What can be removed in Xiaomi without consequences: system applications, cache and garbage

Xiaomi smartphones based on MIUI or the new HyperOS often suffer from overloading with unnecessary applications and system debris. Even after buying a device, users face dozens of pre-installed services, many of which duplicate functions or are not used at all. But what can be removed from this without risking system stability? And what files should be cleaned regularly to make room?

In this article, we will discuss in detail:

What system applications can be uninstalled or disabled (including hidden MIUI/HyperOS services)

How to clean the cache and temporary files without breaking the phone.

What data is safely deleted manually through the file manager (and where it is stored).

What not to touch even with a severe memory deficit - and why.

⚠️ Note: Some operations require root or use rights ADB. If you are not sure about your actions, it is better to limit yourself to the safe methods from the first sections.

1. Xiaomi system applications that can be removed

The pre-installed MIUI/HyperOS applications fall into three categories:

• 🔹 Securely Deleted – Duplicate features (e.g., two browsers) or unnecessary services (e.g., Mi Pay outside China).
• 🔸 Removable – You can uninstall, but this can affect individual functions (for example, Mi Video is needed to play some formats).
• 🔴 Critical – Deletion will cause system failures (e.g., Security or System) UI).

Below is a list of apps that can be removed by most users (if you don’t use specific features), and the ADB team will do the uninstallation without root rights:

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

List of safe packets to remove (checked on MIUI 14/15 and HyperOS):

For removal via ADB:

1. Turn on USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times, then go back to Additional → For Developers).
2. Connect the phone to your PC and execute the command above by replacing the com.xiaomi.name of the package with the desired package.

⚠️ Attention: Removing Mi Video may disrupt the video playback in the gallery.If it is critical, it is better to disable the application via Settings → Annexes.

2. How to disable (not remove) unnecessary services

If you don't want to take risks, but you want to get rid of background processes, it's better to turn off apps instead of completely removing them, which will stop them from working and free up RAM, but preserve the possibility of recovery.

List of services that can be turned off without consequences:

• 📱 Mi Roaming (com.miui.roaming) – only required for roaming in China.
• 🎮 Game Turbo (com.xiaomi.glgm) – if you don’t play mobile games.
• 📡 Mi Remote (com.duokan.phone.remotecontroller) – if you do not use an IR port.
• 📊 Analytics (com.miui.analytics) – collects data about phone usage (can be disabled for privacy).

To disable:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the desired application → Disable.
3. Confirm the action (the system will warn you that the application will stop updating).

The apps that are disabled will remain in memory, but they will not waste resources, and you can activate them again in the same menu.

💡

Before you turn off services, check if you are using associated features, for example, disabling Mi Remote will make the IR port useless for controlling equipment.

3. Clearing cache and temporary files

Cache and temporary files take up gigabytes of memory, but cleaning them requires caution. Some data (such as the Google Play Services cache) is better left unchecked so as not to disrupt services.

What can be cleaned regularly:

• 🗑️ Cache of applications (for example, social networks, instant messengers, games) – cleared through Settings → Warehouse → Cache data.
• 📁 Download folder – downloaded files that are no longer needed.
• 🎥 folder DCIM/.thumbnails — Photo and video miniatures (you can delete them, they will be restored automatically).
• 📦 folder Android/obb — Game data (delete if the game is deleted).

What to clean carefully:

• ⚠️ Google Play Services cache could disrupt Google services.
• ⚠️ folder Android/data — Contains game and app saves (remove only if you know exactly what you don’t need to do).

For deep cleaning, use the built-in cleaning tool (Security). → Cleaning up, but don’t trust it blindly – sometimes it suggests removing useful data.

Clean the cache of social networks and messengers|Remove old files from Download|Check the folder. DCIM/.thumbnails|Clean up Android/obb data-free|Don't touch it. Android/data needlessly-->

4. Removal of duplicates and unnecessary media files

Photos and videos take up the lion's share of memory. MIUI/HyperOS has built-in tools for finding duplicates, but they're not always effective. It's better to use third-party apps like Files by Google or CCleaner.

