How to Remove Games from Xiaomi Phone Completely: From Standard Methods to Hidden Settings

Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often come with pre-installed games that take up precious memory space and consume battery power in the background. Even after manually deleting some applications can leave behind cache, settings files or automatically recover after a system update. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to remove games from basic to advanced, including cleaning system traces and disabling automatic installation.

The MIUI firmware is very aggressive in its policy towards “recommended” applications, and the manufacturer actively cooperates with partners (e.g. Gameloft, Tencent), which makes games like PUBG Mobile, Free Fire or Garena RoV appear on the device without your knowledge. Moreover, some system games (e.g. Mi Game Center) cannot be removed by standard methods – they must be deactivated via ADB or disabled updates manually.

If you find that the game is deleted, but returns after the reboot, or its icon disappears, but the process continues to hang in the Task Manager – this instruction will help to completely clean the device of unnecessary games, including their hidden components and background services. We’ll also look at how to prevent apps from reappearing after resetting or updating. MIUI.

1. Standard removal through the settings menu

To start with, the simplest method that works for most users is to remove games that are manually installed or installed via Google Play, as well as some pre-installed apps (unless the manufacturer has blocked this option).

Instructions:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 In the search box, type the name of the game (for example, Call of Duty or Clash Royale).
• 🗑️ Click on the game in the list, then select Delete (if the button is active).
• 🔄 If instead of removing only Disable, then the application is system-based - proceed to the following methods.

It is important to note that even after standard deletion, the device may still have:

• 📁 Cache folders in /Android/obb/ (weigh up to a few gigabytes).
• 📄 Configuration files in /data/data/ (Require root rights for cleaning).
• 🔄 Tasks in the scheduler that can restore the game after the update.

⚠️ Note: Some games (e.g. Mi Game Center 4) leave com.xiaomi.gamecenter.sdk.service after deleting, which continues to consume the battery. ADB or root.

2.Delete via Google Play: hidden nuances

Google Play Store allows you to not only install but also remove applications, but this method has limitations. For example, Xiaomi system games (such as Mi Game Center or Quick Games) do not appear in the list of installed applications in the Play Market, even if they were downloaded.

• 🔄 You can delete the app on multiple devices at the same time (if they are linked to one account).
• 📊 The history of the installations is preserved, which makes it easier to restore if necessary.
• 🚫 All subscriptions related to the game are automatically cancelled.

How to uninstall the game via Google Play:

1. Open Google Play and go to Profile → App and Device Management.
2. Tab Installed → find the game on the list.
3. Click on the basket icon (Delete) next to the name.
4. Confirm action. If the game is system, a notification will appear Delete is impossible.

If the game doesn’t appear on the list, but you’re sure you installed it through the Play Market, try:

• 🔍 Enter the name of the game in the search bar Google Play → If it is installed, the button will be Remove instead of Install.
• 📧 Check emails linked to a Google account – there may be confirmation emails.

💡

If the game was set through APK-file (not from Google Play), it can not be deleted through the store. Use the settings menu or file manager.

3. Cleaning of residual files after deletion

Even after you delete the game through your settings or Google Play, you still have files that can take up to 50% of the original application size. For example, Genshin Impact weighs ~4 GB, but after you uninstall it, you still have a com.mihoyo.GenshinImpact file with a volume of ~2 GB in your /Android/obb/ folder.

Where to look for garbage:

For cleaning without root rights:

1. Open any file manager (e.g., Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to the internal memory → Android → obb.
3. Delete the folder with the name of the game package (for example, com.supercell.clashroyale).
4. Repeat the same for /Android/data/.

