How to remove applications on Xiaomi: from standard to system

Why Removing Apps on Xiaomi Is Only Half the Case

Have you ever noticed that when you delete an app on Xiaomi, the space doesn't increase as much as you expected? Or that after a while, the program reappears after you update the system? It's not a coincidence -- it's a feature of MIUI and Android architecture on your brand's devices. The fact is that just clicking "Delete" 80 percent of the time leaves behind cache, temporary files, and even snippets of code that continue to occupy memory and affect performance.

In this article, we will explore not only the basic methods of uninstallation, but also the hidden mechanisms of MIUI that prevent the full removal of programs from preinstalled “junk” utilities to system components that can not be touched without consequences. You will learn how the processes for the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 or Xiaomi 13T, why some models appear “Delete is impossible” error, and what to do with applications that recover after resets.

We'll focus on secure removal without risking turning a smartphone into a brick or losing access to important features. For example, did you know that deleting com.miui.analytics can disrupt branded services, and cleaning com.xiaomi.midrop will disable fast file transfer? We've compiled up-to-date data for 2026, including changes to MIUI 14/15 and how to work with HyperOS on new devices.

Removing Standard Applications: From Simple to Advanced

Start with the basic methods that work on all Xiaomi devices regardless of the firmware version, which are suitable for removing user applications (such as Instagram, TikTok or games), as well as parts of pre-installed software that are not critical to the system.

The most obvious way is through the app menu:

1. Open the Settings → Applications.
2. Select the Application Management tab.
3. Find the desired application in the list and tap it.
4. Press the Remove button (if it is active).

However, this method does not always work. For example, on POCO F5 with MIUI 14, the "Delete" button may not be active for applications like Mi Video or Mi Music, in which case an alternative way through the Google Play Store will help:

• 📱 Open the Play Store and go to the Installed Store → All right.
• 🔍 Find the app and click on three dots next to the name.
• 🗑️ Choose to delete (if option is available).

If this method didn't work, it means that the application is protected by the system, and it will require administrator rights or special tools to remove it, which we'll talk about later.

How to remove pre-installed applications (bloatware) without root rights

Bloatware is one of the most annoying features of MIUI, including Mi Browser, Mi Pay, GetApps, Mi Video, and dozens of other utilities that most users don’t need but take up memory and background processes. You can’t remove them with standard methods, but there are workarounds.

The safest way is to disable (not completely delete, but the app will stop working and update):

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an unneeded app (such as Mi Browser).
3. Click Disable (the button will appear if the deletion is blocked).
4. Confirm the action in the pop-up window.

For a complete root-free removal, you will need ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which works on all Xiaomi devices with the unlocked bootloader (it is unlocked by default on most models).

Install ADB drivers on your PC (download from Android Studio)

Enable USB debugging on your smartphone (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times tap the version number, then go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging by USB)

Connect your phone to your PC and allow debugging in the pop-up window

Download the list of packets to remove (for example, miui_bloatware_list.txt)-->

Now run commands in Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (macOS/Linux):

adb devices

(Make sure the device is listed.)

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.browser

(Replace com.android.browser with the name of the package of the desired application.)

List of popular removal packages:

⚠️ Note: Deleting system packages like com.miui.home or com.android.settings will cause your phone to fail. Always check the name of the package before you delete it and back up your adb backup.

Removing System Apps: When It’s Justified and How Not to Break Your Phone

System applications are programs that are integrated into firmware and are responsible for key MIUI functions. Deleting them can both improve performance and completely disable the device. For example, removing com.miui.securitycenter will disable Security and Optimization, and without com.xiaomi.finddevice, you will not be able to find the phone through the Mi Cloud.

Before you start, answer the following questions:

• 🔧 Do you need a function that this app is responsible for?
• 📱 Is there an alternative solution (for example, a third-party launcher instead of a third-party launcher) MIUI Launcher)?
• 🔄 Are you ready for possible bugs after deleting (such as update errors) MIUI)?

