How to completely remove unnecessary apps on Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro: 5 proven ways

Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro is still a popular smartphone due to its reliability and performance, but over time even it begins to “slow down” due to the accumulated unnecessary applications. Owners of this model often face the problem: how to remove preinstalled MIUI services that can not be erased by standard methods? In this article, we will analyze all possible ways, from simple to advanced, including working with ADB and hidden system settings.

The Redmi Note 3 Pro (codenamed kenzo) comes with different firmware versions: global (Global ROM), Chinese (China ROM) and custom builds, which not only affects the set of preinstalled applications, but also the methods available to remove them. We will take into account all the nuances to make the instruction suitable for any version of MIUI, from the 7th to the last supported.

It's important to understand the difference between disabling and completely removing applications. The first one simply hides the program from the user, but it continues to take up space in memory and consume resources in the background. The second one erases it without the possibility of recovery (if you don't backup).

1. Standard removal through MIUI settings

Let’s start with the simplest way, which doesn’t require superuser rights or PC connectivity, and is suitable for custom applications you manually install, as well as some of the system services that Xiaomi allows you to remove.

The instructions are valid for all versions of MIUI on Redmi Note 3 Pro:

1. Open the Settings menu (the gear icon on the home screen).
2. Go to the Appendix section → Application management.
3. In the upper right corner, click on three dots and select Sort → By Size to see the heaviest programs.
4. If the Remove button is active, press it. If the button is gray or not, it means that the application is system and requires alternative methods.

List of apps that can normally be removed in the standard way on the Redmi Note 3 Pro:

• 📱 Mi Drop – a service for transferring files between Xiaomi devices.
• 🎵 Mi Music is a standard music player (if you use an alternative).
• 📖 Mi Reader – an app for reading books.
• 🎮 Games – the center of games from Xiaomi (often duplicates the functions of Google Play Games).

⚠️ Note: Do not remove applications called com.android. or com.miui. through this method, even if the button is active. This can lead to unstable operation of the system. com.miui.weather2 disrupt the weather display in the notification curtain.

2. disable system applications without root

If the Remove button is inactive, but the application is not exactly necessary, you can turn it off, and this will free up some of the RAM and stop the background processes, but the up file will remain in the system. The method is safe and reversible.

Step-by-step:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want (such as Mi Video or Browser).
3. Click Disable (the button will appear if the application cannot be removed in the standard way).
4. Confirm the action in the dialog window.

Once you turn it off, the app will disappear from the menu, but its data will remain in memory. To return it back, repeat the steps and click Enable.

Examples of apps that can be safely disabled on the Redmi Note 3 Pro:

• 🌐 Browser – standard browser (if you use Chrome or Firefox).
• 📺 Mi Video – video player from Xiaomi.
• 📡 FM Radio - if you don't use the radio.
• 📦 Cleaner – Memory Optimizer (often aggressive).

3. Removal via ADB (without root rights)

To remove system applications that cannot be erased by standard methods, you will need an ADB tool (Android Debug Bridge), an official utility from Google that allows you to control a smartphone through the command line of a PC. The method works without superuser rights, but requires the inclusion of debugging over USB.

Advantages of the method:

• No need to root.
• It works on any version of MIUI.
• It allows you to remove even deeply integrated services (for example, Mi Cloud or Mi Account).

Step-by-step:

1. Install ADB on PC: Download Platform Tools from Android Developers. Unpack the archive to the root of the C:\ drive (e.g., C:\platform-tools).
2. Turn on USB debugging on your smartphone: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version to activate Developer Mode. Go back to Settings → Additional → Developer. Activate USB Debugging.
3. Connect your smartphone to your PC: Use the original USB Type-C cable. On your phone, select File Transfer (MTP) mode. Confirm your debugging permission (a request will appear on your smartphone screen).
4. Start command prompt: On PC, open Command Prompt (Win + R → cmd). Go to folder with ADB: cd C:\platform-tools Check device connection: adb devices The serial number of your Redmi Note 3 Pro should appear.

Remove the unnecessary app:

• First, get a list of all packages: adb shell pm list packages
• Find the name of the package of the desired application (for example, com.miui.video for Mi Video).
• Follow the deletion command: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.video Flag --user 0 means deletion only for the current user (does not affect system files).

Important: Removing some packages (e.g. com.miui.securitycenter) can disrupt the MIUI security center and cause a cyclical reboot of the phone. Before experimenting, review the list of safe to remove packages for your version of MIUI.

⚠️ Note: If, after removing the application through ADB The phone started to work unstable (for example, the notification panel was lost or the settings stopped opening), restore the package by the command: adb shell cmd package install-existing com.name.packet For example, to restore Mi Video: adb shell cmd package install-existing com.miui.video

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Before mass packet removal via ADB, back up your system using the Mi Mover or TWRP app (if installed) to quickly roll back changes in case of an error.

4. Removal using TWRP and root rights

If you are willing to take drastic measures and get root rights, it will open access to the complete removal of any system applications, including those that are blocked. MIUI. You will need a custom recavator to do this. TWRP Root Explorer or Titanium Backup.

Warning: This method resets the warranty and can lead to brick (turning the phone into a brick) if you act carelessly. For the Redmi Note 3 Pro, the process of unlocking the bootloader and installing the TWRP has its nuances due to Xiaomi's protection.

