How to permanently remove Yandex Zen from the phone Xiaomi Redmi: all ways

Yandex Zen is firmly in the ecosystem of pre-installed applications on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones, but not all users are happy with its presence. The service consumes traffic in the background, consumes battery power and takes up space in memory, even if you do not use it. Worse, on some Redmi models (especially with firmware for the Russian market), Zen cannot be removed by standard means: the “Delete” button is simply absent from the application menu.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways to get rid of Yandex Zen, from simply disabling to completely deleting system files. The instructions are relevant for MIUI 14/15 on Android 13/14, but most of the methods work on older versions. Importantly, some actions require superuser rights (root) or a PC connection, so prepare the necessary tools in advance.

Why can’t Zen be removed in the standard way?

The reason lies in the agreements between Xiaomi and Yandex.Beginning in 2020, many Redmi models for the Russian market come with a pre-installed set of Yandex services (Search, Browser, Music, Zen).

• 🔒 You can not delete them through the “Settings” menu. → Applications (Delete button is inactive).
• 📦 They take up a seat in the section. /system/app or /system/priv-app, Where there is no root access.
• 🔄 After resetting settings or updating MIUI Applications are coming back.

Moreover, Zen often starts automatically when connected to a mobile network or Wi-Fi, even if you have never opened it manually, due to the background processes of com.yandex.zen and com.yandex.browser, which communicate with Yandex servers.

⚠️ Note: On Redmi Note models 12/13 Pro and innovation 2026 years (e.g. Redmi Turbo) 3) Zen can be linked to miui.systemAdSolution, and shutting it down without root rights will cause launcher errors.

Method 1: Disabling Zen without removing (for beginners)

If you don't need radical measures, you just have to turn off autostart and Zen background activity, and it won't delete the app, but it will stop using traffic and batteries.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Yandex Zen (or com.yandex.zen) in the list.
3. Stick to three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Disable.
4. Confirm the action by clicking Disable the application.

After that:

• 🚫 Zen icon will disappear from the app menu.
• 📵 Background synchronization will stop (but not 100% guaranteed due to integration with the system) MIUI).
• 🔄 When you reset or update the firmware, Zen can be activated again.

To completely disable background processes:

1. Go back to Zen settings and select Permissions.
2. Turn off all permissions, especially: 📡 Mobile data and Wi-Fi 📍 Geolocation 📂 Warehouse

Battery

Limit background activity

Method 2: Removal via ADB (without root rights)

If you don't shut down enough, you can remove Zen with Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which doesn't require root rights, but you need a debugging bridge and a PC connection.

Enable debugging over USB in the developer settings

Install Xiaomi drivers on PC

Download the ADB platform (for example, official)

Connect your phone to your PC via USB (File Transfer Mode)

Run the command line in the folder with ADB-->

Next, execute the commands in order:

adb devices

(Your device should be displayed. If not, check the drivers and debugging permission on your phone.)

adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.yandex.zen

If the team doesn’t work, try an alternative:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.yandex.zen

After successful implementation:

• 🗑️ The application will disappear from the system for the current user (but will remain in the firmware).
• 🔄 After resetting settings or updating MIUI Zen may return.
• 🛠️ Root rights are required for complete removal (see Method 3).

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI For the Russian market, the uninstall team can block the work of Xiaomi Cloud services.

💡

If ADB does not recognize the device, try in the developer settings to disable and re-enable the option debugging over USB, and also select the connection mode Only Charge → File Transfer.

Method 3: Complete removal with root rights

If you have root access (e.g., through Magisk), you can delete Zen permanently, including all related services and cache, a method that is suitable for advanced users, as it requires working with system files.

Instructions:

1. Install any file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to /system/app/YandexZen or /system/priv-app/YandexZen /system/app/YandexApp (if Zen is built into Yandex Services)

YandexZen

com.yandex.zen-1

.apk

.odex

/data/data/com.yandex.zen

Reboot the phone.

To remove via Terminal Emulator or ADB with root rights, use the following commands:

su


mount -o rw,remount /system




rm -rf /system/app/YandexZen




rm -rf /system/priv-app/YandexZen




rm -rf /data/data/com.yandex.zen




mount -o ro,remount /system




reboot

💡

Root removal is the only way to get rid of Zen forever, but requires unlocking the bootloader and installing Magisk. On new Redmi models (2023-2026), this may result in a loss of warranty.

Method 4: Removal through Custom Recovery (TWRP)

If you have TWRP Recovery installed, you can remove Zen without a full root, but with an unlocked bootloader.This method is suitable for users who do not want to install Magisk, but are ready to work with firmware.

Step-by-step:

1. Download TWRP for your Redmi model and install it via fastboot.
2. Download the phone to Recovery mode (Power buttons + Volume up).
3. In TWRP, select Advanced → File Manager.
4. Go to /system/app or /system/priv-app and delete folders: YandexZen YandexApp (if any) com.yandex.zen-1

Wipe → Advanced Wipe

Dalvik / ART Cache

Reboot the phone.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔧 It does not require permanent root access.
• 🗑️ Remove the application at the firmware level.
• 🔄 Zen won’t return after resetting (but it may come after the update) MIUI).

⚠️ Note: On Redmi models with dynamic partitions (Dynamic Partitions, for example, Redmi Note 11 Pro)+ 5G) Removal of system applications through TWRP This can lead to bootloop. Before you do it, back up. TWRP!

Method 5: Firmware custom MIUI or AOSP

The most radical, but also the most reliable way is to install firmware without Yandex services preinstalled.

1. Castomy MIUI (for example, MIUI EU or MIUI Pro): 🌍 These firmwares are cleared of Russian services, including Zen. 🔧 Requires an unlocked bootloader. 📱 Supporting. OTA-update.
2. AOSP-Firmware (e.g. LineageOS, Pixel Experience): 🧹 Completely remove all branded services Xiaomi and Yandex. 🔋 Can improve performance and battery life. ⚠️ Possible camera or sensor issues (GCam and patches required).

Installation instructions:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (requires a binding Mi Account and wait 7-15 days).
2. Install TWRP or OrangeFox Recovery.
3. Download the right firmware for your model from the XDA forum or Telegram channels.
4. In Recovery, make Wipe → Format Data (required!), then run the firmware and Magisk (if root is needed).

Popular Zen-free firmware for Redmi:

• 📱 MIUI EU — Weekly builds with support for all functions MIUI, but without bloat.
• 🤖 Pixel Experience – pure Android with features from Google Pixel.
• ⚡ ArrowOS – Lightweight firmware with a focus on performance.

Method 6: Hiding Zen through launcher or hidden MIUI settings

If deleting seems too complicated, you can simply hide the Zen display in the app menu, which won't stop the background processes, but at least remove the icon from the screen.

Options:

1. Hiding through Launcher: Hold your finger on the Zen icon → choose Remove from screen or Hide (in POCO Launcher or Nova Launcher). In the standard MIUI launcher, drag the icon to the Hidden Apps folder (if any).
2. Disconnect via hidden settings: Settings → Special features → Application management → Yandex Zen → Disable (On some firmware, this path may differ).
3. Use of an alternative launcher: 📱 Install Nova Launcher, Apex Launcher or Hyperion Launcher. 🔍 In the launcher settings, find the “Hide Apps” option and add Zen to the list.

This method is suitable if you:

• 📵 You don’t want to risk the stability of the system.
• 🔄 Ready to put up with background Zen activity.
• 🎨 Prefer to customize the interface without deep changes.

What if Zen returned after the update?

After updating MIUI via OTA or manually installed applications (including Zen) can return.

• 🔧 Turn off automatic updates MIUI: Settings → The phone. → Updating the system → ⋮ → Settings → Deactivate "Automatic loading"
• 📥 Install updates manually: Download firmware with Xiaomi Firmware Updater. Before firmware remove Zen through ADB or TWRP. Use patches to remove bloat (e.g. Universal Debloater).
• 🛡️ Block Zen Update: Through Lucky Patcher (requires root), block the com.yandex.zen update.In Magisk, install the App Systemizer module to convert Zen into a custom app and remove it.

If Zen did come back,

1. Repeat the steps from Method 2 (ADB) or Method 3 (root).
2. Check for updates for Magisk or TWRP – newer versions of MIUI can block older methods.
3. Consider switching to custom firmware (see Method 5).

💡

After updating MIUI, always check the list of applications for returned services. Yandex Zen may appear under a new package (for example, com.yandex.zen.lite), so use adb shell pm list packages | grep yandex to search.

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing Zen from Xiaomi Redmi