How to remove all the excess on Xiaomi: apps, ads and widgets – a complete guide

Xiaomi’s MIUI-based smartphones are known for their functionality, but users often encounter redundant elements: pre-installed apps, annoying advertising, unnecessary widgets or duplicate services. These “extra” components not only take up space in memory, but can also slow down the device, consume battery power and distract from basic tasks.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible ways to clean your Xiaomi, Redmi, or POCO from unnecessary items, from standard uninstallation methods to hidden features for power users, and focus on removing system applications without root rights, which is often a problem for device owners with the latest versions of MIUI 13/14.

Important: Procedures vary depending on the model and firmware version. If your smartphone is released before 2020 (like the Redmi Note 7 or Mi 9T), some techniques may not work due to the limitations of the older version of MIUI. For new devices (like Xiaomi 13 or POCO F5), additional options are available through Settings → Apps.

1. How to remove standard Xiaomi apps without root rights

Pre-installed applications (called bloatware) are one of the main complaints users have about MIUI, and fortunately, most of them can be removed or at least disabled without getting root access.

Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management. Here you will see a list of all installed programs. Click on the desired application (for example, Mi Video, Mi Music or GetApps) and select:

• 🗑️ Delete if the button is active (available for most user applications and some system applications).
• ⚙️ Disable – if deletion is blocked (the application will stop working and update, but will remain in memory).
• 🔄 Remove updates – returns the application to the factory version, which sometimes allows it to be deactivated.

For some system applications (such as Mi Browser or Mi Pay), the delete button may be hidden.

1. Open Settings → About the phone and 5 times click on the MIUI version to activate the developer mode.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect your phone to your PC, install ADB Tools, and execute the command: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.browser (replace com.miui.browser with the desired application package).

Make sure your phone is debugging via USB.

Install. ADB-PC drivers

Download the list of MIUI packages (for example, with 4PDA)

Create a backup copy of the data

Disable the antivirus while working with ADB-->

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

⚠️ Warning: Removing system applications via ADB may cause firmware to run unstable. Do not remove packages called com.android, com.qualcomm, or com.miui.home are critical components of the system.

2. How to remove advertising in MIUI: all ways

Ads in MIUI appear in the settings menu, on the lock screen, in system applications and even in notification panels. It can be disabled in several ways, but complete removal requires a comprehensive approach.

Method 1: Disabling personalized advertising

Go to Settings → Google → Advertising and deactivate Personalized Ads. Then go back to the main settings, find Settings → Additional → Special Features → Advertising and disable:

• 📱 Recommendations MIUI – Remove banners from the settings menu.
• 🔍 Advertising in search results for Mi Browser.
• 📲 Notifications from Mi Video/Music – if you do not use these services.

Method 2: DNS Blocking

Change. DNS-server in Wi-Fi or mobile network settings:

1. Go to Settings. → Wi-Fi (or Mobile Network).
2. Click on the current network → Change the network → Additional → IP settings.
3. Select Static and enter DNS: 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare) or 94.140.14.14 (AdGuard DNS).

Method 3: Removal via ADB (for experienced)

Execute the command to disable advertising services:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.systemAdSolution

This command removes the module responsible for displaying ads in the system menu.

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If you still see ads after you turn off, check your Mi Account settings. Sometimes the ads are tied to your account region (for example, in India or China, they are more likely to be displayed).

3.How to remove widgets from the main screen Xiaomi

Widgets on MIUI come in two types: standard (weather, calendar) and dynamic (recommendations, news) widgets.

Removal of standard widgets:

1. Press and hold the empty space on the main screen.
2. Select Widgets from the bottom menu.
3. Find an unnecessary widget (like Weather or Steps) and drag it to the basket at the top of the screen.

Disconnecting dynamic panels (Smart Assistant):

These panels appear when you swipe to the left of the main screen, to remove them:

1. Swipe left before the Smart Assistant panel appears.
2. Push the gear. ⚙️ top-right.
3. Turn off the option to show Smart Assistant.
4. For complete removal, run the ADB- command: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.miservice

Hiding system icons:

Some icons (such as Theme Store or Security) cannot be removed, but they can be hidden:

• 📱 Use a launcher from a third-party developer (e.g., Nova Launcher or Lawnchair).
• 🖼️ In the standard launcher MIUI, press and hold the icon → Remove from the screen (it will remain in the application menu).
• 🔒 For full cover, install App Hider from Google Play.

