How to remove unnecessary programs from your Xiaomi phone: the complete guide

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face a situation where the internal memory of the device is rapidly filling up, and the background processes begin to load the processor. This is an inevitable consequence of preinstalled software that includes not only useful services, but also many duplicate functions, as well as advertising modules. Standard removal methods, available through long-term clicking on the icon, often do not give the desired result, leaving system debris in place.

Effective cleaning requires understanding the architecture of the MIUI or HyperOS operating system. You can’t simply erase critical components because it can cause a gadget to run in an unstable way or even a cyclical reboot. In this article, we’ll explore safe ways to get rid of excess software using both built-in tools and advanced techniques for power users.

Before you start taking drastic measures, you need to audit the installed software, many users do not even realize that half of the apps on the menu they do not need, and competent optimization will not only free up gigabytes, but also significantly extend the battery life of your device.

Analysis and identification of excess software

The first step to optimizing is to take a detailed look at what exactly occupies space. Unlike pure Android, the Chinese manufacturer’s shell contains a variety of services that masquerade as system, but are essentially advertising or analytics modules. First, go to Settings → Apps → All apps and study the list carefully.

Pay special attention to programs with names like Mi Video, Mi Music, GetApps or Mi Browser if you don't use them. Often these services duplicate those you've already installed from Google or third-party developers, and their work in the background consumes resources and collects telemetry.

• 📱 Pre-installed duplicates: Browsers, music players and video players from Xiaomi, which can be replaced with lighter analogues.
• 📢 Advertising Services: Applications with names containing "Ads", "Analytics" or "Msa" that are responsible for displaying ads in the system.
• 🌐 Chinese software: Traces of Chinese services sometimes remain in global firmware (Mi Cloud, Mi Pay) CN), which are useless in our region.

⚠️ Warning: Before removing any system components, make sure you know their purpose.Removing critical services such as Security or Google Play Services can render your phone inoperable.

For a deeper analysis, you can use the built-in Statistical tool. Go to Settings → About Phone → Storage to see which categories occupy the most space. Often it turns out that the messenger cache or remnants of remote games weigh more than the system applications themselves.

Don't ignore the "Other" section, which is often inflated by temporary files and error logs. Although you can't delete it directly, cleaning the app cache helps reduce this, and regular monitoring of the storage will help keep the system on track.

Basic removal through system settings

The easiest and safest method available to every user without having to connect to a computer is standard menu removal. However, there are nuances in the Xiaomi ecosystem. Some applications are marked as system, and the Remove button is inactive for them, only the "Disable" or "Stop" option is available.

To remove a user application, find it in the list, click on the name and select the Remove button at the bottom of the screen. If the application is system-based but not critical, the system will prompt it to turn it off, which will hide the icon and prevent the program from running, which is effectively equivalent to deleting for the average user.

Special attention should be paid to MIUI Daemon and Mi Video, which are often sources of intrusive advertising, and their complete removal through the standard menu is impossible, but turning off will significantly reduce the number of pop-ups.

After disabling system components, it is recommended to restart the device, which is necessary to ensure that the processes that could remain in RAM are completely completed. In some cases, after updating the firmware, the disabled applications can be activated again, so the procedure is worth repeating.

If you use older smartphone models like the Redmi Note 8 or Redmi 9, turning off heavy visuals and print services can make the interface work faster. Don’t be afraid to experiment with disabling services you’re not using, like Google TV or YouTube Music, if you have alterivas.

Using ADB for Advanced Cleaning

For those who want to achieve maximum results and remove really unnecessary, including hidden system applications, Android Debug Bridge will be an indispensable tool (ADB). This method requires connecting the smartphone to the computer through USB-cable and driver availability, but it gives full control over the system packages.

You need to activate the developer mode before you start. → About the phone and seven times quickly click on the version MIUI. Then in the extended settings, turn on "Debugging by USB" And, crucially, activate it "USB-Debugging (Security Only)" if such option is available in your version of the software.

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.bips

This command will remove the standard print service, which often hangs in the background. Similarly, you can delete packets associated with Mi browser, themes and analytics. Package names are better searched in specialized databases, so as not to delete the extra ones.

