Smart TVs Xiaomi Mi TV and Redmi TV, running on the operating system Android TV or proprietary shell PatchWall, over time accumulate unnecessary data. the built-in memory of the device is not unlimited, and the installation of many programs from Google Play or third-party sources gradually leads to a shortage of free space, which often causes slowdown of the interface, the appearance of artifacts when playing video or even periodic freezes of the system.
Users often wonder why you can't just erase things like you're on a smartphone, because the TV version of Android has different navigation and control features than mobile. In addition, some pre-installed services can be hidden from the average user, requiring more in-depth intervention to remove them, and understanding these nuances will help you manage your device's resources effectively.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available methods for cleaning storage, from standard methods through the settings menu to advanced techniques using USB debugging. You will learn which programs can be removed without risk to the system and which are better left alone. Proper management of installed software is the key to stable and fast operation of your TV for many years.
Standard removal through the settings menu
The safest and easiest way to get rid of unnecessary software is to use the built-in operating system tools, which is suitable for most custom applications that you installed yourself from the Google Play Store. The process of uninstallation in an Android TV environment is logically similar to mobile devices, but has differences in the navigation of the remote control.
You need to get to the main settings menu first, usually by pressing a button with a gear on the remote or selecting the appropriate icon at the top of the PatchWall interface. After you go to Settings, you should find the item responsible for managing devices and applications. It can be called differently in different versions of firmware, for example, Applications or Application Management.
In the list that opens, you will see all the programs installed. If you select an unnecessary application, you will see the Remove button. If this button is active (not grey), then the program can be safely erased. However, if the button is not available, this means that the application is a system component or has administrator rights, which requires a different approach to uninstallation.
- 📺 Press the Home button on the remote and go to the upper right corner of the screen to the gear icon.
- ⚙️ Select the Settings section and go to the Apps category).
- 🗑️ Find the program you want in the list, click on it and select Uninstall).
- ✅ Confirm the action in the dialog window that appears to complete the cleaning process.
⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to remove apps with names that contain the words "System", "Google Services" or "Framework", even if the system allows this, this can lead to unstable TV performance or complete loss of access to the app store.
Cleaning through the Google Play Store
An alternative and often more convenient way to manage installed software is to use the Google Play store itself.This method is especially useful when you need to quickly find the application in the list of all installed programs without wandering through the system settings. The store interface on Xiaomi TVs is adapted for control from the remote.
To use this method, run the Play Store app on your TV. On the side menu or at the top of the screen, look for the My Apps or Application Management section. This shows a complete list of everything that has ever been installed on the device under your account. Switch to the Installed tab to see only active programs.
Select the application you want, and in the menu that opens, select the uninstall option, which is good because it immediately shows you whether the program is taking up space in memory right now, and you can see the amount of space you're taking up, which helps you decide whether to keep the program on your device if it's rarely used.
It is important to note that you cannot remove system applications that have been built into the manufacturer through the Play Store, for which the delete button will be missing or inactive. This is a security mechanism that prevents accidental damage to the Android TV operating system. If your goal is to make room, removing user software through the store is the fastest way.
Removing system and hidden applications
This becomes more difficult when you have to remove applications that have been preinstalled by the manufacturer or carrier. Often programs like Netflix, YouTube (in some regions), or PatchWall branded services don't have an uninstall button in the standard interface, they're marked as system-based, and you can't get rid of them by conventional methods.
To solve this problem, you will need to enable the developer mode and use debugging over USB. This allows you to get advanced permissions to access the TV file system. You will need a computer (PC or laptop) and an ADB program (Android Debug Bridge). Also make sure that your TV and computer are on the same Wi-Fi network or connected by a USB-USB cable (two-way).
First step, activate the developer mode. To do this, go to Settings. → About the device (About) and find the item Build. Press it 7 times in a row until you get a message that you became a developer. Then in the menu that appears for developers, turn on the option Debugging by USB (USB Debugging).
