Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often notice a pre-installed app called GetApps (formerly known as Mi Apps) on their devices. When you first turn on the gadget or after resetting before factory settings, the system can insist on activating this service, causing users to question its need. Many perceive it as an analogue of Google Play, while others see it as only a source of intrusive advertising and excessive load on RAM.
In fact, GetApps is Xiaomi’s official app store, which is built into the MIUI and HyperOS shell by default. Its main task is to provide an alternative platform for downloading software, especially in regions where access to Google services is limited, or for installing specific Chinese versions of games and utilities. Understanding the functionality of this component will help you decide whether to use it or better remove it.
In this article, we will discuss in detail why this application is needed, whether it can be safely removed without losing the warranty and functionality of the system, and how to get rid of pop-up notifications. You will learn about the real risks of installing software from third-party sources and get step-by-step instructions for completely cleaning the device from the built-in marketing module.
What is GetApps and Why You Need It in MIUI
GetApps (formerly Mi Apps) is a native app store developed by Xiaomi engineers for the MIUI ecosystem. Unlike the Google Play Market, which is the standard for most Android devices, this store is primarily focused on the Chinese market, but global firmware versions also get it bundled.The main difference is in the moderation policy and the set of available content, which often includes applications that are not available in Western directories.
The service's main function is to distribute software. However, unlike the open Android architecture, GetApps often acts as a channel for promoting affiliate products. The application is a system component with deep user interface rights, allowing it to display recommendations even when you unlock the screen. For the average user, this may look like a convenient smart recommendation feature, but technically it is an embedded advertising module.
It is worth noting that the presence of this store allows Xiaomi to comply with certain licensing agreements in different countries and offer users an alternative if Google services are temporarily unavailable.
⚠️ Note: GetApps has system application privileges, and trying to delete it using standard methods can lead to errors in the interface. MIUI, Therefore, caution is required when using debugging tools.
Key differences from Google Play Market
The main difference between GetApps and Google Play lies in the security and content availability mechanisms. Google Play Protect scans millions of apps every day, providing a high level of protection against malware. At the same time, GetApps uses its own verification algorithms, which may be less stringent on applications popular in the Asian segment, but suspicious to the Western user.
In terms of user experience, GetApps is more aggressive in terms of monetization. While Google Play is pursuing minimalism, the Chinese counterpart is saturated with banners, pop-ups and automatic updates without explicit consent, which can annoy users accustomed to Android purity.
However, for gamers, GetApps can be useful, often featuring early versions of games, beta versions of popular apps and software removed from Google Play for violating privacy policies.
Is the application safe: risk analysis
GetApps security is a concern for many Redmi and Poco owners, and it's not a virus in the classical sense, it's a legitimate product, but the term security should be broadly defined as data privacy and intrusiveness.
The app collects telemetry about what programs you install, how often you use them, and how long you spend on them, and it's used to generate personalized advertising, and if you care about anonymity, having a tracker on the system is a downside.
In addition, over-resolution apps are often distributed through GetApps, users can accidentally install "memory cleaners" or "battery accelerators" that actually load the processor. Google Play also has these apps, but filtering works more efficiently there.
- 🛡️ Data protection: The application has access to the list of installed programs and usage history.
- 📢 Advertising activity: Able to display notifications and banners in system folders.
- 🔄 Auto Updates: Can update apps in the background, consuming traffic.
How to Turn Off Ads and Notifications from GetApps
If you're not prepared for radical removal of system components, you can significantly reduce GetApps' activity by restricting its rights, which will keep the system intact, but eliminate most of the annoyances, primarily disabling notifications.
To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All Apps. Find GetApps (can be displayed as App Store or Mi Apps). Go to Notifications and uncheck the Allow Notifications box. This will stop pop-ups in the curtain.
Next, you should prevent the app from accessing the Internet so that it can not download banner ads and update databases. In the same menu of the app settings, find Data Use or Mobile Traffic and Wi-Fi. Disable access for both types of connection. After that, the application will be completely isolated.
Completely remove GetApps via ADB
For those who want to get rid of GetApps completely, standard deletion via the smartphone menu is not suitable, since it is a system application. The only safe and effective way to do this is to use USB debugging and the ADB tool (Android Debug Bridge), which does not require superuser rights (Root), but requires a connection to a computer.
First, activate Developer Mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly press 7 times on MIUI Version (or OS Version). Then go to Additional → Developer and enable USB Debugging. You may also need to enable USB Installation and Wi-Fi Debugging.
Connect your smartphone to your PC with a cable. On the computer where the ADB is installed, open the command line and type a command to delete the packet:
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.xiaomi.mipicksOnce you run the command, the app will disappear from the menu and stop consuming resources, and it's important to understand that when you reset your phone to the factory settings (Wipe data), GetApps will return, and you will have to repeat the procedure.
⚠️ Be careful when putting commands into ADB. Removing mission-critical system packages (non-store) can lead to a cyclical smartphone reboot (bootloop).
Comparison of application installation sources
To finally determine the need for GetApps, it is worth comparing it with other sources of software. Users often fluctuate between built-in stores and third-party ones. APK-Below is a table showing the differences in security and functionality.
| Characteristics | Google Play | GetApps (Xiaomi) | Third-party APKs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security | High (Play Protect) | Medium | Low/Risky |
| Intrusiveness of advertising | Minimum | Tall. | Depends on the source. |
| Access to exclusives | Global versions | Chinese versions | Any (including fashion) |
| Automatic updates | Controlled | Aggressive. | Manually. |
| Impact on the battery | Optimized. | Notable (background processes) | Absent (unless launched) |
Possible problems after removal
While removing GetApps is a no-brainer for 95% of users, there may be some nuances in some cases. Since it is a system component, some MIUI services may try to address it. Usually, the system simply ignores the lack of a package, but in rare cases, errors can occur when updating Xiaomi's built-in applications.
For example, shell themes, widgets, or system sounds that are updated through the app store may stop receiving updates automatically.You will have to manually update them through the theme app unless it is directly dependent on GetApps.
Also, consider that some games preinstalled by the manufacturer may depend on the store's libraries, and when they run, an error message or a suggestion to install a missing component may appear, this is solved by ignoring the message or re-installing the store if the game is critical.
Summary: Remove or Leave
In summary, GetApps is a useful tool for a small group of users living in China or actively using Chinese software, and for the average user in the CIS or Europe, it is an excessive ballast, consuming resources and collecting data.
If you value cleanliness, long battery life and no unnecessary advertising, removing or at least completely disabling GetApps is a smart move.The modern Google Play fully covers the needs of 99% of users, making alternative stores unnecessary.
When making a decision, weigh your needs. If you don't plan to install specific Chinese apps right now, feel free to get rid of the extra software that will make your Redmi or Poco faster and more enjoyable in daily use.