⚠️ Attention: Some games (for example, PUBG Mobile) backups your saves in the Xiaomi Cloud or Google Drive cloud. Once re-installed, progress will be restored automatically: 🖥️ Xiaomi Cloud: Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Backup copies → Annexes. ☁️ Google Drive: drive.google.com → Backups. How to find a game package if it is unknown?Install the App Inspector app from Google Play. It will show the full name of the package (for example, com.tencent.ig for the game). PUBG Mobile, which you will need for manual cleaning. 4. Remove system games through ADB (without root) If the game is built into the firmware MIUI (For example, Mi Game Center, Quick Games or Game Turbo, it can't be removed by standard methods, but you can disable or delete it by using the same method. ADB (Android Debug Bridge without root rights. This method works on all Xiaomi devices, including the Redmi Note. 10/11/12, Poco X3/X4 And the flagship models: 💻 Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux. 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original). 📥 ADB Tools by Google. 🔧 Included debugging by USB Step-by-step: Activate Developer Mode: Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (press 7 Turn on the debugging. USB: Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB Connect your phone to your PC and confirm your trust in your computer. Open the command line (Windows) or the terminal (macOS/Linux) Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices Must appear serial number of the device. Find out the game package (for example, through App Inspector or the list command: adb shell pm list packages) | grep -i Delete or disable the game: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.xiaomi.gamecenter (replace com.xiaomi.gamecenter with the desired package) If the uninstall command fails (produces an error) DELETE_FAILED_INTERNAL_ERROR), Try to disable the app: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.xiaomi.gamecenter ⚠️ Note: Removing system applications through ADB It can lead to unstable work. MIUI. For example, after deleting com.miui.quickgames, quick games in the notification panel may disappear. Before experimenting, create a backup through Settings → System system → Backup. 📊 What games do you most often remove from your Xiaomi?Social (Clash of Clans, Homescapes)Shooters (PUBG, Free Fire (Asphalt, Need for Speed) System (Mi Game Center) 5. If you're willing to take drastic measures, getting root rights gives you complete control over the system files: 🗑️ Remove any pre-installed games, including protected ones. 🧹 Clear all traces of the application, including files in /data/data/. 🔧 Disable background services related to games (like Game Turbo) The most popular ways to get root on Xiaomi: 🔓 Magisk (recommended) – allows you to hide root from applications (for example, for banking services). 🛠️ TWRP + SuperSU firmware (an outdated method, but works on older models) Instructions for removing the game from root: Install Root Explorer or FX File Manager (with root support). /data/app/ Find the game pack folder (for example, com.tencent.ig-1). Delete the entire folder. /system/priv-app/ and /system/app/ systemically APK-game-play. Clear the cache in /data/dalvik-cache/ (optionally, to free up memory: 🔄 Reset the device. 🧹 Check the free space in the settings → Memory. 🔍 Make sure the game process is not hanging in Settings → Annexes → Launched. 💡Root rights give maximum freedom, but deprive of guarantees and can disrupt the work MIUI. Use this method only if other methods do not help. 6. How to Prevent Games from Reappearing One of the Most Common Problems on Xiaomi – Games Come Back After: 🔄 Updates MIUI. 📱 Resetting settings. 🔧 Recovery from backup. To avoid this: 🚫 Turn off auto-installation of recommended applications: Settings → Annexes → Application management → ⚙️ (three-point) → Auto-installation of applications 📵 Block installation from unknown sources: Settings → Annexes → Special rights → Installation of unknown applications 🔒 Turn off Mi Video and Mi Game Center in Settings → Applications (they often install games in the background). 📋 Use it. ADB, to block game packs at the system level: adb shell pm hide com.xiaomi.gamecenter If games appear after resetting to factory settings, the problem is the firmware: 🔧 Install custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience) that doesn’t have pre-installed games. 📦 Before reset, create a list of deleted packets and after recovery, repeat their removal through the ADB. 7. Alternative methods: Shutdown and Freeze If you can't delete a game (for example, because the manufacturer has blocked it), you can turn it off or freeze it, this will stop the background processes and hide the icon from the menu, but it doesn't free up the memory completely: 🔘 Through Settings: Settings → Annexes → [play-name] → Disable (the icon will disappear, but the files will remain). ❄️ Through Titanium Backup (requires root): Freeze the app → Confirm (the application will not be launched, but will not be deleted). 🛑 Through ADB (sectionally 4), But with the team: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 [package] Benefits of freezing: ✅ Does not disrupt the system (unlike complete removal). ✅ You can quickly return the application if you need it. ✅ It stops background activity and saves battery: ❌ Game files remain on the device. ❌ Some system games (such as Game Turbo) may unfreeze after the update. 💡If the game is needed temporarily (for example, to complete an event), freeze it instead of deleting it. FAQ: Frequent questions about removing games on Xiaomi 🔹 Why does the game delete but reappear after the reboot? MIUI, Responding to the com.miui.systemAdSolution service, which restores "recommended" applications. Solutions: Disable autoinstallation in settings (see section below). 6). Remove the service through ADB: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.systemAdSolution Use root to remove APK-game-file /system/priv-app/. 🔹 Can I remove Game Turbo without consequences? Game Turbo (com.miui.gameturbo package) - the system application responsible for optimizing games. Removing it can lead to: No game mode in the notification curtain. Performance problems in heavy games (e.g. Genshin Impact).Recommendation: instead of deleting, disable it via ADB Freeze with Titanium Backup. 🔹 How to remove a game if it doesn't appear in the app list? Hidden or system games can be found by package: Install App Inspector or use ADB: adb shell pm list packages -f | grep -i Copy the full packet name (e.g. com.xiaomi.gamecenter). ADB: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 [If the game is built into firmware (for example, Quick Games), it can only be disabled. 🔹 Will there be any problems with the warranty after removing the system games? Xiaomi manufacturer will not void the warranty for: Remove apps through settings or ADB. Disable system games. Warranty is removed if: You have obtained root rights. We installed custom firmware. We changed the system files to /system. To return everything as it was, it is enough to reset to the factory settings (Settings). → System system → Resetting settings). 🔹 How to clear memory after mass deleting games? After deleting several games: Reboot the device - this will clear the system cache. Run built-in optimization: Settings: Settings → Memory. → Clean up Use SD Maid (requires root) for deep trash cleaning. Check folders: /Android/obb/ /Android/data/ /sdcard/Download/ Remaining files available.