How to disable the Xiaomi 9 device administrator app: Deep System Cleanup

Owners of Xiaomi Mi 9 smartphones often face a situation where the device does not work as fast as on the first day of purchase. One reason for the slowdown may be an excess of background processes run by system components that are mistakenly perceived by users as malicious or simply unnecessary. The concept of “administrator application” in the context of Android is often confused with system services that have extended access rights, or with a specific service “Device Admin” (Device Admin), which blocks the removal of certain programs.

Unlocking full control of the MIUI operating system requires caution and an understanding of the Android architecture. Simply removing critical components can cause the phone to stop loading or lose basic functionality. In this article, we’ll look at safe methods to deactivate intrusive system applications, use USB debugging, and work with administrator rights without risking turning your Xiaomi into a brick.

Before you start taking action, you need to clearly define the goal: do you want to just stop the application from running or completely remove it from the system? The first option is safe and reversible, the second requires the use of special tools like ADB (Android Debug Bridge).

Identification of system components and their role

The first step to optimizing the Xiaomi Mi 9 is to understand what processes are really needed. The list of installed programs often includes names like “Mi Service”, “MSA” (MIUI System Ads) or “Analytics”, which have deep system privileges and often work in the background, collecting telemetry or displaying ads, and disabling some of them can significantly speed up the interface.

It is important to distinguish between applications that can be removed through a standard interface and those that are hidden from the user. The standard application manager allows you to disable only user programs or some system programs, but not all. To manage hidden services, such as com.miui.securitycenter or com.android.vending, you will need more advanced methods. Do not blindly delete everything that contains the word "system" or "android", as this can disrupt the operating system.

⚠️ Warning: Removing critical system components, such as Security or Downloads, can cause a phone to run unstable or cyclic reboot.Always check the purpose of the packet before deactivating it.

To start, go to the settings and look at a list of all the apps. Pay attention to the ones that consume the most power or memory. If you see an application that you never use but is active, it's a candidate for shutdown. However, remember that some services, such as those associated with a MIUI account, may be necessary for cloud services and device search.

Standard methods of disconnection through settings

The safest way to limit the activity of unnecessary programs is to use built-in application management tools, which do not require a connection to a computer and eliminates the risk of damage to system files, but it has limitations: you can not remove applications that the manufacturer considered critical, but you can prevent them from running and accessing the network.

To start, go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find the target program in the list. If the Remove button is inactive (gray), try clicking on "Disable" or "Stop." This action will freeze the process and it will no longer consume CPU and battery resources. It is also recommended to revoke permissions for such applications, especially access to location and microphone.

In some cases, especially for MIUI advertising services, there is a separate switch. For example, to turn off advertising recommendations in system applications, you need to go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Authorization and Cancellation. Here you can uncheck the msa service. After unchecking the tick, the system will ask you to wait 10 seconds, after which the service will cease to function.

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Before disabling system applications, take a screenshot of the installed program list, which will help you quickly find and recover the remote component in the event of a failure.

If standard methods fail and the app continues to hang in your memory, you'll have to resort to more drastic measures, but even then, take your time. Check if the app is part of the ecosystem you're using (e.g. Mi Cloud or Mi Pay), and disabling such services may make it impossible for you to pay for your phone or sync contacts.

Xiaomi 9 Prepared for Working with ADB

To clean up the system from the built-in “garbage” you need to use the tools of the Android developer. ADB allows you to send commands directly to the operating system, bypassing standard interface restrictions. To your Xiaomi Mi 9 accept these commands, you need to activate the hidden developer menu and allow debugging.

The preparation process is as follows:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → About the phone and press 7 times in a row on the item "Version" MIUI», The message is “You became a developer».
• 🔧 Go to Settings. → Additional settings → For developers.
• 🟢 Activate the "Debugging by" switch USB».
• 💻 Connect your phone to your computer through high-quality USB-cable and select the "File Transfer" mode» (MTP) noticeably.

