Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face a situation when an icon called GetApps appears on the desktop after upgrading the system or first turning on the device. This app store raises many questions from users accustomed to the classic Google Play. Many perceive it as an extra program that only consumes resources and shows advertising without understanding the real purpose of this system component.
In fact, GetApps (formerly known as the Mi App Store) is Xiaomi’s official app store preinstalled in the MIUI or HyperOS shell, and is driven not only by the manufacturer’s desire to create an alternative to Google’s ecosystem, but also by licensing agreements. In some regions, such as China or India, the use of Google services is limited, and having its own software directory is critical to the functioning of a smartphone.
In this article, we will discuss in detail whether this application is a virus, why it is needed by an ordinary user in the CIS, and whether it can be safely removed without losing warranty or disrupting the system.
What is GetApps and why is it built into the system
GetApps is a native digital content store developed by Xiaomi Inc. to manage software on its devices, and its main purpose is to enable users to download and update apps, games and themes. Unlike Google Play, it is deeply integrated into the shell’s system processes and often acts as the main distribution channel for the company’s services.
The main reason you can’t just find and remove this component through standard settings is because it’s a system application, which is not only responsible for downloading games, but also for authenticating some system modules, as well as for (push) notifications from Xiaomi services. In global firmware versions, its functionality is often artificially limited, but the basic processes continue to work in the background.
It is worth noting that the presence of an alternative market is standard practice for major manufacturers of Android smartphones. for example, Samsung has a Galaxy Store, and Huawei after the sanctions completely switched to AppGallery. For Xiaomi, having its own store is a matter of strategic independence and control over the user base.
- 📱 Alternative source: Allows you to install apps if Google services are temporarily unavailable or blocked.
- 🎮 Exclusive content: Some games and app betas are coming first to GetApps, especially in the Asian region.
- ⚙️ System Integration: Used to update embedded system components MIUI, Not updated through the Play Market.
- 🛡️ Security: All applications are checked by Tencent antivirus before being published in the directory.
It is important to understand that trying to completely remove system components without proper preparation can lead to unstable device operation. Although GetApps is not critical for Android startup (unlike the system framework), its absence can cause errors in the work of themes, widgets or even the built-in security scanner.
Data security and privacy of use
Data security is one of the most talked-about issues in the context of Xiaomi software products, and users are concerned about where data about installed applications and search history is transmitted, IP-address and list of installed software for the formation of personalized recommendations and analytics.
⚠️ Note: Unlike Google Play Protect, which is built into the Android core, the application verification in GetApps is done by Xiaomi servers and partners. sensitive data can be processed on servers located in the jurisdiction of the PRC, which is important to consider when working with corporate information.
However, there have been no mass cases of money theft or virus infestation through the official GetApps store, the app is digitally signed by the manufacturer and is certified by Google (in global versions), which ensures that there is no malicious code in the installer itself, the main risks are not related to viruses, but to intrusive advertising and telemetry collection.
To minimize risks, it is recommended to carefully check the permissions that the app store requests. Often it requires access to a contact list, location and phone, which is necessary for targeted advertising, but excessive for simple installation of programs.
- 🔒 Encryption: Traffic between the application and the server is encrypted, which protects against data interception in open Wi-Fi networks.
- 👁️ Transparency: You can turn off advertising personalization in your settings, which will reduce interest in your marketing data.
- 🚫 Blockers: Use DNS-filters (e.g. AdGuard) allow you to block store advertising requests at the network level.
What happens if you block access to GetApps contacts?
Why GetApps Shows Ads and How to Get Rid of It
One of the main reasons users are negative about GetApps is aggressive advertising. pop-ups, banners in the notification curtain and recommendations of hot apps can be annoying. This is the main way to monetize free devices for the manufacturer, especially in the budget segment.
In-app advertising is just the tip of the iceberg, and often GetApps triggers the launch of ad modules in other system applications, such as Explorer, Music, or Cleaner, and turning off ads in the store itself may reduce some of the ad count throughout the system, but does not guarantee complete disappearance.
There are several effective ways to combat intrusive offers: the simplest is to disable personalization through Mi Account settings. The more radical method is to completely disable the service through ADB or hidden developer settings, which requires technical literacy.
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Before you turn off system services, create a full backup of data. Incorrectly disabling system components can lead to a cyclical restart of the smartphone (bootloop).
Also, it’s worth considering that ads often appear because of the “Get recommendations” feature enabled, which is active by default and forces the store to analyze your actions to offer purchases.Disabling this feature makes the store more “sterile”, but leaves technical notifications about updates.
Instructions: How to disable or remove GetApps
Since GetApps is a system application, the standard Remove button in smartphone settings is usually not available (only the Disable button is active or hidden). Complete removal will require superuser (Root) rights or use of USB debugging (ADB). Consider a secure method of disabling through settings available to everyone.
The first step is to limit the background activity, and it won't delete the app, but it will prevent it from running without your knowledge and consuming battery power, so you have to go to the app settings, find GetApps, and force it to stop.
☑️ Preparing to disable GetApps
Then you turn off notifications, and they're often the source of annoyance, and in the app management menu, look for "Notifications" and uncheck all the boxes, especially those related to marketing emails and recommendations.
If you want to go further and hide the app completely, you can use the ADB command line on your computer, which requires connecting the smartphone to your PC and typing a special command to remove the packet for the current user. This is safe, because when you reset the app will return.
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.xiaomi.mipicksOnce this command is executed, the store icon will disappear from the desktop and the system will stop using it. However, when you update the firmware or reset to factory settings, GetApps will return to its place, since the files physically remain in the system partition.
Comparison of GetApps and Google Play: Characteristics table
Many users are wondering whether to switch to a store from Xiaomi instead of the usual Google Play?To objectively evaluate, you need to compare the key parameters of both services. Google Play remains the gold standard for security and compatibility, while GetApps offers specific benefits to the MIUI ecosystem.
The main difference is content moderation: Google uses automated Play Protect systems and manual verification, which are considered among the most stringent in the industry. Xiaomi directory is also being checked, but the assortment in the global version may be smaller, and some Western apps may be missing or updated with a delay.
The table below provides a detailed comparison of functionality that will help you determine your usage priorities.
| Characteristics | Google Play | GetApps (Mi Store) |
|---|---|---|
| Application database | Over 3 million (maximum) | About 1 million (depending on the region) |
| Security | High (Play Protect) | Medium (Tenscent check) |
| Interface language | Complete localization | Partial (often Chinese names) |
| Updates | Automatic, fast. | They may be delayed. |
| Advertising | Minimum, targeted | Aggressive, pop-up |
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For most users, the optimal strategy is to use Google Play as the primary source of apps, leaving GetApps only for system updates to MIUI components.