How to Remove the Xiaomi Redmi 6 App Completely: From Standard Methods to Deep Cleaning

Why Standard Removal Doesn't Always Work

Did you delete an unnecessary app through the Settings → Apps menu, but a week later you found it reappeared after you upgraded your system? or did you notice that only 50MB was free instead of the promised 200MB? The problem lies in the features of MIUI, Xiaomi’s proprietary shell, which leaves tails even after uninstallation.

On Redmi 6 (a cereus model with a MediaTek Helio P22 processor), the situation is complicated by limited resources: only 3/4 GB of RAM and 32/64 GB of memory. System applications like Mi Video, Mi Music or Cleaner take up to 1.5 GB, while standard methods do not touch them. In this article, we will discuss 5 ways to completely remove - from safe to radical, taking into account the specifics of Redmi 6 on Android 8.1 Oreo (MIUI 9-12).

Important for Redmi 6: this model doesn’t support the Treble project, so methods to replace the system partition via fastboot don’t work here, and there’s no unlocking the bootloader through the official Mi Unlock tool — it’s been discontinued for 2018 devices. This narrows the possibilities, but leaves workarounds.

Method 1: Standard removal via MIUI settings

To begin with, the basic method that is suitable for custom applications (installed from Google Play or APK) does not affect system components, but is often ignored due to non-obvious nuances.

Algorithm of action:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 Find the app you want in the list (use the search at the top if it’s not in the visible zone).
• 🗑️ Click Delete (if the button is active) If the button is gray - the application is system.
• 🧹 After removal, be sure to clear the cache: go back to the list of applications → Three points (⋮) → Clear the cache of all applications.

Why this doesn't always work:

• ⚠️ MIUI caches application data in a folder /data/data, which is not automatically cleaned.
• ⚠️ Some applications (e.g. com.miui.analytics) are restored after a reboot.
• ⚠️ There's empty folders in /sdcard/Android/obb/ and /sdcard/Android/data/.

Removed the app from the menu

Is the cache cleared in the settings

Did the data folders disappear in /sdcard/Android/?

Reboot the device and check again-->

Method 2: Disabling system applications (without root)

If the Remove button is inactive, it's embedded in the firmware, and in this case, you can turn it off, which hides it from the menu and stops the background processes, but does not free up space on the disk.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select a system application (e.g. Mi Drop or Mi Community).
3. Click Disable (the button will appear instead of Delete).
4. Confirm the action in the dialog window.

Limitations of the method:

• 🚫 Does not free up space in memory (APK-file remains in /system/priv-app/).
• 🚫 Some applications (e.g. com.android.vending – Google Play Store) cannot be disabled.
• 🚫 After updating MIUI Disabled applications can be activated again.

💡

To see all system applications, turn on the display of hidden in the developer settings: go to Settings → About Phone and 7 times click on the MIUI Version. Then in Settings → Additional → For developers, activate the option to Show all apps.

Method 3: Remove via ADB (without root but with PC)

For advanced users who are ready to connect Redmi 6 to a computer, there is a method using Android Debug Bridge (ADB).It allows you to remove even system applications, but requires care - an error can lead to the failure of the device.

Preparation:

1. Download ADB Tools for Windows/Linux/macOS.
2. Turn on the phone Debugging over USB (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 taps → Return to Additional → For Developers).
3. Connect Redmi 6 to your PC via USB (select File Transfer Mode).

Commands for removal:

1. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (Linux/macOS) in the folder with ADB.
2. Enter: Adb devices Make sure the device is identified (serial number should appear).
3. Get a list of packages: adb shell pm list packages -f
4. Remove unnecessary packet (e.g. com.miui.cleanmaster): adb shell pm uninstall-k --user 0 com.miui.cleanmaster The flag --user 0 only removes for the current user (safer than complete removal).

Warnings:

⚠️ Note: Removing system components like com.android.phone or com.miui.home will cause your device to fail. Before experimenting, back up your device using adb backup or Mi Cloud.

System Utilities (Cleaner, Security)

Social networks (Facebook, Mi Community)

Media Players (Mi Video, Mi Music)

Google Services (Play Market, YouTube)

Others-->

Method 4: Complete removal with root rights

If you're ready to root, you can permanently remove any application, including system applications, and Redmi 6 will require:

1. Unlock the bootloader through informal methods (e.g., Fastboot OEM Unlock with a patch for MediaTek).
2. Install custom recovery (TWRP for cereus).
3. Switch to Magisk for root rights management.

Instructions after receiving root:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to /system/priv-app/ or /system/app/.
3. Find a folder with the name of the application being removed (for example, MiuiVideo).
4. Delete the entire folder or rename it (add at the end of.bak).
5. Clear the data in /data/data/ and /data/app/.

Risks and consequences:

• 🔴 Violation OTA-Updates (you will need to install firmware manually).
• 🔴 Possible issues with Google Pay and banking apps (due to SafetyNet trigger).
• 🔴 The risk of "brick" (turning the phone into a "brick") when errors in the /system.

Method 5: Reset to factory cleaning settings

If the goal is not only to remove applications but also to make room for their residues, hard reset will help. On Redmi 6, this will delete all user data, but return system applications to their original state (which can be a plus if you previously experimented with ADB/root).

Step-by-step:

1. Back up your important data (photos, contacts, SMS) via Mi Cloud or adb backup.
2. Go to Settings → Additional → Recovery and Reset.
3. Select Resetting → Delete all data.
4. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

What's it gonna do?

• ✅ Delete all user applications and their data.
• ✅ Clear cache and temporary files.
• ✅ Return system applications to their original state (you can turn off again).

⚠️ Attention: On Redmi 6 Reset does not delete files from the folder /sdcard/ (To clear it completely, transfer everything to your PC before reset or format the memory manually through Settings. → Memory. → Format.

How to prevent the reappearance of remote applications

Even after successful removal, some applications (e.g. com.miui.analytics or com.xiaomi.mipicks) may return after the MIUI update.

• 🛡️ Turn off automatic updates MIUI: Settings → The phone. → Updating the system → Three points (⋮) → Settings → Turn off automatic loading.
• 🛡️ Use a packet blocker: Apps like Package Disabler Pro (requires root) or ADB AppControl (works through the ADB) Can block the recovery of remote components.
• 🛡️ Install custom firmware: For example, LineageOS 15.1 (unofficial build for cereus) or Havoc-OS. They are devoid of most Xiaomi system applications, but require an unlocked bootloader.

Alternative: If you only need individual features (like a camera or calls), consider using Redmi 6 in Safe Mode (without third-party apps).

1. Press the power button before the off menu appears.
2. Press and hold the option to turn off.
3. Confirm the transition to Safe Mode.

💡

Redmi 6 cannot completely remove system applications without root or ADB. However, disabling + clearing the cache has a similar effect on freeing up RAM and reducing background activity.

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing apps on Redmi 6