Step-by-step:

1. Unlock the bootloader: Go to Mi Unlock and download the Mi Unlock Tool utility. Sign up for Mi Account and attach it to your phone in settings. Enable OEM Unlock in Settings → For developers. Connect your phone to your PC in Fastboot mode (click Volume Down + Power When your phone is off). Launch Mi Unlock Tool and follow the instructions. The process can take up to 72 hours (Xiaomi imposes a limit on unlocking).
2. Install TWRP: Download the current version of TWRP for the Redmi Note 3 Pro (e.g., from here). Move the twrp.img file to the folder with ADB. In the command line, execute: adb reboot bootloader fastboot flash recovery twrp.img fastboot reboot recovery
3. Get root rights: Download the Magisk archive (like the latest version). Move it to your phone. In TWRP, select Install and specify the path to the Magisk archive. After installation, reboot.

Remove unnecessary applications:

• Install Root Explorer or Titanium Backup from Play Market.
• Open the Explorer and go to /system/app or /system/priv-app.
• Find a folder with the name of the unwanted app (e.g. MiuiVideo).
• Delete the folder or rename it (add at the end of.bak).
• Reboot the phone.

The list of applications that are most often removed through TWRP:

• 📴 MiuiDaemon – Xiaomi statistics collection service.
• 🔍 Analytics – Analytics of phone usage.
• 🛒 MiuiMarket - a branded app store (if you use Play Market).
• 📡 MiuiYellowPage – Yellow Page Service (not relevant outside of China).

⚠️ Attention: Removal of folders from /system without backup can lead to bootloop.Always do backup of the system partition in the TWRP before the changes: Backup → Select System → Swipe to confirm

5. Use of specialized utilities (e.g. Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools)

For users who don’t want to manually type ADB commands, there are graphical utilities, one of the most popular is Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools, which automates the process of removing unnecessary applications and supports Redmi Note 3 Pro.

The advantages of the utility:

• Intuitive interface with checkboxes.
• List of safe applications to remove.
• The ability to create a backup before removal.
• It works without root (using ADB).

Instructions for use:

1. Download Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools from the XDA Developers Forum.
2. Install the utility on your PC and run it.
3. Connect Redmi Note 3 Pro to a PC with USB Debugging enabled.
4. In the main window of the program, select Debloat (remove unnecessary applications).
5. Check the apps you want to remove (the utility shows their names and potential risks).
6. Press Uninstall Selected and wait for the process to be completed.

Example of utility interface:

On the left side of the window, you can see the categories of applications (e.g. Bloatware, Google Apps, MIUI Apps), and on the right side, you can see specific packages with a description, and in green, you can see the applications that are safe to remove, and in red, you can see those that can disrupt the stability of the system.

Tip: Before mass removal, create a backup in the utility itself (Backup button at the top menu) and this will allow you to restore the applications if something goes wrong.

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Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools is the safest way for beginners, as the utility automatically filters dangerous to remove packages and offers to create a backup.

6. Alternative methods: rollback to factory firmware

If you have removed critical system applications and the phone has stopped working properly, the only way to bring it back to life is to reflash the device. For the Redmi Note 3 Pro, there are two options: through the Mi Flash Tool (the official method) or through TWRP (if customized Recovery are installed).

The official method (via Mi Flash Tool):

1. Download the latest stable firmware for the Redmi Note 3 Pro from en.miui.com (select the Global Stable or China Stable version, depending on your model).
2. Unpack the archive with firmware in a folder without Cyrillic characters.
3. Download and install the Mi Flash Tool.
4. Turn off the phone and press Volume Down + Power to enter Fastboot mode.
5. Connect your phone to your PC and start the Mi Flash Tool.
6. Press Select and indicate the path to the unpacked firmware.
7. Select Clean All (Full Cleaning) or Clean All and Lock (Cleaning + Lock bootloader).
8. Press Flash and wait for the process to complete (5-10 minutes).

Once you flash it, all the data will be erased and the phone will return to factory settings, which is also useful if you want to remove all the pre-installed apps at once — for example, by switching from China ROM to Global ROM, where there is less unnecessary software.

Informal method (via TWRP):

1. Download custom firmware (such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience) for Redmi Note 3 Pro from the XDA forum.
2. Move your firmware archive and GApps (if you need Google services) to your phone.
3. Go to TWRP and run Wipe → Advanced Wipe, mark Dalvik, Cache, System, Data.
4. Return to the main menu and select Install, then point the way to the firmware archive.
5. After installing the firmware, repeat the step for GApps (if required).
6. Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Attention: Installing custom firmware on the Redmi Note 3 Pro can lead to problems with the camera or fingerprint sensor, as drivers in informal builds are often outdated.

7.How to prevent unnecessary applications from reappearing

Even after removal, some system applications may return after the MIUI update. To avoid this, follow these tips:

• 🔄 Turn off automatic updates MIUI: Go to Settings. → The phone. → Update the system and disable Autoboot option, which will prevent unexpected updates that can restore remote packets.
• 📥 Use Package Blocker: Apps like Package Disabler or Debloater (require root) can block installation of unnecessary services after updates.

If you often experience the return of remote applications, consider switching to custom firmware (like LineageOS) that doesn’t have Xiaomi preinstalled software. However, keep in mind that this will require unlocking the bootloader and may deprive you of some features (like IR Blaster for hardware management).

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Create a text file on your phone with a list of deleted packages (e.g, deleted_apps.txt). This will help you quickly recover your name after a reset or update.

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing apps on Redmi Note 3 Pro