Get Apps on Xiaomi: purpose, features and how to manage the application

If you are the owner of a Xiaomi smartphone, you probably noticed in the list of installed programs an application called Get Apps. It is pre-installed on most devices of the brand, but its purpose is not always obvious to users. Some people think it's a virus, some people think it's a useful tool, and some people just ignore it. In this article, we'll go into detail about what Get Apps is, how it works on Xiaomi, Redmi and other phones. POCO, Can it be removed without consequences and what alternatives exist.

Get Apps is not malware, but the official app store from Xiaomi, which offers users access to programs, games and services optimized for the brand’s devices. However, its functionality is often duplicated by Google Play, which raises questions about the need. Next, we will look at all the nuances of working with this application, including hidden features, potential risks and ways to manage it.

What is Get Apps and Why You Need It on Xiaomi

Get Apps (sometimes displayed as com.xiaomi.mipicks in the app list) is Xiaomi’s branded app store that is installed by default on all of the brand’s smartphones, including the Redmi lineup, POCO Mi. Its main task is to provide users with access to the:

• 📱 Localized applications – programs adapted to specific regions (for example, popular services in China, India or Russia).
• 🎮 Games with exclusive bonuses – some games offer additional internal purchases or bonuses when installed via Get Apps.
• 🔍 Apps without Google Play – useful for devices without Google services (for example, on Chinese firmware).
• 💰 Paid programs with discounts – Xiaomi sometimes holds promotions for popular applications.

It’s important to understand that Get Apps isn’t just a Google Play backup; in some regions (like China), it’s the main source of apps because Google’s services are blocked there. However, for users in Europe or Russia, its utility is often questioned, and it consumes system resources: it runs in the background, sends notifications, and takes up space in memory.

Interesting fact: in some Xiaomi firmware (for example, on the Redmi Note 10 Pro or on the other hand, the company is not a member of the company). POCO X3 Pro) Get Apps integrated into system launcher MIUI It can display recommendations directly on the home screen, making it more intrusive, but also more functional for those who use it.

How Get Apps Works: Basic Features and Interface

Get Apps interface is intuitive, but it has a number of features worth knowing. Once you launch the app, you'll see a few tabs:

• 🏆 Recommended – A selection of popular apps and games, often based on your previous installations.
• 🔥 Top charts - ratings of the most downloaded programs in different categories (games, utilities, social networks, etc.).
• 🎁 Promotions – section with discounts on paid apps or bonuses in games.
• 🔍 Search – a tool for quickly finding the right software.
• 📥 Download Manager – Current and Completed Installations are displayed here.

One of the key features of Get Apps is a recommendation system that analyzes your actions on your phone and offers content that may interest you. For example, if you play mobile games often, the app will actively offer new releases or promotions in game projects. However, this mechanism is not always accurate and can sometimes seem intrusive.

Another important detail: Get Apps is tightly integrated with your Mi Account, and if you are logged in, the app will sync your settings, download history, and preferences between Xiaomi devices, which is convenient if you have multiple devices of the brand, but can raise privacy concerns.

💡

If you don’t want to see Get Apps recommendations on the home screen, go to the launcher settings (Home) → Settings → Appendix recommendations) and disable the option "Show recommendations".

Can I remove Get Apps from Xiaomi phone?

The question of removing Get Apps arises for many users, especially if they do not use this store. Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely remove it with standard means, since it is a system application integrated into the firmware. MIUI. However, there are several ways to minimize its impact on your phone:

1. Disabling the application: Go to Settings → Annexes → Manage applications, find Get Apps, open its page and click Disable. This will stop it from working, but it won't delete files.
2. Remove Updates: In the same app management menu, you can click Remove Updates to return it to the factory version (usually it is less intrusive).
3. Hiding icon: The Get Apps icon can be hidden in the app menu using the Hiding feature in the launcher MIUI (clap-tap → Hide).
4. Removal through ADB (For advanced users: If you have experience with ADB, You can execute the command adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.xiaomi.mipicks This will remove the app for the current user without root rights. ADB It can cause system failures!

