Xiaomi Redmi’s Mi Video app: Why it works, how it works, and how it can be removed

Did you just buy a Xiaomi Redmi smartphone and find Mi Video app (or Mi Video on English firmware) on the menu? MIUI? Many users are wondering what kind of program it is, why it is needed and why it occupies a place in the system. In this article, we will take a look at all aspects of Mi Video, from basic features to hidden features, and how to properly configure, disable, or remove it if you don’t need it.

Mi Video is not just a player, but part of the Xiaomi ecosystem, closely integrated with other services of the brand. It can be useful for viewing local files, streaming content from the Mi Cloud, and in some regions even offers access to licensed movies and TV series, but not everyone likes it — especially those who prefer alternative players like the likes of the game. VLC or MX Next, you will learn how to use this application as efficiently as possible or get rid of it without harming the system.

What is Mi Video and Why You Need It on Xiaomi Redmi?

Mi Video (full name – Mi Video) is a standard multimedia application preinstalled on all Xiaomi, Redmi and other smartphones. POCO shell-operated MIUI. It performs several key functions:

• 🎬 Local video player: plays format files MP4, MKV, AVI Other popular extensions right from the memory of the device or microSD card.
• ☁️ Cloud Player: syncs with Mi Cloud, allowing you to stream videos uploaded to Xiaomi cloud.
• 📺 Streaming service: in some regions (for example, India, China) offers access to licensed content - movies, TV series and clips.
• 🔍 Smart Search: automatically scans your device for video files and sorts them by folder, date or type.

It's important to understand that Mi Video is not just an "extra" app, it's optimized for the user. MIUI It uses fewer resources than third-party players because it works at the system level, for example, it supports control gestures (like swipe up/down to adjust volume) that may not work in third-party programs. In addition, the app is integrated with Google Cast, which makes it easy to stream videos to Smart. TV or Mi TV Stick.

However, Mi Video has its drawbacks:

• 🚫 Advertising: In some versions of the firmware, the app displays banners or promotional content (especially in regions with active monetization of Xiaomi services).
• 🔄 Automatic updates: can download content in the background, consuming traffic.
• 📱 Removability: on most devices, it cannot be removed by standard means (only disable).

Main features of Mi Video: what the application can do

Let's take a closer look at what Mi Video offers and how to use it, and many of the features are hidden under the hood and not obvious at first glance.

1. Reproduction of local files

The app automatically scans internal memory and microSD card for video files, and it supports most popular formats:

• 📁 MP4, MKV, AVI, MOV, FLV, WMV, 3GP.
• 🎵 Subtitles support: automatically uploads external subtitles files (SRT, ASS) from the same folder as the video.
• 🔊 Audio tracks: allows you to switch between multiple audio tracks (if they are in the file).

Feature Mi Video - gesture control:

• 👆 Swipe up/down on the left side of the screen – adjusting the brightness.
• 👇 Swipe up/down on the right side - volume control.
• ⏩ Double touch on left/right side – rewind 10 seconds forward/back.

2. Cloud storage and synchronization

If you are logged in to Mi Account, the app automatically connects to Mi Cloud and displays videos uploaded to the cloud.

• 📲 Watch videos from other devices (for example, if you downloaded a video from your phone and watch on a tablet).
• 🔄 Backup of important files (e.g. home video recordings).
• 📤 Fast file sharing with friends via Mi Share (if the video is stored in the cloud).

⚠️ Note: By default, Mi Video can automatically upload video to the cloud when you connect to Wi-Fi. To turn off this feature, go to Settings → Cloud. → Autoboot and deactivate the video option.

3. Streaming content (in some regions)

Depending on the firmware and region, Mi Video may offer access to:

• 🎬 Movies and TV series (partnership with local streaming services).
• 📺 TV broadcasts (in India and China integrated with local broadcasting) TV-channel).
• 🎵 Musical clips (section with popular videos from social networks).

However, in Russia and Europe, this functionality is often disabled or restricted due to licensing agreements, and if you don’t have streaming, it’s not a bug — Xiaomi just doesn’t provide this service in your region.

