Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often encounter intrusive software preinstalled by the manufacturer, which takes up precious space in internal storage, consumes RAM and can send advertising notifications. The process of cleaning up such “digital garbage” requires careful attention, as removing critical system components can lead to unstable device operation or even “bricking” the gadget.
There are several ways to get rid of excess software, from standard uninstallation through settings to advanced methods using a computer and debugging over USB. In this article, we will discuss secure algorithms of actions that will help you free up the resources of the operating system without risking the functionality of the smartphone. You will learn to distinguish user applications from system ones and understand which ones can be disabled painlessly.
Analysis of pre-installed software and its impact on the system
MIUI and its successor HyperOS are famous for their functionality, but they also provide a huge number of built-in services, many of which, like GetApps, Mi Browser or Mi Video, are duplicates of the Google analogs you have already installed, and their presence not only takes up space, but also creates background processes that can reduce the autonomy of the device.
Special attention should be paid to advertising modules, which are often embedded in system applications like Explorer or Music. Even if you turn off ads in your account settings, some components may continue to collect telemetry, and removing or freezing such components is a key step to improving productivity and privacy.
⚠️ Before removing any system components, make sure they are not responsible for basic functionality such as calls, SMS Deleting critical packets can lead to an endless reboot.
First, you need to audit your installed software, go to your settings and analyze the list, and often users don't even know that some desktop icons are just shortcuts, and the applications themselves are hidden deep inside the system, and understanding the structure of the installed software is the first step to cleanliness.
Basic removal through smartphone settings
The easiest and most secure method available to every user without a computer connection is standard uninstallation, which is suitable for most custom applications that have been preinstalled but are not critical to Android, just by pressing the app icon on the desktop or menu.
In the context menu that appears, select Delete. If there is no such item and only the About option is available, then the program is system-based and protected from direct removal by standard means, in which case you can try to disable the application, which will hide its icon and stop the processes, but the files will remain in memory.
- 📱 Find the unnecessary app in the menu or on the desktop.
- 🗑️ Press and hold your finger on the icon until the menu appears.
- ✅ Select the “Delete” option and confirm the action.
It’s worth noting that some apps, like YouTube or Google Maps, can be removed because they’re part of Google services, not the core of Xiaomi, but system components like Security or Settings can’t be removed in this way, a restriction that developers have created to protect the integrity of the operating system.
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If the Remove button is inactive, try first clicking “Disable” in the app properties if such an option is available, which will stop it from working, although it will not free up space completely.
Preparing for Advanced Removal through ADB
Removing system applications that are hidden from the user requires the use of Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a method that allows commands to be sent directly to the operating system without the GUI, and is safe if you follow the instructions, as it does not require the permission of a superuser (Root).
The first step is to activate the developer mode on your Xiaomi device. Go to the About Phone menu and find the MIUI Version (or OS Version). You need to quickly click on this item 7-10 times in a row until you get a message that you have become a developer.
Settings → About phone → (Tapa 7 times on "Version MIUI")Then you need to enable USB debugging. Go to Advanced Settings → Developers. Find USB debugging and activate it. It is also recommended to enable USB Installation and USB Debugging if available to avoid security locks.
☑️ Preparing the smartphone for removal
Instructions for using ADB AppControl and Command Line
There are two main ways to work with ADB: using graphics utilities like ADB AppControl or working through the command line. For beginners, the former is preferable, since it visualizes the list of packages and flags safe to remove. However, knowing the command line gives more control.
Once you connect your smartphone to your computer and install the drivers, open the command prompt in the ADB folder. Enter the adb device command to check the connection. A window should appear on your phone screen asking for debugging permission — be sure to click "Allow." Now you can manage the packages.
To remove a particular application, you use pm uninstall -k --user 0 packet name. It is important to know the exact name of the package (e.g. com.miui.videoplayer). A list of all packages can be obtained by commanding adb shell pm lists. Be extremely careful when entering names.
| ADB Team Team | Description of action | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| adb shell pm list packages | Provides a complete list of all packages installed | Safe. |
| adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 <package> | Remove the application for the current user | Medium (depending on the application) |
| adb shell cmd package install-existing <package> | Restores a remote system application | Safe. |
⚠️ Warning: Never delete packets that have framework, system (if not sure), telephony, or settings in their name, which may result in lost communication or inability to load the interface.
Using ADB AppControl makes it much easier to do this, automatically identifying the type of application and recommending “Safe,” “Dangerous,” or “Unknown,” and the user can tick off any unnecessary items and click “Delete,” and the program will generate and execute the necessary commands.
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Using graphical shells for ADB reduces the risk of command input error, but always check the security rating of the removed packet on the Internet before action.
What Xiaomi System Applications Can Be Removed
There are a number of apps in Xiaomi’s ecosystem that you can remove if you don’t use them, including advertising services (msa), analytics, and duplicate browsers, and often remove embedded themes, music, and videos if you use third-party counterparts.
However, there is a grey area of applications that may affect the operation of individual functions, such as deleting Mi Cloud will not synchronize contacts with Xiaomi servers, and removing Security will deprive you of the ability to clean the cache with regular means and can disrupt the security center.
- 🚫 com.miui.misys – system service, delete with caution (affects the account).
- 🚫 com.android.chrome – Chrome browser (can be deleted if there is an alternative).
- 🚫 com.google.android.apps.maps – Google Maps (Secure to Delete).
The com.miui.screenrecorder and com.miui.calculator are particularly important to remove from the system, but you will lose functionality. com.xiaomi.joyose is often recommended for gamers to remove because it is responsible for temperature trottling and can limit game performance.
List of safe to remove advertising packages
Recovery of Remote Components and Problem Solving
If you notice that an important feature has been lost or the phone is starting to behave strangely, the deleted components can be returned. Since we used the deletion method for the current user (--user 0), the original files remain in the system partition.
In the program ADB AppControl has a Remote tab where you keep a list of all the packages you've uninstalled, and you just select the one you want and you click "Restore." In the command line, this is done by the adb shell cmd package install-existing command. <packet>. This will return the application to its original state.
If the phone stopped booting after deleting critical system files, the only thing that can save the situation is a factory reset or a device flashing. The data will be lost, so always back up important information before deep interference.
⚠️ Note: If Wi-Fi or Bluetooth stopped working after you removed the system application, don't panic. Most likely, the system framework was affected. + Nutrition).
Regular garbage removal is not required if you have configured the system for yourself once, but after major updates to MIUI or HyperOS, the list of preinstalled software may update, and the procedure will have to be repeated.
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Before you clean the system, make a full backup of your data to your computer or the cloud, and removing system components is an irreversible process without having to back up your firmware.