How to Remove the App from Xiaomi TV on Android TV

Xiaomi’s Android TVs offer a lot of options for installing apps, but over time, the accumulated programs begin to take up precious space in memory, slow down the system or simply interfere with the menu. Unlike smartphones, removing apps on TVs has its nuances: the manufacturer often blocks standard uninstallation methods to prevent accidental removal of system components.

Complicating the problem, many users are faced with gray or no removal buttons in the app menu, because Xiaomi divides programs into three categories: custom (manually installed), system (built into firmware) and update (systemic, but updated via Google Play).

In this article, we will discuss all the current methods, from standard methods through the Android TV interface to advanced solutions using ADB and third-party utilities, especially the Mi TV 4A/4S/4X, Mi TV Q1/Q2, Redmi Smart TV and Mi Box S, as their firmware have key differences in application management.

1. Standard removal through the settings menu

The easiest way is to use the built-in Android tools TV. It is suitable for custom applications installed through Google Play or downloaded manually through APK-System programs (e.g. Netflix, YouTube, Mi Home) will not be deleted in this way - the button will be inactive.

Instructions:

• 📺 Open the main menu of the TV by pressing the Home button on the remote.
• 🔍 Go to the Applications section (or Apps in English firmware).
• 👆 Select the unnecessary application and press the button OK on the remote (on some models you need to press Menu or a button with three points).
• 🗑️ In the menu that appears, select Delete (or Uninstall). Confirm the action.

If the Remove button is inactive, it means that the application is system-based, in which case move on to the following methods. Note that on some firmware (for example, PatchWall on Indian models), the path to application settings may differ: Settings → Applications → Application Management.

Check the free space in memory (Settings → Storage)

Backup of important data (if any)

Write down the name of the application to search for alternatives

Make sure the application is not system-based (no gear icon)

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2. Removal via Google Play (for updated applications)

Some system applications (like Google Play Movies or Play Games) can’t be completely removed, but you can roll back to the factory version or remove updates, which will free up space and return the program to its original state.

How to do this:

1. Open Google Play on your TV.
2. Go to the menu → My apps and games → Installed.
3. Find the right application and open its page.
4. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Remove Updates.

After that, the app will return to the version that was originally in the firmware. If you need to get rid of it completely, you will need to use ADB (see section 4).

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If the app doesn't appear in the list of installed apps on Google Play, try searching for it by name. Sometimes the system programs are hidden in the general list.

3. Reset to factory settings (radical method)

If the TV is full of unnecessary programs and you can't remove them individually, you can do a complete reset, and this method will delete all user data, accounts and installed apps, returning the device to the "out of the box" state. Use it only as a last resort!

Step-by-step:

• ⚙️ Go to Settings. → System and device → Reset.
• 🔄 Select Reset All Settings (or Factory Data Reset).
• 🔐 Enter. PIN-code (if installed) or confirm the action.
• ⏳ Wait for the process to be completed (TV reboot) 1-2 once).

Once reset, you'll have to reconfigure your TV, connect to Wi-Fi, log into your Google account, and install only the apps you really need, a method that is guaranteed to remove all the programs you don't need, but takes time to recover.

⚠️ Warning: Factory reset removes all data, including saved Wi-Fi passwords, image and sound settings, and licenses for paid apps. Write down important settings in advance or take screenshots of the screens with settings.

4. Removal via ADB (for power users)

The Android Debug Bridge (ADB) method allows you to remove system applications that cannot be uninstalled in standard ways, which requires connecting your TV to your computer and basic command line knowledge.

What you need:

• 💻 Computer with Windows, macOS or Linux.
• 🔌 USB-cable (for Mi Box) or network sharing (for TVs without a TV) USB-port).
• 📥 Utility. ADB (Download from the official Android website).
• 🔧 Included debugging by USB TV-wise.

Instructions:

1. Activate debugging on USB: Go to Settings. → On TV. → Software version: Click 7 times in a row on the line with the build number until the message "You became a developer" appears. → System and device → Developer settings. Enable Debugging by USB and Debugging over the network (if not) USB-port).

Connect the TV to the computer USB or through the network (learn) IP-TV address in network settings).

adb connect [IP- TV address]:5555

For USB-connect:

adb devices

(Your device should be displayed).

adb shell pm list packages

Find the name of the unneeded app (e.g. com.xiaomi.mitv.appstore for the Mi App Store).

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.xiaomi.mitv.appstore

Replace com.xiaomi.mitv.appstore with the desired application package.

If the team makes a Failure error [DELETE_FAILED_INTERNAL_ERROR], It means that the application is protected from removal, so you can try to disable it:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.xiaomi.mitv.appstore

⚠️ Note: Removing system applications can cause a TV to run unstable, update errors, or even a device to blink. Do not remove programs with names that include “framework,” “system,” “launcher,” or “drm” — these are critical components of the system.

5. Use of third-party utilities (without root)

If working with ADB seems difficult, you can use specialized tools to manage applications on Android TV. One of the most popular is TV Bro (available on Google Play).

• 🗑️ Remove user and some system applications.
• 🔄 Reel back updates.
• 📦 Archive APK-files before deletion.
• 🔍 View the full list of installed programs.

How to use TV Bro:

1. Install the utility from Google Play.
2. Open it and grant administrator rights (if requested).
3. In the main menu, select App Manager.
4. Find the unnecessary app and click Uninstall.
5. Confirm action. If the button is inactive, try Disable.

Alternative utilities:

• App Inspector – Shows detailed information about applications, including packet names for ADB.
• Total Commander – Allows manual removal APK-file /data/app (root).
• SD Maid – Clears the cache and residual files after uninstallation.

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The side utilities don't give you a 100% guarantee of removing system applications, but they make it easier for user programs. ADB root-access.

Removal through recovery (advanced method)

If standard methods don’t work and ADB can’t handle secure applications, you can try removing them through recovery mode, which is suitable for experienced users and requires caution, as improper actions can lead to data loss or failure of the TV.

Instructions:

• 🔌 Connect. USB-file-storage FAT32 television-to-TV.
• 📁 Download the File Manager utility with root support (for example, on the USB flash drive, FX File Explorer).
• 🔄 Reset the TV to recovery mode: Turn off the TV. Press the Menu button on the remote and the power button on the TV (or a combination for your model). Hold until the recovery menu appears.
• 🖥️ In the recovery menu, select Mount → Mount /system.
• 📂 Connect. USB-drive and through the file manager go to the folders: /system/app — system-application. /system/priv-app — secure system applications. /data/app — user-apps.
• 🗑️ Remove folders with unnecessary applications (for example, com.xiaomi.mitv.appstore-1).
• 🔄 Restart the TV.

This method is risky, as deleting critical files can render the TV inoperable. it is recommended to back up the /system folder before making changes.

7.Alternative solutions: hiding and replacing applications

If you can’t delete the app, you can go another way:

• 👁️ Hide it from the main menu. On PatchWall firmware, press the button. OK on the app and select Hide.
• 🔄 Replace the standard launcher (e.g. installing a ATV Launcher or Hal Launcher from Google Play).
• 📵 Disable Autostart through the Application Settings (Settings) → Annexes → [name] → Auto-start).
• 🔕 Limit Internet access for unnecessary programs (Settings) → Network → Use of data).

These methods will not free up memory, but will make working with the TV more comfortable by removing the interfering elements of the interface.

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If you’re using an alternative launcher but want to return the standard Xiaomi interface, go to Settings → Applications → Default Launcher and select PatchWall or Mi Home Launcher.

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing apps