Android operating system in the shell MIUI or HyperOS often comes with an impressive list of preinstalled software. Many of these programs are not used by the owner, but continue to consume RAM and battery power in the background. Proper management of installed components is the first step to speed up your device.
Unlike complete deletion, which is not possible for all system processes, the shutdown function allows you to freeze the component without risking system stability, which is especially true for users who want to get rid of intrusive services of Google or Chinese counterparts without resorting to complex manipulation of root rights.
Before you go into action, you need to understand the difference between normal deletion and system freezing. In the first case, the data is erased completely, in the second case, the application simply stops starting and updating, remaining in the device's memory in sleep mode, this approach is a safe way to optimize, because at any time you can return everything to its original state.
⚠️ Warning: Disable critical system components such as “Security”, “Google Play Services” or “System” UI», It can lead to improper operation of the smartphone or loss of access to accounts.
Difference Between Deleting and Disabling Applications
Users often confuse the two as synonymous, but technically they are completely different processes with different consequences for the operating system. APK-The program file and all associated data from the internal memory, and then the system stops seeing the application, and it disappears from the list of installed programs.
Disabling is a milder measure of impact. When you disable an application on Xiaomi, the system marks it as inactive. It disappears from the list of applications, stops receiving updates through the Google Play store or GetApps, and its processes stop completely. However, the installation file itself remains in the system partition, occupying the minimum space that cannot be vacated without obtaining superuser rights.
The main advantage of the disablement method is that you can quickly recover, so if you notice a strange behavior of your phone after you freeze a service, or if you lose a feature, you can instantly activate the component back, and if you completely delete it, you would have to re-download the installation file and configure the program.
- 🚀 Shutdown instantly stops background activity and battery consumption.
- 💾 Application files remain in memory but are not executed by the system.
- 🔄 The ability to return all changes in one click through the settings.
Preparing for System Settings Change
Before starting a mass shutdown of the built-in software, it is recommended to conduct preliminary preparation, which will help to avoid situations when after freezing an important component, the phone ceases to respond correctly to commands or loses communication with the network. First, make sure your device is charged at least to the 50-60%.
It's also worth backing up important data. While the standard shutdown procedure through the settings menu is safe, the human factor hasn't been reversed. Accidental shutdown of the wrong component may require resetting to factory settings, which will result in the loss of personal files if they're not saved in the Mi Cloud cloud or on a computer.
It is recommended to check the list of applications you plan to freeze in advance. Don’t blindly trust the advice from the Internet, as the set of system processes may vary depending on the version of MIUI and the firmware region (Global, China, EEA).
☑️ Preparing for optimization
An important step in preparation is to enable the display of all processes. By default, some system services may be hidden in the application management menu. To see the full picture, sometimes you need to activate the developer mode, although standard user rights are often enough for a basic disablement.
Standard method of disconnection through settings
The easiest and safest way to deactivate unwanted software is built right into the shell interface, which doesn't require a computer connection or additional software installation, but is suitable for most standard applications, such as browsers, maps, email clients and Google services.
You need to go to the application management menu first, and the path may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the logic remains the same, find the program you want in the list and open the detailed description of it, and that's where the key component state control button is.
If the application is system-based and cannot be removed in the usual way, the Delete button will be missing or inactive, and instead you will see the Disable button, and clicking on it will alert you that the application will be removed from the list and will stop working, and the system will also warn that other applications may not work properly without this component.
Settings → Applications → All Applications → [Select App] → DisableOnce confirmed, the app icon will disappear from the desktop and menu, and if you want to return it, you will need to go back to the settings, find the section with the apps disabled (usually filtered separately), and click "Enable." The activation process takes a few seconds.
What to do if the “Disable” button is grey?
Use of Developer Mode and ADB
For advanced users who want to clean up the system of really unnecessary garbage, standard settings may not be enough.Some Xiaomi system applications do not have a switch button in the usual menu, USB-cable ADB (Android Debug Bridge).
The first step is to activate the developer mode on your smartphone, which requires you to quickly click seven times on the build number in the About Phone section, and after the message “You became a developer”, a new option will appear in the settings menu “Additional” or “Extended settings”, where you need to find “Developers”.
Inside the developer menu, you need to activate the item "Debugging by USB». Without this permission, the computer will not be able to send commands to the phone. Once the device is connected to the PC via cable, a request for debugging permission will appear on the smartphone screen — it must be confirmed by ticking the box “Always Allow».
| ADB Team Team | Action. | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 package_name | Disable the application for the current user | Low (can be returned) |
| adb shell pm enable package_name | Includes previously disabled application | Absent. |
| adb shell pm list packages | Shows a list of all packages | Absent. |
| adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 package_name | Remove the application (remains in the system) | Medium. |
Using the command line gives you complete control, but requires caution (package_name) You need to know exactly, for example, com.miui.weather2 A single-letter error can result in an attempt to disable the wrong component or an error in command execution.
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For easy work with ADB, use graphical shells such as Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools or Universal Android Debloater.They automatically identify the phone model and offer secure listings to remove.
What apps can be turned off on Xiaomi
The question of what exactly can be safely frozen worries every Xiaomi owner: the list of “safe” candidates depends on your personal needs, and if you do not use built-in tools, they can safely be sent to sleep, freeing up the resources of the processor.
The safe category includes standard Google apps if you don’t use them (Google TV, Music, Movies, Maps if you have a navigator), and Mi Browser’s built-in browsers are often turned off if Chrome or Yandex are installed, and print services if you don’t connect your phone directly to the printer.
And we've got to focus on analytics and advertising, and Global's firmware often hides them deeper, but the components are like, MSA (MIUI System Ads) can be found and defused, and turning off these services not only speeds up the phone, but also increases privacy.
- 📺 Google TV Play Movies – If you don’t watch content from your phone to your TV.
- 🗺️ Maps and Navigation – if there are alternative navigators (Yandex, 2GIS).
- 🎵 Music and Podcasts – if streaming services are used.
- 📰 News and Mi Video – Sources of Intrusive Content and Advertising.
⚠️ Warning: Do not disable Google Play Services, Google Play Store, and Download Manager, which will cause most third-party apps to stop working and you can’t update your system.
Possible problems and solutions
Even with caution, there may be unexpected situations: when some components are turned off, the interface may become less responsive, or notifications from certain programs will stop coming in, and understanding the causes helps to quickly fix the malfunction.
A common problem is that widgets disappear. If you turn off an application that outputs information to your desktop (such as weather or currency rates), the widget will stop updating or disappear altogether. The solution is one to turn the app back on, and you may lose the ability to transfer files over Bluetooth or Mi Share if the relevant system services were affected.
In rare cases, the phone may go into a bootloop cycle, which happens if a critical shell component, such as the system launcher or security services, has been disabled, in which case only logging into Recovery mode and resetting to factory settings (Wipe Data), which will delete all user data, will help.
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The golden rule of optimization: disable no more than 2-3 apps at a time and check the phone for 10-15 minutes. this will help to accurately identify the culprit of problems, if they occur.
If you notice that the battery started to run out faster after optimization, you may have turned off the service that was responsible for the background synchronization, and now the system is trying to permanently restore the connection, consuming the charge, in which case it is worth analyzing the latest changes and returning the settings.