How to Remove Apps from Xiaomi Phone Completely: 5 Verified Ways

Xiaomi smartphones based on MIUI or the new HyperOS often come with dozens of pre-installed apps, from useful Google services to obscure Chinese utilities like Mi Browser or Mi Video. Many of them can’t be removed in the standard way, but they take up space in memory, consume battery power and can monitor user activity. In this article, we will analyze all possible methods of removal from simple to advanced, including hidden settings and ADB commands.

It's important to understand the difference between deleting, disabling, and hiding applications: An application that is disabled won't work and update, but it will stay on the system and take up some memory; a complete deletion makes space, but can cause crashes if you're talking about system components; we'll explain in detail which applications can be safely removed and which ones should be turned off.

The instructions in this article are relevant for all modern smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO based MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS (including models from 2023-2026).If your device is running on an older version of the firmware, some menu items may differ - in this case, use the search by settings or the ADB method.

1. Standard removal of applications through the menu

The easiest way to get rid of unnecessary programs is to use built-in MIUI tools. It is suitable for third-party applications installed by the user (for example, games, instant messengers, social networks), as well as for some pre-installed services that the manufacturer allows to be removed.

To remove the app:

• 📱 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 Remove (if the button is active) or Disable (if deletion is blocked).
• ✅ Confirm the action in the window that appears.

If the Remove button is inactive (grey), the application is system-based and requires other methods, in which case you can try to turn it off, which will stop the background activity and hide the icon from the menu.

⚠️ Note: Do not remove system applications called com.android., miui. or xiaomi.* without first checking. For example, deleting Mi Security may disrupt the fingerprint scanner.

2. disable system applications without root rights

If you can't remove an application in the standard way, you can turn it off, and that will suspend all the processes associated with the program, hide it from the menu, and prevent automatic updates, and it works without root rights and doesn't require a PC connection.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want (such as Mi Browser or Mi Video).
3. Click Disable (the button will appear if the deletion is blocked).
4. Confirm the action in the dialog window.

The disabled application will remain in the system, but will stop:

• 🔄 Update via Google Play or Mi App Store.
• 📱 Appear in the application menu and on the desktop.
• 🔋 Expend battery power in the background.
• 📡 Use mobile traffic or Wi-Fi.

To turn the app back on, go back to its settings and click Enable. This method is secure and reversible, but does not free up space in the device's memory.

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Before disabling the system application, check its name online – some services (such as Mi Share) may be needed to transfer files between Xiaomi devices.

3. Removal via ADB (without root rights)

To remove system applications that cannot be uninstalled by standard methods, a tool will be required. ADB (Android Debug Bridge is the official Google utility that allows you to control your device via the PC command line. The method does not require root rights, but requires you to enable Debugging by USB.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on USB debugging: Go to Settings → About Phone. Press 7 times on MIUI Version to activate Developer Mode. Return to Settings → Additional → Developer. Activate USB Debugging and OEM Unlock switches.
2. Install. ADB Download Platform Tools from Google. Unpack the archive in any folder (for example, C:\adb). Connect your phone to your PC through USB-cable (select File Transfer Mode).
3. Run the command line: In the folder with ADB, press Shift + right mouse button → Open the command window. Enter the adb device command and confirm access on the phone. Make sure the device appears in the list.
4. Delete the application: Use the command adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 name package Example for Mi Browser: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.browser

After the command is executed, the application will be removed for the current user (flag) --user 0). To return it, you will need to reset the settings or re-install through APK.

Install Platform Tools on PC|

Enable debugging over USB on your phone |

Connect the phone in the mode "File transfer" |

Check the list of devices by the team `adb devices`|

Download the list of application packages (optional)-->

4. List of secure removal of Xiaomi apps

Not all system applications can be removed without consequences. Below is a list of programs that are usually safely removed or disabled on most Xiaomi devices.

Critical applications that MUST NOT be removed are: com.miui.securitycenter, com.android.settings, com.miui.home, and if they are removed, they will cause the system to fail and require firmware reflashing.

5. Deletion with root rights (advanced method)

If you have root access installed on your device (e.g., via Magisk), you can remove any application, including system ones, which gives you maximum freedom, but requires caution – an error can lead to a “brick” (inoperability) of the phone.

Instructions for users with root:

• 📱 Install a root-enabled file manager (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
• 🔍 Go to the folder. /system/app or /system/priv-app (This is where system applications are stored).
• 🗑️ Find a folder with the name of the package (for example, com.android.browser) and delete it.
• 🔄 Reset the device.

An alternative way to use the Titanium Backup app (requires root):

1. Open Titanium Backup and provide root access.
2. Find the unnecessary app in the list.
3. Then click on it and choose to delete it.
4. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

⚠️ Warning: Removing system applications through root may disrupt the work OTA-Updates: Before updating the firmware, it is recommended to restore deleted files or use custom software (for example, LineageOS).

6.Reset to factory settings as a last resort

If the phone starts to work unstable after deleting the applications (hangs, errors, fast battery discharge), the only way to get everything back to its original state is to reset to factory settings, which will delete all user data, but restore system files.

How to reset:

1. Create a backup of important data (photos, contacts, messages).
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Choose to erase all data.
4. Enter a password (if required) and confirm the action.

After discharge:

• 🔄 The phone will reboot and return to the "out of the box" state".
• 📱 All remote system applications will be restored.
• 🔐 You will have to reset your Google and Xiaomi accounts.

If the reset didn’t help (for example, after failing to delete system files via root), you may need to flash through Fastboot or Recovery. To do this, download the official firmware for your model from the Xiaomi website and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

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Factory reset is the only official way to return remote system applications without using ADB or root.

7. Alternative methods: concealment and freezing

If removing or disabling applications seems risky, alternative methods can be used:

• 👁️ Hiding icons: Use launchers like Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher to hide unwanted apps from menus without removing them.
• ❄️ Freezing: Applications like Greenify or Brevent allow you to “freeze” background activity without removing them.
• 🔒 Limitation of rights: In the application settings (Settings) → Annexes → Permissions) you can disable access to contacts, location, camera, etc.

These methods won’t free up memory, but they will reduce system load and improve privacy, such as disabling permissions for Mi Browser will prevent you from collecting data about your visited sites.

For advanced users, it is also possible to debloat the firmware before installing, which means removing unnecessary applications from the firmware file (.zip) before installing it via Recovery, using tools like Universal Debloater or manual editing of system.img.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)