Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the need to clean the system of preinstalled or accidentally installed antivirus software. In particular, Kaspersky Internet Security can be integrated into firmware as part of an affiliate program or installed by the user for additional protection. However, over time, the need for a third-party antivirus disappears, since the built-in MIUI Security defender fully copes with the basic threats.
The removal process may vary depending on the version of the Android operating system and the HyperOS or MIUI shell. In some cases, the application is removed in a standard way through the settings menu, in others, deeper cleaning methods are required if the program is system-based. Removing system security components without proper preparation can lead to unstable device operation.
In this guide, we will discuss all the current ways to uninstall security software. You will learn how to disable administrator rights, clear the cache and completely delete antivirus files, freeing up RAM and battery power of your gadget.
Standard uninstallation through system settings
The easiest and most secure method available to most users is to use the regular application management menu. If the antivirus was installed by you yourself from the Google Play store or GetApps, it does not have deep integration into the system and is removed without unnecessary difficulties.
Then you go to the App section, which can sometimes be called All Apps or Application Management depending on the shell version. In the list that opens, you can find Kaspersky Internet Security or Kaspersky Standard. By clicking on the program name, you will be taken to the application information menu where the Delete button is located.
- 📱 Open the settings menu and select the application section.
- 🔍 Find Kaspersky Antivirus on the List.
- 🗑️ Press the removal button and confirm the action.
Once confirmed, the system will clean up files and the registry associated with the software. If the deletion button is active and the process is successful, no additional action is required. However, in some cases, especially on devices with global firmware, the antivirus can be built into the system partition.
💡
Before removing any security applications, it is recommended to back up important data in case of unforeseen system failures.
Problem of device administrator rights
A common reason why an uninstall button becomes inactive or hidden is because of the device's activated administrator rights. Antivirus programs request these rights to block malware and remotely control the phone in the event of a theft. While these rights are active, Android prohibits uninstallation of the application for security purposes.
To circumvent this restriction, you need to manually revoke access rights. Go to Settings, then to Privacy Protection or Security. There you should find Device Administrators (or Special Access → Device Administrator Applications).
⚠️ Warning: After the revocation of the administrator rights, the antivirus will cease to perform its protective functions.
Click on the application name and select the option to Disable or Delete Rights. The system may request confirmation several times, warning you of a decrease in security. After successful completion of this procedure, return to the application menu and try to remove the antivirus in the standard way described above.
Use of safe loading mode
If the antivirus behaves like a virus and prevents its removal even after the revocation of administrator rights, the effective solution is to launch the smartphone in safe mode. In this state, Android only loads system components, blocking the launch of all third-party applications, including Kaspersky security modules.
To enter safe mode on most Xiaomi models, you need to press the power button, and then hold the Turn off or Reboot icon for a long time on the screen. After you request a confirmation of the transition to safe mode, agree to the action. The device will reboot, and the corresponding inscription will appear in the corner of the screen.
While in Safe Mode, repeat the deletion procedure through settings. Since the antivirus processes are not running, they will not be able to block their uninstallation or restore their components to the background. Once deleted, return the phone to normal operation mode by normal restart.
☑️ Algorithm of actions in safe mode
Comparison of methods of removing antivirus
The choice of removal method depends on the specific situation: whether it was a user choice or pre-installed software, as well as the level of technical training of the smartphone owner. Below is a table that helps determine the best method for your case.
| Method | Difficulty | Necessary rights | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Through settings | Low. | No. | High (for custom applications) |
| Revocation of Admin Rights | Medium | No. | High (if there is a blockage) |
| Safe regime | Medium | No. | Maximum (for persistent applications) |
| ADB team | Tall. | USB debugging | Maximum (for system applications) |
As you can see from the table, for most users, the first two methods are sufficient. The use of the ADB command line is extremely rare and only in cases where the antivirus is an integral part of the firmware from the operator or manufacturer.
What is ADB and when is it needed?
Cleaning of residual files and cache
Even after a successful uninstallation, the device may still have temporary files, logs, and settings that took up space. For a complete cleanup, you should use the built-in Cleanup tool in the Xiaomi security menu or a third-party file manager, such as Files by Google.
Go to the Explorer app and check the root folder for directories called Kaspersky or Kav. If you find such folders and you are sure that you do not plan to re-install them, you can safely delete them.
- 📂 Open the file manager and find the antivirus folders.
- 🧹 Use the built-in cleaning utility to remove garbage.
- 🔄 Restart the device to apply changes.
Regularly checking the storage helps keep the system running, and removing heavy antivirus databases often frees up several hundred megabytes of free space, which is especially true for models with limited internal memory.
💡
Complete removal does not only include uninstallation APK-file, but also cleaning residual folders in the storage to free up space.
Possible mistakes and ways to solve them
Specific errors may occur during the deletion process related to the operation of the MIUI shell. For example, the message “Cannot remove the application” often appears if the background security process is still active, in which case a forced stop through the Application menu → Kaspersky → Stop before re-attempting to delete.
Another common problem is the automatic reinstallation of antivirus through Google Play services. If the program returns after deleting, check the auto-update settings. Perhaps the antivirus was installed as part of a batch offer or synchronized with an account. In the Google Play settings, find the Application and Device Management section and turn off auto-update for this software.
⚠️ Note: If the antivirus was preinstalled by the manufacturer as a system component (System App), its removal through the standard interface is impossible without obtaining Root rights or using the software. ADB-This can lead to loss of warranty.
In situations where nothing helps, the last resort is to reset the device to factory settings, which is guaranteed to return the phone to its original state, but will require a full backup of the data, since all personal information will be destroyed.