How to completely remove unnecessary applications on Xiaomi Redmi: from standard to system

Xiaomi Redmi smartphones out of the box come with dozens of pre-installed apps, from useful Google services to proprietary MIUI utilities. Many of them duplicate functions, take up memory and drain the battery in the background. But not everyone knows that even system applications on Xiaomi can be removed without root rights if you use the right tools.

In this article, we will analyze all possible ways to clean Redmi from unnecessary software: from standard removal through the menu to advanced methods with ADB and disabling through MIUI Hidden Settings. Special attention will be paid to security - explain which applications can not be removed so as not to break the system, and how to restore the deleted by mistake.

The instructions are valid for all modern Redmi models (from Redmi Note 12 to Redmi 10A) based on MIUI 13/14 and HyperOS. If your smartphone runs on an older version of the firmware, some menu items may differ - but the general logic remains the same.

1. Standard removal of applications through the menu

The easiest way to get rid of unnecessary programs is to use built-in MIUI tools. It is suitable for applications installed by the user, as well as for some pre-installed software (for example, Facebook, Netflix, LinkedIn).

To remove the app:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app from the list (or use the search at the top).
3. Click Remove (if the button is active).

If the Remove button is inactive (lit in gray), then the application is system.

• 🔄 Disable (the app will disappear from the menu, but will remain in memory).
• 🗑️ Remove updates (return to factory version, freeing up space).
• 🔧 Limit background activity (in Battery and Performance).

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If the app doesn't get removed through the menu, try turning it off first, restarting your smartphone, and then trying again, and sometimes this works for semi-system utilities like Mi Video or Mi Music.

2.Removal via MIUI Hidden Settings (no root)

MIUI hides some settings from users, but they can be unlocked with an access code, which allows you to remove system applications without ADB or superuser rights.

Instructions:

1. Open the phone app and enter the combination: ##4636##
2. In the menu that appears, select MIUI Hidden Settings (if there is no item, then your firmware version does not support this method).
3. Go to the Application Management section and find the right one.
4. Click Remove for all users (this is a complete deletion, not a disabling).

List of apps that can be safely removed through Hidden Settings:

⚠️ Note: Do not delete applications with the names com.android., com.miui. (except for obvious garbage like com.miui.yellowpage) through Hidden Settings).

3. Removal of system applications via ADB (advanced method)

If standard methods didn’t work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a debugging tool that allows you to control your smartphone from a computer, which works without root rights, but requires a connection to a PC.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📥 Utility. ADB Tools by Google.
• ⚙️ Included debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times, then return to Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC and select File Transfer mode.
2. Open the command prompt (or Terminal on macOS/Linux) in the ADB folder.
3. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
4. Download the list of all applications: adb shell pm list packages
5. Find the name of the unneeded app (e.g. com.facebook.appmanager for Facebook Services).
6. Delete it by command: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.facebook.appmanager Flag --user 0 means that the application is removed only for the current user (without affecting system files).

Examples of commands for removing popular garbage:

# Removal of Facebook and related services


adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.facebook.appmanager




adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.facebook.services




adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.facebook.system




Removal of Mi Pay and Mi Credit (Chinese payment services)



adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.mipay.wallet




adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.xiaomi.payment




Removal of Mi Video and Mi Music



adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.video




adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.player

⚠️ Attention: Removal through ADB does not free up space in the section /system, Because the application files are on the disk, but the application stops consuming RAM and doesn't update.

4. Disabling applications without deleting (safe method)

If you're afraid of accidentally breaking the system, but you want to get rid of intrusive notifications and background activity, you can just turn off unnecessary apps. It's safe and reversible.

How to turn it off:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (such as Mi Browser or Google Duo).
3. Click Disable (the app will disappear from the menu and stop working).

What the blackout does:

• ✅ The application does not consume battery in the background.
• ✅ No updates are received via Google Play.
• ✅ Does not take up space in the RAM.
• ❌ But it remains in the inner memory (does not free up space).

A list of apps that can be safely disabled on most Redmis:

• 🌐 Mi Browser (if you use Chrome or Firefox).
• 📺 Mi TV (If you don’t connect your smartphone to your TV).
• 🎵 Mi Music and Mi Video (if you use alternatives).
• 📱 Google Duo and Google Play Movies (if not used).
• 💰 Mi Credit and Mi Finance (Chinese Financial Services).

Backup of important data

Check if the application is connected to system functions

Write down the name of the application (in case of recovery)

Reboot the smartphone after disconnecting-->

5. Deletion with root rights (for experienced users)

If you're willing to take the risk of root access, you can uninstall any system applications, including those that are normally protected, but that requires unlocking the bootloader and installing Magisk or SuperSU.

Warnings before receiving root:

• 🔓 Unlocking the bootloader will reset all data on the smartphone.
• 🛡️ Google Pay, banking apps and some games will be affected (due to SafetyNet).
• 🔄 Updates MIUI through OTA They may have to break the root (they will have to reset).
• ⚠️ Xiaomi warranty is cancelled (although in practice, service centers rarely check root).

If you do, here’s how to remove the system app from root:

1. Install Root Explorer or FX File Explorer with root support.
2. Go to /system/app or /system/priv-app.
3. Find a folder with the name of the application (for example, MiBrowser).
4. Delete the folder or rename it (add at the end of.bak).
5. Reboot your smartphone.

⚠️ Note: Delete critical system files (e.g, Settings.apk or SystemUI.apk) This will cause a device to crash. Before you experiment, back up the partition. /system through TWRP.

6. How to Restore a Remote Application

If you realize that you needed the app after deleting it, or if your smartphone is unstable, you can restore it.

If removed through ADB (flag --user 0):

adb shell cmd package install-existing com.nazvanie.prilozheniya

If you've been off the menu:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots at the top → Show all the apps.
3. Find the disabled application and click Enable.

If removed from root:

• Restore the folder from the backup (if you did).
• Or download.apk apps from thematic forums (like 4PDA) and install manually via TWRP.

If you don’t remember the name of the remote application, use the command to display a list of all packages ever installed:

adb shell pm list packages -d

7.How to prevent unnecessary applications from reappearing

Even after removal, some apps (especially from Google and Xiaomi) may return after a system update.

• 🔄 Turn off automatic app updates in Google Play (Settings) → Auto-update of applications → Never).
• 📵 Freeze system applications with Titanium Backup (requires root) or App Quarantine (no root, but less secure).
• 🛡️ Install an alternative firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience) that doesn’t have pre-installed junk from Xiaomi.
• 🔍 Check the list of apps regularly after updates MIUI (Mi Browser, Mi Music and others are back.).

For the most intrusive apps (like Google Play Films or Mi Video), you can create a rule in ADB that will block their installation:

adb shell pm hide com.google.android.videos

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Even if you remove all unnecessary apps, they may come back after a MIUI update over time. Regularly checking the list of installed programs and disabling auto updates will help keep the system clean.

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing apps on Xiaomi Redmi