If you’re taking a chance, here’s a list of relatively safe system packages to remove (see MIUI 14 for example):

• 🎵 com.miui.misound – Mi Sound (unless you use Xiaomi wireless headphones).
• 📊 com.miui.analytics – Statistics collection (will remove ads in system applications).
• 📱 com.miui.hybrid – Hybrid Services (can recover after update).
• 🔄 com.xiaomi.mirecycle – Recycling utility (junk collector).

To remove system packages, be sure to use ADB with the command:

adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 name packet

The --user 0 flag means that the application is only removed for the current user, not completely from the system, which reduces the risk of "bricking".

Cleaning up residues after deletion: cache, data and junk files

Even after successfully removing the app, Xiaomi still has temporary files, cache and settings that continue to take up space, such as uninstalling Facebook in the /Android/data/com.facebook.katana folder, there may be gigabytes of unnecessary data left over.

Method 1: Through the built-in cleaning utility:

1. Go to Settings. → Memory.
2. Select the Cleanup (Broommark).
3. Press Deep Clean and wait for analysis.
4. Check the unneeded files and confirm the deletion.

Method 2: Manually via a file manager (e.g., Mi File Explorer or Solid Explorer):

• 📁 Move to the /Android/data/ and find a folder with the name of the remote application (for example, com.whatsapp).
• 🗑️ Delete the folder completely (superuser rights will be required for some directories).
• 🔍 Check the folder. /Android/obb/ — There may be large game files.

For advanced users, the ADB team is suitable for cleaning the cache of all applications:

adb shell pm trim-caches 256M

(This command clears the cache to the specified limit — in example 256 MB.)

⚠️ Note: Do not manually delete files from folders /system or /vendor — This will make it impossible to boot the system, and avoid cleaning folders called com.android. and com.google, which are critical to Android.

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Before mass cache clearing, create a restore point in TWRP (if installed) or back up via adb backup -apk -shared -all -f backup.ab. This will save your data if something goes wrong.

Features of removal on new devices with HyperOS

In 2026, Xiaomi began switching to a new firmware, HyperOS, which replaced MIUI on flagship models (such as Xiaomi 14 or Redmi K70), which changed the logic of working with applications, and the old methods of removing may not work.

1. System package protection. HyperOS has expanded the list of secure applications, for example, you can now disable Mi AI Assistant (com.miui.voiceassist) without special permissions.

2. New Application Manager. The path to settings has changed: Settings → Applications → Application Management → Three dots → Show all applications.

3. Automatic Recovery: HyperOS is more aggressive in restoring remote system applications after updates. To avoid this, use the command:

adb shell cmd package compile -m speed -f name packet

(This will disable packet optimization and the system will stop noticing it.)

4.Separate into "light" and "full" removals: HyperOS has an option to Remove Updates for system applications, which returns them to the factory version (useful for Google Play Services or Miui Gallery).

What to do if the application is not deleted: common errors and solutions

Sometimes even after you've done all the instructions, the application stays there or it gives you an error, and let's look at the typical problems and the ways that we can solve them.

1. The "Delete" button is inactive.

• 🔹 Reason: App is system-based or policy-protected MIUI.
• 🔧 Solution: Use ADB or disable the application (see section above).

2. the error "Deletion is impossible" or "Insufficient rights".

• 🔹 Reason: No rights ADB or the package is protected.
• 🔧 Solution: Check the connection by USB (Select File Transfer Mode, reinstall drivers ADB Or use a command with a flag. --user 0.

3.The application is restored after restarting.

• 🔹 Reason: MIUI HyperOS automatically restores system packages.
• 🔧 Solution: Turn off automatic update of system applications in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system → Three points. → Settings → Auto-update of applications.

4. "Package not found" error when deleting via ADB.

• 🔹 Reason: Incorrect package name or application has already been removed.
• 🔧 Solution: Check the name of the package with the command adb shell pm list packages | grep".

5. After removal, functions (NFC, themes, gestures) ceased to work.

• 🔹 Reason: Critical package is removed (e.g. com.miui.nfc or com.android.themes).
• 🔧 Solution: Restore the package via firmware or reset settings.

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If none of these methods worked, try resetting your settings to factory settings (Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset) is a radical way to do this, but it is guaranteed to remove all user applications and return the system to its original state.

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing apps on Xiaomi