How to Remove Apps from Xiaomi TV: 5 Proven Ways

Xiaomi TVs on Android TV or PatchWall are often littered with unnecessary apps — pre-installed services, advertising utilities or programs that you have not used for a long time. Unlike smartphones, removing software from TV has its nuances: some applications can not be uninstalled by standard methods, and errors can lead to system failures. This article will help you understand how to properly clean the memory of a Mi TV, Redmi Smart TV or Xiaomi TV A without risking performance.

We'll look at all the current ways, from basic menu removal to advanced ADB (power users), focusing on system applications that can't be removed completely but can be disabled or hidden, and how to return a remote app if you suddenly need it, and what to do if the TV starts to brake after cleaning.

For example, removing key components through ADB may result in a loss of warranty or need to flash it back before any manipulation, so we recommend backing up your settings (if your TV model supports this feature).

Why Xiaomi TV can’t remove all apps in the standard way

Smart TV manufacturers, including Xiaomi, divide apps into three categories:

• 📱 Custom - installed by you from Google Play or third-party sources, removed without limitation.
• 🔒 System (embedded) – pre-installed services (Mi Home, PatchWall, Netflix, etc.) partially removed or disabled.
• ⚙️ Critical components of the Android System (Google Services) will cause the TV to fail.

The main problem is the limitations of Android TV. Unlike the mobile version, there is no “Remove Updates” feature for system applications, and many utilities (Mi Share, Xiaomi Cloud) are integrated into the firmware. Moreover, after resetting, all preinstalled programs will return back.

Another nuance is regional restrictions, like on TVs for the Chinese market. TV 5 Pro CN) You can’t remove Xiaomi Video or iQiyi, whereas the global versions often don’t have these apps initially. → On TV. → Model).

⚠️ Attention: Removing applications through Settings → The application does not free up memory completely, leaving cache and data that take up to 30% of the original program volume, and a complete cleanup will require an additional utility (for example, for a complete cleanup, SD Maid for Android TV).

Method 1: Standard removal through the settings menu

This method is suitable for custom applications (installed by you) and some pre-installed ones that are not system-specific. The instructions are relevant for all Xiaomi models on Android TV 9.0-12.0 and PatchWall (including Mi TV Q1E, Redmi Smart TV X2022).

1. Open the main menu of the TV by pressing the Home button on the remote.
2. Go to the Settings section (cog icon).
3. Select the Applications → Installed annexes.
4. Find an unnecessary app in the list and click on it.
5. Click Remove (if the button is active) or Disable (for system programs).

If the Remove button is inactive (lit in gray), then the application is protected by the system.

• 🔄 Clear cache and data (frees memory, but does not delete the program).
• 🚫 Disable (the app will disappear from the menu, but will remain in the system).
• 📉 Hide through Settings → Main screen screen → Main screen setting.

On some models (e.g. Xiaomi TV A Pro 2023), the path to the app menu may be different:

Settings → Device → Applications → Show all applications

⚠️ Note: After deleting Google Play Services or Android System WebView, the TV may lose access to the Internet or stop opening web pages!

Method 2: Remove via Google Play (for custom applications)

If the app was installed from Google Play, it can be removed directly through the store, which is convenient when the standard menu does not respond to remote commands (for example, due to firmware glitches).

1. Open Google Play on your TV.
2. Go to the section My apps and games → Established.
3. Find the right app and click on three dots (⋮) near.
4. Choose Delete and confirm the action.

The advantage of the method is synchronization with a Google account, which means that if you delete the app through the Play Market on your phone, it will also disappear from the TV (provided that you use the same account), which is useful for managing software on multiple devices.

Limitations:

• ❌ It does not work for system applications (PatchWall, Mi Remote, etc.).
• ❌ Some apps (like YouTube) can’t be removed, but you can turn off auto-update.

💡

If the app reappears after removal, check the auto-update settings in Google Play: Settings → Auto-Update apps → Never.

Method 3: Disabling system applications (without root rights)

System applications (Mi Video, Xiaomi Music, Game Center) can’t be completely removed, but they can be disabled or hidden, freeing up RAM and removing unnecessary icons from the home screen.

Disconnection via ADB (no root)

This will require a computer with ADB drivers installed and USB debugging enabled on the TV.

