Xiaomi smartphone owners often face a situation where pre-installed system applications take up space and resources while remaining unused. One such service is Mi Video, which is built into the shell of MIUI and HyperOS by default. Many users prefer third-party players with more functionality or simply do not watch videos on the phone, wanting to get rid of excess software.
The procedure for removing this component is not always obvious, as the standard “Delete” button in the application menu is often unavailable or missing, due to the fact that Mi Video is classified by the system as an important system component.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available methods, from simple disconnection to complete removal through the computer, you will learn what risks exist and how to properly prepare the gadget for interference with system files. Deletion through ADB is the only way to completely erase the application without root rights.
Why Standard Removal Is Often Unavailable
Xiaomi, like many other Android smartphone manufacturers, has a policy of integrating its own services deeply into the operating system. MIUI Video is often linked to other components of the multimedia subsystem, such as a gallery or a explorer, which is why when you try to remove it with a standard (long-press on the icon), you only see the option “Delete from the desktop”, which only hides the label, but does not remove the file itself.
System constraints are designed to protect inexperienced users from accidentally deleting mission-critical files, which could lead to a cyclical reboot. However, for advanced users, having a dozen unnecessary services like Mi Browser or GetApps is more of a disadvantage. These background processes consume RAM and can slow down the device.
⚠️ Note: Before any manipulation of system applications, we strongly advise you to create a complete backup of data. Errors when removing system components can lead to unstable operation of the interface.
It is also worth noting that different firmware versions (Global, China, Russia) may have different protections for system applications, and in some cases, system updates return applications that are remote by standard methods, as they are part of the system image of system.img.
Preparing a smartphone to remove system applications
Before you start to act, you need to configure the device correctly, and without these steps, the computer will not be able to access the phone's file system to make changes, and you first need to activate the hidden developer menu.
To do this, go to Settings → About Phone and find the MIUI Version (or OS Version). You need to quickly click on this item 7-10 times in a row until you see a pop-up notification that you have become a developer. Then a new section “Additional” or “Extended Settings” will appear in the settings menu, where you need to find the “Developers” item.
Inside the developer menu, find the USB Debug Switch and activate it. When you connect the cable to your computer, you'll see a request for debugging permission on your smartphone screen. Make sure you tick "Always Allow from this computer" and click "OK." Without that confirmation, PC commands won't be executed.
Method 1: Disconnecting through settings (Safe Method)
The easiest and most secure option that doesn't require a PC connection is to force the app to stop and shut down, which doesn't physically delete files from memory, but completely blocks them from running and running in the background, and is ideal for those who are afraid of damaging the system.
Go to Settings → Applications → All Apps. In the list, find Mi Video (may be called Video or Mi Video). Click on it to open the control menu. If the Remove button is inactive, find the "Disable" or "Stop" button. Once disabled, the application will disappear from the list of working processes and stop consuming battery resources.
However, this method has a significant disadvantage: the device memory (ROM) will not be released, the files will remain dead weight, and after resetting the settings before a factory or major firmware update, the application can be activated again automatically.
What happens when you shut down?
When you shut down, the system marks the packet as inactive, it doesn't start, it doesn't get updates, it doesn't show up in the launcher, but the Memory section will show that the space is still occupied by the system files."> Method 2: Complete removal through ADB (Advanced) The most effective method to physically remove a packet from the system, which would require a computer (Windows, macOS or Linux), USB-cable and toolkit Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This method does not require superuser (Root) rights, making it safe to warranty. First download and install Platform Tools from the official Google website or use a third-party build. ADB. Unpack the archive into the root of the disk (for example, C:\adb) Open the command line (cmd) or terminal in the tool folder. Connect your phone and enter the command to check the connection: adb devices If a device with device status appears on the list, then the connection is established. If the status is unauthorized, look at the phone screen and confirm access. Now you need to know the exact name of the application package. Type the command: adb shell pm list packages | grep video In the list you will find a line corresponding to the application. For global firmware, it is usually com.miui.videoplayer. For the Chinese versions, the name may differ. To remove the application for the current user (main), use the following command: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.videoplayer After the successful execution of the command, the Success message will appear in the terminal. It is important to understand that the team --user 0 removes the application only for your user profile, leaving the file in the system partition, but making it unusable, and this prevents possible system errors. Using third-party utilities for uninstallation If working with the command line seems too difficult for you, there are graphic shells for ADB, One of the most popular and proven programs is Universal Android Debloater or Xiaomi. ADB/Fastboot Tools: These utilities have a user-friendly interface where system applications are presented as a checkbox list, and the way they work is the same: you plug in your phone, the program reads a list of all the packages and sorts them into categories (safe, recommended, dangerous). You just need to find Mi Video in the list and click the delete button. The program will create and send the necessary ADB-Method Complexity Freeing up space Risk for the system Disconnecting in settings Low No Minimum ADB (Command Prompt) High Yes (for user) Medium Third-Party Utility Medium Yes (for user) Medium Root Rights Very High Full High Use of ready-made tools reduces the likelihood of error in the team syntax, which is especially important for beginners. However, always check which version of the package you are going to delete so that the system libraries of the codecs do not affect, there may be unexpected situations during the deletion process, for example, after rebooting the application icon may return. This often happens if the deletion went wrong or the system restored the file from the backup of the cloud account Mi Cloud. In this case, it is recommended to disable the synchronization of system settings before removing. [DELETE_FAILED_INTERNAL_ERROR] performing ADB-This may mean that the application is critical to the current firmware version or has been stuck in the process, in which case try to first execute the command to force-stop: adb shell am force-stop com.miui.videoplayer Then repeat the command to delete. If this does not help, it is possible that the device has manufacturer restrictions that block the removal even through the device. ADB In such cases, the only solution is to install custom firmware, such as Xiaomi.eu, where most of the Chinese software has already been cut out. ⚠️ Note: If after deleting Mi Video, the sound in other applications has stopped working or artifacts have appeared while playing media, immediately restore the deleted package. This indicates the dependence of system codecs on this application (FAQ) Will Mi Video come back after the system update? ADB flag-headed --user 0, The app usually doesn't come back after the usual OTA-updates, as it is marked as remote for your user, but when you upgrade to a new major version of Android (for example, with the help of a new major version of Android). MIUI 14 HyperOS, the system can recreate the user profile and the app will reappear. The method of completely disabling the settings is guaranteed to keep the application in the system, but inactive. Is it safe to delete Mi Video for other applications to work? In most cases, yes. Modern apps use their own built-in codecs or standard Android libraries to play video, but some system features, such as previewing a video in the Gallery or recording a screen, may theoretically depend on the system player. If you notice a failure, the package is easy to restore with the adb shell cmd package install-existing com.miui.videoplayer. Do you need Root rights to completely remove? No, to remove the application from user space (user). 0) No superuser rights required. ADB Root rights are only required if you want to physically erase a file from the system partition. /system/app, This is usually excessive and increases security risks. What to do if the phone stops turning on after it's been removed? If you remove the system component and cause a bootloop, you will need to enter Recovery mode (clutching the volume button up and power). From the Recovery menu, select "Wipe Data" (data reset), which will return the phone to factory status, recovering all deleted system files, but personal data will be lost.