Owners of Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 smartphones often face a lack of internal storage and intrusive advertising built into the shell of MIUI. Standard build of the operating system is crowded with applications that are rarely used, but consume the resources of the processor and RAM. Proper cleaning of the system allows not only to free up gigabytes of space, but also significantly extend the battery life of the device.
In this article, we will discuss in detail which Android components can be safely uninstalled and which ones are strictly forbidden to touch. You will learn about methods to remove system software without obtaining root rights, using standard tools and ADB. The right approach to package management will turn your smartphone into a fast and clean tool for everyday tasks.
Before we start taking any drastic measures, it is important to understand the structure of installed programs, which are divided into user, system and critical, and errors in removing the latter category can lead to bootloop, a cyclical reboot of a device that requires firmware reflashing.
Analysis of embedded applications Google and Xiaomi
The first thing that catches your eye when you first launch the Redmi Note 9 is the abundance of pre-installed software. Xiaomi and Google have entered into agreements to pre-install their services, which occupy a significant amount of space, and fortunately, most of them can be removed or disabled without harming the basic functionality of the phone.
Custom apps like Facebook, Netflix, or AliExpress are often already built into the firmware. They're not required for the Android operating system to work. Deleting them frees up space and stops background activity that consumes the battery. If you're not using these services, feel free to dispose of them through the standard settings menu.
⚠️ Note: Do not remove the Xiaomi Security app unless you know how to replace it.It manages permissions, memory cleanups, and shell notifications. MIUI.
Google's system services, such as Google Play Movies, Google Music (replaced by YouTube Music) and Google News, are also subject to removal. However, the components of Google Play Services cannot be touched - without them, maps, the app store and contact synchronization will cease to work.
- 🗑️ Delete: Google Play Movies, Google Magazines, Google Images.
- 🗑️ Delete: Mi Video, Mi Music, Mi Browser (if not used).
- ✅ Save: Google Play Services, MIUI Security, System Framework.
System components: what to touch dangerously
Deep cleaning requires accuracy. There are components on the Android packages list that may seem unnecessary but are vital, such as removing Package Installer will make it impossible to install new applications even from APK files.
Special attention should be paid to Google Play Services and Xiaomi system frameworks. Trying to delete com.google.android.gms or com.miui.securitycenter through ADB will lead to unstable interface operation.
It is safe to remove components associated with specific features that you do not use, such as if you are not using Google Pay (now Google Wallet) or Daydream virtual reality, their packages can be eliminated, and often remove AR Core, which is only needed for augmented reality games.
To navigate the process list safely, use logs or special package directories. Always check the purpose of the process in the search engine before the removal command. Better leave it over than violate the integrity of the operating system.
Removing Xiaomi’s Standard Apps
MIUI is famous for its suite of proprietary applications. The Redmi Note 9 has a particularly large number of them. Many of them have duplicates or counterparts that are faster and consume fewer resources. The standard method of removing Settings is often unavailable here, because the Remove button is inactive.
Removing applications like Mi Browser, Mi Video or GetApps (Xiaomi app store) will require the use of a computer and an ADB utility. This is a secure method that does not require unlocking the bootloader. It allows you to forcibly uninstall system packages for the current user.
The first recommendation is to remove the GetApps store if you are not actively using the Xiaomi ecosystem, which is often the source of notifications and advertising in the system, and many users get rid of Mi Credit and Mi Pay, which are useless outside of China and India.
| Annex | Package (example) | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Mi Browser | com.android.browser | Delete (replace with Chrome) |
| GetApps | com.xiaomi.mipicks | Delete (a source of advertising) |
| Mi Video | com.miui.videoplayer | Delete (replace by VLC) |
| Themes | com.miui.theme | Leave (for the subject) |
When you remove heavy MIUI applications, it becomes more responsive, especially on models with 4GB of RAM, where every megabyte counts, cache is released, and the rest of the programs are launched faster.
Cleaning up of advertising modules and analytics
One of the main reasons why users want to clean the Redmi Note 9 is because it's built into system applications like conductor, music, video, and even bootloader, and removing ad modules is a top priority for a smartphone experience.
A key component of MIUI advertising is com.miui.misys and its associated analytics modules, disabling or removing packets containing the name msa (MIUI System Ads) significantly reduces the number of pop-ups, but completely removing them can lead to errors in some system functions.
The safer way is to disable ad personalization and analytics in settings. Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Access to personal data and disable msa. Also, in the settings of each system application (for example, “Conductor”), find the item “Receive recommendations” and turn it off.
⚠️ Note: Complete removal of the system advertising module msa through ADB It can cause cyclical reboots on some versions. MIUI. It is recommended to try to turn it off first.
There is also a background Analytics process that collects phone usage data and sends it to the developer's servers, its package is commonly called com.miui.analytics. Deleting this component is secure and increases privacy.
Instructions for removal via ADB (without Root)
The most effective way to clean the Redmi Note 9 is to use USB debugging and a computer, which doesn't require super-user rights and allows you to remove even those apps that are hidden from the average user, you'll need a PC, a USB cable and an ADB toolkit.
First, activate Developer Mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and press 7 times on MIUI Version. Then, in Advanced Settings, turn on USB Debugging. When you connect to your computer, confirm the resolution on your smartphone screen.
Once the drivers and ADB are installed on your computer, execute a command to connect. A list of all packets can be displayed by the adb shell pm list packages command. To remove a particular application, the adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 name packet command is used.
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.misys
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.xiaomi.joyoseThe -k command saves the cache and data, allowing you to restore the application if necessary (although in practice it is difficult without resetting).The --user 0 flag removes the application only for the main user, which is safe for the system.
Recovery of Remote System Components
If you delete something extra during the Redmi Note 9 cleanup, don't panic. Since deleting through ADB doesn't affect the system partition /system, it only hides the application for the user, it can be restored.
The recovery command is this: adb shell cmd package install-existing the name of the packet. It returns the remote component to its original state. This is a huge advantage of the method over completely flashing or obtaining root rights, where the error can cost the device its health.
If the phone stopped loading after your actions, only a factory reset will help. To do this, press the power button and increase the volume when the phone is turned off to get into the Recovery menu. Select Wipe Data.
Always keep a list of deleted packages. Write down the names of components before deleting them into a notebook, which will save time if you have to restore the functionality of the smartphone. It's good practice to delete applications one by one and check the system.
⚠️ Note: Recovery will delete all your personal data, photos and contacts. Make sure you have an up-to-date backup before performing this procedure.