⚠️ Attention: Teams ADB An error in spelling the name of the package can result in the removal of a critical component, which can only be restored through flashing the device.

For ease of use with ADB, there are graphical shells, such as Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools, which allow you to remove applications with simple clicks, having pre-installed lists of safe to remove components, which is ideal for those who are afraid of working with the command line.

After performing packet removal commands, be sure to follow the adb reboot command to reboot, which will fix the changes and clear the cache of components that have been deleted, but their residues may have been stored in memory.

Cleaning up from advertising and system debris

Even after removing the extra apps, users often continue to see ads in standard utilities such as Explorer, Music or Security, which is linked to the operation of the msa service (MIUI System Ads), which is a key step towards comfortable smartphone use.

To limit ads, go to Settings → Passwords & Security → Data Access. Find the msa app and deny it access to Wi-Fi and mobile. Without the Internet, advertising modules will not be able to download content. A similar procedure should be done for Mi Browser and GetApps apps.

And then every system application has its own privacy settings, so go to Explorer, Music and Download settings, and look for Receive References or Show Ads, and turn it off, and that will remove banners from the interface of those programs.

It is important to understand the difference between advertising junk and system logs. Periodic cleaning of the cache through the Security app helps keep the system clean, but you should not fanatically clean the cache every day, as this can slow down the launch of applications.

Third-party utilities like SD Maid or Files by Google can be used to automate the process, and they can find residual files after removing programs that the standard Xiaomi cleaner often ignores.

Working with Superuser Rights (Root)

The most radical method is to obtain Root (superuser) rights, which gives you full control of the Android file system. However, on modern Xiaomi devices, this requires unlocking the bootloader, which is officially only possible after a wait of 7 to 30 days.

Unlocking the bootloader automatically erases all data from the phone for security reasons. Once you have access to Root (usually through Magisk), you can use powerful managers like System App Remover or Titanium Backup, which allow you to remove any system applications, even those that are protected from removal through ADB.

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Before obtaining Root-rights, be sure to make a full backup of data to an external medium or to the cloud, since the process of unlocking the bootloader will destroy all information on the device.

Root rights are risky: some NFC-based banking applications and services may not work on modified firmware, and bypassing this restriction requires additional manipulation of Magisk modules (such as MagiskHide or DenyList), which can be difficult for a beginner.

If your goal is simply to remove a few extra programs, getting Root rights is excessive and unnecessarily risky, a method only suitable for enthusiasts who understand how the Android file system works and are willing to take responsibility for possible failures.

⚠️ Warning: Getting Root rights and unlocking the bootloader cancels the official warranty on the device. In the event of a hardware breakdown, the service center may refuse free repairs.

Also, it is worth considering that after updating the firmware "over the air" (OTA) Root-rights will fly, and unlocked boot can cause the system to refuse to update. You will have to re-stitch the patches to obtain superuser rights.

Alternatives and system recovery

If you've removed something that's superfluous during the cleaning process and your phone is not working properly, you don't have to panic. ADB for the current user (--user 0), It doesn't affect the firmware itself. It's enough to reset the settings to the factory (Settings). → The phone. → Resetting settings to return all system applications to their places.

Alternatively, applications can be frozen, like Ice Box or Shizuku, which allows applications to be frozen, making them inactive as if they were deleted, but leaving files in place, a safe way to shut down heavy services without risking data loss.

Another option is custom firmware installation (Custom ROM), like Xiaomi.eu, which is a modified version of the official Chinese firmware, adapted for global use, which has already cut out all advertising, Chinese software and redundant services, and added features for advanced users.

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The safest and most effective way to clean up for the average user is to combine disabling services in settings and using ADB to remove specific packets without obtaining Root rights.

Regular smartphone maintenance, installing apps only from trusted sources (Google Play, GetApps) and eliminating accelerators from questionable sources will help keep your device clean for years to come. Remember that the best optimization is conscious use of the device.

In conclusion, removing unnecessary software on Xiaomi is a balance between wanting to free up resources and having to keep the system stable: Start with simple methods, use ADB with caution, and always have a recovery plan on hand.

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