How to completely remove MI-applications on Xiaomi: 5 working ways

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the problem of pre-installed applications from MIUI that take up memory, consume battery power and show unnecessary advertising. Even after standard removal through the menu, many services (for example, Mi Video, Mi Music or GetApps) continue to work in the background or recover from system updates.

In this article, we will discuss all current methods of removal. MI-From secure (no root) to radical (unlock the bootloader and edit system files), you will learn which programs can be deactivated without consequences, and which should not be touched so as not to break the system. MIUI 14/15 HyperOS, including Xiaomi models 13/14, Redmi Note 12/13, POCO F5/X5 others.

Why? MI-Applications are returned after removal?

The problem lies in MIUI architecture and Xiaomi policy, and most of the pre-installed applications are system apps or privileged apps.

• 📦 Installed in section /system, rootless;
• 🔄 Restored when updated MIUI mechanism OTA (airborne);
• 🛡️ Protected by MiPush, which monitors their work;
• 📱 Related to proprietary features (e.g. Mi Share for fast file transfer).

Even if you delete APK-the application file manually, the system can restore it from a backup in the folder /data/app or download again through GetApps. Therefore, a complete removal requires special tools or superuser rights.

⚠️ Warning: Removing system applications without understanding their purpose can cause camera, Bluetooth, and other malfunctions, NFC For example, deleting com.miui.gallery breaks the viewing of photos, and com.android.cts.ctsshim breaks the certification of Google Pay.

Method 1: Disconnection MI-Applications through settings (without root)

The safest method is to deactivate unnecessary services, which won’t remove them completely, but will stop background activity and remove icons from the menu, which is suitable for most Xiaomi models, including new ones on HyperOS.

Steps:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Show All Apps.
3. In the list, find an unneeded app (such as Mi Video or Mi Browser).
4. Slip it and select Disable (if the button is active).
5. Confirm the action in the dialog window.

List of applications that can be disabled without risk (checked at MIUI 14/15):

• 🎵 com.miui.player — Mi Music;
• 📺 com.miui.videoplayer — Mi Video;
• 🌐 com.android.browser — Mi Browser;
• 📦 com.xiaomi.mipicks - GetApps (theme and app store);
• 📊 com.miui.analytics - Statistics collection MIUI.

Find the app in the list through search (magnifying glass icon)|Check if it is the device administrator (Settings) → Passwords and security → Administrators)|Update. MIUI Up to the latest version (sometimes the restrictions are removed)|Use it. ADB-commands (see Method 2)-->

⚠️ Warning: Do not disable applications called com.miui.home, com.android.settings, or com.miui.securitycenter, which will cause interface errors or inability to access the phone menu.

Method 2: Remove via ADB (without root but with PC)

If the shutdown is not enough, you can remove it. MI-Apps via Android Debug Bridge (ADB) — Android Debugging Tool: This method works on all Xiaomi models, but requires a computer connection.

What you need:

• 💻 Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux;
• 📱 Included Debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Tap 7 times, then go back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers);
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original);
• 🛠️ Utility. ADB Tools (download from Google website).

Step-by-step:

1. Unpack the archive from ADB into a folder on your computer (e.g., C:\adb).
2. Connect your smartphone to your PC and select File Transfer mode.
3. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB.
4. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices should appear the name of your device.
5. Download the list of all installed packages: adb shell pm list packages -f
6. Find an unnecessary app (e.g. com.miui.videoplayer) and remove it by command: adb shell pm uninstall-k --user 0 com.miui.videoplayer

Example of commands to remove popular MI-applications:

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If the app is back after being deleted via ADB, try adding the --user 0 flag (as in the examples above) to remove the app only for the current user, which reduces the risk of system failures.

Limitations of the method:

• ❌ Does not work for applications related to the kernel MIUI (For example, com.miui.home);
• ❌ After resetting settings or updating MIUI Applications may return;
• ❌ Does not free up space in the section /system (It only hides from the user).

Through phone settings|With help. ADB|With root rights.|I'm not removing it, I'm just ignoring it.|Another way.-->

Method 3: Remove with Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools

To facilitate the work of the ADB There is a utility Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools – graphical shell that automates removal MI-The program supports all models of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO, including new ones on HyperOS.