1. Activate Developer Mode on TV: Settings → About TV → Build Number (click 7 times)
2. Enable USB debugging in the developer menu.
3. Connect TV to PC via USB-cable (use the port) USB 3.0 for stability).
4. Open the command line on your PC and type: adb devices (the device should be displayed).
5. To disable the app, use the command: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.xiaomi.package.name (replace com.xiaomi.package.name with a real package, for example com.xiaomi.mitv.appstore for the Mi TV App Store).

List of popular packs to disable:

To return the disabled application, use the command:

adb shell pm enable com.xiaomi.package.name

⚠️ Note: Disabling PatchWall (com.mitv.tvhome) will result in the loss of a standard launcher, ATV Launcher, otherwise the TV won’t be able to load the main menu!

Method 4: Completely remove system applications (root required)

Complete removal of embedded applications (including PatchWall, Mi Home or Xiaomi Ads) will require root rights, a risky method that is only suitable for experienced users, and improper actions can lead to a loss of warranty or “bricking” the TV.

Step 1: Getting root rights

On Xiaomi TVs, the root is obtained through:

• 🔓 Magisk (for Android models) TV 9–11).
• 🔧 Castomy recovery (e.g., bone recovery, TWRP for Mi TV 4X).

Instructions for Magisk:

1. Download the firmware for your model from the Xiaomi Firmware Updater website.
2. Unpack the payload.bin file with Payload Dumper.
3. Patchit boot.img file via Magisk Manager.
4. Sweep the patchy boot.img Fastboot: Fastboot Flash boot magisk_patched.img

Step 2: Removal of applications

After receiving the root, use:

• 📁 Root Explorer – to manually remove folders in /system/app.
• 🧹 Titanium Backup – for uninstallation with backup.
• 💻 ADB Root access: Adb shell su rm -rf /system/app/PackageName

Examples of commands for removal:

#Deletion of PatchWall


rm -rf /system/priv-app/TvHome



Delete Mi Video



rm -rf /system/app/VideoPlayer

💡

Before removing system applications, be sure to back up /system partitioning via TWRP or DD-command. This is the only way to restore the TV when the crash occurs.

Method 5: Reset to factory settings (last resort)

If the TV is heavily cluttered with unnecessary software, and the standard methods don't work, it's a complete reset, which will bring the TV back out of the box, but it will delete all user data, including:

• 📺 Installed applications and their data.
• 🔑 Saved Wi-Fi passwords.
• 🎮 Settings of sound, pictures, connected devices.

Resetting instructions:

1. Open Settings → Device → Reset and Recovery.
2. Select Reset (on some models – Reset factory settings).
3. Confirm the action by entering PIN-code (if installed).
4. Wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

After discharge:

• ✅ Pre-installed apps (Netflix, Prime Video) will return.
• ✅ PatchWall, Mi Remote will be active.
• ❌ User programs and their data will disappear irrevocably.

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi TVs 2020–2023 Years of resetting through the menu does not always clear the section /data For deep cleaning, use the button combination on the remote: Menu. + Back + OK (hold on 10 seconds when you turn on the TV).

How to return a remote application

If you deleted the app by mistake, you can restore it in several ways:

1.Across Google Play

Open Google Play → My apps → Library and find the remote program in the list. Click Install.

2. via ADB (for system applications)

If the application was disabled via ADB, return it with the command:

adb shell cmd package install-existing com.xiaomi.package.name

3. Through backup

If you’ve been backing up through Titanium Backup or Swift Backup, recover the data from the archive.

System applications (PatchWall, Mi Home) may require a TV flashing. Download the official firmware for your model on Xiaomi Support and run through the site. USB-debugging.

Frequent problems after removing applications and their solutions

Removing or disabling software can cause unexpected failures, and consider typical situations and ways to fix them:

If after manipulating the applications, the TV began to slow down or reboot spontaneously, follow the following steps:

1. Clear the system cache: Settings → Memory → Clear the cache.
2. Check the space available (should be at least 500 MB).
3. Turn off auto-run of unnecessary services via Greenify (root required).

💡

If the TV is always thinking when you turn on after removing the applications, check the integrity of the /system partition through the adb shell e2fsck -f /dev/block/system command.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions