How to remove unnecessary applications on Xiaomi: system and user

Xiaomi smartphones out of the box come with dozens of pre-installed apps, many of which the user simply does not need. Over time, games, messengers and utilities are added to them, which are no longer used, but continue to take up precious space in memory. Cleaning the device from unnecessary software not only frees up gigabytes of space, but also speeds up the system, reduces battery consumption and reduces the number of intrusive notifications.

However, not all applications can be removed in the standard way. MIUI system services are often protected from uninstallation, and some user programs leave behind tails in the form of cache and temporary files. In this article, we will discuss all possible cleaning methods, from simple (through the settings menu) to advanced (using ADB and superuser rights).

Why Xiaomi is accumulating unnecessary applications

Even if you only carefully install the software you need, the list of programs grows over time.

• 📱 Pre-installed annexes MIUI. The manufacturer integrates services for synchronization (Mi Cloud), music (Mi Music), video (Mi Video) and others that duplicate the functions of Google or third-party programs.
• 🔄 Auto-updates through Play Market.Many programs are automatically updated, taking up more space than their original versions.
• 🎮 Cache and application data. Even a remote game or messenger can leave behind hundreds of megabytes of trash in folders. /data and /cache.

According to Xiaomi, the average user spends up to 30% of internal memory on unwanted apps and their residual files, and more than 60% of this data can be safely deleted without resorting to a reset.

How to Remove Normal (User) Applications

The standard uninstallation method is suitable for programs you install manually or through Google Play, requiring no additional tools and takes less than a minute.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the program from the list (sort by size by clicking on the filter icon).
3. Click "Delete" and confirm the action.

To speed up the process, you can use the multitasking menu:

• 📲 Swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen and hold your finger to open a list of recently used apps.
• 🔍 Find the unnecessary program, swipe it up and select “Delete” (on some models – “Application Information” → Delete").

If the Remove button is inactive, the application is a system or update to a standard program (e.g. Google Chrome instead of AOSP Browser), in which case alternative methods described below will be required.

⚠️ Note: Deleting certain applications (such as Mi Security or Google Play Services) may cause Google services or features to crash. MIUI. Before uninstallation, check the reviews of other users on the forums.

Removing system applications without root rights (via ADB)

Many Xiaomi system programs can be removed without obtaining superuser rights using the ADB debugging bridge. This method works on all models, starting with the Redmi Note 4 (2017) and later.

First, prepare your computer:

1. Download and install Google’s Platform Tools (includes adb.exe).
2. Activate the developer mode on your smartphone: go to Settings → About the phone and 7 times click on "Version" MIUI".
3. Enable debugging over USB in Settings → Additional → For developers.

Next, connect the phone to the PC and execute the commands:

adb devices


adb shell




pm list packages | grep 'miui' # Shows the list of Xiaomi system packages




pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.weather2 # Example: weather removal

Below is a table of safe to remove system applications (checked on MIUI 14):

After you execute the commands, restart your smartphone. Remote apps will disappear from the menu, but their data will remain in memory (to completely clean you will need root).

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Before you delete system applications, back up through Settings → System → Backup. This will restore functionality if something goes wrong.

Cleaning of residual files and cache

Even after deleting an app, its data can take up to 50% of its original size, which is because Android retains:

• 🗑️ Cache (temporary files to speed up work).
• 📁 User data (save games, program settings).
• 📄 Logs and dumps (debugging files created when crashes occur).

To clear this, follow the following steps:

1. Go to Settings → Memory → Cleanup.
2. Click on “Deep Clean” and select unnecessary apps.
3. For manual cleaning, use a file manager (e.g. Mi File Manager): delete folders with the names of remote programs in /Android/data/ and /Android/obb/.

For advanced users, the ADB team is suitable:

adb shell pm clear com.package.name

Where com.package.name is the name of the application package (you can find it through pm list packages).

⚠️ Attention: Cleaning the folder /Android/obb/ Delete downloaded game data (e.g. textures in Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile) If you plan to return to the game, back up the folder.

List of applications that cannot be removed

Some system services are critical to MIUI and Android, and their removal could lead to:

• 🚨 Cyclical reboot (bootloop).
• 📵 Loss of communication (mobile network or Wi-Fi will not work).
• 🔒 Mi Account Block (reset via Fastboot).

Below is the Prohibited List (relevant to MIUI 12-14):

If you accidentally delete one of these packages, you can restore the working capacity:

• Through resetting settings (Settings → About Phone → Resetting).
• By flashing through Fastboot (the instructions for your model are on the official website of Xiaomi).

Cleaning automation: useful utilities

Manual cleaning takes time, especially if there are dozens of unnecessary programs on your smartphone, and you can use specialized utilities to automate the process:

Example of working with SD Maid:

1. Install the utility from the Play Market.
2. Start the System Analysis (it will take 2-5 minutes).
3. Go to the "CorpseFinder" section and delete unnecessary residual files.
4. In the "AppControl" section, sort programs by size and uninstall the most "heavy".

For advanced users, an ADB script will suit, which automatically removes the standard set of unnecessary MIUI packages:

@echo off


adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.weather2




adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.videoplayer




adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.player




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




adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.cleanmaster




Echo Cleanup complete!

Save this code to a file debloat_xiaomi.bat and launch on behalf of the administrator (pre-connecting the phone in mode) ADB).

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Use automation utilities only after manually checking the list of deleted packets. Some programs (such as SD Maid) may mark important system files as "junk."

How to prevent the accumulation of unnecessary applications

To avoid having to clean your smartphone regularly, follow the simple rules:

• 🚫 Turn off the autoinstallation of applications: Go to Settings → Google → Google Play Services → Settings → Auto-Update Apps. Select "Do not update automatically" or "Only via Wi-Fi".
• 📥 Install programs only from trusted sources. Avoid pirated software sites, which often install hidden software.
• 🔄 Check the list of applications regularly (once every 1-2 months) through Settings → Annexes → Application management.
• 🗃️ Use Google Drive (Mi Cloud) for backups instead of local storage.