Where to look for a remote application on Android Xiaomi: from system settings to ADB

Did you delete the app on Xiaomi by mistake — or did it just disappear after the MIUI update? — The situation is familiar to many: the icon disappeared from the desktop, the app menu is empty, and the Play Market says "Installed" even though there is no program. 80% of the time, the problem is solved in 5 minutes — if you know where to look.

In this article, we will look at all possible scenarios, from basic (application hidden or disabled) to complex (complete uninstallation with deletion of data), and focus on MIUI chips that are often confusing, such as automatic archiving of rarely used programs or separation into “system” and “user” applications, and show how to recover data if the application was deleted with the cache.

Importantly, the search algorithms differ for different versions of MIUI (especially MIUI 12/13/14 and HyperOS), and we have taken all the nuances into account and put together the current methods for 2026.

1. Check if the application is hidden in MIUI

Xiaomi is actively using the Hidden Apps feature, which can work on your command or automatically (for example, after a system update).

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Show all apps.
3. In the list, find Hidden (may be called Archived in newer versions of MIUI).

If the app you want is there, just click on it and select Show on the home screen. In HyperOS, hidden programs can appear in a separate tab, "Recently Deleted," check it out too.

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In MIUI 14+, hidden apps don’t show up in search by system. Use only the manual path through Application Management.

If there's no Hidden section, it means the app is not hidden. Go to the next one.

2. Search through the system menu "All applications"

Users often confuse deleting and disabling applications, and disabled programs are not shown in the main menu, but they stay in the system to find them.

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 In the search bar, enter the name of the application.
• 🔄 If the results have a gray icon with the inscription “Unplugged” – tap on it and click “Include.
• 📲 After turning on, the application will appear in the menu and on the desktop.

Note: Some Xiaomi system applications (such as Mi Video or Mi Music) cannot be disabled in the standard way – they will require ADB (more on this below).

Check the "Disabled" section in "Application Management"|Enable the application through settings|Restart the phone after turning on|Update your app in the Play Market if it is outdated-->

If the app isn't even found here, it's actually deleted. Let's look at how to restore it.

3.Recovery via Google Play Market

Play Market stores the history of all installed applications, even remote ones, to return the program:

1. Open the Play Market and tap the profile avatar in the upper right corner.
2. Select Application and Device Management → Management.
3. Go to the Installed tab and click on the filter (funnel icon).
4. Select Not Installed – All Remote Programs will be here.
5. Find the right application and click Install.

Important: if the application was installed not through the Play Market (for example, through the APK), If you want to know where the installation is, try to remember the source of the installation or check the Download folder for availability. APK-file.

Only through the Play Market|Through APK-file|Use alternative stores (APKMirror, Aptoide)|I don't know how I installed it.-->

If the app is paid and it was purchased, it can be restored for free through the Library section in the Play Market.

1. Open Play Market → Library → Shopping.
2. Find the app and click Install.

4. Search through the file system (for power users)

If the application has been recently removed, the residues may be stored in the device's memory.

• 📁 Use any file manager (e.g. Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer).
• 🔍 Go to the folder. /data/app/ (root rights are required) or /sdcard/Android/data/ (user-data).
• 📂 Look for folders with the name of the app (e.g. com.whatsapp for WhatsApp).

Warning: Without root, you can’t restore the app itself, but you can find its data (photo, cache, settings). ADB Specialized programs like DiskDigger.

If you found APK-The application file is in the Download folder or other storage, and you can re-installe it:

1. Open the file through the manager.
2. Allow installation from unknown sources (Settings → Applications → Special Permissions → Install Unknown Applications).
3. Follow the installation instructions.

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Installing APKs from unknown sources can be dangerous – download files only from proven resources (APKMirror, official developer sites).

5.Use ADB to Restore System Applications

If a system application (e.g., Mi Browser, Security or Gallery) is removed, it can only be returned via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a method suitable for power users.

The work will require:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB-driver.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI (tap 7 times) → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

Instructions:

1. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm debugging on the smartphone screen.
2. Open the command line (Win + R → cmd) and type in: adb shell
3. To see a list of all applications (including remote ones), follow: pm list packages -d (flag -d shows disabled packets).
4. To restore the application, type: cmd package install-existing <packet name> For example, for Mi Browser: cmd package install-existing com.android.browser

Note: not all system applications can be restored this way, and some MIUI components (e.g. com.miui.home) break the system when removed, in which case only flashing will help.

6.Flashing as a last resort

If an application was critical (like Settings or Phone) and you can’t restore it, you just need to flash it back, which will return all system components to their original state, but delete user data (if you don’t backup).

For firmware:

• 📥 Download the official firmware for your model on the Xiaomi website.
• 📁 Transfer the firmware file (.zip) to the phone’s root folder and rename it to update.zip.
• 🔄 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Update the system, tap on three points → Select a firmware file.
• 🔄 Confirm the installation and wait for the completion (the phone will restart several times).

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Flashing removes all data on the device. Pre-backup through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset → Local Backup or Mi Cloud (if it worked before the application was removed).

Note: if the phone does not turn on after removing the application or is getting stuck on the MI logo, firmware via Fastboot is mandatory.

1. Download Mi Flash Tool and Fastboot firmware for your model.
2. Turn your phone into Fastboot mode (clip Power + Volume down when the phone is off).
3. Connect to your PC and follow the instructions of the Mi Flash Tool.

7. How to avoid losing apps in the future

To avoid missing apps, follow the simple rules:

• 🔒 Block the removal of system applications: in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Three points. → Settings disable the option to Allow removal of system applications.
• 📥 Make backups regularly: Use Mi Cloud or third-party solutions like Titanium Backup (requires root).
• 🔄 Update. MIUI: In new versions of HyperOS added the function “Basket” for remote applications (analogue Recycle Bin in Windows).
• 📌 Fix important applications: long tap on the icon, choose Secure - so it will not disappear after cleaning the cache.

If you often experiment with firmware or remove system components, consider installing Custom ROMs (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience) that are devoid of Xiaomi’s junk apps but require unlocking the bootloader.

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MIUI 14+ has a Safe Delete feature that saves application data for 30 days after uninstallation, and to use it, select the Remove with Save Data option (if available).

FAQ: Frequent questions about lost apps on Xiaomi