Xiaomi’s MIUI and HyperOS-based smartphones are famous for their rich functionality, but along with useful tools, they often provide users with pre-installed software that they don’t always need. One of these components is the GetApps app store (formerly known as Mi Apps), which is integrated into the system by default and actively imposes its services. For many users who prefer to install programs from Google Play or third-party sources like F-Droid, this service becomes an unnecessary burden, consuming resources and annoying notifications.
The problem is that the standard methods available in the normal settings menu often make it impossible to completely remove or even simply disable this system component.The Remove button may be inactive, and the Disable option is hidden or absent.This is due to the manufacturer's policy of keeping the user in its ecosystem.However, there are proven technical ways to get around these limitations and rid the device of intrusive service without losing the warranty and stability of the main system.
In this guide, we’ll look at all the available solutions, from simple notification settings to advanced ADB debugging techniques. You’ll learn what risks exist when removing system packages, how to properly prepare your smartphone for intervention, and what commands you need to enter to achieve results. It’s important to understand that GetApps is not just a shortcut on your desktop, but a deeply integrated system process that requires careful handling.
What is GetApps and Why Does It Interfere?
GetApps is Xiaomi’s own app store, which preinstalles all of the brand’s devices sold outside of China, and is formally designed to provide an alternative platform for downloading Mi and Redmi-optimized software, but in practice, it often acts as a channel for distributing ads, hot game notifications and offers that most users consider spam.
The main reason for the discontent of users lies in the aggressive behavior of the application: it can independently run background processes, consume RAM and even affect the battery life of the device. Unlike conventional user programs, GetApps has deeper access rights to the system, which allows it to recover after cleaning or ignore some energy saving restrictions, making its removal a priority for those who value the cleanliness of the interface.
In addition, having multiple app stores on one device can lead to conflicts when installing updates. The system may periodically ask which source to update a particular program through, which creates unnecessary actions for the smartphone owner. By disabling GetApps, you eliminate this source of confusion and free up space in the system partition, albeit insignificant, but important for overall optimization.
⚠️ Attention: GetApps is a system application that, if forced to remove or disable, can in rare cases cause some embedded shell functions to function in an unstable manner. MIUI, Therefore, before starting any operations, it is recommended to create a full backup of important data.
Preparing a smartphone to remove system components
Before you start taking drastic action to deactivate system packages, you have to perform a number of preparatory operations that will ensure the security of your data and allow you to quickly return everything as it was, if necessary, the first step is to activate the developer mode, which is hidden from the average user for security reasons.
To activate the hidden menu, go to Settings → About the phone and find the line "Version" MIUI» or "Version" OS». You need to press this paragraph quickly. 7-10 Once in a row, until the screen does not appear message that you became a developer, and then in the main menu settings will appear a new section. → For developers where you need to activate the debugging switch USB.
It’s also important to make sure that your device has a reliable antivirus installed or you trust the source from which you will download the package management tools.There is always a minimal risk of error when working with system files, so having a restore point or fresh backup in the Google cloud or on your computer is a must.
☑️ Checklist of device preparation
Disconnection method through system settings
The easiest and safest way to minimize the impact of GetApps is to try to disable it with regular means. Although complete removal is often not available, you can limit its functionality by preventing startup and notifications. This method does not require a connection to a computer and is suitable for all Xiaomi models.
Go to Settings → Apps → All apps and find in the GetApps list (may be called “Mi Apps” or have an icon with the letter “A” on a color background). Inside the app menu, first select “Notifications” and completely disable them. This will save you from spam in the notification curtain. Then try to find the “Disable” or “Delete” button at the bottom of the screen or in the three-dot menu.
If the delete button is inactive, which happens 90% of the time on global firmware, you can try to clear the application data. Click Memory → Clear and Clear the cache. This will reset all the accumulated temporary files and settings of the store, which can temporarily stop its background activity. However, after a device is restarted or when you update the system components, the service can be activated again.
Why is the Remove button inactive?
Using ADB to completely remove GetApps
The most effective method to completely get rid of intrusive service is the use of the Android Debug Bridge tool (ADB). This method does not require obtaining Root rights, which retains the device warranty, but requires a computer (Windows, macOS or Linux) and USB-The essence of the method is to send commands from the computer to the smartphone, which forcibly remove or “freeze” the system package for the current user.
