How to Remove Unremovable Apps on Xiaomi: The Complete Guide

Modern Xiaomi smartphones, which are based on the shells MIUI or the new HyperOS, are often filled with pre-installed software. Users face a situation where standard means of the system can not get rid of intrusive software that takes up space and consumes resources. This is especially true for global versions of firmware, where the number of advertising and third-party services can be higher than in Chinese builds.

Cleaning your device of system debris requires caution and an understanding of the architecture of the Android operating system. Mistakes can lead to unstable operation of the gadget or even loss of important functions. In this article, we will discuss in detail the safe and advanced ways to uninstall embedded applications that are not removed in the usual way.

It is worth noting that some components are critical to operating systems, and removing them can cause a cyclical reboot or interface error, so you need to clearly understand what the package is responsible for before you start any manipulations, and have a plan to restore the device to work in case of unforeseen situations.

Why some applications cannot be removed in the standard way

The main reason for the inability to delete is the access rights. The standard user profile on Android has limited privileges to protect system integrity. Applications installed by the manufacturer or carrier are often system-based and flagged against uninstallation through the normal settings interface.

And smartphone makers also make commercial deals with software developers, and by putting their apps on their devices, companies make extra profits, which is why you often see shortcuts on the menu of social networks, games or services that you don't need, but that take up space in RAM and storage.

Another factor is the dependence of components on each other: some system services are closely linked to basic phone functions, such as calls or messages, which can disrupt the entire application stack, and the system blocks deletion to prevent critical errors and ensure the stability of the device.

There's also the concept of frozen applications, which are not active, but they're not completely deleted, and in some cases, the system allows them to be disabled, which hides the icon and stops the processes, but the files stay in the system partition, which is a compromise that doesn't always free up space, but improves performance.

Preparing a smartphone to remove system components

Before you start taking drastic measures, you need to set up your device correctly. The first step should always be to create a complete backup of your data. Even if you plan to remove only unnecessary shortcuts, there is always a risk of accidental damage to system files. Save contacts, photos and important documents to the cloud or to your computer.

The second important step is activating the developer mode, and without this step, USB debugging access will be closed, making it impossible to use computer utilities to manage packages, and you need to go to the settings to activate it, find the "About Phone" item, and quickly click on the build number seven times.

After activating the hidden menu, open the "Advanced" section and find the "Developers" item. USB". When connecting the smartphone to the computer on the screen will be a request for debugging permission, which must be confirmed.

⚠️ Attention: Including debugging by USB Gives you full access to the device's file system when you connect to your computer. Don't connect your smartphone to suspicious public charging stations or someone else's PC with debugging enabled.

Also make sure that the battery charge is at least 50%.The process of removing system packages, especially if it involves flashing or deep changes, can consume energy.

Using ADB for removal without root rights

The most secure and effective method of removing embedded software is the use of Android Debug Bridge (ADB) tools. This method does not require obtaining superuser rights (root), which retains the warranty on the device and the ability to update firmware over the air (OTA).

To work, you will need a computer with Windows, macOS or Linux, as well as a high-quality computer. USB-You first need to download and install Platform Tools from Google's official website. After unpacking the archive, open the command line or terminal in the tool folder.

Connect your smartphone to your computer and type in the adb device command. If you have a permission request window on your phone, confirm it. The command prompt should display the device serial number, which indicates a successful connection.

The next step is to find the name of the package to be removed. Enter the adb shell pm list packages to output all packets. To find a particular application, use a filter, such as adb shell pm list packages | grep facebook. The package name usually looks like com.facebook.katana.

To remove the application, use the command adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 <name packet>. The flag -k stores the cache and data, and --user 0 indicates deletion for the main user. The application will disappear from the screen and stop working, but will physically remain in the system partition, making it easy to restore if necessary.

System packet analysis and safe removal

The main difficulty with ADB is identifying packages, and their names often don't match the names of the apps on the screen, such as the theme store might be called com.miui.themes, and the browser might be called com.android.browser, and a mistake in choosing a package might cost you functionality.

Below is a table with examples of common Xiaomi packages and their security status to remove. Remember that the names may vary slightly depending on the MIUI version or firmware region.

To make it easier to search, you can use graphical shells for ADB, such as Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools or Universal Android Debloater. These programs automatically determine the device model and offer a list of recommended applications for removal, marking dangerous ones in red.

Pay special attention to analytics services, which constantly collect data about your activities and send it to servers, and removing com.miui.analytics and com.miui.msa.global will not only free up resources, but also increase privacy.

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Using graphical shells for ADBs significantly reduces the risk of deleting mission-critical system files, as they have secure packet databases.

Removing applications through special utilities

If you find the command line too difficult, there are alternative methods that don’t require a PC connection, and one popular way to do this is to use management applications that work around standard constraints using special API systems.

One such method is to use the System App Remover application (requires root) or its analogues running over ADB wirelessly, but for devices without root rights, the PC + ADB bundle described above remains the most effective.

There is also a method of "freezing" through the settings of Android itself. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, select an unnecessary service and click "Disable." This will not delete files, but will stop processes and hide the icon. For some users, this is the optimal compromise.

Newer versions of HyperOS offer more flexible customization of system applications, check the “Special Features” or “Advanced Settings” section, where you can sometimes find switches to disable embedded advertising and services without using third-party software.

Recovery of Remote System Applications

If you notice a strange system behavior after you delete a component, if you lose sound, if the camera stops working, if you have other problems, you need to return the package. Since we used the deletion method for user 0, the files are still there and are waiting for recovery.

To return the remote application, reconnect the smartphone to the computer with USB debugging enabled. Use the adb shell cmd package install-existing <name packet> command. This instruction will cause the system to re-register the package and restore it.

In some cases, especially after a deep cleaning, it may be necessary to completely reset the settings to factory settings.This will return all system applications to their original state. Before reset, make sure that you have an up-to-date backup of important data, as all user files will be destroyed.

If the phone stopped booting (caught in the bootloop) after removing the critical system component, you may need to flash the device through Fastboot mode. To do this, download the official firmware for your model from the Xiaomi Firmware Updater website and use the Mi Flash Tool utility.

⚠️ Note: Recovery of deleted packets is only possible if you have not done a full reset (Wipe Data).If the phone is already reset or flashed, the packets will return automatically only after a clean installation of stock firmware.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)