Owners of Xiaomi smartphones, especially budget models like Redmi 7, often face situations where unwanted software appears on the device. One of the most intrusive and hard-to-remove applications is Facemoji Keyboard, a virtual keyboard that is often installed without the user’s knowledge, overriding system interfaces and requiring extended access rights.
The main difficulty of deleting is that the application disguises itself as a system component or receives device administrator rights, which blocks the standard uninstallation procedure through the settings menu. The user can click the "Delete" button, but the system will give an error or the button will be inactive. In this guide, we will discuss all the steps of forced deletion, from checking access rights to cleaning the residual files.
It is important to understand that Facemoji often gets to the device as part of other free applications or through banner ads.The process of getting rid of it requires care, as improper actions can lead to temporary blocking of text input. We will consider safe methods that do not require root rights and do not pose a risk to the stability of MIUI.
Why Facemoji Keyboard is hard to remove by standard methods
The main reason that Facemoji Keyboard is delayed on the smartphone is because the app itself is protected from accidental removal, and developers give it rights that allow it to ignore standard Android commands to uninstall, which in the Redmi 7 interface looks like a locked delete button or its complete absence from the application management menu.
In addition, the keyboard is often embedded deep into the input process, and if you try to delete it while it is active and selected as the primary input method, the system may resist this action. Android's system constraints prevent you from removing the active application that is currently processing the input, so as not to leave the user without the ability to type.
Another factor is the presence of malicious modules or aggressive advertising within an application, which can create hidden processes that automatically restore remote components or prevent access to security settings, which is why successful removal requires first stripping the application of its privileges.
⚠️ Note: Attempting to delete an application that has administrator rights without first revoking these rights will lead to an error.
Disabling the rights of the device administrator
The first and most important step is to revoke the administrator's rights, and without that, all other attempts will fail. In the MIUI shell on Redmi 7, this item may be in different places depending on the firmware version, but the algorithm of actions is the same.
You need to go to the security settings section, and that's where the access keys that allow applications to control the device are stored, and you need to find a point that's responsible for the rights of special applications or for the administration of devices, and you'll see active applications that have increased privileges on the list.
Find Facemoji Keyboard or an app with a similar name (sometimes it may masquerade as “Emoji Service” or have a gear icon) and click on it and select the “Switch off” or “Deactivate” option. The system will request confirmation, as this action reduces the app’s level of control over the phone.
What if the “Device Administrators” item is empty?
Once the rights are successfully disabled, the status of the application will change, it is no longer immune to removal and can be uninstalled by standard operating system tools, a critical step that should not be missed.
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Revocation of administrator rights is a key step without which removing most viruses and intrusive software on Android is impossible.
Step-by-step instructions for removal through MIUI settings
Once the administrator rights are revoked, you can proceed to the immediate deletion. On Xiaomi smartphones with the MIUI shell, application management is centralized. You need to get to the menu, which displays all installed programs, including system and user.
Open the Settings section of your Redmi 7 and search for the Apps section, which may be called All Apps or Application Management in some versions of the firmware. This list shows the full list of installed software, and for ease of search, you can use the search bar at the top of the screen and type in the name Facemoji.
When you find the app you want, click on its icon to open the management page, and here you will see the Start, Stop and most importantly, Delete buttons. If you did the previous step correctly, the delete button will be active.
☑️ Deletion algorithm
Click Delete and confirm your decision in the pop-up dialog box. The system will delete the executable files and application data. After that, it is recommended to restart the smartphone to make sure that all background processes associated with the keyboard have been stopped.
Remove from Google Play Store
An alternative and often easier way to uninstall is to use the Google Play Store, a method that works globally for all apps installed through a Google account and often bypasses some local MIUI locks.
Run the Play Market app on your Redmi 7. In the search bar, type "Facemoji Keyboard." If the app is installed on your device, instead of the "Install" or "Open" button, you'll see the "Delete" button.
The system will request deletion confirmation, which is good because it also clears the cache and data associated with your Google account, if any, but if the app was installed outside the official store (sideloaded), this method may not work, and you will have to use the phone settings.
⚠️ Note: If the Remove button on Google Play is grey or missing, it means the app still has administrator rights.Go back to the Disable Device Administrator Rights section and follow the instructions there.
Using the app store also allows you to immediately install an alternative keyboard if the standard one does not suit you, which ensures continuity of operation and comfort of text entry immediately after removing the malware.
Cleaning of residual files and cache
Even after successful removal of the application, temporary files, logs and cache can remain in the memory of the smartphone. This data takes up space and theoretically can contain the remnants of the settings that the application tried to implement.
First, use the built-in Cleanup tool in Xiaomi’s Security app, run a scan, and the system will find debris left behind by remote programs, a safe and effective way to make room.
You should also check the file manager. Go to the root folder of internal memory and look for directories with Facemoji, Emoji, or developer names, and if you find those folders and you're sure that other programs don't need them, you can manually delete them.
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Use the built-in Explorer app on Xiaomi by enabling the display of hidden files in the settings to find and delete the remaining folders with keyboard data.
Remember that cleaning the cache may be required for the Gboard or MIUI Keyboard system keyboard if used in parallel, resetting the input settings will help to return the usual behavior of the keyboard and the disappearance of strange characters or themes.
Setting up an alternative keyboard
When you delete the Facemoji Keyboard, your Redmi 7 will have only a standard keyboard or no keyboard if only one has been installed, and you need to choose and configure the main input method to continue your comfortable work.
Android will suggest you select a keyboard when you first try to type after you delete the old one. You can choose Gboard (standard for Android) or MIUI Keyboard. If none are installed, download your preferred option from Google Play.
It's important to set the new keyboard's language, theme, panel height and vibrations right, and it takes a couple of minutes, but it'll provide comfort later on. Don't give new apps redundant rights unless they're needed.
To switch between languages or keyboards (if there are more than one), you usually use a space button or a special keyboard icon at the bottom of the navigation bar. Make sure that only one active method is selected in the language and input settings to avoid confusion.
Prevention of installation of unwanted software
To prevent the problem with intrusive keyboards and advertising from recurring on your Xiaomi Redmi 7, you should follow certain digital hygiene rules. Most often, viruses enter the system through the inattention of the user when installing free applications.
Always read carefully what you install. Installers often have "Install Also..." checks that activate the download of additional junk software. Turn off these options before you start installing.
Also, try to download apps only from trusted sources, such as Google Play or Xiaomi's official GetApps store. APK-Files from third-party sites significantly increases the risk of infection of the device.
Check the list of apps with administrator rights regularly, and if you see something suspicious that you didn’t knowingly install (like Flash Player or Clear Master on a modern phone), disable those rights immediately.
| Parameter | Standard annex | Facemoji Keyboard | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrator rights | Normally not required. | Demands it. | Ban all keyboards |
| Network access | Limited or absent | Permanent access | Control in the firewall |
| Cache size | Minimum (up to 50 MB) | Can reach 500+MB | Clean regularly |
| Permits | Only text input | Microphone, contacts, storage | Turn off the extra. |