If you own a Xiaomi smartphone and you notice the mysterious Direct Service Quick Apps on your app list, you may have wondered what the service is, why it works in the background, and whether it can be disabled or removed. This system utility doesn't have a desktop shortcut, but it regularly appears in the task manager, consuming battery and RAM resources.
In this article, we will discuss in detail what Direct Service Quick Apps are on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices, how it is related to Quick Apps, and most importantly, whether it can be safely deactivated or removed without risking the stability of MIUI.
What is Direct Service Quick Apps on Xiaomi?
Direct Service Quick Apps is the MIUI system component that handles Quick Apps, which are lightweight versions of popular services (e.g. AliExpress, TikTok, Facebook) that are downloaded not from Google Play but through Xiaomi’s built-in Quick Apps store.
The main purpose of the service is to provide background synchronization, notifications and quick launch of such applications, but many users are faced with the fact that Direct Service Quick Apps:
- 🔋 It consumes battery power even when you are not using Quick Apps.
- 🐢 Slows down the system, taking up to 100-300 MB of RAM.
- 📱 Appears in the list of active processes without the possibility of forced stoppage.
- 🚫 It has no visible interface, which is suspicious of users.
It’s important to understand that the service isn’t a virus or spyware — it’s embedded in MIUI’s firmware and is being tested by Xiaomi’s security — but its coercive activity often irritates smartphone owners, especially those who don’t use Quick Apps.
Why does Xiaomi need Quick Apps and their service?
Quick Apps is part of Xiaomi’s strategy to promote its own app ecosystem, and unlike the full-fledged Google Play apps, they are:
- 📦 Take up less space (usually 1-5 MB vs. 50-200 MB in full versions).
- 🔄 Updated in the background without user involvement.
- 🌍 It works even on weak devices (e.g. Redmi). 5A or POCO C31).
- 💰 Often contain ads (the main source of monetization for Xiaomi).
Direct Service Quick Apps acts as an intermediary between these applications and the system.
- Organizes background data synchronization (for example, notifications about new messages in the Quick App version of Facebook).
- Controls caching for quick start-up.
- Manages permissions (network access, storage, contacts).
However, for most users in Russia and Europe, Quick Apps are not valuable – many prefer full-fledged versions of apps from Google Play, where there are no restrictions on functionality and less advertising.
Can I remove Direct Service Quick Apps?
Technically, removal is possible, but with important caveats:
| Method | Risks. | Are root rights required? | Reversibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disconnection through settings | Minimum (a portion of Quick Apps may stop working) | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. |
| Removal via ADB | Medium (possible failures in MIUI) | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes (reinstallation through update) |
| Removal with root rights | High (risk of the system's "brick") | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No (reflashing required) |
| Reset to factory settings | Low (service will return after reset) | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. |
If you're not using Quick Apps, the safest way to do this is to disable the service, not remove it completely, and this will reduce the load on the system without the risk of critical crashes.
💡
Before any manipulation of system applications, back up your data via Settings → About Phone → Backup. This will help restore the system in case of an error.
How to turn off Direct Service Quick Apps without root?
If you don’t want to risk the stability of the system, follow this step-by-step instruction:
1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management
2. Find Direct Service Quick Apps (use search)
3. Press Disable (if the button is active)
4. Confirm the action and restart the smartphone
5. Check battery consumption in Settings → Battery-->
If the Disable button is inactive, try an alternative method via ADB (Android Debug Bridge):
- Activate Developer Mode (7 times click on the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone).
- Enable USB debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
- Connect your smartphone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.quickappcenter
- Reset the device.
After the service is turned off, it will stop running automatically, but it can be activated again after the MIUI update, in which case the procedure will have to be repeated.
💡
Disabling through ADB is the most effective way to deactivate without root rights, but after major system updates, the service can return to active state.
How to remove Direct Service Quick Apps?
If you're willing to take risks, you can only remove them completely with root rights.
- Get root access (for example, through Magisk).
- Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer).
- Go to /system/priv-app/QuickAppCenter.
- Delete QuickAppCenter.apk and QuickAppCenter.odex files (if any).
- Reset the device.
⚠️ Warning: Removing root-righted system applications can lead to unstable work MIUI, This method is recommended only for experienced users who are ready for possible consequences.
An alternative is to install custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience) that lacks Xiaomi proprietary components, but this requires unlocking the bootloader and may take away your warranty.
What if Direct Service Quick Apps cannot be turned off?
If the service doesn’t shut down or returns after a reboot, try the following optimization methods:
- 🔄 Limit background activity: Go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → Direct Service Quick Apps. Select the Battery → Limit background activity.
- 🚫 Disable AutoRun: In the same app settings, find AutoRun and turn it off.
Limit Internet access
- In the application settings, select Mobile Data and Wi-Fi, then turn off access.
If you are not an experienced user, it is better to limit yourself to disconnecting.