Xiaomi and Redmi are well-deservedly popular for their excellent price-performance ratio, but their MIUI (or new HyperOS) shell is often overloaded with pre-installed software. Users are faced with a situation where a new device already has many utilities that they will never use, but which occupy precious space in memory and consume CPU resources. This is especially true for global firmware versions, where the number of advertising software and services for the Chinese market can reach several dozen units.
The problem is that, with standard system tools, many of these components cannot be removed, and the "Delete" button in the app menu is either missing or blocked in gray, and this is done by manufacturers to preserve the ecosystem and partner agreements, but for the average user, this turns into a headache that slows down the gadget, and fortunately, there are proven methods to get around these restrictions without having to get superuser rights.
In this article, we will discuss in detail which applications can be removed without risking system stability, and which cannot be touched categorically. ADB-commands for deep cleaning and how to disable embedded advertising, which often annoys Xiaomi owners. competent cleaning free gigabytes of memory, but also significantly extend the battery life of your device.
Analysis of pre-installed software: what can be touched
Before you take drastic action to remove, you need to understand the structure of the software in Android. All software is divided into custom, which you install, and system, built-in. System applications are divided into critical operating systems and auxiliary, which can be abandoned. A mistake in choosing can lead to bootloop (cyclical reboot) or the inoperability of individual communication modules.
You can safely remove most applications with the prefix com.miui or com.xiaomi that are related to additional services. For example, this can be themes, music, video, browser or tools for cleaning memory if you prefer third-party counterparts. Also often remove analytics services and advertising modules that collect data about user behavior. However, be careful with the components responsible for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and system interface.
There are a category of apps that are formally system-based but not critical to the basic operation of the phone in your area. For example, Google Play services can be removed if you use alternative stores, but this will deprive you of access to most popular programs. Similarly, removing Themes is safe, but you will lose the ability to change the visual style of the system through the standard menu.
⚠️ Warning: Never remove applications related to Security, Settings, SystemUI, or modem drivers. Attempting to remove Security Center on Xiaomi can result in a complete lockdown of the device, as this component controls access rights and other applications.
For ease of perception of information about the purpose of packets, below is a table with the most frequently removed components and the degree of risk:
| Package name | Function | Risk of removal | Recommendation |
|---|
| com.miui.analytics | Collection of usage statistics | Low. | Recommended removal |
| com.miui.daemon | Error data collection | Low. | Safe to remove |
| com.xiaomi.joyose | Gaming service and optimization | Medium. | Delete if you're not playing |
| com.android.browser | Standard Mi browser | Low. | Safe if you have Chrome |
| com.miui.miservice | Reference centre and support | Low. | Can be removed |
Before deleting, always check the name of the package in the application settings or through special snail inspectors. If you are in doubt about the purpose of a particular process, it is better to temporarily freeze it through ADB, rather than permanently delete it.
Preparing a smartphone and computer for removal
To perform the deep cleaning procedure, you will need not only the smartphone itself, but also a computer (or laptop) running Windows, macOS or Linux. Mobile applications that promise to remove system software without a PC often contain ads themselves or require suspicious permissions, so using a PC is the most reliable and safe method. The first step is to activate the hidden developer mode on your Redmi.
Go to the Settings menu → About the phone and find the line "Version" MIUI» (or "Version" OS»). You need to press this line quickly. 7-10 Once in a row, until the notification "You became a developer" appears, and then the menu "Additional" (or "Extended settings") will appear a new item "Developers" and that's where you activate the debugging switch. USB.
The next step is to prepare the computer part. You'll need the ADB Tools (Android Debug Bridge) package, which you can download from the official Google website or use ready-made builds that contain all the necessary drivers. After unpacking the archive, open the command line (in Windows it's cmd or PowerShell) in the tool folder. Connect the phone with a cable to your PC.
When you first connect with debugging enabled, you'll see a dialog box on your smartphone screen asking for debugging permission from that computer. Make sure you tick "Always Allow" and click "OK." Without that confirmation, your computer won't be able to send commands to the device. Check the connection by typing in the command line with adb devices. If you see your device's serial number and device status, the connection is successful.
⚠️ Note: Use only quality original cables to connect. Cheap "charging only" cables do not transmit data, and the computer simply will not see the smartphone, which will lead to an error when executing commands ADB.
Removal of applications through ADB-team
The ADB deletion method is the “gold standard” for Xiaomi owners, as it does not require Root rights and allows you to delete almost any system component.The essence of the method is to send a special command that is forced uninstall-package for the current user (user 0).
To perform the operation, open the command line in the folder with ADB-The basic syntax of the command is as follows:
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 name.packet
Instead of a name.packet, you need to substitute an exact name, like com.miui.analytics. After you type in a command and click Enter, the Success message should appear in the string. This means that the application is removed for your user profile. If you want to return it, you just need to perform a factory reset command, because the physical files are still there.
What to do if the team is not executed?