For example, if you use themes or wallpaper from Xiaomi, they can be downloaded through the infrastructure of this application. Complete removal is only advisable if you are sure that you will not use any Xiaomi services.

How to disable notifications and ads in Get Apps

One of the main complaints users have about Get Apps is frequent notifications and banner ads, which can be turned off or at least reduced.

In addition to notifications, in the application itself you can turn off personalized advertising:

1. Open Get Apps and go to your profile (the person icon in the top right corner).
2. Select Settings → Confidentiality.
3. Turn off the options: 🔄 Personalized recommendations (reduce the amount of advertising). 📊 Collection of usage data (limits the transmission of information about your activities).

If you still see an ad, check your Mi Account settings at account.xiaomi.com, where you can further restrict the collection of data for targeted advertising in the Privacy section.

💡

Even after disabling all ad settings, Get Apps can show basic banners because they are built into the app itself, and you can only get rid of them completely by deleting or disabling the program.

It’s also worth noting that some notifications from Get Apps may not come directly, but via Xiaomi system services such as Mi Push Service. → System applications.

Get Apps Alternatives: What App Stores Can You Use

If you decide to opt out of Get Apps but want to have access to alternative sources of apps, consider the following options:

• 📦 Google Play is the main Android store, but some apps may not be available due to regional restrictions.
• 🌍 APKMirror (apkmirror.com) – a reliable source APK-virus-checking files.
• 🛡️ Aptoide is a decentralized store with a large selection of apps, but requires caution when installing.
• 📱 Samsung Galaxy Store – If you have a Samsung device, this store offers exclusive apps.
• 🔧 F-Droid is an open source store, ideal for free software lovers.

Each of these stores has its pros and cons. For example, APKMirror allows you to download older versions of apps, which is useful if the new version is unstable. And Aptoide offers unique programs that are not available on Google Play, but requires attention to permissions.

If you decide to use third-party stores, do not forget about the safety of:

⚠️ Attention: Installation APK-Files from unreliable sources can lead to virus infection or identity theft.Always check the reviews and reputation of the source before downloading.

Get Apps and Privacy: What Xiaomi Knows About You

Like any app store, Get Apps collects user data. According to Xiaomi's privacy policy, the app can receive the following information:

• 📱 Device model and firmware version – to optimize recommendations.
• 🌍 Region and language – to offer localized content.
• 🔍 Search and installation history – for personalized selections.
• 📡 IP-address and network data – for traffic analysis.
• 👤 Mi Account Data (if you are logged in) – for synchronization between devices.

In most cases, this data is used to improve the user experience, but its collection raises questions for privacy concerns.

1. In Get Apps settings, disable Personalized Recommendations and Usage Data Collection.
2. In your Mi Account settings (account.xiaomi.com), check the Privacy section and disable unnecessary options.
3. Use it. VPN When you use Get Apps to hide your real life IP-address.

Important: Even after disabling all privacy settings, Get Apps will collect basic technical information (device model, OS version) as it is necessary for its correct operation.

If you’re concerned about data transfers to China (where Xiaomi’s servers are located), consider using alternative firmware such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience, which doesn’t include Get Apps and other Xiaomi services.

Problems with Get Apps: Errors and How to Solve Them

Sometimes Get Apps can work incorrectly: do not open, give errors when booting or constantly restart.

If Get Apps starts consuming too much traffic or battery, check its activity in the Settings section. → Battery → Battery usage. you can limit the background activity of the application. It is also useful to disable auto-run Get Apps in the auto-boot settings (Settings) → Permits → Auto-start).

⚠️ Note: If after the update MIUI Get Apps stopped working or started to give out errors, try resetting the application settings to factory. → Annexes → Get Apps → Storage and click Clear Data. This won't delete installed programs, but it will reset all personal settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Get Apps on Xiaomi