How to completely uninstall the app with Xiaomi Redmi 5: from custom to system

Xiaomi Redmi 5 smartphone based on MIUI even after years remains popular among users due to balanced characteristics and flexible firmware. However, over time, any gadget “overgrown” with unnecessary applications: it can be games that have not been launched for a long time, duplicate messengers or pre-installed services from Xiaomi, occupying precious space in memory. Unlike modern flagships, Redmi 5 has only 16/32 GB of internal memory, so every megabyte counts.

There are a number of ways to uninstall an application with Redmi 5, from standard removal through menus to ADB for system programs. But there are nuances: some applications (such as Mi Video, Mi Music or Cleaner) don’t have a Delete button, and simply “disabling” doesn’t free up memory. In this article, we’ll discuss all working methods, including deletion through Settings, MIUI Security, and even manual interference with system files, with the features of Redmi 5’s firmware (codename rosy).

Important: If you plan to remove system applications, back up your data beforehand. Some operations can cause MIUI to crash, especially if you use custom firmware or unlock the bootloader.

1. Standard removal through "Settings"

The easiest way is to uninstall apps through the app menu, which is suitable for custom programs installed from Google Play or manually via APK. System applications (such as Mi Drop or Mi Community) will not be removed, but they can be disabled so that they do not appear in the menu and do not waste resources.

Instructions:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes.
• 🔍 Find the right app in the list (use the search at the top if the list is long).
• 🗑️ Click Remove (if the button is active) or Disable (for system programs).
• ✅ Confirm the action in the dialog window.

If the Remove button is inactive, it means that the application is system or was pre-installed by the manufacturer, in which case proceed to the following methods.

2. Delete through "Security" (MIUI Security)

MIUI has a built-in application management tool called Security (or Global Firmware Security) that not only removes programs, but also clears their cache, residual files, and disables autoruns, a method that is suitable for previously deleted applications with residual data or for programs that are not displayed in the main menu.

How to delete:

1. Launch the Security app (the shield icon).
2. Go to Optimize or Manage Applications (the name may vary depending on the version of MIUI).
3. Select the Installed or All Apps tab.
4. Find the right application and click on it.
5. Choose Delete or Clear Data (if deletion is not available).

⚠️ Note: In some versions MIUI For Redmi 5, Security can be called Optimization or Cleaner. If you don't find the right item, upgrade to the latest stable version via Settings. → The phone. → Updating the system.

3. Remove system applications without root (via ADB)

If standard methods fail and root rights are not available, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to remove any applications, including system ones, but requires connecting the smartphone to the computer, the advantage of the method is that it does not violate the warranty, since it does not require unlocking the bootloader or obtaining root.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install ADB Tools on your computer (Windows, macOS or Linux).
2. Turn on Redmi 5 Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Click 7 times on MIUI until the notification “You’ve become a developer” appears. Return to Settings → Additional → Developer. Activate USB Debugging.

USB

CMD

Terminal

ADB

adb devices

If the device appears in the list, enter:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.example.app

Instead of com.example.app, substitute the batch name of the application (you can find it through the App Inspector in Google Play or the adb shell pm list packages command).

🔹 Examples of batch names of popular Xiaomi system applications:

⚠️ Note: Removing system applications (e.g. com.android.settings or com.miui.home) may cause your phone to fail.Be sure that the application you are removing is not critical to work before you execute commands. MIUI. If you have problems after removal, restore the application by the team:

adb shell cmd package install-existing com.example.app

💡

If your phone is not detected after connecting via ADB, try changing USB mode to File Transfer (MTP) or installing Xiaomi drivers from the official website.

4. Deletion with root rights (for experienced users)

If your Redmi 5 has a bootloader unlocked and root rights obtained (e.g., through Magisk), you can uninstall system applications using file managers like Root Explorer or Solid Explorer, a method that gives you maximum control, but requires caution: an error can lead to a device breeze.

Instructions:

• 📁 Install a file manager with root support (e.g., Root Explorer).
• 🔍 Go to the folder. /system/app or /system/priv-app (This is where system applications are stored).
• 🗑️ Find a folder with the name of the application being removed (for example, MiVideo) and delete it.
• 🔄 Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Warning: Before deleting system files, be sure to back up the folder /system through TWRP Or OrangeFox Recovery. If the phone stopped booting after deleting, restore backup via Recovery Mode.

🔹 What applications can be removed without risk?

• 🎵 Mi Music, Mi Video – Media Players That Can Be Replaced With VLC or Google Play Music.
• 📱 Mi Drop, Mi Remote - little-used utilities.
• 🧹 Cleaner – a cleaner that often runs in the background and consumes battery.

🚫 What applications cannot be removed?

• 📱 com.android.settings – System settings.
• 📱 com.miui.home - launcher MIUI.
• 📱 com.android.phone – telephone services.

5. Cleaning of residual files after deletion

Even after you delete an application, Redmi 5 may still have cache, settings, and temporary files that take up space in memory. To completely clean up the system, follow the following steps:

Cleaning methods:

• 🧹 Through Settings. → Memory. → Cleaning (built-in utility) MIUI).
• 🧹 Through Security → Waste cleaning (deep cleaning).
• 🧹 Manually through file manager: Go to /data/data and delete the folder with the name of the application package. /cache (Root rights are required).

To automate the process, you can use applications like SD Maid (requires root) or Files by Google (works without superuser rights).

🔹 How to check how much space is freed up?

1. Open the Settings → Memory.
2. See the usage schedule in the Internal Memory section.
3. Compare the results before and after removal.

💡

Deleting applications via ADB or root is the most effective way to free up memory, but it requires caution. Always check batch names and back up.

6. Frequent errors and their solutions

When you delete applications on Redmi 5, users often face problems, and let’s look at the most common errors and how to fix them.

🔹 Error: “The application could not be removed»

• 🔹 Reason: The application is system-based or secure MIUI.
• 🔹 Solution: Use ADB or get root rights.

🔹 Mistake: "The team is not found" in ADB

• 🔹 Reason: Wrong path to ADB or no drivers are available.
• 🔹 Solution: Check the phone’s connection and repeat the adb device command.

🔹 Error: The phone stopped loading after being deleted

• 🔹 Reason: Critical system application removed.
• 🔹 Solution: Restore your phone via Fastboot or Recovery (see the forum for instructions) MIUI).

🔹 Error: App removed, but icon remained

• 🔹 Reason: Launcher cache not updated.
• 🔹 Solution: Reboot your phone or clear the com.miui.home cache via Settings → Annexes.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions