How to Disable or Remove Apps on Xiaomi via Play Store: Full Guide

Xiaomi MIUI-based smartphones often come with pre-installed apps that the user doesn’t always need. Many of them can’t be removed by standard system means, but they can be disabled or removed through the Google Play Store. This method works even for system utilities that are usually blocked by the manufacturer.

Unlike complete removal via ADB or root rights, disabling through the Play Store is safe for the system and does not require technical skills. However, there are nuances: not all applications support this feature, and some after disabling can be activated again after the MIUI update. In this article, we will discuss all the ways to manage unnecessary programs, including hidden features of Google Play, which few people use.

It is important to understand the difference between deletion and disabling: Delete – the application disappears completely (only for user programs); Disabling – the application remains in the system, but does not work and consumes resources (suitable for system utilities).

Why you can’t just uninstall your system apps on Xiaomi

Smartphone manufacturers, including Xiaomi, are integrating dozens of utility and partner apps into MIUI firmware, some of which are responsible for:

• 🔄 Update (Updater, System Update)
• 📡 Mobile Networking (Sim Toolkit, Carrier Services)
• 🛡️ Security, Security, Mi Security Center)
• 💰 Partner Services (Mi Pay, Mi Credit, GetApps)

If you remove such applications through ADB or root, this may result in:

• ⚠️ Update errors (the system will not be able to download new versions) MIUI).
• ⚠️ Problems with mobile communication (access to settings will disappear) SIM-map).
• ⚠️ Camera or sensor failures (some modules depend on system services).

⚠️ Warning: Deleting apps like com.miui.securitycenter or com.android.providers.telephony completely can make your phone unusable. Play Store blocks the removal of critical components but allows them to be disabled – a safe alternative.

Another reason Xiaomi is restricting removal is because of licensing agreements with partners (e.g. Facebook, Netflix, LinkedIn) that are pre-installed and may violate the device’s terms of use.

How to disable the application on Xiaomi through the Play Store: step-by-step instructions

This method works for most pre-installed applications, except for mission-critical system services, and is relevant for MIUI 12-14 and all Xiaomi models (including Redmi, POCO, Black Shark).

1. Open the Google Play Store and click on the profile icon (in the upper right corner).
2. Select Application and Device Management.
3. Go to the Manage tab (or Installed in older versions of the Play Store).
4. Find the right app (for example, Mi Browser, Mi Music, GetApps) and tap it.
5. On the app page, click on three dots (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Remove or Disable.

If the Remove button is inactive (grey), it means the application is system and you can only turn it off.

• 📱 The icon will disappear from the main screen and the app menu.
• 🔄 The app will not be updated through the Play Store.
• 📉 They will stop consuming resources (CPU, memory, internet).

Some apps (such as Mi Video or Mi Calculator) may not be on the Store’s Play list, which means they are installed as part of the firmware and do not have a separate entry in Google Play. Use the MIUI settings to disable them (see the next section).

What to do if the app does not appear in the Play Store

About 30% of pre-installed apps on Xiaomi do not have a separate page on Google Play, which is because they are integrated into the firmware as system APKs (e.g. com.miui.calculator or com.miui.videoplayer).

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Enable the display of all applications (click on three dots) ⋮ → Show all the processes).
3. Find the desired application in the list and tap it.
4. Click Disable (if the button is active) or Remove Updates (if the app has been updated through the Play Store).

If the Disable button is not available, the application is protected from change.

• 🔧 Use it. ADB For forced shutdown (computer required).
• 📱 Reset your phone to factory settings (delete all user data!).
• 🔄 Install custom firmware (like LineageOS), but this voids the warranty.

⚠️ Note: Disabling applications like com.miui.home or com.android.settings will cause your phone to fail. Before experimenting, check the name of the package on the Internet or on topic forums (for example, check the name of the package on the Internet or on topic forums, 4PDA).

How to Remove Application Updates Through Play Store

Many Xiaomi system applications initially take up little space, but after updates through the Play Store, their size increases by 2-3 times. For example, Mi Browser in pure firmware weighs ~ 20 MB, and after an update - up to 150 MB.

1. Open the Play Store and find an app (like Mi Browser).
2. Press three points (⋮) → Remove updates.
3. Confirm the action. The app will return to the factory version.

After that:

• 🔒 Play Store will no longer automatically update this app.
• 📉 Free up to 100-300 MB of memory (depending on the application).
• ⚠️ Some features may not work well (if the update contained bug fixes).

To prevent a re-update:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the application → Additional → Auto Update.
3. Set the value of Do not update automatically.

💡

If the application stopped working after removing the updates, try clearing its cache and data in the MIUI settings. Go to Settings → Applications → [App Name] → Storage → Clear cache / Clear data.

Table: What apps can be safely disabled on Xiaomi

Below is a list of applications that most users are turning off without any system consequences, and the data is relevant for MIUI 13–14 (2023–2026).

Important: Applications like com.miui.securitycenter or com.android.phone cannot be turned off, which will cause malfunctions in the phone.

Frequent mistakes and how to fix them

When you turn off or delete apps through the Play Store, users face typical problems, and let's look at the most common ones and how to solve them.

1. The "Disable" button is inactive.

If the gray button is not pressed, the reasons may be as follows:

• 🔧 The application is critical to MIUI (For example, com.miui.home - launcher).
• 📱 You have an outdated version of the Play Store (update it via APKMirror).
• 🔒 The application is protected by the manufacturer’s policy (for example, Google Play Services).

Solution: Try disabling the app through Settings → Apps or use ADB (technical skills required).

2 The app reappears after the MIUI update

Some system applications (such as Mi Browser or GetApps) are restored after a firmware update.

• 🔄 Turn off auto-update MIUI In Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 📵 Use it. ADB for forced removal (command: adb shell pm uninstall) -k --user 0 com.android.browser).
• 🔧 Install custom restoration (TWRP) and remove APK manually.

Error "Cannot disable the application"

This error occurs if:

• 📱 The application is actively used (for example, works in the background).
• 🔒 You do not have enough rights (you need a rut or a rut). ADB).
• 🔄 There was a failure in the Play Market.

Decision:

1. Reboot the phone.
2. Clear the Play Store cache in Settings → Apps → Google Play Store → Storage.
3. Try to disable the application through MIUI Settings.

⚠️ Warning: If after the app is turned off, the phone starts to overheat or discharge faster, an important system process has probably been deactivated. → Annexes → Show all processes and find the disabled application by the name of the package.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions