Where all applications on Xiaomi are stored: from system to hidden

Have you ever lost an installed app on a Xiaomi smartphone or couldn’t find a standard tool like this? FM-radio or screen recording? It's not you, the interface. MIUI It's famous for its abundance of hidden folders, duplicate menus, and the unobvious logic of hosting programs. Even experienced users sometimes spend minutes looking for a trivial calculator or file manager.

In this article, we will look at all possible places where applications on Xiaomi can hide, from the obvious (desktop and app menus) to the exotic (hidden system folders and disabled services). MIUI: Some apps are physically present on the system, but do not appear in the standard menu without special manipulations, you will also learn how to restore access to remote programs and why some applications disappear after updates.

1. Standard seats: desktop and application menu

To start with, Xiaomi can have apps in three basic locations:

• 📱 Desktop – This displays shortcuts of frequently used programs that can be dragged, grouped into folders or deleted (the application itself is not uninstalled, only the shortcut disappears).
• 📂 The app menu (called by swipe up from the bottom of the screen) is a complete list of installed programs, including system ones, and there's a search bar that searches not only by name, but also by the content of some applications.
• 🔍 The search bar (swipe down on the desktop) is a versatile tool that finds apps, contacts, settings, and even the content of messages.

But even here, there are pitfalls. MIUI 14, by default, some system utilities like "Security" or "Themes" are hidden to see:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner and select Show All Apps.
3. Turn on the switch opposite Show system processes.

⚠️ Note: Not all apps on this list can be opened directly – some are service components. MIUI They're designed for background work, and trying to run them could cause a malfunction.

2. Hidden folders and system applications

Xiaomi is actively using hidden folders to store system and pre-installed applications, some of which can be found through the File Manager, but most are hidden deeper.

To view hidden folders without root rights, you can use the application FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer with superuser mode enabled. However, most system applications are in the system. /system/ Protected from changes – you can only see them.

What stands out is the apps that Xiaomi hides purposefully, FM-The radio isn't available on all models, although there's hardware support:

1. Install NextRadio or Spirit from Play Market FM.
2. Connect the headphones (they act as an antenna).
3. Run the app — if the radio chip is active, it will find the stations.

3. Disabled and "frozen" applications

One of the most common reasons for Xiaomi apps to disappear is that they are disabled through settings or third-party optimizers, and unlike deleting, the app that is disabled stays on the system, but it stops showing up in the menu and doesn't update, and you can return it in two ways:

• 🔄 Through Settings. → Annexes → Application management → Disabled (tap on the application and select Enable).
• 🛠️ ADB-command: adb shell pm enable com.example.app (replace com.example.app with a real application package).

The list of packages of Xiaomi system applications can be found on specialized forums such as: XDA Developers or 4PDA. For example:

• com.miui.fm — FM-radio
• com.miui.videoplayer — Mi Video
• com.miui.calculator - calculator
• com.android.dialer – standard phone

⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. Mi Pay or Mi Credit) may be blocked for regional reasons. ADB Does not guarantee performance – you need to change the region in the settings of the phone.

If the application has been removed (rather than disabled), it can only be restored by reinstalling it from the Play Market or by backing it up. System utilities (like Mi Remote) may require firmware to run the original software. APK-file.

Check the "Disconnected" folder in the settings

Use the ADB-command to enable the package

Install an alternative launcher (e.g. Nova Launcher)

Try to find the application through system search (swipe down on desktop)-->

4. Applications in the "Double Space" and the second user

The "Double Space" function (or "Second User") MIUI It creates an isolated environment with a separate set of applications, and if you activate this option, some programs can move there without you knowing:

1. Open the Settings. → Special facilities → Double space.
2. If the function is active, switch between swipe spaces via the lock screen (or through the notification bar).
3. Check the app menu in each space – they may be different.

Xiaomi also has a Guest Mode feature that restricts access to certain apps, so if you were handing the phone to another person, they could accidentally switch to this mode.

• Unlock the phone.
• Swipe down to open the notification panel.
• Slip on the user icon in the upper right corner and select your profile.

