What to remove on a Xiaomi smartphone to free up memory and speed up: a safe guide 2026

Why Xiaomi is slowing down and how to fix it without risk

Have you noticed that your Xiaomi has become slower to run, apps take a long time to open, and memory runs out after a couple of photos? The reason most often lies not in the “weak hardware”, but in a clogged system. The manufacturer installs dozens of pre-loaded applications (bloatware), cache accumulates for years, and background processes eat up resources. But the good news is that up to 70% of the garbage on Xiaomi can be removed without root rights and loss of warranty.

In this article, we will discuss what can be safely removed on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones running MIUI 14/15 without disrupting the system.

• 🗑️ What Xiaomi Apps Can Be Uninstalled Without Consequences
• 🧹 How to Clear Cache and Temporary Files That Brake Your Phone
• ⚙️ What system settings to disable to save battery and memory
• ⚠️ What to remove (even if advised on forums)

Important: all instructions are relevant for MIUI 14/15 (including global and Chinese versions). If you have older firmware, some menu items may differ. For Xiaomi 2020 and newer models (for example, Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T), the approach is the same.

List of safe to remove standard Xiaomi apps

The manufacturer installs dozens of apps on smartphones that most users don't need, can be removed or disabled without fear of a broken system. Below is a verified list for MIUI 14/15.

Applications that can be removed completely (do not affect the operation of the system):

• 🎵 Mi Music is a standard player that duplicates the functions of Google Play Music or Spotify
• 📺 Mi Video - Video player, replaced VLC or MX Player
• 📖 Mi Browser – a browser with advertising, better to use Chrome or Firefox
• 💼 Mi Pay – payment application (does not work in Russia and most CIS countries)
• 📊 Mi Analytics – statistics collection service (sends data to Xiaomi)
• 🎮 Game Turbo – utility for gamers, useless for ordinary users
• 📱 Second Space – Second Desktop Creation (less than 1% of users needed)
• 🔍 Quick Search – search bar on the home screen (duplicates Google Search)

Applications that can only be disabled (you can’t delete without root rights, but they won’t waste resources):

• 📱 Mi Roaming – Roaming service (unplug if you are not traveling)
• 📡 Mi Remote – remote control (useful only for controlling Xiaomi equipment)
• 💬 Mi Community – User Forum (can be replaced by a web version)
• 🛒 Mi Store - branded store (does not work in some regions)

⚠️ Note: Do not remove apps called com.android., com.miui. (except for those listed above) or com.google.* are system components without which the phone can stop loading.

How to remove system applications correctly: step-by-step instructions

You can remove pre-installed apps on Xiaomi in two ways: through system settings (to disable) or with ADB (to completely remove them).

Method 1: Disconnect via settings (without root rights)

This method is suitable for most users and does not require special knowledge.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. From the top menu, select All Apps and find the right one (such as Mi Music).
3. Click Disable (if the button is inactive, the application is system-based and requires ADB).
4. Confirm the action. The app will disappear from the menu and stop wasting resources.

Method 2: Complete removal via ADB (for advanced users)

If you want to permanently remove unnecessary applications, you will need a computer and an ADB utility.

Instructions:

1. Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate Debugging over USB.
3. Connect your phone to your PC, install ADB drivers, and execute the command: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.player (replace com.miui.player with the desired application package, for example com.miui.video for Mi Video).

🔹 List of packages for ADB:

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Before deleting via ADB, back up your data to Settings → Memory → Backup. If you have problems after deleting, you can restore the system via Fastboot.

Cleaning Cache and Temporary Files: Where to Look for Garbage

Even after removing unnecessary applications, gigabytes of garbage remain in the system: application cache, temporary update files, duplicate photos, etc. Let us analyze how to find and remove this ballast.

1. Application and systems cache

Cache speeds up programs, but it grows to a few gigabytes over time, and you need to clean it regularly.

1. Go to Settings → Memory → Cleanup.
2. Click Deep Clean and select Cash applications.
3. To clean the cache of individual applications: Settings → Apps → [Select App] → Memory → Clear the cache.

