Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face a situation where the device’s internal memory is running out rapidly.One of the main reasons for the lack of gigabytes is heavy graphics applications and pre-installed software that cannot be removed by standard methods. Clearing disk space becomes a critical task for the stable operation of the MIUI or HyperOS operating system.
The process of uninstallation can range from simple shortcut removal to complex USB debugging. In this article, we will discuss all the available ways to safely get rid of unnecessary entertainment applications. You will learn how to free up space and speed up the gadget without losing important system functions.
Standard uninstallation of user applications
The easiest way to remove a game you downloaded yourself from Google Play or GetApps is to have no special knowledge, and usually just press an icon on your desktop or in the menu of all apps, and you'll see a context menu where you can select the "Delete" option or the basket icon, and the system will request confirmation of action to avoid accidental data loss.
If the standard method fails or the shortcut is removed, you can use the system settings, which are more reliable because you can see the full list of installed software.
- 📱 Open the Settings menu and go to the Applications section».
- 📂 Select “All Apps” to view the full list.
- 🔍 Find an unnecessary game in the list and click on its name.
- 🗑️ Press the Remove button at the bottom of the screen and confirm the action. In some cases, the delete button may be inactive (shadowed in gray), which means that the application has device administrator rights or is a system component of the shell. These cases will require more advanced methods, which will be discussed below. However, for most custom games, this method is exhaustive. Removing preinstalled software through the settings of Xiaomi smartphones often come with a set of preinstalled games from partners. They take up space, but they don't always have a full delete button in normal mode. Sometimes the system only says "Delete Updates" or "Disable." If the delete button is active but the application doesn't disappear completely, it may be associated with system services. Before you start radical measures, try to disable the application. This will stop its processes and hide it from the list, although the files will remain in memory. → Annexes → All applications, select the right one and click "Disable." It's a temporary solution that helps if you don't want to risk system stability. It's important to distinguish between "delete" and "disable." Complete uninstallation frees up disk space, and shutting down only stops the program from working. For embedded games that are not removed standardly, it is often necessary to use special tools or superuser rights, which we will discuss in the following sections. ⚠️ Warning: Disabling system components responsible for the operation of the interface MIUI, This can cause your smartphone to work in an unstable way.Be careful when choosing deactivation packages. 📊 What is the method of deleting you prefer?Standard through the menu Through the settings of the phone Using the computer (ADB)Third-party climax programs Use ADB The most effective method of dealing with non-removable garbage is the use of Android debugging bridge (ADB). This tool allows you to control the system from a computer, bypassing the limitations of the user interface, USB-The cable and the drivers installed for your device. The first step is to activate the developer mode. → About the phone and seven times quickly click on the build number (MIUI When you see the message "You became a developer" go back to the settings menu, find the option "More" and open "Developers" to turn on the "Debugging by Debugging" switch. USB». ☑️ Preparation for work with ADBInstall drivers ADB PC: Enable debugging by USB on the phone:Connect the phone with a cable to the computer:Allow debugging in the pop-up window on the smartphone screen: 0 / 1 After connecting the phone to your computer, open the command line or terminal in the tool folder. ADB. Enter adb devices to check the connection. If the device is identified, you can start searching for batch names of games. Enter adb shell pm list packages to display a list of all packages. Find the name of the desired game (for example, com.tencent.ig for PUBG). To remove the command: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 Replace the name of the package with the real name of the application. --user 0 removes the application only for the current user, without affecting the system partition completely, which allows you to restore the phone by resetting settings in case of an error. It's a safe way to clean. The choice of removal method depends on your technical skills and goals. Standard methods are safe but limited. Using ADB gives you complete control, but requires caution. Below is a table comparing the main characteristics of different approaches. A table will help you quickly navigate which tool is best to use in your situation. Pay attention to the risks and conditions for each method. Method Required Conditions Risk Efficiency Through Desktop No Low (User Only) No Through Settings No Average Minimum ADB (Command Prompt) PC, cable, drivers High (any applications) Medium (command error) Third-party utilities Installation High (advertising, viruses) The use of third-party "cleaners" often does not give the desired result, since they do not have deep access rights without root rights. Moreover, these applications consume resources and display advertising, and the cleanest and safest method for advanced users is the use of the Internet. ADB Even after successful deletion of the game, the memory of the smartphone can remain "tails" — folders with cache, logs and configuration files. They can take hundreds of megabytes. To remove them, use Xiaomi's built-in Security tool. Launch the Security app and select Cleanup. The system will analyze the memory and suggest removing temporary files. It's also worth checking the file manager manually. Go to the Android/data or Android/obb root folder and look for folders with the names of remote games. If you're sure that the game is no longer needed, these folders can be deleted. Don't forget that some games store data in the cloud or in hidden system directories. Complete cleaning requires care. Regularly checking the storage helps maintain fast-action folders with the corrective methods, and the message is often not enough to be addressed. If you don't use ADB, Try updating the app through the store and then uninstall it -- sometimes it resets the permissions. Another common problem is cyclical reboot after you delete the system component. ADB, Don't panic. Complete reset to factory settings (Settings) → The phone. → Reset settings. This will bring all system files back to place. ⚠️ Warning: Removing system packages such as SecurityAdd, MiuiHome or Google services can lead to a device building or loss of functionality (camera, calls, Wi-Fi). If the game is not deleted because it is running in the background, force it to stop in the app menu before deleting. Sometimes it helps to reboot the smartphone in safe mode, where third-party and some system processes do not start. Frequently asked questions (FAQ) Can you remove standard Xiaomi games like Mi Games? Yes, it is possible, but only with the use of superuser rights (Root) or through a computer using the Mi Games? ADB-And with standard tools, you can only disable or hide them. ADB The process is safe, if you know exactly the name of the package. --user 0 It allows you to restore the application by simply resetting your phone settings, because the system file is not physically deleted. Why didn't the game get deleted? Most likely, there were cache files or data in the folder. Android/obb. Also check the trash can in the gallery or file manager where screenshots from the game might have been taken. Do you need Root rights to completely remove system debris. Method ADB for the current user (--user 0) It works without Root rights and gives a similar visual result - the application disappears from the menu and stops consuming resources. What if the phone stopped turning on after removing the system game? You need to perform Hard Reset (reset to factory settings) through the Recovery menu. To enter it, you usually need to press the power button and increase the volume on the device turned off.