How to remove the app on Xiaomi smartphone: from standard to hidden methods

Removing unnecessary apps on Xiaomi smartphones is a challenge that every user sooner or later faces. Even the new Redmi, POCO or Black Shark devices have dozens of programs preinstalled, many of which duplicate functions or simply are not used. But not everyone knows that removing applications on MIUI has its nuances: some programs can be uninstalled in a standard way, others require superuser rights, and others are even “sewn” into the system so deep that their removal is fraught with failures.

In this article, we will look at all the current ways to remove applications on Xiaomi smartphones, from basic to advanced, including working with ADB and hidden settings. You will learn how to distinguish system programs from user programs, which applications can be removed without risk and which are better to simply disable, and we will also reveal the secrets of cleaning the cache and residual files, which often “clog” memory even after uninstallation.

Important: the removal procedure may vary depending on the version of MIUI (12, 13, 14 or HyperOS) and the smartphone model. All the instructions in this article are relevant for devices released after 2018, including the Redmi Note 10/11/12 line, Xiaomi 11T/12/13, POCO F3/F4/F5 and others. If your device is older, check the firmware version in Settings → About phone.

1. Standard Deletion: How to Remove a User Application

Let’s start with the simplest method that works for all apps installed by the user (from Google Play, APK-This method does not require root rights or special knowledge, but is suitable only for programs that are not system-specific.

To remove the application in a standard way:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 Find the desired application in the list (you can use the search at the top of the screen).
• 🗑️ Click Delete (or Uninstall in some versions) MIUI).
• ✅ Confirm the action in the window that appears.

You can also remove the app directly from the home screen or from the app menu:

1. Press and hold the app icon.
2. In the menu that appears, select Remove (basket icon).
3. Confirm the uninstallation.

Do you need this app to run other programs?

Does it have important data (such as saves in games)?

Is it not a system (see section 3)?

Is there enough free space after removal?-->

If the Remove button is inactive or not, the application is system or preinstalled, and alternative methods will be required, which we will discuss later.

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On some Xiaomi models (like the Redmi Note 10 Pro), there is a tab in the app menu called Recently Installed, which contains all the programs you installed manually, which can be removed without restrictions.

2. disabling system applications: when you can not delete

Many pre-installed Xiaomi apps (e.g. Mi Browser, Mi Music, Mi Video) cannot be removed in the standard way, but they can be disabled.This hides them from the menu, stops background processes and frees up some RAM, but the program files remain in the system.

To disable the system application:

• 🔧 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 Find the right app (such as Cleaner or Mi Pay).
• 🚫 Click Disable (in some versions) MIUI This button may be called Remove Updates. → Shut down).
• ⚠️ Confirm the action – the system will warn that the application may not work properly.

The apps that are disabled won't show up in the menu, but you can activate them again in the settings, and this method is secure and doesn't require superuser rights.

⚠️ Note: Do not disable system services with the names com.android., miui. or google. in the package (for example, Google Play Services or Google Play Services). MIUI System UI). This can lead to unstable operation of the smartphone.

3. Removal of system applications via ADB: for power users

If you want to completely uninstall the system app, rather than just disable it, you’ll need to use Android Debug Bridge (ADB).This method works without root rights, but requires connecting your smartphone to your computer and basic command line knowledge.

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ Complete removal of the application (including all files and cache).
• ✅ It works on all versions. MIUI HyperOS.
• ✅ Does not require unlocking the loader.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Risk of removing a critical application.
• ❌ Requires a computer and installation ADB.
• ❌ After updating the firmware, remote applications can return.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install ADB on your computer (e.g. Google’s Platform Tools).
2. Turn on USB Debugging on your smartphone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times to activate Developer Mode) → Return to Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging on USB.
3. Connect your smartphone to your computer via USB and confirm the debugging permission.
4. Open the command prompt (or PowerShell in Windows) and type:

adb devices

(Your device name should appear as a confirmation of your connection.)

adb shell


pm list packages | grep 'name packet'

(Replace the name of the package with the app name part, such as miui.browser for Mi Browser.)

pm uninstall -k --user 0 name packet

(For example: pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.browser.)

After the command is executed, the application will be deleted for the current user (without root rights, it will remain in the system, but will not be available).

⚠️ Note: Deleting system packages such as com.android.vending (Google Play Market) or com.miui.home (main screen) will cause your smartphone to fail!

Standard removal through settings

Disabling system applications

Removal via ADB

I use root rights.

I do not remove pre-installed applications-->

4. List of secure to remove Xiaomi system applications

Below is a table with preinstalled Xiaomi apps that can be removed or disabled without risk to the system, and the data is relevant for MIUI 14 and HyperOS (2023-2026).

Important: On HyperOS devices (e.g. Xiaomi 14, Redmi K70), some packages may have different names. Before deleting, check the current name through the pm list packages | grep 'miui' command.

If you are not sure about the name of the package, use apps like App Inspector (available on Google Play) to see the full list of installed programs with their package name.

5. Deletion of residual files and cache after uninstallation

Even after deleting the application, your smartphone often has cache, settings, and temporary files that take up space in memory. To completely clear the program’s traces, follow the following steps:

Method 1: Manual cleaning

• 🗃️ Go to Settings. → Memory. → Cleaning up memory.
• 🔍 Select Other Files or Deep Cleanup.
• 🧹 Click Clean – the system will find and delete unnecessary residual data.

Method 2: Through the File Manager

• 📁 Open a file manager (e.g., Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer).
• 🔍 Go to the folders: /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/[Packet name: This is where the application data is stored. /storage/emulated/0/Android/obb/[Packet name: Additional files (for example, for games).
• 🗑️ Delete folders with the name of the remote application.

Method 3: Special Applications

For deep cleaning, you can use utilities like SD Maid or Files by Google that scan the system for junk files, but beware: some programs can delete important data.

⚠️ Note: Do not manually delete files from folders /system or /data This can cause data loss or system failure, and these partitions require tools like Root Explorer.

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Residual files can take up to 30% of the original application size, for example, after removing a game weighing 1 GB, 200-300 MB of cache and saves can remain in memory.

6.Remove applications with root rights: maximum freedom

If your Xiaomi smartphone has an unlocked bootloader and super-user rights (root), you can uninstall any application, including deeply integrated system services. However, this method is only suitable for power users, as improper actions can make the device inoperable.

To remove applications with root rights:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or FX File Explorer).
2. Go to /system/app or /system/priv-app (there are stored system applications).
3. Find a folder with the name of the application being removed (for example, MiBrowser).
4. Delete the folder or move it to another location (in case of recovery).
5. Reboot your smartphone.

Alternatively, use the root terminal:

su


mount -o rw,remount /system




rm -rf /system/app/NameFolds




rm -rf /system/priv-app/Names




mount -o ro,remount /system




reboot

Warning: Removal of critical packets (e.g., critical packets, Settings.apk or SystemUI.apk) This will lead to a "brick" of the device (complete failure). TWRP Or OrangeFox Recovery.

7. How to prevent the installation of unnecessary applications in the future

To avoid reappearing unwanted apps after updating your firmware or resetting your settings, follow these tips:

• 🔒 Turn off automatic application installation: Go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → ⋮ (menu) → Autoinstall applications. Turn off the Allow Autoinstall option.
• 📥 Set up Google Play: Open Google Play Market → Settings → Auto-Update Apps. Choose Do not update automatically or only via Wi-Fi.

It is also useful to regularly check the list of installed applications in Settings → Applications → Application Management and remove suspicious or unknown programs. Some of them can be installed through advertising SDKs or together with other applications.

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing apps on Xiaomi