Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones come with a pre-installed set of apps, some of which users consider unnecessary. Even after manually uninstalling through the menu, many programs remain on the system, taking up memory and using up battery power. In this article, we will discuss all the working ways to completely remove an application on Xiaomi, from standard methods to advanced techniques using ADB and hidden MIUI settings.
The thing about MIUI is that it blocks most system applications from being deleted through the normal interface, but there are workarounds: disabling through settings, removing updates, using ADB commands or specialized utilities like MIUI Hidden Settings. We'll look at each method with its pros and cons, and we'll give you safety tips to avoid malfunctions.
1. Standard removal through MIUI settings
The easiest way to get rid of an unnecessary application is to use the built-in MIUI tools. This method is suitable for third-party programs installed by the user, as well as for some pre-installed utilities (for example, Mi Browser, Mi Music or Mi Video).
To remove the app:
- 📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
- 🔍 Find the right application in the list and tap it.
- 🗑️ Press the Remove button (if it is active).
- 🔄 If the button is inactive, try to select Disable first and then try again.
Please note that for some system applications (e.g. Google Play Services or Mi Security), the delete button will be blocked, in which case alternative methods described below will be required.
2. disabling system applications (without deletion)
If the Remove button is not available, you can turn off the application so that it does not start or waste resources. This method is safe and does not require superuser rights (root), the application that is disabled will remain in the phone's memory, but will stop working in the background.
Instructions:
- ⚙️ Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
- 📌 Select the app you want to disable (such as Mi Pay or Mi Remote).
- 🔘 Click Disable and confirm the action.
- 🔄 To return the application, repeat the steps and click Enable.
⚠️ Note: Do not disable system services called com.android., com.miui. or com.google. – this can lead to unstable phone operation or complete loss of functionality (for example, the disappearance of notification panels or errors when calling).
List of relatively safe applications to disable (checked on MIUI 14):
| Title of the annex | Package (name in the system) | Effects of disconnection |
|---|---|---|
| Mi Browser | com.android.browser | The browser icon will disappear, but you can use Chrome or another browser |
| Mi Music | com.miui.player | The standard player will stop working, but you can install VLC or Poweramp |
| GetApps (Mi App Store) | com.xiaomi.mipicks | The App Store Will Disappear, But Google Play Will Remain |
| Mi Video | com.miui.videoplayer | The built-in video player won’t work, but you can use the MX Player. |
| Mi Remote | com.duokan.phone.remotecontroller | The remote control for the equipment will stop working, but you can install an alternative (for example, Peel Remote) |
3. Removal of updates to system applications
Many pre-installed Xiaomi apps can’t be removed completely, but you can return them to the factory version by removing the updates, which will free up space and reset the program settings to the original.
How to do this:
- 📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
- 🔍 Find the right app (such as Mi Browser) and tap it.
- ⚙️ In the upper right corner, click on three dots and select Remove Updates.
- 🔄 Confirm the action. App will return to factory version.
After that, you can try to disable the application (as described in the previous section) or hide its icon from the desktop. For example, for Mi Browser, after removing updates, you often have the option of completely uninstalling through ADB (the method is described below).
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If the app is automatically updated again after you delete the updates, turn off auto-update for it in Google Play → Settings → App Auto-Update → Do not update (select a specific app).
4. Removal via ADB (without root rights)
The Android Debug Bridge (ADB) method allows you to completely remove system applications that cannot be removed by standard methods, which does not require superuser rights, but requires connecting the phone to the computer and enabling debugging mode.
Step-by-step:
Enable Developer Mode (7 times click on MIUI Version in Settings → About Phone)
Activate USB Debugging in Settings → Additional → For Developers
Download and install ADB on your computer (e.g. Platform Tools)
Connect the phone to the PC via USB and allow debugging on the smartphone screen
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After preparation, execute the following commands in the terminal (command line):
- Check the device connection: Adb devices should show your phone’s serial number.
- Remove the unnecessary app (example for Mi Browser): adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.android.browser
- Reboot your phone: adb reboot
List of popular removal packages:
- 🌐 Mi Browser: com.android.browser
- 🎵 Mi Music: com.miui.player
- 📺 Mi Video: com.miui.videoplayer
- 🛒 GetApps: com.xiaomi.mipicks
- 📡 Mi Remote: com.duokan.phone.remotecontroller
- 📊 Mi Analytics: com.miui.analytics
⚠️ Note: Removing system packages like com.miui.securitycenter or com.android.settings will cause your phone to fail. Before experimenting, back up through Settings. → The phone. → Backup.
5.Using MIUI Hidden Settings
The MIUI Hidden Settings app (available on Google Play) allows you to manage hidden firmware features, including removing system applications without ADB. This method is easier than working with the command line, but requires caution.
Instructions:
- 📥 Install. MIUI Hidden Settings from Google Play.
- 🔧 Open the app and go to the App Manager section.
- 🔍 Find the app you want to remove and tap on it.
- 🗑️ Choose Uninstall (if the button is active) or Disable.
Advantages of the method:
- ✅ It does not require a PC connection.
- ✅ Visually understandable interface.
- ✅ Possibility of rollback of changes.
Disadvantages:
- ❌ Not all system applications are available for removal.
- ❌ Risk of Accidental Disconnection of Critical Services.
What if the application is returned after removal?
6. Complete removal with root rights
If your Xiaomi has superuser rights installed on it, you can uninstall any application, including deep-integrated system services, and any root-enabled file manager (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer) will do that.
How to remove the application from root:
- 🔐 Open the file manager and provide root access.
- 📁 Go to the folder. /system/app/ or /system/priv-app/ (depending on the location of the application).
- 🗑️ Find a folder with the name of the package (for example, Browser for Mi Browser) and delete it.
- 🔄 Reboot the phone.
Alternatively, use the root terminal:
su
mount -o rw,remount /system
rm -rf /system/app/Package name
mount -o ro,remount /system
reboot⚠️ Attention: Deleting root-righted system files may make it impossible to boot your phone ("brick").Be sure to create a full backup before doing so. TWRP Or OrangeFox Recovery.
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Removing apps from root gives you maximum freedom, but requires experience. It is safer for beginners to use methods without root (ADB or MIUI Hidden Settings).
7. How to return a remote application
If you realize that the application was needed after deleting, you can restore it in several ways:
- 🔄 Reset to factory settings (delete all data but return all system applications).
- 📥 Installation APK — Download the application file (such as Mi Browser) from a reliable source and install manually.
- 🔧 Recovery through ADB (if removed via command line: adb shell cmd package install-existing com.android.browser
- 🛠️ Flashing is the last resort if the reset didn’t help (use Fastboot or Recovery).
To recover through ADB, you need to know the exact name of the package, and you can find out it using the command:
adb shell pm list packages | grep "keyword"For example, to search for a browser:
adb shell pm list packages | grep "browser"