Removing applications on Xiaomi POCO M3: from simple methods to ADB

Xiaomi’s POCO M3 has proven to be a reliable budget device, but the standard MIUI shell is often overflowing with pre-installed software. A host of embedded services, games and utilities known as bloatware not only take up precious space in internal memory, but also consume RAM, reducing overall performance. Users who want to optimize their device’s performance often face the need to get rid of excess software that cannot be removed by standard methods.

The process of cleaning the system requires caution, as removing critical system components can lead to unstable operation of the Android operating system. In this article, we will look at all the available methods of uninstallation of programs: from basic removal through the menu to advanced methods using a computer and debugging by USB.

It is important to understand that deep interference with the structure of installed packages opens up access to hidden MIUI management functions. Proper cleaning allows you to free up to several gigabytes of memory, which is especially true for models with a 64 GB drive.

Basic removal of user applications

The easiest and safest way to clean up is to remove programs you have installed from the Google Play store or downloaded from the Internet. Android provides a built-in mechanism for this, which does not require additional tools. First, look for an icon of an unnecessary application on your desktop or in the menu of all programs.

Click on the icon and hold your finger for one to two seconds. The screen will display a context menu or desktop editing mode. Depending on the version of the MIUI shell, you will need to drag the object to the top of the screen to the basket icon or select Delete in the pop-up. The system will request confirmation of action.

If you downloaded the app in person, it will disappear completely along with all of its data. However, system programs, even if they are displayed in the general list, will not be deleted this way - the delete button will either be absent or inactive (gray).

• 📱 Find the app icon on the home screen or menu.
• 🗑️ Press the icon and drag it to the “Delete” or “Uninstall” zone».
• ✅ Confirm the action in the pop-up dialog window.

It’s worth noting that some applications may have device administrator rights, which blocks their removal even by standard methods, and in such cases, you must first go to the security settings and revoke these rights, usually for antivirus or corporate profiles, which are rarely found on personal POCO smartphones.

Disabling embedded system applications

Many users wonder if it is possible to remove standard Xiaomi apps such as Mi Video, Mi Music or GetApps. Direct deletion without root rights is impossible, but the system allows them to be disabled. When you turn them off, the application stops running, updating and consuming resources, effectively becoming invisible to the user, although the files remain in memory physically.

To do this, go to the Settings menu, then select the Apps section and click All Apps. In the list that opens, find the target program. Click on it to open the management page. If the Delete button is not available, look for the Disable or Turn off button.

Once you confirm that you're disabled, the app icon will disappear from your desktop and its processes will stop. This is a great way to deal with intrusive software that can't be removed as standard. However, remember that files still take up space, so this method is more for speed optimization than memory free.

⚠️ Note: Do not disable system components that you do not know the purpose of (e.g., Google Play services, system). UI, This can result in a cyclical reboot or loss of access to the phone's settings.

In some cases, the system may warn that disabling the application may cause errors in the operation of other functions. MIUI is quite aggressive in protecting its services, so ignore such warnings. If you are in doubt, it is better to keep the component active or use more advanced removal methods via PC, which will be discussed below.

Removing applications through storage settings

An alternative way to manage programs is through the storage menu, which is convenient because it shows you how much space a particular application takes up. Go to Settings, select About Phone, and click on Memory (or Storage), and here you will see detailed data on disk usage.

Click on the Apps or Other category to see the list sorted by volume, and it often turns out that the social media cache or downloaded files take up more space than the installation packages themselves. Select the app from the list and click Clear Memory, then Clear Everything or Delete.

This method is especially useful for hybrid applications that are part of the system but allow you to remove your updates. For example, you can remove Google or Chrome app updates by returning them to the factory version, which will free up some megabytes.

Using a storage analyzer helps identify the hidden eaters of space. Often users do not suspect that old logs or cache of deleted games can take up gigabytes. Regularly checking this section is a good habit for owners of POCO M3.

