How to Remove Unneeded Apps on Xiaomi Redmi 8: From Simple to Advanced Techniques

Smartphones line Xiaomi Redmi 8 deservedly popular due to excellent price-quality ratio, but pre-installed software often becomes a problem for users. device owners often face a lack of internal memory and intrusive advertising, which is the source of the background processes of system utilities. Effective management of installed software is the first step to speed up the work of the gadget and freeing up precious gigabytes.

In this article, we will discuss in detail all available ways to clean the Android shell. MIUI, From standard menu removal to advanced computer-based methods, you'll learn which programs can be safely uninstalled and which are critical to the stability of the system. The right approach will make your Redmi 8 a fast and clean tool without any unnecessary digital trash.

Standard removal of user applications

The easiest and safest way to clean up the space is to remove programs that you downloaded yourself from Google Play or installed through Google Play. APK-It doesn't require superuser rights or a computer connection, it takes a few seconds and is accessible to every smartphone owner. MIUI Provides an intuitive interface for content management.

To remove the program from the desktop, find its icon and click on it, holding your finger for one to two seconds, and a pop-up menu will appear where you can select the "Delete" option or drag the icon to the basket located at the top of the screen, which is ideal for quickly clearing out games, social networks and utilities that you have stopped using.

An alternative route is through the device settings, where you can see the full list of all installed software. Go to Settings β†’ Applications β†’ All applications, find the desired program in the list and click on it. In the property menu that opens, select the Remove button at the bottom of the screen to complete the procedure.

  • πŸ“± Click and hold the icon on your desktop for quick access to the delete menu.
  • βš™οΈ Use the "All Apps" section in the settings to manage hidden software.
  • πŸ—‘οΈ Confirm the action in the pop-up window for final uninstallation.
  • πŸ”„ Restart the device if the system tells you to update components.

⚠️ Note: When you remove applications through the standard menu, some system components may automatically recover after a restart or update. MIUI.

It is important to understand that the standard method does not allow you to remove system applications marked by the manufacturer as critical. If the Remove button is inactive or absent, this means that the program has system-level rights and requires other approaches for uninstallation.

Remove system software through MIUI settings

Android-based MIUI allows you to remove some embedded applications that are formally considered system-based but do not affect the basic functionality of the phone, often including Mi Video, Mi Music, Mi Store and various advertising services.

In some versions of the firmware, you need to activate the developer mode to get advanced management rights. Go to Settings β†’ About Phone and quickly click on the MIUI build number seven times. After the message "You became a developer", go back to the main settings menu and find the "Developers" section where you can find additional management options.

Care should be taken when removing standard Google or Xiaomi components, as they can be dependencies for other services. For example, deleting Google Play Services will cause most installed programs to fail, and disabling system services can cause interface errors.

πŸ“Š Which method of removal do you prefer?
Through the desk.
Through settings
Through the computer
I don't remove system applications.

There is a category of applications that can't be completely removed, but can be disabled. In the properties menu of such an application, the "Delete" button is replaced with "Disable". Once disabled, the program disappears from the application list and ceases to consume resources, although it physically remains in the device's memory.

  • πŸ” Activate Developer Mode to Access Hidden Control Functions.
  • 🚫 Disable unnecessary services if complete removal is not available.
  • πŸ“‚ Check Dependencies Before Removing Google System Components.
  • ⚑ Disabled applications do not consume battery power and RAM.

⚠️ Warning: Disabling system services such as β€œSecurity” or β€œBoot” may cause the operating system to malfunction.

For users who want to have more control over their Redmi 8, there are special tools built into the system itself, but their functionality is limited by Android security policies, so external tools are often required to clean it completely.

Using ADB to Deep Clean Redmi 8

The most effective way to remove any built-in software is to use the Android Debug Bridge toolkit (ADB). This method requires connecting the smartphone to the computer through USB-cable and driver installation, but it gives you full control of the Android batch system. ADB You can remove even those applications that are hidden from the user.

The first step is to enable USB debugging in the Developer menu. Connect Redmi 8 to your PC, select File Transfer mode, and confirm the request for debugging permission on your smartphone screen. The computer must have a minimum set of ADB tools that can be downloaded from the official developer website.

Once connected to the computer command line, type in the adb device command to make sure the computer sees the device. If everything is connected correctly, you will see the serial number of your smartphone. To delete a specific packet, use the command:

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

Where the name.packet is the technical name of the application, which can be found through the command adb shell pm list packages or using the application-analyzer packages. For example, to remove the standard browser Xiaomi command will look like adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.browser.

β˜‘οΈ Preparation for removal through ADB

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  • πŸ’» Use the command line to enter precise packet removals.
  • πŸ“¦ Know the exact packet names before executing removal commands.
  • πŸ”Œ Make sure you have a stable connection. USB during the process.
  • πŸ›‘οΈ Team team. --user 0 removes the application only for the current user without affecting the system partition.

⚠️ Note: Removing critical system packages through ADB This can cause a cyclic reboot (bootloop) of the device.

The advantage of ADB is that it does not require Root rights and does not violate the manufacturer's warranty, as it does not change the system partition /system. the application is removed only for the current user, and in case of problems it can be easily restored by the factory reset.

Secure list of applications for removal

It is important for owners of Xiaomi Redmi 8 to know which packets can be removed without risking the phone’s performance. Below is a table with the most common applications, which are often considered β€œbloatware” (junk software) and do not affect the basic functions of calls and messages.

Title of the annexPacket nameSecurity of removalFunction
Mi Videocom.miui.videoplayerSafe.Video player
Mi Musiccom.miui.playerSafe.Music player
Mi Storecom.xiaomi.mipicksSafe.App store
Facebook (systemic)com.facebook.katanaSafe.Social network
MSA (Advertising)com.miui.msa.globalRecommendedService of advertising

Special attention should be paid to the package com.miui.msa.global, which is responsible for displaying advertising in system applications, its removal significantly improves the comfort of using a smartphone, but in some regions this may require additional manipulation with DNS or regional settings.

You can also safely remove various demos of games, navigation maps (if you use third-party ones like Yandex Maps or Google Maps), and duplicate browsers. If you do not use the Mi Cloud service, the corresponding components can also be deactivated.

What to do if you remove the extra?
If you notice a malfunction after deleting, the easiest way to reset is to factory settings. All data will be deleted, but system files will be restored to their original state. Alternatively, you can try reinstalling the remote package via ADB with the install command.

Cleaning cache and residual files

When you delete applications, you often have residual files that take up space in memory. On Redmi 8, the built-in Security utility allows you to efficiently clean up your cache and garbage. Launch the application, select Cleanup and wait for the analysis to be completed.

In addition to automatic cleaning, it is useful to manually check folders in the file manager. Often, folders with the names of remote programs or games remain at the root of internal memory. Go to File Manager β†’ Internal memory and carefully examine the contents, removing orphaned directories.

For advanced users, it is recommended to use specialized utilities for analyzing disk space, such as DiskUsage or Files by Google. They visualize busy memory, allowing you to find and delete forgotten large files, error logs and messenger cache, which can grow to gigabytes.

  • 🧹 Run the built-in cleaning regularly through the Security app".
  • πŸ“‚ Manually check the root folder for the presence of remnants of remote programs.
  • πŸ’¬ Clear the cache of messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) through their internal settings.
  • πŸ“‰ Use disk analyzers to find hidden large files.

⚠️ Note: Do not delete files with the extension.apk,.obb or Android system folders if you are not sure about their purpose - this can disrupt the work of remaining applications.

Regular cleaning not only frees up space, but also prolongs the life of your Redmi 8 flash memory, preventing it from overflowing and the associated slowdown in data writing.

Recovery of Remote System Components

If you've removed an important component in the optimization process and the system is not working properly, don't panic. Because ADB methods don't physically erase files from the /system partition, they just hide them for the user, recovery is usually successful. The most radical but effective method is a complete reset.

To return a specific application through ADB You can use the installation command for the current user. APK-A remote program file or access to the original system image:

adb shell cmd package install-existing name.packet

This command forces the Android package manager to re-activate the application for user 0. This only works for system applications that have been removed via pm uninstall --user 0. If the application has been removed completely (which requires root rights), only firmware or reset will help.

πŸ’‘

Save a list of the removed bags before starting a mass cleanup, write down names or take a screenshot to know what to restore if necessary.

In most cases, Xiaomi users rarely face the need to recover, a competent approach and checking the names of packages before removing minimizes the risk, always check the function of the removed component on the Internet before applying commands.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I uninstall Google Play Services on Xiaomi Redmi 8?
Technically, it's possible through ADB, but it's not recommended. Google Play Services provides push notifications, contacts, maps and most third-party apps sync, without which the phone will become a feature-limited caller.
Will the warranty disappear after the system applications are removed through ADB?
No, the warranty won't go away. The ADB method doesn't make changes to the system partition, and doesn't require unlocking the bootloader or getting Root rights. To the service center, the phone will look like a standard device with custom settings.
What is the com.android.vending package and can it be removed?
This is the main Google Play Store, and deleting it will make it impossible for you to download apps and update Google services, and only remove them if you plan to use alternative stores like F-Droid or APKPure.
How do I know which app is responsible for what before I delete it?
Use identifiers like App Inspector or Android Package Directory Sites, and type the name of the package (like com.miui.securitycenter) into a search to find out what it is.
Will the phone reset the settings after removing system apps?
Usually not, but in rare cases, when you remove critical system components (such as frameworks) you may need to reset.Always back up important data before deep cleaning the system.

πŸ’‘

Proper removal of bloatware on Redmi 8 can free up to 2-3 GB of memory and significantly speed up the interface, but requires care and check the names of packages.