How to Disable Unnecessary Apps on Xiaomi: A Complete Guide to Using the App MIUI 12-14

Xiaomi smartphones based on the shell MIUI They often come with dozens of pre-installed apps, many of which users never run, and not only do they take up precious memory space, but they can also use up battery power in the background, slow down the system, and even collect data about your activity. Fortunately, MIUI Provides several ways to disable or remove unnecessary applications – both system and user installed.

In this article, we will analyze all the current methods of disabling applications on Xiaomi, including hidden shell functions, working with the user. ADB for deep cleaning, as well as nuances for different versions MIUI (We'll focus on safe shutdowns, so you don't break the stability of the system or lose important functions, POCO Or Mi, but don’t know where to start – this guide is for you.

Why you should disable unnecessary apps on Xiaomi

Pre-installed software (called bloatware) is one of the main reasons for Xiaomi users’ complaints, and these are the key issues that disabling unnecessary apps solves:

• 🔋 Battery savings: Background processes (such as Mi Video, Mi Music or GetApps) can consume up to 10-15% Charges per day even without active use.
• 🚀 Accelerating: The fewer active applications, the faster it works MIUI — This is especially true for budget models (Redmi). 9A, POCO M3).
• 📱 Memory Freeing: System applications take between 1 and 5 GB (depending on the model) and their cache can grow to hundreds of megabytes.
• 🛡️ Privacy: Some Xiaomi services (such as Mi Cloud or User Feedback) collect device usage data.

It is important to understand the difference between disabling and deleting:

• 🔄 Disable - the application stays on the system, but it does not start or update. It can be manually activated again.
• 🗑️ Delete – the application is completely erased from the device (possible only for user programs or through the device). ADB systemic).

⚠️ Note: Some system applications (e.g. Services & Feedback or Security) are critical to work MIUI. Disabling them can cause updates, notifications, or even “forever booting” (bootloop).

Method 1: Standard shutdown via MIUI settings

The easiest and safest method is to use built-in tools. MIUI. It's suitable for most user and part of the system applications. MIUI 12, 13 and 14:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the upper right corner, press three dots (⋮) and select Show all applications (or System Processes if you want to disable service programs).
3. Find the desired application in the list (you can use the search by name).
4. Press it. → Disable (or Delete if the button is active).
5. Confirm the action by clicking Disable the application (the system will warn about possible consequences).

Examples of applications that can be safely disabled through this method:

• 🎵 Mi Music is a standard music player (if you use Spotify or YouTube Music).
• 🎬 Mi Video - Video player (alternative — VLC or MX Player).
• 📦 GetApps – Xiaomi’s app store (if you only use Google Play).
• 📡 Mi Remote – remote control (if you do not use the IR port).

Once disabled, the app will disappear from the menu and stop appearing in search results. its icon will remain only in the Settings section. → Annexes → Disabled, from where it can be activated again.

⚠️ Note: Some applications (such as Google Play Services or Mi Account) cannot be disabled in the standard way.

Method 2: Disconnecting through Developer Mode (for power users)

If the standard method does not work, you can use hidden settings. MIUI. First, you need to activate the developer mode:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Find the MIUI version and click on it 7 times in a row (you will be notified "You became a developer!").
3. Return to the main Settings menu – there will be a new section Additional → For developers.

Now you can turn off the background activity of system applications:

1. Go to the Developers' Form → Limitation of background processes.
2. Choose No Background Processes or Maximum 2 Processes (this will reduce the system load).
3. For a point shutdown, go to For Developers → Memory management and manually limit unnecessary services.

This method doesn't remove applications, but it stops their background activity, which saves battery power, for example, you can pacify them:

• 📊 Analytics – a service for collecting statistics of use.
• 🔄 AutoUpdate – background updates of system applications.
• 📱 DeviceManagement – Device Management Service (can send data to Xiaomi).

Be careful: Incorrect settings in developer mode can lead to unstable phone performance (for example, no notifications or slow download of applications).

Method 3: Remove system applications via ADB (without root)

For deep cleaning Xiaomi from unnecessary software can be used ADB (Android Debug Bridge is a tool for debugging Android devices, which allows you to completely remove system applications that can not be disabled in the standard way.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows, macOS or Linux.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📥 Utility. ADB (You can download from the official Android website).
• 🔧 Initiated debugging mode USB phone-on.

Step-by-step:

1. Activate debugging on USB: Go to Settings. → Additionally. → For developers, turn on the debugging switch. USB. Confirm the permission by pressing OK in the window that appears.
2. Connect your phone to your PC: Connect the device to your computer via USB. On the phone, select the file transfer mode (MTP). In the window that appears, allow debugging for this computer (check "Always Allow").
3. Launch it. ADB: Unpack the downloaded platform-tools archive into any folder. Open the command prompt (cmd in Windows or Terminal in the file). macOS/Linux) Type in the command: adb devices If the phone is connected correctly, you will see its serial number.
4. Remove the unnecessary application: First get a list of all packages: adb shell pm list packages Find the name of the package of the desired application (for example, com.miui.video for Mi Video). Enter the deletion command (replace package.name with the real name): adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 package.name Flag --user 0 means deletion only for the current user (does not affect system files).

