How to Disable or Remove System Apps on Android Xiaomi: The Complete Guide

Xiaomi smartphones come with dozens of pre-installed apps, from useful MIUI services to advertising modules and duplicating tools. Many of them can’t be removed by standard methods, but they can be disabled or removed forcibly, freeing up memory and reducing background activity. However, improper actions can lead to system failures, so it’s important to understand the differences between methods and their consequences.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to work with system applications on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO in 2026 – from securely disabling through settings to deep removal with ADB and root rights. You’ll learn which applications can be removed without risk and which should not be touched, and how to restore the system if something goes wrong.

Why System Applications Are Interfering with Users

Xiaomi’s pre-installed software has two key functions: it powers the MIUI shell and monetizes the device through advertising and partner services, but for most users, it creates more problems than benefits:

• 📱 Busy memory: system applications take 3 to 8 GB depending on the model (for example, on Xiaomi 13 Pro it is a model of the same size). ~5.2 GB, and on the Redmi Note 12 – up to 4 GB).
• 🔋 Background activity: services like mipush, miui.analytics or com.xiaomi.midrop are constantly running in the background, consuming battery power.
• 📢 Advertising and spam: applications such as com.miui.hybrid or com.xiaomi.mi_connect_service Advertising is shown even in the system menu.
• 🔄 Duplicate functionality: Xiaomi installs its browsers, galleries and music players on top of standard Android analogues.

According to a study by XDA Developers (2023), disabling unnecessary system services can increase battery life by 12-18% and free up to 1.5 GB of RAM. But not all applications are safe to remove — some are critical to the stability of MIUI.

Which system applications can be removed and which can not

Before you turn something off, you need to clearly understand what each application is responsible for, and below is a table that divides it into safe to remove, conditionally safe (you can turn off, but not delete) and critical (you can not touch).

Unique information for Xiaomi: On HyperOS devices (such as Xiaomi 14 or Redmi K70), some of the system packages have been renamed. For example, com.miui.securitycenter can now be called com.miui.hyperos.security. Always check the current package name through ADB or App Inspector before deleting.

⚠️ Note: Deleting applications like com.qualcomm.qti.telephonyservice or com.android.phone will result in network loss and loss of the service. SMS. They can be restored only through a complete reset or reflashing.

Method 1: Disabling system applications without root rights

The safest method is to disable the application through standard settings, which doesn't remove the application completely, but it stops it from working and hides it from the menu, and is suitable for most users, because it doesn't require technical skills.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select "Show all apps."
3. Find the right app (such as Mi Video or Mi Browser).
4. Click "Disable" and confirm the action.

Applications disabled:

• ✅ Not updated through the Play Market.
• ✅ They do not consume battery and traffic.
• ❌ Remain in the memory of the device (do not vacate the space).
• ❌ You can accidentally turn back on through resetting settings.

On some models (POCO F5, Redmi Note 12 Pro+) the shutdown option may be hidden, in which case ADB will help (see next section).

Method 2: Remove system applications via ADB (without root)

ADB (Android Debug Bridge) is Google’s official debugging tool that allows you to remove system applications without rooting permissions.The method works on all Xiaomi with an unlocked bootloader, but requires a connection to a PC.

Step-by-step:

1. Download Google’s Platform Tools and unpack the archive.
2. Turn on the phone Developer Mode (7 times click on the MIUI version in Settings → About phone).
3. Activate Debugging by USB in Settings → Additional → For developers.
4. Connect your phone to your PC and type in the command line: adb devices (the name of your device should appear).
5. To remove the application, use the command: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 name packet For example, to delete Mi Browser: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.browser

Advantages of the method:

• 🔧 Doesn't require root rights.
• 📉 Frees up space in memory (as opposed to disconnecting).
• 🔄 Application can be restored by the command: adb shell cmd package install-existing name packet

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi with HyperOS, the pm uninstall command may not work for some packages due to the changed permission structure. --user 0 Or use adb shell pm disable-user.

💡

Before mass deletion, take a screenshot of the packet list with the adb shell pm list packages | grep 'miui' command to help restore remote applications if something goes wrong.

Method 3: Complete removal with root rights (for experienced)

If you have a bootloader unlocked and you have Magisk or another root manager installed, you can remove system applications directly from the /system/priv-app or /system/app folder.

Instructions:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Mixplorer).
2. Go to /system/priv-app or /system/app.
3. Find a folder with the name of the application being removed (for example, MiBrowser).
4. Rename the folder by adding.bak at the end (e.g. MiBrowser.bak).
5. Reset the device.

Alternatively, Titanium Backup or System App Remover (requires root) are programs that allow you to create backups before you delete them.

Risks:

• 💥 Bootloop (Cycle Loading) when removing critical packets.
• 📵 Loss of functionality (e.g., deleting com.qualcomm.telephony will disable the mobile network).
• 🔒 Security breach (some system applications are responsible for encryption).

How to Restore Remote System Applications

If after removal there are problems, you can restore applications in several ways:

1. Through ADB: adb shell cmd package install-existing For example, for Mi Gallery: adb shell cmd package install-existing com.miui.gallery
2. Through Root: Rename the folder back (remove.bak).
3. Through firmware: Download the full firmware package for your model with Xiaomi Firmware Updater and run only the system partition (system.img) through Fastboot.

If nothing helps, you can either reset completely (Settings → About Phone → Reset) or flash through the Mi Flash Tool.

💡

Always back up /system before mass removal of applications. Use the command adb backup -apk -shared -all -f backup.ab or the TWRP application (if installed).

Removal Alternatives: How to Hide or Replace System Applications

If the risks of removal are frightening, consider alternative methods:

• 🔍 Hiding icons: Use launchers like Nova Launcher or Lawnchair, which let you hide system apps from the menu.
• 🔄 Default Replacement: Assign other apps for default actions (e.g. Google Chrome instead of Mi Browser).
• 🛡️ Network Blocking: Turn off the internet for unnecessary apps via Settings → Annexes → Use of data.
• ⚙️ Disabling Autostart: In Security → Autorun Prohibit Background Work for System Services.

For Xiaomi HyperOS models (2026), there is another trick: you can turn off advertising and analytics through a hidden menu.

1. Open the phone app (phone).
2. Enter the code: ##4636###.
3. Go to Usage statistics and turn off all switches associated with miui.

FAQ: Frequent questions about working with system applications