How to remove unnecessary apps from Xiaomi phone

Xiaomi’s modern smartphones are famous for their functionality, but often come with excessive amounts of pre-installed software. Users are faced with the fact that after buying the device is filled with software they never planned to use. This not only takes up valuable space in internal memory, but can consume RAM in the background, reducing the overall performance of the gadget.

Cleaning up your device from digital debris is the first step to personalizing your Android interface. Unlike many other manufacturers, the MIUI shell and its more recent version of HyperOS provide flexible tools to manage installed programs. However, some system components are hidden from the eyes of the average user and require a deeper dive into settings.

In this article, we will explore all the available methods, from simple desktop removal to advanced computer techniques, learn to distinguish critical system processes from conventional advertising junk. A competent approach will allow you to free up gigabytes of space and speed up the smartphone without risking its stability.

Basic removal through the desktop and menu

The most obvious and safe way to get rid of excess software is to use a standard shell interface. On your desktop or app menu, find the icon of the program you want to eliminate. Press it and hold your finger until the context menu or interface vibrates.

In the options list that opens, select Delete or the cart icon. The system will automatically check if the application is system-based. If it is a regular program downloaded from the Google Play store or installed through the Google Play Store. APK-file, it will disappear from the device instantly. Some built-in Xiaomi services may require confirmation of action.

If the delete button is inactive or not, it means that the program is protected by system rights. In such cases, the standard method will not work, and you will need to move to more complex options.

• 📱 Click and hold the app icon on the home screen before the menu appears.
• 🗑️ Select the “Delete” option and confirm your actions in the pop-up window.
• ⚙️ Check the Tools folder where standard services are often grouped.
• 🔄 Reboot the device to free up resources occupied by remote software.

Managing applications through system settings

You can get more detailed control of the installed software, and you can see all the programs, including those that don't have visible icons, and then you can go to Settings, then select the App and tap All apps.

Find the app you want to use in the list. Pay attention to the Delete button at the bottom of the screen. If it's active, press it. If you only have the "Disable" option available instead of deleting it, it means that the program is part of the system image. Disabling it will hide the application and stop its processes, but it won't physically delete the files.

Special attention should be paid to the "Permissions" and "Battery" section inside the application card. Often users forget that even unused programs can have access to geolocation or microphone. Before completely deleting, it is recommended to check what data the program consumed.

⚠️ Warning: When system components such as Security or bootloader are disabled, the phone's interface may become unstable.

For advanced users, system process display mode is available. At the top of the application list, sometimes there is a switch or a three-point menu that allows you to turn on the display of system services, which helps to identify hidden processes taking up space.

Cleaning up advertising and built-in MIUI services

MIUI shell is known for its advertising integrations, which manifest themselves as pre-installed games and partner apps, often not uninstalled in the usual way once the phone is turned on, but most can be deactivated or removed after the first launch and update.

Go to the settings and find the section associated with MSA (MIUI System Ads), disabling this service will significantly reduce the number of promotional offers, although it will not delete the application icons themselves.

Often annoying programs have names like GetApps, Mi Video, Mi Music, or popular games. If you don't use them, delete them. In some cases, the system will insist on leaving the application, requiring password or fingerprint confirmation, a protective mechanism against accidental removal.

• 🚫 Turn off recommendation notifications in security settings.
• 📉 Remove stock browsers if you use third-party analogues.
• 🎮 Get rid of the game shortcuts that are often placed on the desktop.
• 🔒 Check the access rights of the remaining system services.

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Before removing the stock video player, make sure you have a quality analog that supports all the necessary video formats, otherwise some system previews may not be displayed.

Using ADB to remove system software

The most effective method that does not require Root permissions is to use USB debugging and the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) utility, which allows you to remove almost any application, including deep-built system components that are hidden from the user.

To start, activate the developer mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on the MIUI build number seven times. Then, in the advanced settings, the "Developers" option will appear. Inside it, find and enable the "Debug over USB" option.

Connect your phone to your computer through a high-quality cable. You'll see a request for debugging permission on your smartphone screen, confirm it. You'll need to run the command line or PowerShell in the ADB tool folder and type in a command to check the connection:

adb devices

If you have a device status on the list, the connection is successful, and then you can use the command to delete the packets.

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

Find the exact name of the package (e.g. com.miui.videoplayer) through the analyzer apps on the phone itself or in the ADB process list. Be extremely careful: removing critical system packages can lead to a cyclical reboot.

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Using ADB is the most powerful cleaning tool, but it requires care. A mistake in the name of the package can lead to the removal of the wrong component.

Remote Application Recovery and Reset

If you delete something that is superfluous or the system is not working properly during the optimization process, it is important to know how to get it back, and when you delete it through ADB without superuser rights, files are not physically erased, but only hidden for the current user, and they can be easily restored by the team:

adb shell cmd package install-existing name packet

In case the phone stopped loading or there are constant crashes, you may need a complete reset to factory settings.This will return all remote standard applications to their places.Be sure to back up important data before this procedure.

To reset, go to Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset. Select Erase All Data. The device will restart and start the cleaning process, which will take a few minutes, and then the phone will look like it was when you bought it.

• 💾 Keep a backup of your contacts and photos before any radical intervention.
• 🔙 Use the install-existing command to return deleted ones through ADB programme.
• 📉 Factory reset – an extreme measure that returns all preinstalled software.
• 📝 Write down the names of the packets you delete to know what you have removed.

⚠️ Warning: Full Hard Reset deletes all user data, including photos, contacts and correspondence. Make sure you have an up-to-date copy of the information in the cloud or on your PC.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)