V MIUI 14, we have a "Private Mode" feature that hides selected apps behind a password:

1. Go to Settings → Privacy → Private mode.
2. Enter your password (if installed).
3. View the list of hidden apps and return them to the main menu if necessary.

5. Search through ADB and third-party utilities

If standard methods don't work, the developer tools will come to the rescue, and the most reliable way to find all the installed applications is to use them. ADB (Android Debug Bridge:

1. Activate Developer Mode (7 clicks on Version) MIUI phone-setting).
2. Enable USB debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell pm list packages -f It will display a complete list of all packages with paths to their APK-file.

For convenience, you can filter system applications:

adb shell pm list packages -s

or user-generated:

adb shell pm list packages -3

Alternative methods:

• 🔍 App Inspector App – shows all installed packages with search and launch capability.
• 🛠️ Activity Launcher – allows you to run hidden activities (for example, test menus of the camera or engineering menu).
• 📁 Root Explorer – to view system folders (root required).

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB and changing system files can cause your phone to reset or lose warranty.Before experimenting, back up through Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

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If you lose apps often, install an alternative launcher like Nova Launcher or Lawnchair, which offers advanced sorting and search settings, and shows hidden system programs.

6 Recovery of Remote Applications

If an application has been removed (and not just hidden), its recovery depends on the type of application:

To restore system applications without data loss, you can use the utility MIUI Hidden Settings (available on the 4PDA). It allows you to turn on / off hidden functions MIUI rootless.

If you have removed a standard app (such as a camera or gallery) and reinstallation doesn’t help, check:

• 🔧 Compatibility APK your version MIUI (For example, the Mi Camera for MIUI 13 won't work on MIUI 14).
• 📱 All permissions are required (some system applications require access to the system) android.permission.MIUI_CAMERA other internal API).
• 🔄 Integrity of firmware (if files in the /system damaged, the application will not start even after reinstallation).

7.Why apps disappear after updates

Many Xiaomi users are faced with the situation when after the update MIUI Apps that were previously installed are missing:

• 🔄 Version Conflict – New Software Deletes Old System APK (Mi Drop was replaced by Quick Share. MIUI 14).
• 📵 Regional restrictions – some applications (like Mi Pay) are hidden in European firmware due to legislation.
• 🗑️ Optimizing storage — MIUI Can automatically delete rarely used programs when memory is scarce.
• 🔧 Reset settings – sometimes updates reset app visibility settings (check the Disconnected folder).

To minimize the risks:

Create a backup through Settings → Additional → Backup

Write down the list of installed applications (can be accessed via App List Backup)

Turn off automatic optimization in Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery

Check the space available (at least 3GB is required to upgrade)-->

If system applications are missing after the update, try:

1. Reset application settings: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Settings (⚙️) → Reset application settings.
2. Restore via Mi Cloud (if synchronization was enabled).
3. Install manual firmware through Recovery (only for power users!).

Important: After major updates (e.g., with the MIUI 13 on MIUI 14) some applications may stop working due to changes in API. In this case, only waiting for an update from the developer or rolling back on the previous version of the firmware will help.

8. Alternative ways to manage applications

If standard search methods are not satisfied, consider alternative approaches:

• 🔍 Search by app code: If you know the name of the package (e.g. com.xiaomi.scanner for scanner), you can find it through the Play Market at package:com.xiaomi.scanner.
• 📱 Use of voice assistant: Google Assistant or Xiao AI They can open applications by voice command (for example, Open the camera").
• 🖥️ Control over PC: Programs like Mi PC Suite or AirDroid lets you view and manage applications from your computer.
• 🔧 Manual shortcut creation: Shortcut Maker can create shortcuts for hidden activities (e.g., engineering menus).

For advanced users, Tasker will be useful, which allows you to automate the launch of applications on a schedule or events. FM-radio when connecting headphones.

If you often work with system utilities, consider installing custom firmware like LineageOS or Pixel Experience, which offer a more transparent application structure and fewer hidden features, but this requires unlocking the bootloader and may be unwarranted.

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Before installing custom firmware, be sure to check compatibility with your Xiaomi model on the forum XDA Developers: Wrong firmware can turn a phone into a brick".

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi apps