How to Remove an App with Xiaomi Redmi 4X: From Standard Ways to ADB

Xiaomi Redmi 4X is one of the most popular budget smartphones of the brand, but even its modest 16/32 GB of memory is quickly clogged with unnecessary applications. Owners often face the problem of how to remove preinstalled programs (so-called bloat) that can not be removed by standard methods, or completely erase the traces of third-party utilities. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods from basic to advanced, including working with ADB and hidden MIUI settings.

The Redmi 4X (codenamed santoni) features an outdated version of MIUI (up to MIUI 11 based on Android 7.1 Nougat), which puts restrictions on some methods. For example, new Xiaomi firmware has the "Delete System Applications" feature right in the settings, and there is no one here. We'll have to do it differently. It's also important to understand the difference between deletion (complete erasure of files and data) and shutdown (the app stays in memory, but doesn't work).

1. Standard removal through MIUI settings

To start with, the simplest way is to remove applications that are installed by the user or can be uninstalled without superuser rights, a method that works for most games, instant messengers, and utilities from Google Play.

Instructions:

• 📱 Open the Settings menu (cog icon on the desktop).
• 🔧 Go to All Apps (or Apps) → Managing applications in older versions MIUI).
• 🔍 Find the right application in the list and tap it.
• 🗑️ Press the Remove button (if active). If the gray button is a system application (see next section).

⚠️ Attention: B MIUI for Redmi 4X There's no mass removal function. You'll have to erase one at a time. If there's no Delete button at all, it means the application is protected from uninstallation without any installation. ADB or root rights.

Are there any important data in the application (for example, saved games)

The application is not used by other services (e.g. Google Services Framework)

Is there enough free space for correct removal (minimum 200 MB)

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2. disabling system applications (without deletion)

Many pre-installed programs on Xiaomi (e.g. Mi Video, Mi Music, Browser) cannot be removed in the standard way, but they can be disabled.This will free up RAM and stop background activity, although the application files will remain on the device.

How to turn it off:

1. Go to Settings. → All applications.
2. Select a system application (such as Cleaner or Mi Drop).
3. Click Disable (the button will appear if the uninstallation is blocked).
4. Confirm the action in the dialog window.

🔹 What's the blackout doing:

• 📉 The app stops using battery and traffic.
• 🚫 Disappears from the menu and list of running processes.
• 🔄 You can turn it back on at any time through the same settings.

⚠️ Warning: Do not disable system services called com.android. or miui. in the package (e.g. com.android.phone) This can lead to broken calls, no mobile network, or a reboot cycle.

Mi Video|Mi Music|Browser|Cleaner (Optimizer)|Other-->

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

If you don’t have enough shutdowns and you don’t have root rights (or don’t want to get them), the only safe way to uninstall system programs is to use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which works on Redmi 4X without unlocking the bootloader, but requires a connection to a computer.

📌 What's the matter:

• 💻 Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 🛠️ Utilities. ADB and Fastboot (download from Android site).
• 🔐 Included debugging by USB phone-on.

Step-by-step:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI until the notification "You've become a developer" appears.

USB debugging

• Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
• Activate the debugging switch over USB.
• Connect the phone to the computer and confirm the trust in the device (a request will appear on the smartphone screen).
• Open the command prompt (cmd in Windows or Terminal in macOS/Linux) and go to the folder with ADB.
• Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your Redmi 4X.
• Remove the unnecessary application by command: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 name.pack For example, to delete Mi Video: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.videoplayer

🔹 Where to find the name of the package?

• 📋 Install the App Inspector app from Google Play – it shows the full packet names.
• 🔍 Use the command: adb shell pm list packages | grep "miui" (will display a list of all Xiaomi system packages).

⚠️ Note: Deleting some packages (e.g. com.miui.securitycenter) may disrupt the operation MIUI. Before experimenting, back up your data via adb backup or manually copy important data to your PC.

4. Complete removal with root rights

If you are ready for radical measures, root access will open unlimited possibilities for cleaning the system. On Redmi 4X, you can get root through unlocking the bootloader and installing a custom recavator (for example, TWRP), but this will void the warranty and increase the risk of “bricking” the device.

🔧 How to remove the application from root:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to /system/app or /system/priv-app (there are stored system applications).
3. Find a folder with the name of the package (for example, MiVideo) and delete it.
4. Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Note: Removing files from /system If you don't have a backup, you can make your phone inoperable. Always save the original files to your computer before you make changes!

💡 An alternative way is to use applications like Titanium Backup (requires root), which allow you not only to delete, but also to “freeze” programs, as well as create backups.

💡

Before you get root, check if your MIUI version on Redmi 4X has a working unlock method. On the 4PDA or XDA Developers forum, look for themes marked "[Unlock]" for the santoni model.

5.Relieving memory after deletion

Deleting apps doesn’t always free up disk space right away. MIUI (especially on Android 7.1) has the ability to cache data and leave junk files. To clean up efficiently, follow these steps:

• 🧹 Go to Settings. → Memory. → Cleaning and running optimization.
• 🗃️ Check the Download folder and DCIM to unnecessary files (often there are temporary data of remote applications).
• 🔄 Reboot your phone – it will reset the cache MIUI.
• 📊 Use applications like this. SD Maid (requires root) for deep cleaning.

📊 Table: How much space do popular system applications on Redmi take up? 4X

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Deleting system applications via ADB (pm uninstall --user 0) is the safest way to do so without rooting, as it does not affect files in the /system folder, but only hides them for the current user.

6 Recovery of Remote Applications

If you have problems after deleting your phone (e.g., your phone calls or your mobile phone phone's internet stopped working), you have to return the system components, and you can do this in two ways:

🔄 Method 1: Through ADB (If the command pm uninstall is removed)

Enter the command:

adb shell cmd package install-existing name.packet

For example, to restore Mi Video:

adb shell cmd package install-existing com.miui.videoplayer

🔄 Method 2: Reset to factory settings

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Additionally. → Recovery and discharge.
• 🔄 Select Reset (all data will be erased!).
• 🔐 After reset, all system applications will return.

⚠️ Note: If you delete files from /system root, reset will not help - you will have to refashion the phone via Fastboot or TWRP.

7.Alternatives to Deletion: How to Hide or Replace Apps

You don't always have to remove programs radically, but sometimes you just have to hide them or replace them with lighter ones.

• 👁️ Hiding icons: Use launchers like Nova Launcher, where you can hide apps from the menu.
• 🔄 Replacement with analogues: Mi Video → VLC or MX Player. Browser → Chrome or Firefox. Mi Music. → Poweramp or Spotify.
• ⚙️ Disabling Autostart: In Settings → Permits → Auto-start can be banned background work of unnecessary programs.

💡 Tip: If you are hindered by advertising in system applications (for example, in Cleaner), instead of removing try to turn off the Internet for them through Settings → Annexes → Use of data.

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing apps on Redmi 4X