How to remove dual apps on your Xiaomi phone: 5 working ways

You open up the app menu on your Xiaomi and suddenly find that the same programs are duplicated: two galleries, two browsers, two calendars, or even two Google Play Stores. MIUI, Especially after updates or resets, duplicates not only take up extra memory space, but also create confusion as to which application is “right” and which can be removed without risk to the system?

In this article, we will explore why dual apps appear on Xiaomi, which ones are safe to remove and which ones should not be touched. MIUI We will also explain how to avoid duplicates and what to do if the application “resurrects” after removal».

Before you start cleaning, it is important to understand that not all duplicates are the same, some are due to the features of the firmware (for example, Google services and their products). MIUI-Some are due to bugs when installing updates, and others may be due to virus software. We will help you distinguish them and act as efficiently as possible.

Why are there dual apps on Xiaomi?

Duplicate applications on Xiaomi smartphones are not an accident, but a consequence of the firmware architecture MIUI. Here are the main reasons for their appearance:

• 🔄 System vs. user conflict: Many applications (e.g. Gallery, Camera or Browser) are built into firmware initially, but when you upgrade through Google Play, they are installed as a "user" version.
• 📦 Pre-installed Google services and MIUI. The firmware contains both Xiaomi-branded apps (Mi Browser, Mi Video) and their Google counterparts (Chrome, YouTube). These are not duplicates in the literal sense, but they perform similar functions.
• 🔧 Errors in updating MIUI. If the firmware update is interrupted or has gone through with errors, the system may “forget” to delete the old version of the application, leaving both versions of the application.
• 🦠 Viruses or incorrectly installed APK. Some malware masquerades as system applications, creating copies of them with similar names (for example, Google Play Services and Google Play Service – note the absence of the letter “s»).

This is especially common on devices with MIUI 12-14, where Xiaomi is actively integrating its own services in parallel with Google, for example, on the same phone can exist simultaneously:

• 📷 Camera. MIUI (System) and Google Camera (user installed);
• 🌐 Mi Browser and Google Chrome;
• 📅 Calendar MIUI and Google Calendar.

This is not a mistake, but a conscious decision by the manufacturer, but if you see two identical apps with the same name and icon (for example, two Galleries or two Google Play Stores), this is cause for concern.

Which dual applications can be removed and which can not?

Before you click "Delete", you need to clearly understand which of the applications is system and which is user-friendly, and removing critical components can lead to the failure of certain functions of the phone or complete loss of functionality. MIUI.

* For system applications with updates, you can use the Disable or Remove Updates function in the application settings.

** Before removing the duplicate, check the version of the application in Settings → Appendices: Usually the duplicate has an older version or a "Cloned" label».

⚠️ Warning: Never remove applications called com.android., com.miui. or com.google.android.gsf are critical components of the system).

Method 1: Remove duplicates through settings MIUI

The easiest and safest method is to use built-in tools. MIUI. It is suitable for removing user applications and disabling system duplicates.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the list, find the duplicate app. Notice the icon next to the name: 📱 Green Android robot – user application (can be removed completely). ⚙️ Cogs - system application (you can only disable or remove updates).

• 🗑️ Remove – for user applications.
• 🔄 Remove updates – for system applications with updates.
• 🚫 Disable – if removal is not available.

If you see two galleries that are the same, check their versions first:

• Open information about each application.
• The one with the older version or the “Cloned” mark is a duplicate.

⚠️ Note: After disabling the system application (for example, Mi Browser), its icon will disappear from the menu, but the files will remain in memory.

Method 2: Use the "Duplicates of Applications" function in MIUI

Starting with MIUI 12, there's a built-in tool in the firmware to find duplicates, and it analyzes the installed programs and suggests that you delete or disable unnecessary copies.

How to use:

1. Go to Settings. → Annexes → Duplicate applications.
2. Wait until the scan is completed. The system will show a list of applications with the same functions (for example, two browsers or two galleries).
3. Opposite each duplicate, there's a button called Delete or Disable. Choose the action you want.

