How to Disable or Remove the Xiaomi System App: 5 Proven Ways

Why Xiaomi System Apps Are Harmful to Users and Can They Be Safely Removed

Xiaomi’s MIUI-based smartphones are known for their abundance of pre-installed services, from proprietary utilities like Mi Browser or GetApps to Google’s backup features. Many of them can’t be removed by standard means, but they continue to consume RAM, consume traffic in the background, and even display ads. According to research by XDA Developers, up to 30% of system processes on Redmi and POCO devices can be turned off without compromising stability.

However, not all applications are equally safe to deactivate. For example, removing com.miui.securitycenter can disrupt facial unlocking, and disabling com.android.cts.priv.ctsshim can cause errors when checking Google Play Protect. In this article, we will discuss which system applications can be removed without the risk of bricking the device, and which should not be touched even by experienced users.

It is important to understand the difference between disabling (an application stays on the system but does not start) and deleting (files are deleted completely). The first method is reversible and less risky, the second requires superuser rights (root) and can cause some functions to fail. We will look at both approaches, including those without root rights.

Method 1: Disconnect via MIUI settings (without root)

The easiest and safest method is to deactivate the application through the standard menu, which is suitable for most junk services like Mi Pay or Mi Community, but does not affect critical system processes.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Show All Apps.
3. Find the right app (e.g. com.miui.browser for Mi Browser).
4. Turn it off and confirm the action.

⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. com.miui.home) don’t have a shutdown button, which means that removing them may disrupt the interface, and once GetApps is disabled, branded themes and wallpapers will no longer be updated.

Make a backup copy of important data

Check the list of safe to disable applications (see table below)

Charge your phone at least 50%

Turn off automatic MIUI update in settings-->

Method 2: Use of ADB (without root rights)

If there is no Disable button, but the app is not critical, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB).This method works on all Xiaomi devices, including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 and Mi 11, but requires a connection to a computer.

Step-by-step:

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

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.name.appendices

Example of Mi Browser removal:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.browser

⚠️ Attention: Uninstall Team -k retains the data of the annexes, and --user 0 removes it only for the current user. -k) It is possible only with root rights and is fraught with failures!

Method 3: Removal with Magisk (root required)

To completely remove system applications, you will need superuser rights, and on Xiaomi devices you can get them through Magisk (recommended version – 26.4+), a method suitable for advanced users, since improper actions can lead to a bootloop.

Algorithm of action:

1. Install Magisk and get root access (see instructions for a specific model on 4PDA or XDA).
2. Download the System App Remover or App Systemizer module from the Magisk repository.
3. In the module menu, select the removal apps (see table below) and confirm the action.
4. Reset the device.

⚠️ Note: After removing the system APK-You can't restore files by standard methods! /system through TWRP or adb pull /system before manipulation.

adb shell dumpsys package com.name.packet

In the conclusion, look for the line "requiredFor": - if there are other packets, deleting them can break them.-->

Method 4: Freeze with Titanium Backup (alternative to deletion)

If you're not sure about the safety of complete removal, you can freeze the application, it'll stay in the system, but it won't start. Titanium Backup is a good tool for this.

How to freeze:

1. Open Titanium Backup and provide root access.
2. Find the desired application in the list (use the filter by system).
3. Then, put it in the freezer and make it freeze.
4. Reset the device.

⚠️ Warning: Freezing com.google.android.gms (Google Play Services) will cause all Google services to fail, including the Play Market.

💡

Freezing is the safest method of "deleting" system applications, and it is reversible and does not affect APK files, only blocks their execution.

Method 5: Hiding through the launcher (for unnecessary icons)

If the goal is simply to remove unnecessary icons from the home screen (such as Mi Community or Mi Finance), there is no technical manipulation. Most launchers, including the standard MIUI Launcher, support hiding applications.

How to hide it:

1. Hold your finger in the free seat of the main screen.
2. Select Launcher Settings → Hide Applications.
3. Check the boxes for unnecessary programs (e.g. com.xiaomi.micloudsync for Mi Cloud).
4. Confirm the change.

⚠️ Attention: Hiding does not disable background processes! Applications will still consume resources. Use 1-4 methods to fully deactivate.

What to do if after removing the system application the phone does not turn on

If after manipulating system files, the Xiaomi device stopped booting (hang on the logo or went to the bootloop), act according to the following algorithm:

1. Hard reboot: Hold Power + Volume up for 10 to 15 seconds. If it doesn't work, move on to the next step.
2. Enter Recovery: Press Power + Volume up when you turn on. From the menu, select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (reset to factory settings).
3. Fastboot Flash: If the reset doesn’t help, download the official firmware for your model from Xiaomi’s website and run through the Mi Flash Tool.

⚠️ Note: If you have removed a critical application (e.g., com.qualcomm.qti.telephonyservice on Snapdragon devices), you may need to EDL-mode and authorized Xiaomi account to unlock the bootloader. in this case, it is better to contact the service center.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi system applications