4. Additional opportunities

Less obvious chips Mi Video:

• 🔍 Content search: You can search for videos not only by file name, but also by tags (e.g., “travels”, “sports").
• 📌 Bookmarks: Save the playback moment to continue viewing later.
• 📱 Picture in Picture (PiP) mode: allows you to roll up a video into a small window and continue browsing on top of other apps.
• 🔧 Reproduction settings: choice of decoder (software or hardware), color correction, playback speed.

💡

If the video is slowing down or not playing, try in the player settings (⚙️ → Decoding, switching from hardware to software decoding, which will help with some heavy formats, like this, MKV high-bitrate.

How to use Mi Video: step-by-step instructions

If you’ve never opened Mi Video, let’s figure out how to use it on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 example (the interface may differ slightly on other models).

1. First start and setup

When you first open the application will request permissions:

• 📁 Access to files and media – necessary to scan video on the device.
• 📡 Network access – necessary for streaming and cloud synchronization.

We recommend that you only allow access to files if you do not plan to use the cloud.

The app will then automatically scan the memory and display all the video files found, grouped by:

• 📂 Folders (e.g., folders, DCIM, Downloads).
• 📅 Date (today, this week, a month ago).
• 🎥 Type (movies, clips, recorded videos).

2. Video playback

To open the video:

1. Click on the desired file in the list.
2. Standard controls are available in the player: ⏯️ Pause/reproduction. 🔊 Volume adjustment (or gestures). ⏩⏪ Rewinding (or double touching). ⚙️ Additional settings (subtitles, speed, decoding).

If the video is not reproduced:

• 🔄 Try to switch the decoder in the settings.
• 📥 Make sure the file is not corrupted (try opening it on your PC).
• 📌 Check if there is enough space on the device (sometimes the player does not open files if the memory is less than 10%).

3.Working with the Mi Cloud cloud

To view the video from the cloud:

1. Open the Cloud (or Cloud) tab in the lower menu.
2. Sign in to Mi Account if you haven’t already signed in.
3. Select the desired file - it will start streaming (does not require downloading).

⚠️ Attention: Streaming from the cloud consumes traffic. If you have limited Internet, it is better to pre-download video to the device via Mi Cloud in the account settings.

4. Application settings

To open the Mi Video settings, click on the icon ⚙️ It's in the upper right corner:

• 🔍 Enable/disable automatic scanning of new files.
• ☁️ Manage cloud synchronization.
• 📂 Change folders to scan (for example, eliminate Downloads if there are many unnecessary files in the file).
• 🔊 Set up sound (equalizer, volume normalization).

Turn off automatic download to the cloud|Add exceptions to unnecessary folders|Insert gesture control|Set up decoding for your files|Disable notifications from the application-->

How to Disable or Remove Mi Videos on Xiaomi Redmi

If you are not using Mi Videos and want to make room or get rid of unnecessary notifications, there are several ways: from simple disabling to complete deletion (the latter requires superuser rights).

1. Disabling the application (without root)

This is the safest way that does not require special knowledge:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Mi Video (or com.miui.videoplayer) in the list.
3. Click Disable (or Remove Updates if the Disable button is inactive).
4. Confirm the action.

After the shutdown:

• ✅ The app will disappear from the menu.
• ✅ Stop wasting resources and showing notifications.
• ❌ Video files will remain in place (you can open them with other players).

2. Removal via ADB (without root but with PC)

If the shutdown is not enough, you can delete Mi Video using the ADB (Android Debug Bridge. It doesn't require root rights, but you need to connect your phone to your computer.

Instructions:

1. Turn on the developer mode on the phone (click 7 times on the MIUI version in the phone settings).
2. Activate USB Debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command line (or Terminal on Mac/Linux).
4. Enter the command: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.videoplayer
5. Reset the device.