Note that this tool not only finds exact duplicates, but also applications with overlapping functionality, for example, it can suggest removing Chrome if you already have Mi Browser installed, and you have to decide which app to leave.

If the Duplicate Apps feature is not in your version MIUI, Try updating your firmware or using alternative methods from this article.

Method 3: Remove via ADB (for power users)

If the standard methods did not help, and duplicates remained, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This method requires connecting the phone to a computer and basic command line knowledge, but allows you to remove even those applications that are not connected to the computer. MIUI keeps you from touching.

Step-by-step:

1. Install ADB and Fastboot Tools on your computer.
2. Turn on the developer mode on the phone (go to Settings → About phone and 7 times click on the MIUI version).
3. Activate USB Debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
4. Connect the phone to your PC and type in the command line: Adb devices Make sure the device is identified (should appear its serial number).
5. Get a list of all applications: adb shell pm list packages Find a duplicate application (e.g. com.miui.gallery) in the list.
6. Remove the duplicate command: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 For example, to remove the duplicate gallery: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.gallery

Team keys:

• -k - saves the cache and application data.
• --user 0 — Deletes only for the current user (does not affect system files).

⚠️ Note: Removing system packages through ADB This can cause your phone to run in an unstable way. Before experimenting, back up your data and be prepared to reset your settings.

Method 4: Manually clean through file manager (for advanced ones)

This method is suitable if duplicates appeared due to incorrect installation. APK-It requires a file manager with access to system folders, such as MiXplorer or Solid Explorer (with Root mode enabled).

Instructions:

1. Open the file manager and go to the folder /data/app/ (Here are stored user applications).
2. Find folders with duplicate app names. They usually look like: com.android.gallery-1 com.android.gallery-2
3. Delete the folder with the duplicate (for example, com.android.gallery-2).
4. Reboot the phone.

If the duplicate is in the folder /system/app/ or /system/priv-app/, It's not recommended to remove it, because it can damage the firmware. ADB (method 3) or disable the application through settings.

To find viral duplicates, check the folders:

• /data/app/ — user-apps;
• /system/app/ — system-application;
• /data/local/tmp/ — Temporary files (often used by viruses).

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Before manually deleting folders, be sure to check their contents. Viruses are often disguised as system files, but have suspicious names (for example, viruses are often disguised as system files, com.android.google.play.service.apk instead of com.google.android.gms).

Method 5: Reset to factory settings (last resort)

If no methods have worked, and dual apps continue to appear, the last option is a complete reset of the phone, which will delete all user data and applications, return the firmware to its original state.

How to reset:

1. Create a backup of important data (photos, contacts, messages).
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Choose to erase all data and confirm the action.
4. Once you reboot, the phone will look like new. Install apps only from trusted sources.

Resetting helps in cases where duplicates have appeared due to:

• 🔄 Incorrect firmware update;
• 🦠 Virus software that is not removed by standard methods;
• 📱 Mistakes in work MIUI, cache-related.

⚠️ Warning: After a reset, do not restore data from a backup created before duplicates appear.This can return the problem.Install applications manually, avoiding mass recovery.

How can we prevent the emergence of dual applications in the future?

To avoid recurring problems, follow these guidelines:

• 🔄 Update your firmware regularly, but only through official channels (Settings) → System updates: Avoid custom firmware unless you are sure it is stable.
• 📥 Install apps only from Google Play. APK-Files may contain duplicates or viruses.
• 🛡️ Use an antivirus (such as Google Play Protect or Dr.Web) to scan new apps.
• 🚫 Don't disable system applications unless you understand their purpose.
• 🔍 Periodically check the list of applications in Settings → Suspicious duplicate applications.

If you often encounter duplicates after updates, try turning off automatic app updates in the Google Play Store:

1. Open Play Store → Click on the profile avatar → Settings.
2. Select Auto-Update Applications → Never.

This will allow you to manually monitor the update process and avoid conflicts between old and newer versions of apps.

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On devices with MIUI 14 and later, the dual application problem is less common due to the improved package management system. If your phone supports upgrading to the latest firmware version, be sure to follow it.

FAQ: Frequent questions about dual apps on Xiaomi