If you own a Xiaomi, Redmi or a smartphone POCO, You may have noticed that there's a mysterious Mi Credit app on the installed software list, which appears on devices without your consent, takes up space in your memory, and sometimes sends notifications, what kind of service is it, why Xiaomi needs it, and most importantly, whether it's safe to use it?
In this article, we will discuss in detail:
- 🔍 What is Mi Credit and How it Related to Financial Services
- 📱 Which devices are automatically installed (spoiler: almost all)
- 💳 How does the microcredit system work through a smartphone
- 🛡️ Risks and security: Does the app collect your data?
- ❌ How to remove Mi Credit if you don’t need it
This is a particularly relevant topic for users in India, Indonesia and Russia, where the service is being promoted, but even if you don't plan to borrow from your phone, the app can affect the performance of the device. Let's get this straight.
1.What is Mi Credit and why does Xiaomi install it?
Mi Credit is a financial service from Xiaomi that allows smartphone users to take out microloans directly through a mobile application, essentially analogous to online banks or services like Tinkoff or WebMoney, but with a focus on small amounts and quick transfers.
The app was launched in 2018 as part of Xiaomi’s strategy to diversify its business, realizing that selling smartphones is good, but you can make money from additional services, so Mi Credit, Mi Pay, Mi Finance, and other financial products have emerged.
The service is currently available in several countries:
- 🇮🇳 India is the main market where loans via smartphone are very popular
- 🇮🇩 Indonesia – Mi Credit integrated with local banks
- 🇷🇺 Russia – works limited, but the application is installed on all devices
- 🇳🇬 Nigeria and other African countries – test launches
It's important to understand that Mi Credit is not a bank, it's an intermediary that works with local financial institutions, like Aditya Birla Finance Limited in India, and Bank Jago in Indonesia.
2.How does Mi Credit get on your Xiaomi smartphone?
If you think you installed this app yourself, chances are it isn't.Mi Credit is preinstalled on most Xiaomi smartphones, starting with models 2019-2020 This is how it happens:
- It's a factory firmware application, it's in the system partition. MIUI It is installed with other services (Mi Video, Mi Music, GetApps, etc).
- It's a software update, even if you manually deleted it, after another update. MIUI It could come back.
- When you first log in to a Xiaomi account, some system applications are activated automatically.
Check whether Mi Credit is installed on your device in two ways:
- 📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management and find in the Mi Credit list (or Credit on Russian firmware).
- 🔍 Enter the request “credit” in the search by settings – the system will show all related elements.
Interesting fact: on some models (for example, Xiaomi 12 Pro or Redmi Note 11), the application is hidden from the user and does not appear in the menu, but continues to work in the background. → All applications → Show system-based.
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If you do not plan to use Mi Credit, immediately after buying a new Xiaomi smartphone, turn off the automatic installation of system applications in Settings. → Annexes → Special rights → Installation of unknown applications.
3. How Mi Credit Works: Step-by-step instructions
If you decide to try out the service, here is how the process of obtaining a loan works:
- Register: Open the app and confirm your phone number (should match the one associated with the Mi Account).
- Verification. The system will request access: 📄 Personal data (name, date of birth) 📱 Call history and SMS (solvency-check) 🏦 Banking details (if you tie the card)
Approval of credit
10,000 rupees
Getting money
Returns
Mi Credit
Interest rates range from 1.5% to 3% per month (in India), and in Russia, the service works differently – here it is more like an aggregator of loan offers from partners (for example, Tinkoff Bank or Home Credit).
| Country. | Max. Loan amount. | Interest rate | Repayment period |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇮🇳 India | up to 100,000 rupees (~1200$) | 1.5-3% per month | 3–12 months |
| 🇮🇩 Indonesia | up to 10,000,000 rupees (~650$) | 2-4% per month | 6-24 months |
| 🇷🇺 Russia | 100,000 ₽ | 0.5% per day (partner banks) | 7-30 days |
The important thing is that Mi Credit doesn't lend directly, it's a platform that connects the user to banks, so the terms depend on the financial institution.
What happens if you don’t pay back the loan on time?
Is it safe to use Mi Credit?
The main question that concerns users is: is the application a threat to data security? Let's understand what permissions Mi Credit requests and how they are justified.
When you first start up, the service requires access to:
- 📞 Call log and SMS — ostensibly to check solvency (analyzes who you call and what messages you receive from banks).
