requiring confirmation. After that, many advertising activities and intrusive shortcuts in system applications will disappear. It is also recommended to disable "Receive recommendations" in the settings of each system application (Conductor, Music, Video).

Another source of junk is the Tools or Google folder, which may contain shortcuts to web applications or services you didn't run, which can be removed by the standard long-press method. If the shortcut comes back, check your Google or Mi Account sync settings.

💡

Complete removal of system debris is possible only through ADB, but for 95% of users, a standard application shutdown and MSA denial are enough.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)