Where to see hidden apps on Xiaomi: 5 ways to find and manage system programs

Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO are known for their functionality, but many users are faced with the problem of hidden applications — system utilities that take up memory, consume battery power and sometimes even collect data. These programs are not displayed in the standard menu, but continue to work in the background. Why is this happening?

The manufacturer installs pre-loaded software on devices, including Google services, MIUI proprietary utilities and affiliate applications, some of which are critical to the system’s operation, and some are just advertising junk. For example, on Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi Note 12, you can find up to 20-30 hidden applications that cannot be removed by standard methods.

In this article, you will learn how to find hidden apps on Xiaomi without root rights, which ones can be safely disabled and which ones should not be touched, and we will also learn how to free up space on the device and improve its performance.

Why apps are hidden: Xiaomi's official position

Xiaomi explains the presence of hidden applications by the need to ensure stable operation of the MIUI shell.

• 🔄 System Update (com.miui.updater)
• 🔒 Security (com.miui.guardprovider)
• 📱 Sync with Mi Account (com.xiaomi.account)
• 🛠️ Diagnostics of equipment (com.miui.analytical)

But not all hidden programs are as useful, like com.miui.miservice or com.android.browser, which is an outdated browser, so you can turn off the critical components, or you can get a brick instead of a smartphone.

Interestingly, newer models (Xiaomi 14, POCO F6) have seen less hidden software, but it’s still impossible to get rid of it completely without special tools, the manufacturer argues that Google’s requirements for device certification.

Method 1: View hidden applications through Settings

The easiest method is to use the built-in MIUI tools, which are suitable for most models, including the Redmi 10, POCO X5 and newer devices.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Show all apps.
3. In the drop-down filter menu, select Systems.
4. Scroll down the list and all hidden utilities will be displayed here, including those that are not visible on the menu.

Note that some applications may be marked as Disabled or Stopped, which means they are deactivated but not deleted. To free up memory, they must be manually disabled (Stop or Remove Updates button).

Are all system utilities displayed?|Is there a way to disable unnecessary|Whether there are risk warnings|Important data is stored before changes-->

Method 2: Using ADB for deep analysis

If standard methods are not enough, you can connect to your smartphone via Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires a computer and minimal technical skills, but allows you to see all the packages installed, including those that are hidden even from MIUI.

Instructions:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and tap the MIUI version 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect your phone to your PC, install ADB Tools and execute the command:

adb shell pm list packages -f

You'll get a complete list of packages. To filter out the system, use:

adb shell pm list packages -s

To disable an unnecessary application (e.g., com.miui.analytics) type:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.analytics

⚠️ Warning: Do not disable packages with the names com.android, com.qualcomm or com.miui.home - this may cause the system to fail!

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If after disabling the application through ADB, the smartphone began to glittle, return it with the command adb shell pm enable com.name.packet

Method 3: Third-party applications for finding hidden software

If you don't want to mess with ADB, you can use specialized utilities that scan the system and show all the installed programs, including hidden ones.

• 🔍 App Inspector – analyzes packets and shows their permissions.
• 📊 Package Name Viewer – lists all searchable apps.
• 🛠️ Debloater (Xiaomi) – allows you to disable system utilities without ADB.

Example of work with App Inspector:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Provide access to Special Opportunities (in security settings).
3. Run the scan – the program will show all packets, including those hidden from the user.

The advantage of this method is the visual interface and the ability to disable unnecessary services directly from the application. However, be careful: some utilities require root rights, which voids the warranty.

Method 4: Search through the file manager (for experienced)

Hidden applications are stored in restricted system folders, but with a root file manager (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer), you can manually view their location:

• 📁 /system/app — standard system applications.
• 📁 /system/priv-app — Privileged Utilities (Disposes are Dangerously Removed!).
• 📁 /data/app — User and updated system programs.

If you don't have root rights, you can try using MIUI Hidden Settings, an app that reveals additional shell settings.

• View hidden menus (such as EngineerMode).
• Control background processes.
• Disable unnecessary MIUI services.

⚠️ Note: Removing files from /system If you don't have a backup, you can lose your device. If you're not sure, use rootless methods!

Method 5: Disconnecting through “Security” and “Autostart”

Even if the application is hidden, it can automatically run and consume resources.

1. Go to Settings → Security → Autostart.
2. Turn off autoplay for unnecessary programs (e.g. Mi Video, Mi Music, Browser).
3. Return to Security → Optimization and tap Clean – this will stop the background processes.

It’s also helpful to look at Settings → Battery → Battery Mode and set Restricted Mode for unnecessary applications, which will reduce their activity in the background.

On POCO models (e.g., the POCO X6 Pro), these settings may be located elsewhere: Settings → Apps → Permissions → Autorun. If you don’t find a point, search by settings (the magnifier icon at the top).

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Turning off auto-run and background activity is the safest way to reduce the impact of hidden apps on performance.

What hidden applications can be removed and which can not

Not all system utilities are equally useful, and below is a table that divides them into safe to disable and critical:

If you are in doubt about whether you can uninstall a particular application, check its name in the XDA Developers database or on forums (for example, 4PDA), where they often discuss the experience of removing a particular package on different Xiaomi models.

For example, Redmi Note 11 users successfully disable com.miui.yellowpage and com.xiaomi.scanner if they don’t use these features, but deleting com.miui.securitycenter causes security center failures.

FAQ: Frequent questions about hidden apps on Xiaomi