Xiaomi smartphones are famous for their excellent price-performance ratio, but often owners are faced with one unpleasant feature - an abundance of preinstalled software. The MIUI operating system or the new HyperOS has a lot of programs that you may never use, they occupy a precious place in internal memory and consume CPU resources in the background.
Removing redundant software isn’t just a way to clean up menus, it’s a necessity to extend the battery life of a device. System debris and active background processes can significantly slow down the interface, especially on low-cost models with little RAM. In this article, we’ll look at all the cleaning options available.
There are several ways to free up space, from standard menu removal to advanced tools like ADB. We'll look at each of them so you can choose the one that's most appropriate for your situation. Don't be afraid to experiment, but always remember the importance of backing up important data before making a global change.
Standard removal through the settings menu
The easiest and safest way to get rid of unnecessary software is to use the built-in functionality of the Android operating system, which is suitable for all user applications that you downloaded yourself, as well as for some of the system software that the manufacturer allowed to be removed. To get started, open Settings on your device.
In the menu that opens, find the Apps or All Apps section, and it shows you the full list of installed software, you can sort it by size, frequency of use, or installation date, find the program you want to remove, and click on it. If the Delete button is active, feel free to click on it and confirm the action.
It's worth noting that for some Xiaomi system components, this button will be inactive or replaced with a Disable button, in which case the standard methods of removing the file will not work, disabling the icon and stopping the processes, but the memory will take up almost completely, a compromise solution for those who are afraid to use complex methods.
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Before you delete it, go to Google Play and check if the app is a system component that is necessary for other services (e.g. Google Play Services).
Cleaning through the application menu on the desktop
Redmi and Poco smartphone owners can use a faster way to clean directly from their desktop, ideal for quickly eliminating user software without diving deeply into the system settings, saving time if you need to remove multiple programs at once.
To do this, find the icon of the unwanted application on the lock screen or menu. Click on it and hold your finger until the context menu appears. In the list that appears, select Remove (basket icon). The system will automatically redirect you to the control menu or immediately delete the application if it is user-generated software.
It's important to understand the difference between deleting and shortcutting. In some MIUI shells, dragging and dropping into the cart can only remove the shortcut from the desktop, and the application itself remains in memory. Always check the result by opening the full list of installed programs through the settings.
- 🗑️ Press the app icon on your desktop before the menu appears.
- 📲 Drag the icon into the cart that appears or press the delete button.
- ✅ Confirm the action in the system pop-up window.
- 🔍 Check the list of all apps to make sure you remove them completely.
If you use a third-party launcher, the procedure may be slightly different, in which case it is better to use the classic method through the settings or application management menu to ensure complete dismantling of the software.
Removing System Applications Through ADB
For advanced users who want to get rid of indiscriminate system debris, there is a method using debugging by USB tool ADB (Android Debug Bridge: This method requires you to connect your smartphone to your computer, but it gives you complete control of the system without Root rights.
First, you need to activate the developer mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly press 7 times on the MIUI Version or OS Version. After that, the Developer option will appear in the menu. Inside you need to find and activate the USB Debugging Switch.
Where to download ADB?
Connect your phone to your PC with a cable. You'll see a request for debugging permission on your smartphone screen -- check the "Always Allow" box and press OK. On your computer, open the command line in the ADB folder and type in the adb device command. If the device is selected, you'll see its serial number.
To remove the application, use the command adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 <name packet>. Instead of <name packet>, substitute the exact name of the application (for example, com.miui.videoplayer).
⚠️ Be careful when removing system packets through ADB. Removing critical components such as SystemUI or Phone can cause a smartphone to fail and require flashing.
☑️ Preparation for removal through ADB
Use of specialized utilities-uninstallators
If you don't want to mess with the command line, you'll find dedicated uninstallation apps, one of the most popular and proven tools is System App Remover or Universal Android Debloater, which automate the process and often have a more user-friendly interface.
Most of these utilities require Root permissions to completely delete system files, but some also operate in rootless mode using the same ADB mechanisms, but in a graphical shell, which makes it much easier for inexperienced users who are afraid to type the wrong command.
When using third-party cleaning software, it is important to download it only from trusted sources, such as the Google Play store or from official repositories on GitHub. Installing dubious software can lead to personal data leakage or malware infection of the device.
- 📥 Download a reliable uninstallator from the official app store.
- 🔒 Provide the necessary permits (ADB rat).
- 🔍 Scan the system for system debris.
- ❌ Select removal applications and confirm the operation.
After the procedure is completed, it is recommended to restart the device so that the system rebuilt the cache and applied changes. If after the restart you notice unstable work, you can always restore the remote through the history of actions in the uninstaller application itself, if such a feature is provided.
Analysis of the impact of applications on battery and memory
Before you mindlessly delete everything, it is worth analyzing which programs are most loading your Xiaomi. Often it happens that a heavy application that you rarely use eats up the lion’s share of battery life.
Go to Settings → Battery and Performance, and here you'll see a power graph and a list of applications sorted by consumption, and if there's a program at the top of the list that you barely use, removing it or limiting background activity will give you a tangible boost in autonomy.
Also worth checking is RAM usage. In the Advanced Settings menu → Memory you can see how much resources each application consumes. The background processes of social networks and instant messengers often remain active even after closing, devouring the system resources.
| Type of application | Impact on the battery | Recommendation | Can I remove it? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social media | High. | Limit the background | Yes. |
| System services | Average. | Don't touch it. | No (risk) |
| Games | Critical at launch | Delete if you don't need to. | Yes. |
| Navigation | High (GPS) | Turn off GPS. | Yes. |
Recovery of Remote System Components
It happens that a user deletes an important system application, thinking it is useless, and then encounters errors in the operation of the smartphone. Fortunately, most deletion methods, especially through ADB, do not physically erase files from the partition of the system, but only disable them for the current user, which means that the process is reversible.
To return the remote application, reconnect the smartphone to the computer and start the command line. Use the command adb shell cmd package install-existing <packet>. This instruction will forcibly restore the package in the system, returning its icon and functionality.
If you used a third-party uninstaller with Root rights, the recovery may require re-installation. APK-Therefore, it is always recommended to save the original installation files of system applications before deleting them completely.
⚠️ Note: If after removing the system component, the phone goes into a cyclic restart (bootloop), you will have to reset the device to factory settings via the Recovery menu (Wipe Data).
Turn off your phone and press the power and volume buttons at the same time to enter recovery mode. From the menu, select a language and press Wipe Data. Remember that this action will completely destroy all your personal data, photos and contacts, so regular backup is not just a tip, it is a necessity.
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Any removal of system components through ADB is reversible until the settings are reset, as files remain in the system partition but are hidden from the user.