How to remove the icon from the screen Xiaomi: the complete guide

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the need to clean up the interface. The MIUI shell and the new HyperOS provide many customization tools, but standard methods of removing programs may not be obvious to the beginner. Usually, the user wants not just to move the label, but completely get rid of the application or hide it from prying eyes.

There are several scenarios where you want to remove an icon, which can be a system application that can't be removed in the standard way, or just a shortcut on the desktop that interferes with the view, and in this article we'll look at all the options: from simple moving to a folder to using hidden space and ADB-Teams for Advanced Users.

It should be noted that the approach to solving the problem depends on whether the application is system or user-friendly. Deleting the shortcut from the desktop does not always mean removing the program from the device’s memory. Understanding this difference will help avoid confusion and loss of important data.

Removing user applications in a standard way

The simplest and most common method is for programs that you installed yourself from Google Play or GetApps. Unlike system components, such applications can be easily uninstalled, which automatically removes their icon from the desktop and menu.

You just have to pin your finger on the desktop icon and drag it to the top of the screen, where you have a basket icon or a "Delete" sign, and if you're on the menu of all apps, the algorithm is a little different: you just need to pinch the icon and select the "Delete" or "Uninstall" button that appears.

⚠️ Note: When you delete an application through the standard interface, all of its data, including game saves and logins, will be irretrievably lost.

If the standard deletion is not working and the button is inactive, then the application is system-status, which will require more sophisticated methods, which will be discussed below, and it is also worth checking whether the "Remove Lock" function is included in the security settings.

Hiding applications through “Hidden Space”

The MIUI shell offers a unique feature called Second Space, which is not just a folder, but a complete, isolated environment where you can store apps, photos and files that are not available in your main profile, and the icons of programs that are moved here disappear from the home screen and from the shared menu.

To activate this feature, go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Second Space. Once you create a profile, you can switch between the main and hidden space using a special widget or combination of actions. This is the perfect way to hide the icon from prying eyes without removing the application itself.

Inside the hidden space, you can re-install any applications that will work independently: notifications from a hidden profile will not come to the main one, and data will be separated, often used to separate work and personal life or to store sensitive information.

Disabling system applications through settings

Many pre-installed Xiaomi services, such as Music, Video or Mi Browser, cannot be removed in the usual way, but they can be disabled, in which case the app stops working, does not consume battery and, most importantly, its icon disappears from the app menu.

The disconnection process is as follows:

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Annexes → All applications.
• 🔍 Find an unnecessary system application in the list.
• ⚙️ Click on it and select the “Disable” or “Uninstall updates” button, after which the “Disable” button will appear.

Once confirmed, the icon will disappear, and if you want to return the app, you will need to find it in the disabled list (usually they are at the end of the list or have the appropriate status) and click "Enable." This is a secure method that does not require superuser rights.

Using ADB to remove system components

For advanced users who don’t need a standard shutdown, there is an ADB (Android Debug Bridge) method that allows you to delete almost any system packet, including those that don’t have a “Disable” button, but it requires a computer and caution.

Before you start, you need to turn on the developer mode. To do this, go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on the MIUI version number seven times. Then, in the Advanced Settings menu, activate Debugging via USB. Connect your smartphone to your PC and follow the command:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 name packet

For example, to remove a standard browser, the command will look like an adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.browser. It is important to know the exact name of the package. A mistake in the command can lead to unstable system operation, so use this method only if you are sure of your actions.

⚠️ Removal of critical system components through ADB This can lead to a "bootloop" (cyclic reboot) of the phone. Always check the purpose of the package on the Internet before deleting it.

Removing shortcuts and widgets from the desktop

Sometimes the task is simpler: you don't have to remove the app itself, you just have to remove the shortcut from the home page, leaving the program on the menu. In HyperOS and newer versions of MIUI, this is done in a simple way. Press the icon on the desktop and drag it to the top of the screen in the "Delete" zone (basket icon or cross).

It's important not to confuse deleting a shortcut with deleting an application. If you drag and drop it, you delete the application itself. If it says simply "Delete" or "Remove", it probably removes only the shortcut. In some launchers, when you press the icon, you have a separate "Delete from the desktop" button.

You can also remove widgets and folders from your desktop, and the mechanics are similar: long-pressing and dragging to the removal zone, which helps make room for more important interface elements and make the screen cleaner.

💡

Use the “Pocket Mode” feature in screen settings to avoid accidentally removing icons when the phone is lying in your bag or pocket.

Table of comparison of removal methods

To make it easier for you to choose the right way, we have prepared a comparative table of the main methods of working with icons and applications on Xiaomi smartphones.

As you can see from the table, the first three methods are the safest for the average user. ADB-commands are recommended only in extreme cases, when other methods do not give the desired result, and you know exactly which packet you are going to delete.

💡

The optimal balance between the purity of the interface and the stability of the system is achieved by using the “Disconnect” function for system applications and standard removal for user applications.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)