Advantages over manual ADB:

• 📋 Ready lists of safe to remove applications;
• 🔍 Ability to back up before deletion;
• 🛠️ Automatic recovery after unsuccessful operations;
• 📊 Visual interface for selecting packages.

Instructions:

1. Download the utility from the official repository: GitHub Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools.
2. Unpack the archive and run the XiaomiADBFastbootTools.exe file.
3. Connect your smartphone to a PC with USB debugging enabled.
4. In the program, select ADB Mode and wait for the device to connect.
5. Go to the Uninstaller tab and tick off unnecessary apps (green is safe, red is dangerous).
6. Press Uninstall Selected and confirm the action.

The utility contains a base of 200+ MI-For example, it will warn that deleting com.miui.securityadd will disable the virus scanner, and com.miui.cloudservice will sync with Mi Cloud.

Method 4: Complete removal with root rights (for experienced)

If you're willing to take risks, unlocking the bootloader and getting root rights gives you complete control over the system files.

• 🗑️ Remove annexes from the section /system irrevocably;
• 🔧 Edit build.prop files to disable services MIUI;
• 📉 Block Automatic Application Recovery;
• 🔄 Install custom firmware (for example, LineageOS) where there is no MI-applications.

Step-by-step:

1. Unlock the bootloader: Go to Mi Unlock and download the utility. Link your Mi Account to the device (Settings → Xiaomi Account). Launch your phone in Fastboot mode (turn off, then press Power + Volume down). Connect to your PC and follow the instructions in Mi Unlock Tool (it may take 7-30 days to unlock).
2. Install custom recovery (TWRP): Download the TWRP version for your model from twrp.me. Run it through fastboot: fastboot flash recovery twrp.img fastboot boot twrp.img
3. Get root rights: Download Magisk and stream through TWRP. Install Magisk Manager for rights management.

Delete. MI-applications:

• Use a root-access file manager (such as Root Explorer).
• Go to /system/priv-app or /system/app.
• Delete folders with unnecessary applications (for example, VideoPlayer, Browser).
• Clear the cache in /data/dalvik-cache.

⚠️ Attention: Unlocking the bootloader resets the device to factory settings! Xiaomi can also cancel the warranty if root is detected. On some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T or Redmi K50) Unlocking leads to blocking of broadband modules (5G/4G).

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Before deleting system files, be sure to back up via TWRP or titanium backup, which will allow you to restore the phone in case of a "brick" (inoperability).

Method 5: Lockdown MI-Applications via Magisk (alternative to removal)

If you do not want to remove it completely MI-Apps (due to the risk of crashes) can be blocked using a Magisk module called App Systemizer or Disable Flags.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔒 Applications are not removed, but only “freeze";
• 🔄 You can get them back to work quickly;
• 🛡️ No risk to the system (as opposed to complete removal).

Instructions:

1. Install Magisk (see Method 4).
2. Download App Systemizer or Disable Flags.
3. Install the module via Magisk Manager and restart the device.
4. Open App Systemizer from the Magisk menu.
5. Select the applications to block (e.g. com.miui.analytics) and apply the changes.

List of applications that can be safely blocked:

• 📊 com.miui.analytics – statistics collection;
• 📢 com.xiaomi.midrop - Mi Drop (file transfer);
• 🎨 com.android.themes - Theme Store;
• 📱 com.miui.hybrid – Hybrid Services MIUI;
• 🔍 com.miui.search – search by device.

What to do if MI-Applications are returned after update?

Even after successful removal, some MI-Applications are restored after updating MIUI. This is because the system downloads them through the service. OTA Updater or GetApps.

Decisions:

1. Turn off automatic app updates: Go to Settings → Apps → App management → GetApps. Turn off Auto Update and Background activity.
2. Block Xiaomi domains in the hosts file: With root or ADB, add the following lines to /system/etc/hosts: 127.0.0.1 app.market.xiaomi.com 127.0.0.1 api.io.mi.com
3. Use the Magisk module OTA Block: Install the module from the Magisk repository to block MIUI updates.

Install custom firmware:

• Firmware like LineageOS or Pixel Experience does not contain MI-applications.

On HyperOS devices (e.g. Xiaomi 14), the recovery mechanism has become more aggressive. If you delete GetApps via ADB, the system can return it after 1-2 days, in which case only blocking through Magisk or disabling the service com.xiaomi.mipicks in the battery settings (restriction of background activity).

FAQ: Frequent questions about removal MI-applications