4. Delete duplicate files and cache

Over time, Xiaomi accumulates unnecessary files: duplicate photos, app cache, temporary data, and their cleaning will free up to 5-10 GB of memory.

Cache cleanup:

1. Go to Settings. → Warehouse.
2. Click on the Cache Data and confirm the cleanup.
3. For deep cleaning, use Settings → Apps → [select app] → Storage → Clear cache.

Search and removal of duplicates:

• 📁 Use the built-in Cleanup app (Security → Cleaner → Duplicate File App).
• 🔍 Install third-party utilities: Files by Google, CCleaner or SD Maid.
• 📊 Gallery Doctor is suitable for photos and videos.

Delete unnecessary APKs and temporary files:

Through the file manager (Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer) go to the folders:

• /sdcard/Download – Remove old downloads.
• /sdcard/DCIM/.thumbnails – photo thumbnails (can be cleaned)
• /sdcard/Android/data – cache of games and applications (remove folders of unnecessary programs).

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Regularly cleaning the cache and duplicates not only frees up space, but also speeds up the phone by 15-20% (based on tests on the Redmi Note 11).

5. How to remove flashing notification indicator on Xiaomi

The LED light (or LED- lamps on the new models) can be annoying, especially at night.

Method 1: Through notification settings

1. Go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Notification indicator.
2. Turn off the flashing indicator option.
3. For individual apps (such as WhatsApp or Telegram), set up notifications individually.

Method 2: For models with AMOLED- screens

On devices without a physical LED (such as the Xiaomi 12 or POCO F4), the blinking is implemented via Always-On Display (AOD).

1. Go to Settings → Screen → Always-On Display.
2. Choose to turn off or set up a work schedule.
3. Turn off the option to show notifications on the locked screen.

Method 3: Through "Do Not Disturb" modes

If the indicator interferes at night, set up an automatic shutdown:

• 🌙 Settings → Sound and vibration → Do not disturb.
• 🕒 Set a schedule (e.g. 23:00 to 7:00).
• ✅ Enable the option to Hide visual alerts.

⚠️ Warning: On some models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro), disabling the indicator through settings may not work due to a firmware error. In this case, only updating MIUI or using ADB- the command: adb shell settings put global notification_light_pulse 0 will help.

6. Delete Mi Account and Linked Services

If you are selling a phone or want to completely “reset” it, you need to delete your Mi Account. This will also help get rid of synchronized data and advertising associated with your profile.

Step 1: Uncoupling the device from the account

1. Go to Settings. → Mi Account.
2. Click on the three points ⋮ in the upper right corner and select Exit.
3. Confirm the action with a password.

Step 2: Delete your account completely (if your phone is not sold)

This action is irreversible and will delete all data associated with the account (cloud, notes, sync).

1. Go to account.xiaomi.com.
2. Log in and select Delete Account in your profile settings.
3. Confirm it via email or SMS.

Step 3: Reset to factory settings

After deleting your account, complete the reset:

1. Settings → About the phone → Resetting settings.
2. Choose to erase all data.
3. Confirm the action (the process will take 5-10 minutes).

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If you are selling a phone, remember to unplug it from your Google account (Settings → Google Accounts → Delete Account) otherwise the new owner will not be able to log in to your profile due to FRP (Factory Reset Protection) protection.

7. How to remove unnecessary Google services on Xiaomi

Even on Xiaomi, many of the system processes are connected to Google services that are not always needed by the user, and can be disabled or restricted.

Disabling unnecessary services:

• 📍 Google Location History – disable in Settings → Google → Location History.
• 🔊 Google Assistant — Settings → Google → Assistant Settings → General → Turn off.
• 📊 Auto-Update Apps — Play Store → Settings → Auto-Update → Never.
• 📧 Synchronization of Gmail/Contacts — Settings of → Accounts → Google → Sync.

Removal via ADB:

Some Google services can be deactivated without root rights:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.apps.tachyon # Duplicate browser


adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.videos # Google Play Movies




adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.music #Google Play Music

Restriction of background activity:

To avoid using Google’s battery:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Search Google Play Services and select Battery → Limit background activity.
3. Repeat for Google App and Google Play Store.

⚠️ Warning: Deleting Google Play Services completely will cause many apps (e.g. YouTube, Gmail, or banking) to fail.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi cleanup