How to find and remove duplicates:

1. Open Gallery → Albums → Duplicates (if the function is available).
2. Or install Files by Google → Cleanup → Duplicate files.
3. Check out DCIM/Camera, DCIM/Screenshots, and Pictures folders, which often accumulate unnecessary screenshots and re-images.

It is also worth removing:

• 📸 Blurred or unsuccessful photos – they take up space but never used.
• 🎬 Videos from instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) - saved automatically in the WhatsApp/Media or Telegram/Telegram Video.
• 🎵 Audio files from messengers – voice messages and music from chats.

To automatically clean your media files, set up Google Photos to back up and delete local copies after uploading to the cloud.

5. Dangerous files and folders: what can not be deleted

Some system files and folders are critical to MIUI/HyperOS. Deleting them can lead to bootloop or loss of functionality.

Also, you should not delete:

• 🚫 Files with the.odex or.vdex extension are optimized versions of applications.
• 🚫 folder Android/obb Completely – game data is stored there (remove only unnecessary files).
• 🚫 Any files in /system or /vendor — Even if they seem unnecessary.

⚠️ Warning: If you accidentally delete a critical file and your phone stops working, try resetting your settings via Recovery (click Power). + Volume Up at boot. In extreme cases, you will need to flash the firmware.

6.Memory optimization without deleting files

If you don’t have enough memory, but you don’t want to delete anything, try these methods:

• 🔄 Transfer of applications to SD-map (if supported): Settings → Annexes → Select an application → Warehouse → Change. → SD-map.
• ☁️ Cloud Storage: Set up an automatic photo upload to Google Photos or Mi Cloud and delete local copies.
• 🗃️ Archiving rarely used files: pack old photos/documents into your files ZIP and transfer to PC or cloud.
• 🔧 Optimization MIUI/HyperOS: set the settings on → Special facilities → System acceleration (if available).

It’s also worth turning off auto-update apps on Google Play if you’re not using mobile internet for downloads, which will save both memory and traffic.

💡

Transfer of applications to SD-The card doesn’t work on all Xiaomi models.Since Android 9, Google has restricted this feature to most apps.

7 Root access: what can be removed if you have superuser rights

If you have root rights, you have additional cleanup options, but the risk is even higher, because the wrong action can make the phone tick, and here's a list of what power users are removing for deep optimization.

What can be removed from root:

• 🧹 Systemic fonts (/system/fonts) — Leave only the necessary ones (risk: some applications may not display correctly).
• 📴 Systemic sounds and melodies (/system/media/audio) — if you use your own.
• 📦 Unnecessary APK from /system/priv-app — But only if you know exactly what they are responsible for!
• 🗑️ Logs and dumps (/data/tombstones, /data/anr) — can be cleaned regularly.

To delete, use Root Explorer or ADB commands with superuser rights. Example of commands to delete folder:

adb shell su -c "rm -rf /system/path/to/folder"

⚠️ Note: Before any manipulations /system backup through TWRP Or OrangeFox Recovery. Without a backup, system recovery may not be possible.

8. Alternative methods of memory release

If none of the above has worked, consider these options:

• 🔄 Resetting to factory settings is a radical method, but it's effective!
• 📱 Lite versions of apps (e.g. Facebook Lite, Messenger Lite) – they take up less space.
• 🛠️ Custom-based firmware ROM (LineageOS or Pixel Experience – will eliminate bloat MIUI, But you'll need to unlock the loader.
• 🔧 Disable animations and visual effects through Settings → For developers → Animation (set the value off.).

If the problem is a lack of RAM, not storage, try:

• Limit background processes in Settings → For developers → Process Limit.
• Disable auto-run of unnecessary applications via Security → Auto-run.

FAQ: Frequent questions