Removing applications on Xiaomi Redmi 6

Smartphones series Redmi has long established itself as an affordable device with good functionality, but the built-in shell MIUI is often overloaded with pre-installed software. Owners of the model Redmi 6 often face a lack of internal memory and intrusive advertising, which is the source of system services. Effective management of installed programs allows not only to free up valuable space, but also to speed up the work of the gadget as a whole.

The process of cleaning a device from excess software can range from simply removing it from a standard menu to using advanced debugging tools. It is important to understand that some components are critical to the stable operation of the Android operating system. Blindly removing all packets can lead to a cyclical reboot or loss of call functionality. In this article, we will discuss safe optimization methods for your device.

Before we start radical measures, we need to review what's already installed. Often users forget about the old games or services they activated when they first started. A smart approach to managing the system's resources extends battery life and makes the interface more responsive. Let's look at the basic ways to clean your smartphone.

Standard removal through settings

The easiest and safest way to get rid of unnecessary programs is to use the built-in Application Manager, which does not require special rights or a connection to the computer, just go to the Settings menu, then select the Application item and click on All Applications, and in the list you open you can find unnecessary software and click Delete.

However, not all programs are amenable to such simple removal: System applications marked with a gear icon or the absence of a delete button require a different approach. In some cases, the delete button may be inactive (grey), which means that the application is part of the MIUI firmware and is protected from accidental removal.

For custom apps that have been downloaded from the Google Play store, this method works seamlessly. If you want to uninstall a program that doesn't allow you to do it in the standard way, you can try going to Settings → Apps → All apps, select the desired item and click Stop and then Remove Updates. Sometimes this will unlock the button for full removal.

• 📱 Go to the settings menu of your device.
• 🗑️ Find the management section for all installed programs.
• 🔍 Select the target application from the general list.
• ✅ Press the removal button and confirm the action.

⚠️ Note: Do not remove components with the names "Security", "System Framework" or"MIUI Service" if you're not 100% sure of their purpose.It could disrupt the phone's performance.

It's worth noting that after a major update to the MIUI shell, the list of applications available for removal may change, and engineers periodically review the security policy by blocking or allowing the removal of certain services, so if the delete button was active before it disappeared, that's the standard behavior of the security system.

Use of Root Superuser Rights

Obtaining Root (superuser) rights opens access to system partitions of the file system that are usually hidden from the owner's eyes. On Redmi 6, this procedure allows you to delete absolutely any application, including deep system integration.

To remove root-enabled system debris, it is convenient to use specialized file managers, such as Root Explorer or System App Remover. These tools allow you to see the structure of /system/app and /system/priv-app folders. By removing files from here, you free up space in the partition that is not available in normal use.

The process of obtaining root rights on Xiaomi requires unlocking the bootloader, which is an official procedure, but it involves resetting all the data of the device. Once unlocked, a custom recap (such as TWRP) is installed, through which superuser rights are implemented, a complex process that requires careful attention.

• 🔓 Unlock the bootloader through the official website MI Unlock.
• 🛠️ Install a custom Recovery TWRP.
• 👑 Please. ZIP-superuser-rights archive.
• 🗑️ Use root manager to delete system files.

It is important to understand that root rights reduce the overall security of the device. Malware, once it has access to the rights of a superuser, can cause irreparable damage. Therefore, installing programs from unverified sources on a rooted Redmi 6 is highly recommended.

Removal via ADB without Root rights

The most flexible and secure method for power users is to use USB debugging and the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) tool, which does not require unlocking the bootloader or obtaining root rights, but allows you to remove system applications for the current user.

To activate the developer mode, go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click 7-10 times on the MIUI Version. After the notification “You became a developer”, go to Additional → For developers and turn on the Debugging over USB. Connect the phone to your computer with a cable.

You need to install the Android SDK Platform-Tools on your computer. Once you connect your phone to the command line, type in the adb device command. You'll see a debugging permission request on your smartphone screen, you'll need to confirm it. Now the device is ready to be managed.

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

Using the adb shell pm list packages command, you can display a list of all packages. Find the name of an unwanted application (for example, com.miui.videoplayer) and use the deletion command above. The application will disappear from the menu and stop consuming resources, but will physically remain in the system partition, making it easy to restore it if necessary.

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Use the adb shell pm list packages -3 command to see only custom applications, or without flags to view all system packages.

The main advantage of ADB is that it is reversible, and if the phone starts to malfunction after removing the system component, just execute a recovery command and everything will return to its place without flashing it, making it ideal for experiments with the Redmi 6 configuration.

Disabling and Hiding System Applications

If deleting seems too risky, the alternative is to completely disable applications. In the program management menu (Settings → Applications), many system services have a Disable button, which does not remove the application physically, but stops starting, updating and consuming RAM.

Apps that are disabled are also hidden from recent tasks and stop giving notifications, an effective way to combat intrusive recommendations from MIUI services like Mi Video or Mi Music if you don't use them, and the system perceives them as inactive components.

Some users use third-party launchers to hide icons, but this is only a cosmetic measure. the shutdown occurs only through system settings or ADB. Disabling also helps save battery power, since the background processes of the blocked application are not active.

• 🚫 Select the application in the list of installed.
• ⏹️ Press the "Disable" button at the bottom of the screen.
• 🔄 Confirm the action in the pop-up window.
• 📉 The system will stop updating and running the component.

⚠️ Warning: Disabling system components such as “Security” or “Boot” may cause the interface to work unstable or inability to install new programs.

It is worth considering that after resetting to factory (Factory Reset) all disabled applications will be active again, so this method is suitable as a temporary solution or for users who do not plan to do a complete reset of the device in the near future.

Cleaning cache and residual files

Even after deleting applications, the device often has "tails" in its memory - residual files, logs and cache. Redmi 6, with its limited internal memory, is critical. Xiaomi's standard "Security" app is able to find such files, but sometimes it acts superficially.

For deeper cleaning, you can use file managers with access to hidden folders, such as Total Commander or the likes of the file manager. FX File Explorer.Look for folders with remote application names in the root of internal memory or in the directory Android/data. Deleting these folders is safe if you are sure the program is no longer needed.

It is also recommended to regularly clean the cache of the Google Play store and Google Play Services. The accumulated cache can cause errors when installing updates or new programs. You can do this from the Settings menu → Apps → All apps → Google Play Store → Memory → Clear the cache.

Pay special attention to the Download folder and attachments to instant messengers. Often, this is where gigabytes of unnecessary data accumulate, which are not formally applications, but take up the space necessary to install them. Regular revision of the file system is the key to the performance of Redmi 6.

Advertising and system debris problems

One of the main reasons for wanting to remove apps on Xiaomi is advertising, and many system applications, such as Explorer, Music or Themes, broadcast ads, and removing those apps through ADB is the most effective way to get rid of system-level advertising.

There are also community-based removal package lists that allow you to safely cut out MIUI advertising modules (e.g. com.miui.misys or com.android.browser) leaving the phone’s functionality intact. However, be careful: removing some ad libraries can lead to errors in other services.

An alternative to removing is to disable personalized ads in your settings. Go to Settings → Passwords & Security → Privacy → Advertising Services and disable Get Recommendations. This will not remove apps, but will reduce intrusive content.

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Complete removal of advertising system applications through ADB is the only way to get rid of built-in MIUI advertising without installing third-party blockers.

Users often forget that some "system" applications are actually regular software that is just built into the firmware, and that removing them does not affect the phone, but only frees up resources, such as duplicate applications for video or music if you use third-party players.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)