Quick apps on Xiaomi: what it is, why you need and how to remove without consequences

If you own a Xiaomi smartphone, you've probably noticed some strange items marked "Fast App" or "Instant App" in the installed list. These elements don't take up much space, but they only grow in number over time, and they can't be removed by standard methods. What are these applications, why they appear on the device and can they be removed without risk to the system? In this article, we'll go into detail the mechanism of fast applications, their impact on smartphone performance and all possible ways to remove them, from safe to radical.

It's important to make it clear right away that fast apps are not viruses or malware. This is a technology from Google that's integrated into MIUI firmware that allows you to run parts of programs without having to install them fully. For example, you can open a product page on AliExpress or browse a route on Google Maps directly from your browser without downloading the app itself. But there's a downside to this technology: over time, you accumulate garbage in the form of cache and temporary data, and fast apps themselves can interfere with the settings menu.

What are fast apps (Instant Apps) and how do they work?

Instant Apps (or “fast apps”) was introduced by Google in 2016 as a way to save space on the device and speed up access to content, and instead of installing a full-fledged app, the user can run a “lightweight” version of it directly from the browser or via a link.

• 📦 You get a link to the product in Wildberries - instead of going to the browser, a mini version of the store app opens.
• 🗺️ You were sent a route to Google Maps – the map opens in a simplified interface without installing a navigator.
• 🎟️ Tickets for the event in Kassa.ru - instead PDF An interactive page is shown with QR-code.

On Xiaomi smartphones, this feature is activated by default and works through Google Play services. When you first open such an application, the system downloads only the necessary modules (weights from 1 to 10 MB), and after use they remain in the cache. Over time, these modules accumulate dozens and they begin to appear in the list of all applications marked “Fast”.

It’s important to understand that fast apps aren’t full-fledged programs — they don’t have desktop icons, they don’t update through the Play Market, and they don’t consume resources in the background. However, their cache can take up to 500-700 MB on the device, and they clog up the settings menu, which annoys many users.

Why Xiaomi leaves fast apps in the system

Xiaomi has made no secret of integrating Instant Apps technology into its MIUI firmware for several reasons:

1. Space savings: Users are less likely to install full-fledged apps if they can use lightweight versions.
2. Convenience: For example, opening links to products or tickets is faster, without unnecessary browsing.
3. Monetization: Xiaomi receives a commission from partners (such as AliExpress or Booking.com) for clicking through Instant Apps.
4. Compatibility with the Google ecosystem: Without this feature, some services (such as Google Pay or YouTube Music) may not work properly.

However, in practice, many users are faced with the fact that fast applications:

• 📱 Clog the list of installed programs in the settings.
• 🔄 Not removed in the standard way (the Remove button is inactive).
• 🛠️ Can conflict with full-fledged versions of applications (e.g. duplicate notifications).

In addition, some Instant Apps continue to load data in the background, which can affect traffic consumption and battery life, especially on low-cost Redmi or POCO models with limited resources.

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If you notice that fast apps are actively consuming the Internet, check them in the Settings menu → Apps → Data Use. There you can limit background activity for individual Instant Apps.

Can you remove fast apps from Xiaomi without consequences?

The short answer is yes, but not everything is safe, and fast apps fall into two categories:

System Instant Apps (e.g., Google Play Instant or MIUI Instant Service) are not recommended to be removed, which can cause Play Market malfunctions, inability to update apps or login problems in Google account, but custom fast apps (e.g., from AliExpress or Wildberries) can be removed without risk to the system.

However, there is a caveat: even after deleting, they can reappear the next time a link is opened, which is because MIUI automatically downloads Instant Apps the first time it starts, and you can only completely disable this feature through Google settings or disabling services, but this will affect the other functions of the smartphone.

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Deleting custom Instant Apps is safe, but does not guarantee their final disappearance. To completely disable the feature, you need to deactivate in Google settings.

How to remove fast apps on Xiaomi: step-by-step instructions

There are several ways to get rid of Instant Apps, from the simple to the radical, and let's start with the safest ones.

Method 1: Remove through application settings

This method is suitable for custom fast applications (e.g. AliExpress, Booking.com):

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the top menu, select the filter “All applications”.
3. Find an app marked “Fast” (e.g., “AliExpress (Fast)”).
4. Click on it and select “Delete” (if the button is active).

If the button "Delete" is inactive, then the application is system - it can only be turned off (the option "Stop" or "Disable").

Method 2: Clearing the Instant Apps cache

If you can not delete applications, you can clear their cache and data:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Google Play Services.
2. Click on “Storage” → “Space Management”.
3. Select “Clear all data” (this will remove the cache of all Instant Apps).

⚠️ Warning: After this operation, some of the settings of your Google account, such as syncing contacts or calendar, may reset.

Method 3: Disable Instant Apps in Google Settings

To prevent new fast apps from appearing, disable the function itself:

1. Open Settings → Google → Google Play Services.
2. Find the “Instant Apps” section (or “Fast Apps”).
3. Transfer the slider to the "Off" position.

After that, the existing Instant Apps will remain on the system, but new ones will not download. To delete the old ones, use the first method.

Method 4: Radical removal through ADB (for advanced)

If you are ready for experiments, you can uninstall Instant Apps via the ADB debugging bridge. This method requires connecting your smartphone to your computer and knowing the commands:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.instantapps.supervisor


adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.instantapps.webview

⚠️ Attention: misuse ADB This method can cause data loss or system failure, and is only suitable for advanced users!

How to Prevent New Fast Apps

Even after deleting Instant Apps may reappear, to avoid:

• 🔧 Turn off auto-update apps in the Play Market (Settings) → Auto-update of applications → Never).
• 🌐 Use alternative browsers (such as Firefox or Kiwi Browser) that do not support Instant Apps.
• 📥 Don’t open suspicious links – many Instant Apps are installed when clicking on banner ads.
• 🛡️ Install a firewall (like NetGuard) to block background activity of unnecessary services.

You can also use the developer mode to limit background activity:

1. Activate Developer Mode (7 times click on Settings → About Phone → MIUI version).
2. Go to Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Find the “Background Processes” option and limit them to 2-3.

These measures will not remove existing Instant Apps, but will significantly reduce the emergence of new ones.

Myths and Truths About Xiaomi's Fast Apps

There's a lot of rumors going around Instant Apps, and we're going to look at the most common ones.

⚠️ Attention: Fast apps are not viruses and do not steal your data; they operate in an isolated environment (sandbox) and do not have access to personal information without your permission. However, they can track activity as part of their work (e.g., AliExpress will know which products you have viewed).

Myth 1: “Instant Apps slow down your smartphone.”

Truth: They don't consume resources on their own, but their cache can take up space in memory. If the device has less than 2 GB of RAM, the background load of modules can cause slowdowns.

Myth 2: “Deleting Instant Apps violates warranty.”

Truth: Removing custom fast apps does not affect the warranty, but disabling system services through ADB can be considered an unauthorized interference.

Myth 3: “Instant Apps can’t be removed at all.”

Truth: You can only remove them completely through firmware or custom software (like LineageOS), but this is an extreme measure that deprives the device of official support.

FAQ: Frequent questions about fast Xiaomi apps

If you're going to get rid of fast apps, start with safe methods (cleaning cache, disabling function in settings). Radical methods like ADB or flashing should only be used as a last resort - they can lead to unstable system operation. Remember that MIUI is optimized for working with Instant Apps, and their complete removal can deprive you of some convenient features.