2. MIUI update files

After updating the system, firmware files remain in memory and take up to 1-2 GB. You can delete them as follows:

1. Open the file manager → internal memory → MIUI.
2. Delete the folder. download_rom (Here are the downloaded firmwares).
3. Also check the folder. Downloaded_rom memory-root.

3. Duplicate photos and screenshots

Xiaomi automatically creates duplicate photos when editing (for example, in a Gallery or Google Photos).

• 📁 In a file. DCIM/.thumbnails Miniatures are stored (can be removed).
• 🖼️ V Pictures/Screenshots — Screenshots (often forgotten to clean).
• 🔄 V MIUI/Gallery/editor — editing-file.

⚠️ Note: Do not delete Android folders, MIUI or system completely, which can cause a system failure. Only delete specific files inside (e.g. old firmware or cache).

Disabling background processes and autoboot

Many of the apps on Xiaomi run in the background, even if you're not using them, and they use up battery and RAM to slow down your phone, and let's figure out how to fix that.

1. Restriction of background activity

MIUI has a built-in tool for managing background processes:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Management.
2. Select Applications and set the Restricted mode for unnecessary programs.
3. For social networks (e.g. Facebook, VKontakte), select Intellectual Limitation.

2. Shutdown of autoboot

Some apps start automatically when you turn on your phone, to turn it off:

1. Install the AutoStart Manager app (available on Google Play).
2. Give it permission through Special Access → Auto Run in the settings.
3. Turn off autoboot for unnecessary apps (such as games or stores).

3. MIUI optimization

Xiaomi adds features to the firmware that not everyone needs, but consumes resources:

• 🔄 Turn off interface animation in Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → Additionally. → Animation. = 0.5x.
• 📱 Turn off Smooth transition to Settings → Screen. → Smooth transition.
• 🔋 Activate Performance Mode in Settings → Battery → Performance mode.

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Disabling background processes for social networks (Facebook, Instagram) can increase battery life by 15-20%.

What you can’t delete on Xiaomi (even if you recommend it on forums)

On the Internet, you can find tips for removing “unnecessary” system applications that are actually critical to the phone’s operation, and below is a list of things you can’t touch unless you’re ready to “brick” your device.

Prohibited to remove applications and services:

• 🚫 com.android.settings – system settings (delete – lose access to the settings menu).
• 🚫 com.miui.home – launcher (desktop will disappear).
• 🚫 com.android.phone – phone calls (the connection will stop working).
• 🚫 com.miui.securitycenter – Security Center (responsible for permissions and updates).
• 🚫 Google services (without them will not work Play Market, Gmail, etc.).
• 🚫 com.miui.system - System Files MIUI.

Consequences of removing critical applications:

• 📵 The phone will stop turning on ("brick»).
• 🔄 Constant restarts or startup errors.
• 📶 The network, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth will disappear.
• 🔒 You can’t sign in to your Mi Account or Google account.

⚠️ Warning: If you've already removed something from this list, don't try to restore your phone through a resetting - it won't help.The only way out is through Fastboot firmware (you'll need a computer and official firmware for your model).

Alternative ways to free up memory without removing applications

If you don’t want to risk removing system apps, there are safer ways to free up space on Xiaomi:

1. Transfer applications to a memory card

• 📱 Not all models support it, but if you have a microSD slot, transfer photos, videos, and some apps to it.
• 🔧 How to do: Settings → Annexes → [Select the application] → Memory. → Change. → Map. SD.

2. Use of cloud storage

• ☁️ Google Photos automatically uploads photos to the cloud and lets you delete them from your phone.
• 📁 Mi Cloud (if you have a Xiaomi account) gives you 5GB for free.

3.Storage optimization in MIUI

• 🧹 B Settings → Memory. → Cleaning is a recommendation feature that finds large, unnecessary files.
• 🗑️ Turn on Auto Cleanup in the same menu – the system will delete the cache once a week.

4. Removal of duplicates and unnecessary files

• 🔍 Applications like Files by Google or CCleaner help you find and remove duplicate photos, old ones, and more. APK-file-file.
• 📂 Check the Download folder – unnecessary files often accumulate there.

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Moving apps to a memory card can slow them down, but it’s safer than deleting system files.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi cleanup