Owners of budget but reliable smartphones like the Xiaomi Redmi 5 often face a lack of free space in internal memory. Over time, the Android operating system becomes overgrown with unnecessary software that not only takes up precious gigabytes, but can slow down the device. Removing unnecessary programs is the first and most effective step to speed up the gadget without the need for flashing.
The MIUI shell uninstallation process has its own features that differ from stock Android. Some programs can be removed by clicking, while others built in by the developer require a deeper approach. In this guide, we will examine all the available methods, from standard settings to using USB debugging to completely remove system debris.
It’s important to understand that complete deletion means not just removing the icon from your desktop, but also cleaning up all residual files.Cache, error logs and temporary files can stay in the system even after the main package is uninstalled.We’ll look at how to do a (full) cleanup to make your Redmi 5 work quickly and responsive again.
Standard removal through the desktop and menu
The easiest and safest way to get rid of unnecessary software is to use a built-in shell interface. MIUI. This method is suitable for custom applications downloaded from the Google Play store or installed via APK-First, look for the icon on the home screen or in the menu of all apps.
Click on the icon and hold your finger until the vibration and pop-up menu appear. If the program is to be removed in the standard way, you will see the basket icon or the Remove button. Drag the icon to the basket or press the corresponding button, confirming the action in the pop-up window. This action will completely remove APK-file.
However, if you press long, you have a menu with the options "Info", "Apps" or "Change", but there is no deletion button, it means that this is a system application, such programs are protected from accidental removal, because they are responsible for the basic functionality of the phone, and you can't try to delete them in a standard way without obtaining extended rights or using special tools.
- 📱 Find the app icon on the desktop or menu.
- ⏳ Press and hold your finger until the action menu appears.
- 🗑️ Drag the icon into the basket or press "Delete".
- ✅ Confirm the action in the system dialog window.
It is worth noting that after deleting through the desktop, data can remain in folders if the application created them separately.Always check the file manager after uninstalling heavy games or editors to remove the remaining multimedia files.
Remove through MIUI system settings
More detailed control of installed programs provides a settings menu. Here you can see the full list of all installed software, including hidden components. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications to see the full list.
In the list that opens, find the application you want, and if you click on it, you'll be taken to the Info about App menu, which shows the amount of space you're taking, the version and the access rights, the Delete button will only be active for user programs, and for system programs, it will be hidden or replaced with Disable.
⚠️ Warning: Before removing unknown system processes, carefully review their name on the Internet. UI or communication drivers, can lead to a cyclical reboot of the smartphone.
Sometimes the delete button is inactive, but the option is available to "Stop" or "Stop" and this puts the application into sleep mode, preventing it from running and updating. Although this does not completely free up disk space, the program functionally ceases to exist for the user and does not consume RAM.
💡
Use a search at the top of the app list to quickly find the right program by name, especially if there are many installed.
Cleaning cache and residual files
Even after a successful uninstallation, you may still have tails in your system, which are log folders, temporary files, and a cache that hasn't been deleted automatically. For manual verification, go to Explorer and open the device's internal memory.
Look at folders that have names for remote programs or their developers, and often at the root of the internal memory are directories with names like com.android.game or brand names, and deleting those folders is safe if you're sure that the app is no longer needed.
You can also use Xiaomi's built-in Security utility, run the app, select Cleanup, and wait for the system to analyze, and find the debris left over from uninstall and suggest removing it, which helps free up additional megabytes that would otherwise remain occupied.
- 📂 Open Explorer and check the root folder for remote program names.
- 🧹 Run the standard "Security" application for automatic cleaning.
- 🗑️ Manually remove empty or unnecessary folders in the Downloads section.
☑️ Post-deletion check
Removing System Applications Through ADB
Advanced users who want to remove embedded software (such as Mi Video, Mi Music or advertising services) will need a computer and an ADB utility (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to remove programs hidden from the average user without having to obtain root rights.
First, activate the developer mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on the MIUI build number seven times. Then, in the "Additional" → "Development by USB" menu, turn on "Debugging by USB." Connect your smartphone to your PC with a cable.
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 name.packet.applicationsType a command in the computer's command line by replacing the "name.packet.application" with the real name of the package (you can find it through analyzer applications like App Inspector). Once you execute the command, the application will disappear from the device. This action is reversible only by resetting to factory settings, so be extremely careful.
⚠️ Note: Removing system packages through ADB It can disrupt related services, such as deleting Google Play services, which can cause navigation and app store to fail.
List of safe to remove Xiaomi packages
Table: Application types and removal methods
To systematize knowledge, consider the main types of programs found on the Xiaomi Redmi 5 and the best ways to uninstall them.
| Type of application | Deleting method | Risks. | Recovery |
|---|---|---|---|
| User-generated (from Play Market) | Through the desktop or Settings | Absent. | Re-installation from the store |
| Systemic (MIUI) | Disconnection or ADB | High (instability) | Reset to factory settings |
| System (Google) | Disconnection or ADB | Medium (synchronization errors) | Resetting or flashing |
| Viral / Malware | Safe Mode + Settings | Re-infection | Antivirus testing |
As you can see from the table, there are almost no risks for conventional programs, but working with system components through ADB requires technical literacy, and a mistake in the name of the package can lead to the removal of the critical module.
💡
Using ADB is the only way to remove system debris without root rights, but it requires PC connectivity and care.
Solving problems: when an application is not removed
Sometimes the user is faced with a situation where the delete button is gray and the application is not system, often due to the rights of the device administrator, and some programs, especially antivirus or parental controls, block their uninstallation.
To solve this problem, go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Privacy → Device Administrators. uncheck the suspicious app. Then go back to the app menu and try to remove it in the standard way.
Another reason could be the background process, which is going to work, and you can go to the menu of working applications (square navigation button) and close all the windows, and it's also helpful to reboot your smartphone before you try to remove stubborn software, which will clear RAM and stop the processes that block deletion.
- 🔒 Check Administrator Rights in Security Settings.
- 🔄 Reboot your smartphone to stop background processes.
- 🛡️ Use Safe Mode to Remove Viruses.
⚠️ Warning: If the app keeps coming back after being deleted, there may be an ad virus installed on the phone. Check the list of installed programs for unknown icons without a name.