How to remove the application from your phone Xiaomi: instructions for MIUI 2026

Removing unnecessary apps on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphones is a seemingly simple task, but many users face difficulties. Unlike pure Android, the MIUI shell has its own peculiarities: some system programs can not be removed by standard methods, and after uninstallation they can be restored after updates. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to remove applications on Xiaomi in 2026 – from basic to advanced, including working with ADB and hidden MIUI settings.

It’s important to understand the difference between deleting and disabling an application. The first erases the program from the device completely, freeing up space, and the second only freezes it, but the files remain. We’ll look at both options, and we’ll also explain how to get rid of the built-in Xiaomi applications (such as Mi Browser, Mi Music, GetApps), which are not usually deleted via the menu. Instructions are suitable for all current versions of MIUI — from 14 to 15 (including HyperOS for new models).

1. Standard removal through the settings menu

The easiest way is to use the built-in MIUI tools. It is suitable for most user applications (such as social networks, games or instant messengers), but does not work for system programs.

To remove the app:

1. Open the Settings → Applications.
2. Select Application Management (in some versions of MIUI, this may be referred to simply as "Applications").
3. Find the desired application in the list and tap it.
4. Press the Remove button (if it is active).

If the Remove button is inactive or not, the application is system, in which case you can try to disable it (the "Disable" button will appear instead of "Delete"). The disabled application will not appear in the menu and will not consume resources, but will remain in the memory of the device.

⚠️ Warning: Do not disable system applications called com.android., com.miui. or com.xiaomi.* – this can lead to unstable operation of the smartphone. For example, disabling com.miui.securitycenter will disrupt the security center, and com.android.phone – calls.

2. Deletion via launcher (apps menu)

A faster way for custom applications is to remove them directly from the home screen or from the app menu, which works similarly to the standard one, but saves time:

• 📱 Find on the home screen or in the application menu the program icon you want to remove.
• 🖱️ Put your finger on her. 1-2 A few seconds before the context menu appears.
• 🗑️ Select "Delete" (sometimes hidden under the icon of a basket or three dots).
• ✅ Confirm the action in the window that appears.

If you only see Application Information or Unplug instead of Delete, then the program is system or installed as an update for the system application, in which case you will have to use other methods (see sections below).

On some Xiaomi models (such as the Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5), there is a separate tab on the app menu called “Delete Apps” to open it:

1. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the app menu.
2. Stick to three points (⋮) top-right.
3. Select Application Removal.
4. Check the unneeded programs and click "Delete".

3. Removal of system applications without root rights (via ADB)

To remove embedded applications Xiaomi (e.g. Mi Browser, Mi Music, GetApps, Mi Video) do not need to obtain root rights. just use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) - a tool for debugging Android devices via a computer. This method works on all versions of MIUI, but requires connecting the smartphone to a PC.

Before starting, make sure that:

USB debugging enabled (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version → 7 taps on version → Return to Additional → For developers → Debugging by USB)

Xiaomi drivers installed on your computer

Downloaded and unpacked by ADB Tools (official package from Google)

Smartphone connected to PC with original cable (not all) USB-cables support data transmission)

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When you are ready, follow the following steps:

1. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with adb.exe.
2. Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices If the smartphone is connected correctly, you will see its serial number.
3. Enter the command to uninstall the application (replace com.example.app with the batch name of the program): adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.example.app

Below are the batch names of popular Xiaomi system apps that most often want to be removed:

⚠️ Note: Deleting some system applications (e.g. com.miui.securitycenter or com.android.settings) may cause the system to crash or the inability to boot your smartphone. → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

adb shell pm list packages | grep "keyword"

For example, to search for all applications with "miui" in the name: adb shell pm list packages | grep "miui"-->

4. Disable applications through settings (alternative to delete)

If you can't delete an application (for example, it's critical for MIUI), you can turn it off, which hides the program from the menu, stops its background processes, and prevents auto-start, but doesn't free up space in memory.

How to disable the application:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the desired application from the list.
3. Click Disable (if the button is inactive, the application cannot be disabled).
4. Confirm the action in the window that appears.

Disabled applications can be returned at any time:

1. Open the Settings → Applications.
2. Stick to three points (⋮) top-right.
3. Select Show All Apps (or Disabled Apps in some versions of MIUI).
4. Find the right application and click Enable.

Disabled is suitable for programs that you do not use but cannot be removed, such as Mi Browser, Mi Music or Mi Video, if you use alternatives (Chrome, Spotify, VLC).

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Disabling applications does not free up space in memory, but reduces battery consumption and reduces the load on the processor, as the program's background processes stop.

5. Removal of System Application Updates

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the system application (for example, Gallery or Camera) has been updated through Google Play, and now it can neither be removed nor disabled, in which case you can return the application to the factory version by removing the updates.

How to do this:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select a problem app (such as a gallery).
3. Stick to three points (⋮) top-right.
4. Select Remove Updates.

After that, the app will return to the version that was pre-installed on the smartphone.

• 🔄 Updates can be installed automatically again if you do not turn off auto-update in Google Play.
• ⚠️ Some features may not work properly after a rollback version (especially in Camera or Phone apps).
• 📱 After removing the updates, the “Disable” button may become active (if the application is not critical to the system).

To prevent auto-update for a particular application:

1. Open Google Play.
2. Find the application you want to block the updates.
3. Stick to three points (⋮) Next to the "Update" button/"Installed".
4. Uncheck the box from the "Auto-Update" item.

6. Remove via Safe Mode (Safe Mode)

If the application is not removed in standard ways (e.g., it emits an error or freezes), you can try doing so in Safe Mode, which only downloads system programs, which sometimes helps to remove problematic applications.

How to Sign In to Safe Mode on Xiaomi:

1. Press the Power button to open the off menu.
2. Press your finger on the "Switch off" (or "Switch off power") and hold for 3-5 seconds.
3. In the window that appears, select Reboot in Safe Mode (or “OK” if a confirmation request appears).

After the reboot, the bottom of the screen will show "Safe Mode." Now try to uninstall the app in the standard way (via the settings menu or launcher). If the deletion is successful, restart the smartphone as normal.

⚠️ Warning: Safe Mode doesn't have some features (like a fingerprint or Face Unlock) and all user apps are disabled. Don't worry, that's okay. Once you're out of Safe Mode, everything will return to its original state.

7. Delete via File Manager (for power users)

This method is suitable for advanced users, as it requires working with system files. Wrong actions can lead to the inoperability of the smartphone, so use it only if other methods have not helped.

To remove the application through the file manager:

1. Install a file manager with access to system folders, such as FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer (root or ADB access required).
2. Go to /data/app/ (for custom applications) or /system/app/ (for system applications).
3. Find a folder with the name of the application package (for example, com.miui.player for Mi Music) and delete it.
4. Reboot your smartphone.

Be careful:

• 🚨 Deletion of files from /system/ Without root rights, it can lead to errors.
• 🔧 Some applications have dependencies – removing one program can disrupt the work of another.
• 📂 Always back up the folder before deleting it (copy it elsewhere).

If after deleting the smartphone began to work unstable, restore deleted files from the backup or perform a reset settings.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)