- 📁 Warehouse – to keep receipts and documents.
- 📍 Location – to confirm the region (important for compliance with local laws).
- 👤 Contacts – to offer loans to your acquaintances (yes, this is part of your marketing strategy).
At first glance, this sounds scary, but Mi Credit doesn't actually have access to your passwords, photos or other personal information, and all of the data is encrypted and stored on the servers of partner banks, not Xiaomi.
⚠️ If you deleted Mi Credit, but it keeps appearing after the updates, it's not a virus, it's a feature of the firmware. MIUI. However, if the application requests administrator rights or access to notifications of other programs, this is a reason to be alert and check the device for viruses.
For additional security:
☑️ How to Protect Your Data Using Mi Credit
In 2022, independent researchers from India Today audited Mi Credit and found no critical vulnerabilities, but they noted that the app collects more data than is needed for lending (such as information about other installed programs), which can be used for targeted advertising.
5 How to completely remove Mi Credit from Xiaomi
If you don't plan on using the service, you can disable it or remove it. The methods depend on the smartphone model and version. MIUI:
Method 1: Normal removal (for most users)
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Find Mi Credit on the list.
- Press Remove (or Disable if the Remove button is inactive).
Method 2: Remove via ADB (for advanced users)
If the standard removal does not work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB):
adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.mi.creditFor this:
- Turn on Developer Mode (7 times click on the MIUI version in your phone settings).
- Activate USB Debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
- Connect the phone to the PC and execute the command above.
Method 3: Disconnect via Titanium Backup (requires root)
If you have root rights, you can freeze the app with Titanium Backup or Lucky Patcher, which will prevent it from automatically recovering from updates.
⚠️ Attention! Removing system applications can lead to unstable operation MIUI. If errors appear after uninstallation of Mi Credit (for example, payments through Mi Pay do not work), restore the application through Settings. → Annexes → Restore.
Some firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.eu or Pixel Experience) don't have Mi Credit at first, and if you use custom firmware and you notice it, it's probably a fake, delete it and check your phone with antivirus.
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Even after deleting Mi Credit can return after another update MIUI. To avoid this, disable the automatic installation of system applications in the settings or use firmware without bloatware (for example, Xiaomi.eu).
6. Mi Credit Alternatives: Which is the Best to Use?
If you need microloans or loans, but Mi Credit is incredulous, consider alternatives:
| Service | Advantages | Deficiencies |
|---|---|---|
| 🏦 Tinkoff Bank | Low interest rates, fast transfers, reliability | Requires full verification |
| 💳 WebMoney Loans | It works in many countries, flexible conditions | High commissions for delay |
| 📱 Google Pay (in India) | Integration with Android, a simple interface | Limited functionality outside India |
| 🏠 Home Credit | Quick approval, dealing with poor credit history | High interest rates |
If you need small amounts for a short period of time, it is better to contact a trusted microfinance institution (MFI) in your country, for example, in Russia it is Monesa or Seymer, in India – Paytm or Bajaj Finserv.
The main advantage of the alternatives over Mi Credit is that they have transparent terms and guaranteed legal protection, and in case of a dispute with a bank, you can go to court or to the financial ombudsman, and Xiaomi as an intermediary makes it harder to do that.
7. Frequent Mi Credit problems and their solutions
Users often face the following difficulties:
Problem 1: The app won’t open or it will give you an error
Decision:
- 🔄 Reboot the phone.
- 🗑️ Clear the app's cache in Settings → Annexes → Mi Credit → Warehouse.
- 📥 Update the app via GetApps or Google Play (if available).
Problem 2: Loan notifications are constantly coming in
Decision:
- 🔔 Turn off notifications in the app settings.
- 🚫 Block the display of advertising in Settings → Permits → Advertising (turn off Mi Credit in the list).
Problem 3: I can't pay off the loan
Decision:
- 💳 Check if the card is tied for write-off.
- 📞 Contact the partner bank (contacts are indicated in the Mi Credit appendix).
- 📧 Write to Xiaomi Support via Settings → Revocation.
Problem 4: The application itself is turned on after removal
Solution: Use ADB or custom firmware without bloatware (for example, LineageOS).
If none of these methods worked, try resetting your phone to factory settings (Settings) → The phone. → Resetting your settings, but remember, it will delete all your data!