The current MIUI ecosystem, installed on the Xiaomi Redmi 8, is committed to automating all processes, including updating pre-installed and system applications. Often this leads to situations where after another update, the program starts to work unstable, consumes excess battery power or simply disappears familiar functionality. Users are faced with the need to return the previous, more stable version of the software, but the standard Android interface does not always offer an obvious “roll back” button.
The process of uninstallation of updates can vary depending on whether the application is a system component or a third-party utility downloaded from the Google Play Store. It is important for owners of Redmi devices to understand the difference between completely removing the program and resetting it to a factory state. It is critical to back up data in advance, since interference with system processes can affect the operation of related services.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all available methods for returning to the previous version of the software. We will look at both the standard operating system tools and more advanced tools like ADB. You will learn how to safely manage application versions, avoiding common errors that can lead to software failures.
Why new versions of apps are causing problems with Redmi 8
Xiaomi Redmi 8, based on the Snapdragon 439 processor, is a reliable device, but its hardware resources are not unlimited. Application developers often optimize new versions for more powerful hardware, which can lead to lower performance on mid- and low-end devices. Inconsistency with the requirements of the new code and the capabilities of the processor becomes the main cause of lags and freezes.
In addition, updates often contain changes in memory algorithms or network protocols. On the MIUI shell, which has its own features of managing background processes, this can cause conflicts. The application may incorrectly request permissions or work with power saving incorrectly, which quickly drains the battery.
⚠️ Note: Installing beta or updates from unverified sources on Redmi 8 may cause a disruption to Google’s system services, requiring a complete reset.
Also worth considering are bugs that developers didn’t fix before release: The stable version suffers in the pursuit of new features, and users become testers, which is why the ability to quickly roll back an update is a crucial skill for any Android smartphone owner.
Staff method of rolling back system applications through settings
The Android operating system provides a built-in mechanism to return system applications to factory status, which is the most secure and does not require a connection to a computer, and is ideal for cases when the Google Play Store, YouTube or system components like MIUI Security have stopped working after an update.
To perform the operation, you need to go to the device settings menu. Find the section responsible for managing installed programs. In different versions of MIUI, it can be called "Applications" or "All Applications." Select the problem program from the list to open the property page.
☑️ Check before rollback
On the app information page, look at the top of the screen, which usually shows the current version and size. If the app is system and has been updated, you'll see the "Remove Updates" button, and clicking on it will start the factory version recovery process.
It's important to understand that this method doesn't delete the app completely, it just cancels all the updates that you get. Once you've done the procedure, it'll go back to where it was when you bought the smartphone, and this often solves compatibility issues, because the factory version is guaranteed to be stable for the model.
Removing updates for custom apps from Google Play
The situation with applications downloaded by the user himself (for example, instant messengers, games, social networks) is different from the system. The standard Android interface does not allow you to simply roll them back to the previous version with a single button.
The first step is to completely uninstall the current application, remove it in the standard way through a menu or a long click on the icon, but simply remove it is not enough, because when you re-install it from the store, you will again get the latest, possibly problematic version.
To install the old version, you will need to find the APK installation file of the desired release version on a third-party resource, and security in this case falls on the shoulders of the user: download files only from verified archives, such as APKMirror or APKPure, checking the digital signature of the developer.
Where to look for older versions of APK?
Before installing a downloaded file, you must allow installation from unknown sources. MIUI strictly controls this setting. Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Privacy → Special Access Rights → Install unknown applications and grant permission to your browser or file manager.
Using ADB to force removal of updates
The most powerful tool in the arsenal of advanced users is Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This method allows you to remove updates even for applications where the button in the menu is blocked or missing. USB-cable.
The first step is to activate the developer mode. Redmi 8 needs to quickly click on the build number in the About section seven times. After the message "You became a developer" appears in the settings menu, a new option will appear "Additional" or "Extended settings", where you need to enable debugging over USB.
After connecting to your PC and installing drivers, open the command prompt in the ADB tool folder. To remove the update of a particular application, a command is used that is actually uninstall-and the current version for the current user, leaving the system base.
adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.package.nameInstead of com.package.name, you have to substitute the real name of the package of the problem application, which you can find out through ADB commands or special analytical applications, and this method is effective, but it requires care: removing the wrong package can disrupt the system.
💡
Use the command "adb shell pm list packages" to display a list of all installed applications and search for the desired package by keyword.
Compatibility analysis of Android and MIUI versions
Xiaomi Redmi 8 originally shipped with Android 9 Pie and the MIUI 10 shell, but has since received updates to Android 10 and MIUI 12.Apps designed exclusively for newer versions of Android may not work properly on older underlying systems, even if formally installed.
The problem is often with APIs, and if the app developer used features that only appeared in Android 11 or 12, Redmi 8 with Android 10 will cause a runtime error, in which case the application rollback is useless if the new version itself does not support your OS.
| Parameter | Redmi 8 (Global) | Redmi 8 (China) | Requirement of new applications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic OS | Android 9.0 / 10.0 | Android 9.0 / 10.0 | Android 11+ |
| Shell | MIUI Global | MIUI China | Pure Android |
| Architecture | ARM64 | ARM64 | ARMv8 |
| RAM (min) | 3GB/4GB | 3GB/4GB | 6 GB+ |
When choosing a version to install, pay attention to the requirements in the description of the application in Google Play. If it says “Android 11 is required”, then on Redmi 8 this application will not work stable or will not launch at all, regardless of whether it is updated or not.
Safe mode and cleaning the cache after rollback
Once you have removed an update or installed an old version, you may need to clean up the accumulated data. New versions often change the structure of databases or configuration files. The old application may not be able to read the data left by the new version, which will lead to cyclical crashes.
You should go to the application management menu and select Clear Data and Clear Cache, which will return the program to a clean slate. Don't worry, this is standard software change.
If problems persist, try running your smartphone in safe mode to determine if the app is in conflict with other software, and to enter this mode on Redmi 8, you need to press the off button and then hold the “off” button on the screen for a long time until the corresponding offer appears.
⚠️ Warning: Only system applications are running in Safe Mode, and if the problem is gone in this mode, it means that the third-party software is causing the conflict, not the updated application itself.
Departure from Safe Mode is done by simply restarting the device. After that, check the application as normal. If everything is working correctly, it is recommended to disable the automatic update for that particular program in the Google Play Store settings so that the problem does not recur.
💡
Disabling the auto-update for specific apps in Google Play is the best way to prevent a problem version from returning in the future.