Deep Cleaning through ADB (for Advanced)

The most effective way to get rid of Xiaomi’s built-in garbage without getting root rights is to use the tool ADB (Android Debug Bridge.This method allows you to delete any packets that are not protected at the bootloader level. To work, you will need a computer (Windows, macOS or Linux) and USB-cable.

The first step is to activate the developer mode on your smartphone. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click 7 times on the MIUI Version. You will see a message that says “You’ve become a developer.” Then go back to the main settings menu, find the Additional → For Developers section and turn on the USB Debugging Toggle.

After connecting the phone to your PC and confirming the debugging request on your smartphone screen, open the command prompt or terminal on your computer in the folder with ADB. Enter the adb device command to check the connection. If the device is displayed with device status, you can proceed to deletion.

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 name packet

The key here is knowing the package name, for example, a video editor package might be called com.miui.videoplayer, and a theme store might be called com.miui.themestore, and you could use the app analyzers on the phone, like App Inspector or LibChecker, to find names.

⚠️ Attention: Team ADB It removes the application only for the current user (user 0). It does not physically erase from the partition of the system, but becomes inaccessible. To return everything back, use the command: adb shell cmd package install-existing name packet.

Using ADB gives you complete control over MIUI, but requires care. A mistake in the packet name can lead to the removal of the desired component. Always check what the packet is responsible for before sending a command to execute. Power users often create scripts to automatically clean a typical garbage set.

Use of specialized ulets (Universal Android Debloater)

For those who don’t want to mess with the command line, there are graphical shells for ADB, such as Universal Android Debloater (UAD).It’s an open-source cross-platform app that automatically identifies a connected smartphone and offers a list of recommended packets to remove.

The interface is divided into categories: safe to remove, potentially dangerous and system. UAD flags packets with colors, which makes navigation much easier. You don't need to know the exact names of the packets - the program itself will match com.android.bloat with the understandable name "System garbage."

The process is simple: connect. POCO M3, launch UAD, You select the right items in the list and click the Uninstall button. ADB-It's the perfect balance between security and functionality for the average user.

• 🖥️ Download the latest version of Universal Android Debloater from GitHub.
• 🔌 Connect the phone with the debugging enabled USB.
• 🗑️ Select packages from the “Safe to remove” list and click the delete button.
• 🔄 Restart the device to apply changes.

Despite the convenience, remember that even automated tools can be wrong in assessing the security of a component for your particular version of MIUI. Always read package descriptions if they are available in the program interface. Backing up important data before you start.

Possible problems and solutions

Unintended situations can occur when you uninstall applications, especially system applications, and the most common problem is that the desktop disappears or that the app stops, and if you delete a packet, the phone starts to behave inappropriately, try rebooting first.

If a simple reboot didn't work and you were uninstalling apps through ADB, try to restore the remote one, as shown above. If you lose access to the system completely (bootloop), you'll have to reset to factory settings via Recovery Mode. To log in, turn off your phone and press the Volume Up and Power buttons simultaneously.

⚠️ Note: Recovery (Wipe Data) will delete all your personal files, photos and contacts. Make sure you have a backup of important data before performing this procedure.

Another common problem is the automatic reinstallation of remote applications after a system update. MIUI has a self-healing mechanism that checks the integrity of system packages. To avoid this, after cleaning, it is recommended to disable automatic updates of Google's system and services, or to put up with the fact that some components will return.

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Before a global cleanup, back up your data via Mi Cloud or Google Drive.This will take time, but will save your contacts and photos in the event of a critical crash.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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The optimal POCO M3 cleanup strategy is to combine disabling unnecessary services through settings and selectively removing bloatware through ADB, without removing critical Google and MIUI components.

To sum up, the Xiaomi POCO M3 is a flexible device that can be greatly improved by getting rid of the software load. From simple methods to working with ADB, you can customize your smartphone to your needs. The main thing is to act consciously and understand what each component that is removed is responsible for.