How to Remove Default Apps on Xiaomi: 5 Verified Ways

Xiaomi MIUI-based smartphones are known for their abundance of pre-installed apps, from branded utilities to partner services. Many of them can’t be removed in the standard way, but they take up memory, consume battery power, and display ads. This article will help you figure out how to remove default apps on Xiaomi without harming the system.

We'll look at all the current methods, from secure shutdown through settings to deep cleaning with ADB and root rights, and it's important to understand that removing system applications can affect the stability of the phone - so each method is accompanied by warnings and recovery recommendations.

This article is suitable for all modern Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models on MIUI 14/15 (including Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12, POCO F5). If your firmware is older, check the compatibility of methods in the FAQ section.

Why can’t you just remove the system applications?

Unlike the regular Google Play apps, the default applications in MIUI are integrated into firmware, and they fall into three categories:

• 📱 System services are critical to the operation of the phone (e.g. com.android.phone for calls) and their removal will make it impossible to turn the device on.
• 🛠️ Xiaomi’s proprietary utilities are Mi Video, Mi Music, GetApps. They can be disabled or removed, but some features (such as themes) will stop working.
• 💰 Partner apps -- Facebook, Netflix, regional services -- are usually safe to remove.

The manufacturer blocks removal for several reasons:

1. Partner agreements (e.g., Google requires pre-installing its services for certification).
2. Dependencies between apps – removing one can break the other.
3. Security: The user may delete the critical component by mistake.

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g. Xiaomi for the European market), deleting com.miui.analytics may cause the device to be activated after a reset error. → The phone. → Backup.

Method 1: Disable applications through settings (without root)

The safest method is not to delete, but to disable unnecessary programs, which will stop them from working, hide them from the menu, but does not free up space on the disk.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select "Show all apps."
3. Find the right app (like Mi Browser) and tap it.
4. Click "Disable" (if the button is inactive - the application is critical to the system).

To return the application, repeat the steps and click "Enable".

Unnecessary launchers (e.g. POCO Launcher)

Produced by Mi Video (Mi Video, Mi Music)

Partner applications (Facebook, LinkedIn)

Gaming services (Game Turbo, if you are not playing)

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This method is suitable for:

• 📲 Users without root rights.
• 🔄 Those who want to return the app.
• 🛡️ People who are afraid to break their phone.

⚠️ Attention: MIUI 15 disabling GetApps may disrupt updates through Settings → The phone. → Update system. In this case, update via Fastboot or Recovery.

Method 2: Remove via ADB (without root but with PC)

ADB (Android Debug Bridge) is a debugging tool that allows you to remove system applications without root permissions.The method works on all Xiaomi models, but requires a connection to a computer.

Step-by-step:

1. Download Google’s Platform Tools and unpack it into a folder.
2. Enable USB debugging on your phone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times), then Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging over USB.
3. Connect your phone to your PC, open the command line in the ADB folder and type:

adb devices

(Your device name should appear. If not, install Xiaomi drivers.)

adb shell


pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.videoplayer

(Replace com.miui.videoplayer with the package of the desired application.)

List of safe packet removal:

💡

Before deleting, check if the app is used by other services, for example, com.miui.gallery is needed to work screenshots, even if you use Google Photos.

To return the application, use the command:

cmd package install-existing com.miui.videoplayer

Disabled via settings | Used ADB| Get root rights | Haven't tried anything-->

Method 3: Removal with root rights (for experienced)

If you have root access (like through Magisk), you can remove system applications directly, which is the riskiest, but also the most effective method.

Instructions:

1. Install Root Explorer or FX File Explorer from Google Play.
2. Go to /system/app or /system/priv-app.
3. Find a folder with the name of the app (such as MiBrowser) and delete it.
4. Reboot the phone.

The best way to do this is to use Titanium Backup:

• 📌 Freeze the app before deleting (in case of errors).
• 🗑️ Remove the application itself and its data.
• 🔄 Make a backup copy before the action.

⚠️ Note: Removing com.miui.home or com.android.settings will result in a bootloop.

Method 4: Use of custom firmware (for enthusiasts)

If you're willing to go further, install custom firmware without bloat.

• 🌍 LineageOS – pure Android without branded services Xiaomi.
• ⚡ Pixel Experience – firmware with Google Pixel interface.
• 🔧 MIUI without bloat - modified versions of the original firmware (for example, MIUI EU).

Installation process:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Xiaomi tool.
2. Install TWRP Recovery for your model.
3. Download firmware from the XDA Developers or 4PDA forum.
4. Sweat through TWRP, having previously made a backup.

Advantages:

• 🚀 No unnecessary applications from the factory.
• 🔄 Regular updates from the community.
• 🛡️ More control over the system.

Disadvantages:

• ⚠️ Loss of guarantee.
• 🔋 Possible battery or camera problems (depending on firmware).
• 📱 Some features of Xiaomi, for example, IR Blaster may not work.

💡

Custom firmware is the only way to get rid of bloat forever, but it requires technical skills and risks the stability of the phone.

Method 5: Reset to factory settings (extreme case)

If you delete critical applications and your phone malfunctions, a hard reset will help, and it will return all system programs, but delete your data.

How to reset:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select "Erase all data."
3. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.

If the phone is not switched on:

• 🔌 Hold the Power. + Volume Up for Recovery Entry.
• 📛 Select Wipe Data (Manage volume buttons).
• 🔄 Confirm reset and reboot.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Xiaomi) 12T, Redmi K50) Recovery resets can block the bootloader, which requires authorization in the Mi Account.

How to find the names of application packages?

To remove an application through ADB or root, you need to know its packet name.

Method 1: Through the settings

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the appropriate application.
3. The name of the packet is shown at the bottom of the screen (e.g. com.miui.calculator).

Method 2: Through ADB

adb shell pm list packages | grep "miui"

(It will show all the packages with miui in the title.)

Method 3: App Inspector

• 📱 Install App Inspector from Google Play.
• 🔍 Open the application and select the program from the list.
• 📋 Copy the name of the package from the information.

Examples of popular packages:

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing apps on Xiaomi