If you see a mistake, Failure [not installed for 0]», So, if the app is already deleted or the name is incorrect, check the spelling of the package, if the error is "Device offline", reconnect the cable and allow debugging on the phone screen again. ADB.> There are also graphical shells for ADB, likes of Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools or Universal Android Debloater, which lets you delete apps with a simple click, displaying a list of installed software with descriptions, is a great option for those who are afraid of making mistakes in the syntax of commands. However, even when using such programs, it is recommended to pre-examine the list of removed components. You will notice that the interface has become more responsive, and a significant number of megabytes have been released in the memory manager. For advanced users, it will be useful to create your own script file.bat (for Windows), which you can prescribe commands to remove dozens of unnecessary services at once in one run. MIUI One of the main reasons users want to clean up the Xiaomi Redmi is intrusive advertising. It can appear in standard apps, when you unlock the screen or as push notifications. ADB — It's a radical but effective way, but it's often enough to turn off data collection and personalization of ads in your system settings to minimize the amount of advertising you have. MSA (MIUI System Ads. Go to Settings. → Passwords and security → Access to personal data. Find the "msa" list and turn off the switch. The system will insist on asking you to wait 10 seconds before turning off — this is a specially designed delay to change your mind. After disabling the MSA, the number of ad integrations will decrease by 80-90%. It is also worth going through each standard application (Conductor, Music, Downloads, Security) and find in their internal settings the item "Receive recommendations" or "Show ads." In MIUI, these settings are often hidden deep in the menu. For example, in the Downloads app, you need to click on three points in the corner, select "Setting" and disable the "Setting" and turn off the video contents, "If you can automatically play one important aspect of the video, you can start playing the video from the video. In addition, in the section Settings → Passwords and security → Special features it is worth checking which applications have access to the screen and overlay over windows, and revoke unnecessary permissions from suspicious system services. Alternative methods: freezing and third-party launchers If using the command line seems too difficult for you, and removing system files is scary, you can use the method of “freeze”. Freezing applications (for example, Titanium Backup with Root rights or Ice Box without rights) allow you to forcefully stop processes and hide their icons without deleting the files themselves. This application instantly creates a wasteful effect of memory, but another way of suping it suddenly creates a visually discarding it. Launchers like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher completely replace the desktop, app menu and widget bar, and they allow you to hide any icons, even system ones, and customize navigation as convenient for you, ignoring the logic. MIUI. It is worth noting that the replacement of the launcher does not remove the background processes of advertising services, so this method is better combined with the restriction of background activity. In the battery settings, you can set "No Limits" only for the right programs, and for system debris that can not be removed, you can choose a severe restriction of background activity, which will prevent them from working when you are not using the phone. For users who want to get a clean Android experience, there is an option to install custom firmware (Custom). ROM), Like LineageOS or Xiaomi.eu. Xiaomi.eu is based on the Chinese version of MIUI, but it is devoid of advertising, Chinese software and has advanced localization capabilities. This is a more complicated way, requiring unlocking the bootloader, but it gives the cleanest and fastest result. Removal of remote components and typical errors Since the method of deleting through ADB does not physically erase files, but only disables them for the current user, recovery is quite simple. If after removing a component you notice strange behavior of the system (for example, an alarm clock or a gallery stopped working), the application can be returned. However, in some cases (especially on new versions of Android 12/13/14) this command may not work if the package was completely cleaned from the installer cache. In this situation, the only way out is a complete reset to factory settings (Wipe Data).That is why before mass removal of system applications, it is strongly recommended to make a full backup of important data to the cloud service or computer. A common mistake of beginners is to delete system libraries on which other applications depend. For example, removing com and the phone only can not be deleted in the panemod. Try to remember which packet was last removed and restore it. ⚠️ Warning: If after the experiments the smartphone stopped loading (hangs on the logo), try to enter Recovery mode (clamping Volume Up). + Power) and select "Wipe Data" that will delete all data, but return the system to factory status with all remote applications (FAQ) Is it safe to delete Google Play Services? Absolutely not. Google Play Services is the foundation for most Android apps, without which cards, banking apps, push notifications and many games won't work. Removing this component will make the smartphone a brick in terms of functionality. Do I need to unlock Bootloader to remove system applications? No, you don't. ADB-commands pm uninstall -k --user 0 It runs on a locked loader. You just need to turn on the debugging. USB. Unlocking the bootloader is only required to install custom firmware or obtain Root rights.Whether the phone will reset after removing applications through ADB? No, the user data (photos, contacts, correspondence) will be saved, only the apps you select are removed, but if you remove a critical system component, the phone may go into a cyclical reboot, and then you will have to do a full reset (Wipe), which will delete all data. Can you uninstall the security app on Xiaomi? Technically, it's possible through ADB, But it's not recommended. On Xiaomi devices, the Security app manages permissions, memory cleanup, call lock, and antivirus. Deleting it could disrupt the entire Android permission system. MIUI? Yes, when you update the firmware (OTA-Update or manually) the system partition is overwritten and all standard applications you have removed will return to their places.