How to find all applications on Xiaomi smartphone – including hidden and system

On Xiaomi smartphones running MIUI or HyperOS, it’s not always obvious where to look for a complete list of installed applications. The standard launcher only shows the most commonly used programs, and many system utilities and hidden applications remain out of sight, especially after updates when the manufacturer adds new services or changes the structure of the menu.

In this article, we’ll break down all the possible ways to view apps on Xiaomi, including:

• 📱 Standard methods through settings and launcher
• 🔍 Search for hidden and system applications
• 🛠️ Use of the ADB for advanced users
• 📊 Analysis of the occupied space and cache management

You will also learn how to distinguish between custom and system programs, why some apps don’t appear in the menu, and what to do if the list of apps suddenly becomes incomplete after the update.

1. Standard method: application menu in MIUI/HyperOS

The easiest method is to use the built-in app menu. On most Xiaomi devices (e.g. Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13) it is enough:

1. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen (on gesture-controlled devices).
2. Click on the All Apps icon (usually located at the bottom of the screen or in the dock panel).
3. Scroll down the list – all user programs except hidden system programs will be displayed here.

If you have a classic navigation bar (with the buttons "Back", "Home", "Recent"), then:

• 🔘 Click on the icon "Square" (recent applications).
• 🔘 At the bottom of the screen, tap on "All applications".

Please note that this list will not display system utilities (e.g. com.miui.securitycenter or com.android.providers.media) or applications hidden by the user or manufacturer.

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If some icons are missing from the app menu, try resetting the launcher settings: go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Launcher and select Reset Settings.

2. Search for hidden applications through system settings

To see all installed applications, including system ones, follow the following steps:

1. Open the settings (cog icon).
2. Go to the Appendix section → Application management.
3. At the top of the screen, select the All tab (the default may be Downloaded).

Here you will see a complete list including:

• 📲 User applications (installed from Google Play or APK).
• 🔧 System utilities (e.g. Mi Share, Game Turbo).
• 👻 Hidden services (such as Android System WebView or Google Play Services).

For convenience, you can sort the list by:

• 📅 Installation Date (to find recently added programs).
• 📊 Size (to find "heavy" applications).
• 🔤 Alphabet (if you know the name).

⚠️ Note: Some system applications (e.g., com.miui.home) cannot be removed or disabled without root rights.

3. How to find system applications that don’t appear in the menu

Some Xiaomi apps are hidden from the user by default.

• 🔒 Google Services (e.g. Google Play Services).
• 📡 System utilities for working with the network (com.android.phone).
• 🛡️ Security modules (com.miui.guardprovider).

To see them:

Enable the display of system applications in the settings

Search by package name (e.g., "com.miui")

Check the "Special Access" section in the security settings

Install a third-party launcher (e.g. Nova Launcher)-->

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Press three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select "Show system".
3. Now, all apps will appear on the list, including those that are usually hidden.

If you need to find a specific app by its package ID (e.g. com.xiaomi.market for the Mi App Store), search in the same section.

4.Use ADB to view all applications (for advanced users)

If you need to get a complete list of all applications, including those that don’t appear in the interface, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which is suitable for users who want to:

• 🔍 Find all the installed APK, including the remnants of remote programs.
• 📋 Export the list for analysis.
• 🛠️ Remove or disable system applications (requires caution!).

Instructions:

1. Install ADB on your computer (for example, through Google’s Platform Tools).
2. Connect your smartphone to your PC and allow debugging over USB (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times) → Additional → For developers → Debugging over USB).
3. In the command line, type: adb shell pm list packages -f This team will list all the packages with paths to their APK-file.

To save the list to the file, use:

adb shell pm list packages > apps_list.txt

⚠️ Note: Removing or disabling system applications through ADB This could cause your smartphone to fail. Make a backup before experimenting!

5. Viewing applications through the file manager

All installed applications are stored in the system in the form of APK-These can be found through a file manager (e.g., built-in Mi File Explorer or third-party Solid Explorer).

The path to user applications:

/data/app/

The path to system applications:

/system/app/


/system/priv-app/




/vendor/app/

Please note:

• 🔐 Access to the folder /data/app/ It is possible only with root rights.
• 📂 Folders. /system/ and /vendor/ Usually available only for reading.
• 🚫 Deleting files from these folders without knowing the consequences can bring your smartphone down.

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The file manager allows you to see the physical location of applications, but root rights are almost always required to manage them (delete, copy).

6. Third-party applications for analysis of installed software

If you don't like the built-in MIUI or HyperOS, you can use third-party utilities that allow you to:

• 🔍 See all applications, including hidden ones.
• 📊 Analyze the space and cache.
• 🛡️ Check applications for viruses.
• 🔄 Delete residual files after uninstallation.

Recommended programmes:

• 📌 App Inspector – Shows detailed information about each application, including permissions and versions.
• 📌 SD Maid – clears the cache and finds “junk” files from remote programs.
• 📌 Package Name Viewer – a convenient viewer of packet IDs.

Example of work with App Inspector:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Open it and give access to information about applications.
3. In the list, select the program of interest - a window with details will open, including: 📦 Packet name (com.example.app). 📅 Date of installation. 📤 Size APK data. 🔓 Permits.

7.Why are some apps not displayed on the menu?

If you notice that some apps have disappeared from the menu, the reasons may be as follows:

Some applications may also be deactivated by the system due to:

• 🔋 Battery optimizations (e.g. background processes).
• 🛡️ Blocking with antivirus or MIUI Optimization.
• 📱 Conflict with other programmes.

8. Frequent questions and problems