⚠️ Note: Removing system applications through ADB It can lead to unstable work. MIUI. If you have problems after deleting (e.g. update errors), you can return the application by command: adb shell cmd package install-existing com.miui.videoplayer

3. Complete removal with root rights

If you have root access, you can delete Mi Video permanently using a file manager (e.g., Root Explorer):

1. Open up. /system/priv-app/MiuiVideo or /system/app/MiuiVideo.
2. Delete the MiuiVideo folder or the files inside it.
3. Reset the device.

After complete removal, you can restore the application only through the system firmware or reset to factory settings.

4. Replacement with a third-party player

If you have deleted Mi Video, we recommend installing an alternative:

• 🎬 VLC — Supports all formats, no advertising.
• 📺 MX Player - fast, with gesture control.
• 🔧 Kodi – if you need not only a player, but also a media center.

To allow new video files to be automatically opened in the selected player:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → By default.
2. Select the video player and assign the desired application.

Comparison of Mi Videos with Other Players: Which is Better

To understand whether to use Mi Video or better install a third-party player, compare it with popular alternatives:

💡

Mi Video is optimal for users who want a minimalist player with integration into the video. MIUI If you need support for rare formats or advanced features (for example, streaming with the Internet) NAS), pick up VLC kodi.

Frequent Mi Video Problems and Their Solutions

Even standard apps sometimes don't work properly, so let's look at the typical Mi Video bugs and how to fix them.

1.The video is not played or is slowing down

Possible causes and solutions:

• 🔧 Inappropriate decoder: Go to player settings and select Software Decoding.
• 📥 A damaged file: try opening it on another device or download it again.
• 📂 Insufficient memory: free up space on the device (minimum) 1-2 GB of free space).
• 🔄 Outdated version of the app: Update Mi Video via Play Market or Settings → Annexes → Mi video → Update.

2. the application constantly displays advertising

Advertisements in Mi Video appear in two cases:

• 📢 Regional settings: In some countries (India, Indonesia), Xiaomi monetizes the app through banners. The solution is to change the region in Mi Account (but this can disrupt other services).
• 🔄 Firmware update: sometimes ads appear after the update MIUI. Helps rollback to the previous version or disabling the application.

3 Mi Video doesn't see files on memory card

If the app does not display microSD video:

• 📌 Check that the card is properly formatted (better in the format) FAT32 exFAT).
• 🔍 In Mi Video settings, add the path to the map to Scanned folders.
• 🔄 Restart your phone – sometimes the system doesn’t immediately recognize the external drive.

4.The application itself is turned on or shows notifications

To fix this:

1. Go to Settings. → Annexes → Mi video → Notifications.
2. Turn off all switches (especially Recommendations and Content Updates).
3. If notifications continue to arrive, disable the app altogether (see section above).

Hidden chips Mi Videos, which few people know

Even if you’ve been using Mi Video for a long time, you probably don’t know about these features:

1. Picture in Picture Mode (PiP)

You can roll the video into a small window and continue to view on top of other apps:

1. During playback, press the Home button.
2. The video will roll into the corner of the screen.
3. Drag the window to a convenient location, change the size with two fingers.

Accelerated reproduction

Useful for watching lectures or long videos:

1. During playback, click on the screen to allow the controls to appear.
2. Click on the icon. ⚙️ (setting) → Speed.
3. Choose the speed from 0.5x before 2x.

3. Hidden folders

If you don’t want some videos to appear in Mi Video, add a dot (like.private) to the beginning of the folder name.

4. Transmitting the video to the television

You can stream video on Smart. TV or Mi TV Stick without additional apps:

1. Make sure your phone and TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
2. During playback, click on the Cast icon (screen with waves).
3. Select the device for broadcasting.

5. Night mode

For comfortable viewing in the dark:

1. Open the player settings (⚙️).
2. Turn on Night Mode - the screen will turn dark with a yellow tint.

💡

If you don’t like the Mi Video interface but don’t want to delete it, try changing the subject of the app. → Themes and choose a dark or light theme – this will change the design of the player.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Mi Videos on Xiaomi Redmi