- 💻 Download and install the Platform Tools package (ADB) on your computer from the official Android website.
- 🔌 Connect your TV and PC to the same Wi-Fi network IP-TV address in network settings.
- 📡 In the computer command line, enter the connection command: adb connect IP_TV address.
- 🧹 To remove the command: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 packet.
⚠️ Note: Using pm uninstall requires a precise package name. Removing a critical system component can lead to a TV bootloop. Always check the packet name before entering the command.
Packet names are usually com.netflix.ninja or com.google.android.youtube.tv. You can find out the exact name using the adb shell pm list packages command. Be extremely careful: removing system applications does not go unnoticed for warranty, although reversible if you have the ability to flash it. This method is designed for experienced users who understand the structure of Android.
Use of Third-Party File Managers
If you don't want to mess with the command line on your computer, you can use specialized management applications that are installed directly on your TV. One of the most popular and effective solutions is the Sending & Open APK program or the X-plore file manager with application management function, which allows you to see the full list of packages, including hidden ones.
Once you install this manager, run it on your Xiaomi Mi TV. Go to the Application Management section. Here you will see more detailed information than in the standard settings. Some managers allow you not only to delete programs, but also to force processes to stop, which temporarily frees up RAM.
Why can’t some apps be removed even through managers?
Even third-party managers without root rights cannot remove deeply integrated system services, but they do a great job of handling junk applications that are often preinstalled in Chinese firmware or are included with other software, and checking the installed list regularly through such a manager helps keep the system clean.
Cleaning the cache and application data
Often the problem is not the number of installed programs, but the amount of temporary files they have accumulated. Cache allows applications to load faster, but over time it can grow to gigabytes, taking up precious space in permanent memory. Before you delete an application, it makes sense to try to clean its data.
To do this, go to Settings → Applications, select the desired program (for example, YouTube or Movie Search), and find Clear Cache. This operation is safe and does not delete your logins or settings. If you choose Clear Data, the application will return to the “as after installation” state, which can solve problems with its incorrect operation.
| Type of cleaning | What's removed | Impact on the account | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clearing the cache | Temporary files, thumbnails | No influence. | Safe to do, do regularly |
| Clearing the data | Settings, logins, saves | Re-entry required | If the app gets bugged |
| Removal | The entire application package | Total reset | If the application is not needed |
| Forced stopping | Nothing's been deleted. | No influence. | To unload RAM |
Browsers and online movie apps are accumulating a lot of garbage, and if your Redmi TV is slow, start by cleaning the cache of the heaviest apps, which often puts the device back on its sleekness without having to remove your favorite software.
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If the TV is still slow after cleaning the cache, try turning off automatic app updates in Google Play settings. Updates are often loaded in the background, loading the processor and network.
Resetting to factory settings as a radical method
When deleting individual apps fails and the TV continues to slow down or produce memory errors, the last resort is a complete system reset, which will return the Xiaomi device to the state it was when you bought from the store, and all user data, accounts and installed programs will be permanently deleted.
You can reset via the Settings → Device → Reset menu. The system will alert you to the consequences and ask you to confirm the action. Make sure you remember your Google account details, as the TV will request authorization once turned on. This is the standard Android security procedure.
☑️ Preparation for the TV reset
Once the process is complete, the TV will restart and start the initial setup, a great way to refresh the device if it has been in use for several years, and all system partitions will be recreated, eliminating file system fragmentation and application registry errors that have accumulated over the lifetime.
⚠️ Warning: Before resetting, be sure to unplug your device from your Google account if you plan to sell the TV or give it to another person. Otherwise, the new owner will not be able to activate the device without your password due to security FRP (Factory Reset Protection).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I remove the built-in PatchWall or Google Play Store?
Why is the Remove button inactive (gray)?
Is it safe to remove apps I don’t know the names of?
How to free up space if you can’t delete applications?
Does removing apps affect the warranty?
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Regularly cleaning the cache and removing unused applications is the best prevention of slowdown effect on Android TV.