Once you connect to your smartphone, you'll see a request for debugging permission from that computer. Make sure you check the "Always Allow from this computer" box and click "OK." If you don't, you'll have to re-confirm access every time you connect, which is inconvenient for long periods of time. Also make sure that your computer has Xiaomi drivers or universal Google USB drivers installed.

Now your Xiaomi Mi 9 is ready to receive commands. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with the ADB installed and enter the command adb devices. If the list shows the serial number of the device with the status of the device, then the connection is established successfully. If the status is unauthorized, check the phone screen and confirm access.

Removing System Applications Through ADB Shell

The ADB Shell removal method is the most effective way to get rid of applications that are not removed in the standard way. It does not require Root rights, which preserves the warranty on the device (formally), but requires accuracy in entering commands. The essence of the method is to call the Android package manager to uninstall a specific package for the current user.

The syntax of the team looks like this:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 name.packet

The pm stands for package manager, flag -k saves data and cache (in case of return), --user 0 indicates deletion for the main user, and the name.packet is the unique identifier of the application.

For example, to remove the MIUI (msa) ad service, the command will look like this:

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

And to remove the standard Mi Browser browser:

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

After the command is executed, the system will respond with a message "Success" if the operation is successful. The application will disappear from the menu and the list of installed programs, freeing up space and no longer load the processor.

⚠️ Note: pm uninstall removes the application only for your user profile. It remains in the system partition, but becomes invisible and inactive. This is safer than completely removing from the system partition, since it allows you to restore the application through resetting settings.

Don't delete applications you're not 100% sure of, like com.android.phone for calls, and com.miui.securitycenter for basic security and permissions, and if you delete them, you'll be unable to use your phone. If you delete the extra, don't panic: you can restore the application you deleted by using this method by commanding adb shell cmd package install-existing name.packet.

Safe table for removing MIUI packets

To facilitate navigation through a variety of system processes, we have compiled a table of the most frequently removed components on the Xiaomi Mi 9. These applications, as a rule, do not affect the basic functionality of calls and the Internet, but can be replaced by analogues or simply not needed by a particular user.

Using this table allows you to quickly identify processes that eat up resources. However, versions of MIUI may differ, and packet names sometimes change. Always check the relevance of information for your particular firmware version. If a certain feature (such as a gallery or music) stops working after removing a point from the table, just restore the package through ADB.

Alternative methods and use of third-party utilities

If you find the command line too difficult or risky, there are graphical shells for ADB that automate the process. Programs like Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools or Universal Android Debloater provide a user-friendly interface with checkboxes where you can simply select applications to remove, which reduces the likelihood of errors when you type a packet name.

Also worth mentioning is the possibility of using freezer applications such as Titanium Backup (requires Root) or Ice Box (works through ADB or device owner mode), which allow applications to be frozen, making them inactive as if they were removed, but with the ability to instantly defrost at any time, a perfect compromise for testing the impact of system processes on autonomy.

Another method is to use Shizuku. This app allows you to run operations requiring ADB privileges directly from your phone, without having to permanently connect to your computer. Once you have set up your Wi-Fi debugging or cable, you can use compatible application managers to remove or freeze system software directly from the Xiaomi Mi 9 screen.

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Using graphical shells for ADB significantly reduces the risk of human error when typing commands, which is especially important for beginners in the Android modification.

Frequent problems and their solution

Users often face unforeseen difficulties in optimizing a system, such as when a heavy application is removed, the phone may start to run slower, because the system tries to find the deleted file, fails to find it, and enters a cycle of errors, or the background processes are rebuilt, consuming more resources for adaptation, in which case it helps to restart the device or restore the deleted component.

Another common problem is the automatic recovery of remote applications after a system update or reboot, which is typical for Google Play Services or MIUI system components. To prevent this, you need to disable automatic updates of system applications in the settings of the Google Play Store, and also prevent updates through GetApps (Mi Store).

If you notice that the battery started to run out faster after cleaning, check the usage statistics. You may have removed the service that managed the energy saving, or, conversely, the freed up resources are now occupied with other, less optimized processes. In rare cases, a full reset (Wipe) after performing all the removal manipulations, so that the system “assembles” again without unnecessary garbage.