To get started, download and install ADB Platform Tools from the official Android developer site to your computer. Once you unpack the archive, open the command line (in Windows it is cmd or PowerShell) in the tool folder. Connect your smartphone with a cable and confirm the debugging request that will appear on the phone screen. Check the connection with the adb device command - the serial number of your device should appear in the list.
The uninstall command is used to remove the application (user 0) and hide it for the current user, effectively rendering it inoperable, even though the files remain in the system partition. This is secure and reversible. Enter the following command in the terminal:
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.mi.android.globalAppGalleryOnce you've successfully executed the command, you'll see the message, "Success," and the GetApps app will disappear from the menu and no longer consume resources. If you want to return it in the future, you'll need to run the reinstall command, which is also shown below. It's important not to reboot the phone while you're executing the commands.
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The ADB team doesn't physically delete a file from the disk, it just disables it for your user profile, and it's the safest way to modify a system without a Root-Law.
Alternative tools: Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools
For those who don’t want to mess around with manually typing commands into the console, there are dedicated graphics utilities developed by enthusiasts. One of the most popular and proven is Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools (developer Szaki), which automatically identifies a model of your smartphone connected via USB and offers a list of system applications that can be safely removed.
The interface is intuitive: after connecting the device and authorizing debugging on the phone screen, the software will scan the list of installed packages. You will need to find the GetApps list (often marked as safe to remove) and press the appropriate button. The program will create and send the necessary ADB-This reduces the risk of error when you enter the packet name manually.
However, it is worth remembering that third-party utilities require the Java environment installed on the computer, and when using such tools, it is important to download them only from official repositories (for example, GitHub) to avoid the introduction of malicious code.
| Parameter | Manual method (ADB) | Xiaomi ADB Tools | Root rights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | Medium | Low. | Tall. |
| I need a PC. | Yes. | Yes. | No (usually) |
| Guarantee | It's still there. | It's still there. | Burns. |
| Risk of error | Medium. | Low. | High-pitched |
| Returns | Lightweight | Lightweight | Difficult. |
Possible problems and solutions
Users may encounter various difficulties in deactivating system components, most often the computer simply “does not see” the connected smartphone, in which case the problem lies in the drivers. Windows may require the installation of universal Google drivers. USB Driver or specific Xiaomi drivers. It's also worth trying another one. USB-cable, as many cables only support charging, but not data transmission.
Another common error is the message "Failure [not installed for 0]" when you try to delete. This means that you either entered the wrong packet name or the application has already been removed / disabled. Carefully check the syntax of the command. The name of the package com.mi.android.globalAppGallery should be entered without errors and unnecessary spaces.
If you notice strange system behavior after removing GetApps, such as desktop crashes or problems updating other applications, the service can be easily returned.
⚠️ Note: If you have been manipulated by ADB The phone stopped booting, don't panic. Since the Root rights weren't used, you just need to reset the factory settings (Wipe Data) through Recovery Mode to bring the device back to life.
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Use the original. USB-Cheap analogues often have poor contact, which leads to a connection break at a critical point in the execution of the command.
How to restore GetApps back
There are different situations: you may have needed an app to install a specific software that is only available in this store, or you sell the phone and want to return it to its original state. GetApps recovery is as simple as removing it, and again requires a connection to the computer via ADB.
To return the system component, install-existing is used. It instructs the system to find the package in the hidden system partition and reinstalle it for the current user. In the command line, while in the folder with ADB, type:
adb shell cmd package install-existing com.mi.android.globalAppGalleryOnce the command is successfully executed, the app will appear on the menu as if it has never been removed. All system dependencies will be restored automatically. If you used the Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools graphics utility, there is usually a button called “Restore” or “Reinstall” that performs the same function automatically.
It’s worth noting that a simple system-over-the-air update (OTA) can also bring back remote system applications if files haven’t been physically erased (which is impossible without Root).So if you’re categorically against having GetApps, the shutdown procedure will have to be repeated after every major firmware update, MIUI/HyperOS.