List of safe to remove system packets (checked for MIUI 14):

⚠️ Note: Deleting some packages (e.g. com.google.android.gms or com.miui.securitycenter) can cause critical phone malfunctions. Before experimenting, check out forum reviews (e.g., forum reviews, 4PDA or XDA Developers).

💡

Before mass removal of applications through ADB Make a backup copy through Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset, which will allow you to restore the system if something goes wrong.

Method 4: Use of third-party utilities (with root rights)

If you're willing to take drastic measures, you can get root rights and use specialized utilities to deep clean the system, which gives you maximum control, but requires unlocking the bootloader and installing a custom Recovery (for example, a custom recap, TWRP).

Popular tools for working with root:

• 🛠️ Titanium Backup – allows you to freeze, delete and restore any applications, including system applications.
• 🧹 SD Maid – clears the cache, deletes residual files and optimizes the system.
• 🔍 Root Explorer - file manager with access to system folders (you can manually delete) APK-file).

The following is a step-by-step guide for Titanium Backup:

1. Install Titanium Backup from Google Play (requires root).
2. Start the utility and provide root access.
3. Go to the Backup/Restore tab.
4. Find the unnecessary app in the list and click on it.
5. Choose Freeze! (disable the app) or Delete! (completely erase it).
6. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

Advantages of this method:

• ✅ Ability to selectively remove even the most “built-in” applications.
• ✅ Backup before changes (you can roll back errors).
• ✅ Butch processing – disabling multiple applications at a time.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Risk of losing warranty (bootloader unlock is not officially supported by Xiaomi).
• ❌ The ability to “brick” the phone in case of errors (for example, deleting critical system files).
• ❌ Difficulty for beginners - requires knowledge of working with TWRP Magisk.

💡

Getting root rights on Xiaomi is worth only if you are confident in your actions. For most users, there are enough methods without root (ADB or standard shutdown).

Method 5: Disabling Autostart and Background Activity

Even if you don't want to remove apps completely, you can limit their background activity, which will reduce battery consumption and speed up the phone. MIUI There are built-in tools for this:

Autostart shutdown:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want (such as Facebook or Mi Video).
3. Press Autostart and turn off the switch.
4. Also turn off background activity and push notifications if they are not needed.

Limiting data consumption:

1. Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Transfer of data.
2. Select the use of traffic by apps.
3. Find the unnecessary application and disable the Background data for it.

Optimization through “Battery and Performance”

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance.
2. Select Battery Consumption Management for applications.
3. For unnecessary programs, set Restricted or Manual Control.

These settings do not remove apps, but they significantly reduce their impact on performance, such as Facebook waking up every 10 minutes to check for new notifications after disabling autorun.

What applications on Xiaomi can be turned off without risk

Not all system applications are equally useful. Below is a list of safe programs to disable (checked for the following: MIUI 14 for Redmi Note 11 models, POCO X4 Pro, Xiaomi 12T):

What NOT to disable (critical system applications):

• 🚨 com.android.systemui – system interface (disabling will result in a black screen").
• 🔒 com.miui.securitycenter – Security Center (without it, notifications and permissions will not work).
• ☁️ Google services (without them will not work Play Market, Gmail, etc.).
• 📱 com.android.phone – telephone services (mobile communication will disappear).

If you are in doubt whether it is possible to disable a particular application, look for its name on forums (for example, in the topic about your model on the Internet). 4PDA). Users usually share their experience on which packets are safe to remove.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When you turn off applications on Xiaomi, users often face problems, and here are the most common mistakes and ways to solve them:

1.The phone stopped booting (bootloop) after removing the system application

🔹 Reason: Critical package (e.g. com.miui.home) removed).

🔹 Decision:

• Load to Fastboot (clip the power supply) + Loudness down when switched on).
• Connect your phone to your PC and restore the stock firmware through the Mi Flash Tool.
• If you have a backup copy, restore it through TWRP.

2. Notifications have stopped coming

🔹 Reason: Google Play Services or Mi Push Service is disabled.

🔹 Decision:

• Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
• Find Google Play Services and turn it back on.
• Check notification settings for the desired applications (Settings) → Notifications).

3. Themes or wallpapers don't work

🔹 Reason: Theme Manager (com.android.themes) is disabled).

🔹 Decision:

• Enable the application back through Settings → Annexes → Disconnected.
• Or install an alternative launcher (like Nova Launcher).

4. Mobile network or Wi-Fi icons have disappeared

🔹 Reason: System is offline UI or Telephony Provider.

🔹 Decision:

• Restart your phone in Safe Mode (clip the power). → Restarting in Safe Mode).
• Turn the disabled system applications back on.

💡

Before mass disabling applications, always back up through Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset. It'll save your data if something goes wrong.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions