How to Remove Unnecessary Apps on Xiaomi with MIUI 12:5 Proven Ways

Owners of Xiaomi smartphones based on the MIUI 12 shell often face the problem of a congestion of unnecessary applications, both preinstalled system and installed by the user. Even after standard removal through the menu, many programs leave behind “tails”: cache, data and even background processes that continue to consume battery power and take up precious space in memory. In this article, we will examine not only basic methods of uninstallation, but also advanced techniques, including working with ADB, disabling embedded services without root rights and cleaning residual files.

The peculiarity of MIUI 12 is the aggressive policy of pre-installed applications: even after resetting to the factory settings, many of them come back, this applies not only to Xiaomi branded services (Mi Browser, Mi Video, GetApps), but also partner programs like Facebook, Netflix or regional messengers. Unlike newer versions of the shell (for example, MIUI 14 or HyperOS), the twelfth version has unique limitations that require special consideration.

It's important to understand that not all applications can be removed without consequences. Some system components are critical to the stable operation of MIUI, and their uninstallation can lead to failures, from minor interface glitches to complete failure of the smartphone. To avoid this, we will discuss in detail which programs can be safely removed, and which can only be disabled or frozen.

1. Standard removal through MIUI 12 settings

To start with, the simplest method that most users can use is MIUI 12, which has an integrated application manager that allows you to uninstall both third-party programs and some of the preinstalled programs (but not all!).

1. Open the Settings menu (the gear icon on the home screen or in the notification panel).
2. Go to the Appendix section → Application management.
3. At the top of the screen, select the All Apps tab (the Downloaded tab may be active by default).
4. Find an unnecessary app in the list and tap it.
5. Press the Remove button (if it is active). For some system programs, it will be replaced by the Disable or Remove Updates button.

It should be noted that this method does not work with all pre-installed applications, for example, Mi Music, Mi Pay or Mi Community are often blocked from deleting, in which case the system will only suggest disabling the program, which hides it from the menu, but does not free the memory completely.

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If the Remove button is inactive, try first clicking "Remove Updates" and then trying to uninstall again.

• ✅ Pros of the method: simple, does not require additional tools, is safe for the system.
• ❌ Cons: Works only with a limited list of applications, does not clean residual files.

2.Delete via Google Play Store

Few people know, but some pre-installed apps on Xiaomi can be removed through the Google Play Store, even if they do not appear in the standard manager.This applies to programs that were installed as updates through the Play Market, rather than sewn into the firmware.

Instructions:

1. Open the Google Play Store and go to the Installed section (in the profile menu).
2. Find the app you want (such as Facebook or Netflix) in the list.
3. Click on the three dots next to the title and select Remove.

This method often works for applications that Xiaomi preinstalles under partnership agreements, but which are updated through Google, WPS Office or Booking.com if they have been installed as APK-update.

⚠️ Note: Some apps after being deleted via Play Market may automatically recover after a device reboot. MIUI, Check the integrity of system components at start-up.

• 🔍 How to check: After deleting, restart your smartphone and check if the app has appeared again on the menu.
• 📌 Solution: If the application is restored, use the methods in the following sections (for example, disabling through the app). ADB).

3. disable system applications without root rights

If standard deletion doesn't work, the next step is to disable unnecessary programs. It won't free up memory completely, but it will stop background processes and hide applications from the menu. There are two ways to do this in MIUI 12:

Method 1: Through application settings

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want (such as Mi Video).
3. Click Disable (the button can be hidden under the three-point menu).
4. Confirm the action in the window that appears.

Method 2: ADB (for experienced users)

A more radical method is the use of Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which allows you to disable even those applications that are blocked in the MIUI interface.

1. Turn on the Developer Mode on your smartphone: go to Settings → About phone and 7 times tap on the item MIUI version.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate Debugging over USB.
3. Connect your smartphone to your PC, install ADB (instructions are available on the official Android website) and execute the command: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.mi.android.globalFileexplorer Replace com.mi.android.globalFileexplorer with the batch name of the desired application (you can find it through programs like App Inspector).

Examples of batch names of popular Xiaomi system applications:

⚠️ Warning: Disabling system applications like com.miui.securitycenter or com.android.settings can cause your smartphone to fail.

Install ADB on PC|Enable USB debugging on your smartphone |Download App Inspector to determine batch names |Create a backup of data |Check the list of secure applications to disable-->

4. Complete removal of system applications with ADB

If the shutdown is not enough, you can go further and completely remove unnecessary applications. This method requires caution, since incorrect actions can disrupt the MIUI. Important: after complete removal, you can restore the application only through firmware or resetting settings.

Instructions:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC and make sure that ADB recognizes the device (the adb device team must show the serial number).
2. Execute the command to delete: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.weather2 Flag. --user 0 means that the application is only deleted for the current user (without affecting system files). -k saves cache and data, which speeds up the process.
3. Reboot your smartphone.

Important: Some applications (for example, com.miui.home) can not be deleted even through the ADB, As this will lead to a bootloop, check the list of safe packages on thematic forums before removing them (for example, check the list of safe packages on thematic forums, 4PDA or XDA Developers).

• 🛠️ What to do if the smartphone does not turn on after removal? Try to go to Recovery Mode (clamp power). + Volume up) and perform reset. If that doesn't work, you'll need to flash it over the Fastboot.
• 🔄 How do you return a remote application? Install it. APK-manual file (if possible) reset to factory settings. refashion your smartphone.

5. Cleaning of residual files after deletion

Even after uninstallation, apps often leave behind “junk”: cache, data in /data/data or /sdcard/Android folders, as well as entries in the Android registry. To completely clean the system, follow the following steps:

Step 1: Clearing the cache and data

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the remote application in the list (it can be displayed in gray).
3. Click Warehouse and select Clear Cache and Clear Data.

Step 2: Manually clean folders

Use a file manager (such as Mi File Explorer or Solid Explorer) to delete the residual files:

• 📁 Application data folder: /data/data/[packet name (root rights required).
• 📁 Folder on the memory card: /sdcard/Android/data/[packet-name].
• 📁 Cache folder: /sdcard/Android/obb/[packet-name].

Access to system folders (/data/data) may require root or special applications like Root Explorer, and without root rights, you can only clean folders on the memory card.

Step 3: Use CCleaner or SD Maid

Cleaning apps like CCleaner or SD Maid can automatically find and delete residual files, but beware: some aggressively remove the cache of all applications, which can slow down the smartphone after cleaning.

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Cleaning up residual files is especially important if you’ve been deleting applications through ADB. Unlike standard uninstallation, ADB doesn’t automatically clean up folders with data, which can take up hundreds of megabytes of memory.

Alternative methods: freezing and debloating

If deleting or disabling seems risky, alternative methods can be used:

Freezing of applications

Apps like Titanium Backup or App Quarantine let you freeze programs, effectively disabling them without deleting them, which is handy if you're not sure if you need an app in the future.

Debloating through Magisk

For experienced users with root rights and installed Magisk, debloating modules are available, for example:

• Universal Debloater – removes most pre-installed applications.
• MIUI Debloater is a specialty for Xiaomi.

These modules allow you to massively remove unnecessary programs without manually entering ADB commands.

Use of custom firmware

The most radical way to get rid of bloat is to install custom firmware like LineageOS or Pixel Experience, which will completely replace MIUI with pure Android, but will require unlocking the bootloader and losing warranty.

⚠️ Note: Installing custom firmware on Xiaomi blocks the possibility of using official updates and can lead to problems with Widevine L1 (Downgrading streaming quality at Netflix, Disney+ etc.).

7. How to prevent re-installation of unnecessary applications

Even after cleaning, MIUI 12 can automatically restore some applications after updating the system.

• 🔕 Turn off automatic app updates: Go to Google Play Store → Settings → Auto-Update Applications. Choose Not to Auto-Update.
• 📵 Block installation from unknown sources: C Settings → Annexes → Special access rights → Install unknown applications disable permission for all browsers and file managers.
• 🔄 Check the list of applications regularly: After each update MIUI Check if there are any unnecessary programs.