How to remove programs on your Xiaomi phone

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face overcrowded memory or pre-installed software that is not needed in everyday use. MIUI or its new version of HyperOS provides flexible tools to manage installed programs, but standard methods sometimes seem hidden. Deleting unnecessary files and applications is not only a way to free up precious space, but also the ability to speed up the device by eliminating background processes.

The cleaning procedure can vary depending on whether the application is custom or system. If there are usually no problems with regular games and utilities, then Xiaomi’s built-in services require a more careful approach. In this article, we will discuss all the available methods of uninstallation, from simple actions through the desktop to advanced methods for advanced users who want to gain full control of their gadget.

Before starting a mass cleaning, it is important to understand the difference between the types of programs. User applications can be removed without restrictions, while system components are responsible for the stability of the phone. Incorrect removal of critical files can lead to improper interface operation or even cyclical restart of the device, so always read the descriptions carefully before pressing the delete button.

Standard removal through the desktop and menu

The fastest and most affordable way to get rid of unnecessary software is to use the desktop interface. On Xiaomi smartphones, there is an intuitive mechanism that allows you to remove the application in just one touch, just find an icon on the home screen or in the menu of all applications, pinch it with your finger and wait for the pop-up context menu to appear. If the program is a user, you will see a basket icon or a “Delete” button.

In some cases, especially on older versions of the MIUI shell, the system may suggest moving the icon to the Delete folder, which is usually located at the top corner of the screen. Once the icon is dragged to this area, the program will be automatically uninstalled. This method is ideal for quickly clearing out games, social networks and instant messengers that you no longer plan to use.

However, not all icons behave the same way. Some system utilities, with a long press, offer only the function "Application Information" or "Change", but do not allow removal. This means that the program is protected from accidental removal by standard interface means, in which case you need to move to more detailed management through the device settings.

• 📱 Press the app icon on your desktop before the menu appears.
• 🗑️ Click on the basket icon or drag the icon to the removal area.
• ⚙️ If deletion is not available, select “Application Information” to go to settings.

Managing applications through system settings

When standard desktop removal is not possible or requires a deeper analysis of the space occupied, system settings come to the rescue. This section allows you to see a complete list of all installed software, including hidden components and system services. To get there, open the settings menu and find the "Applications" section, which in new versions of HyperOS may be called "Applications and Notifications".

Inside this section, you'll see a list of all programs, sorted by alphabet or frequency of use, and clicking on a particular application will take you to the Application Information page, where the Delete button is located. If the button is active, the system will confirm your action, and the program will be completely erased from the device along with its cache and data.

Special attention should be paid to the section “App Management”, where you can sort the list by size, which is a very useful feature for finding “heavy” programs that take up gigabytes of memory, and users often forget about the old navigators or video editors that continue to hang in memory, taking up space for new photos and files.

Also available on this menu are Clear Data and Clear Cache. If you don't want to delete the app completely but it doesn't work properly or takes up too much space, these actions will help free up resources.Cache cleanup is secure and deletes temporary files, while data cleanup will reset the app to a state immediately after installation, removing your logins and settings inside it.

Removal of embedded software and system applications

One of the most common problems Xiaomi owners have is the abundance of pre-installed software, often called “bloatware” — games, Google services, Facebook apps, or Mi’s own services that the user has never run. The standard interface often hides the possibility of removing them by offering only a “disconnect” button. Disabling hides the icon and stops processes, but does not free up space in memory.

To completely remove system applications, you need to use special tools such as ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which is Google’s official debugging tool that allows you to control your device from your computer, and you need to turn on Developer Mode and activate USB Debugging in the phone’s special features before starting the procedure.

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

Executing a command via a computer requires an accurate knowledge of the name of the package of the removed application (for example, com.facebook.katana). A spelling error can lead to the removal of the wrong component. There are also graphical shells for ADB, such as Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools or Universal Android Debloater, which simplify the process by providing a list of packages with a description.

⚠️ Warning: Removing critical system components such as Security, Explorer, or System Framework may make it impossible to boot your phone. Always check the purpose of the package before removing it!

Comparison of methods of program removal

The choice of removal method depends on your goals and level of technical training. If you just need to remove a couple of games, there is no point in connecting the phone to your computer. However, if you want to completely “lick” the system from advertising and excess Xiaomi software, you will have to spend time setting up ADB. Below is a table to help you choose the best way.

Using Root rights gives absolute power over the file system, allowing you to delete even what is hidden from ADB. However, obtaining superuser rights on modern Xiaomi smartphones involves unlocking the bootloader, which requires a wait of 168 hours (7 days) and leads to a complete data reset.

For most users, the optimal balance is the use of standard settings in combination with the competent disabling of unnecessary services, which allows you to maintain stability and manufacturer's guarantee, while cleaning the interface from visual noise.

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Before you uninstall any system application through ADB, back it up or write down the name of the package, which will quickly restore the phone to work in case of an error.

Cleaning of residual files after deletion

Even after successful uninstallation, the phone may still have tails — cache folders, logs of errors, or stored files — that can take up hundreds of megabytes over time. Xiaomi’s built-in Security tool can find such files, but often works superficially. You can use a file manager to clean them more deeply.

Open the Explorer app and go to the root folder of internal memory. Look for folders with names of remote applications or developers (for example, the com.instagram.android folder can remain even after you delete Instagram).

It's also worth checking the Android/data and Android/obb folder. It stores the cache and data of games and heavy apps. If you delete a game but the folder with its name (e.g. com.pubg.imobile) is left, you can easily delete it manually, which often helps free up a few gigabytes of space that the system doesn't consider to be busy applications.

• 📂 Open “Conductor” and enable the display of hidden files.
• 🔍 Find folders with names of remote programs.
• 🗑️ Remove the data and obb directories of the relevant applications.

What to do if the application is not removed

Sometimes the user is faced with a situation where the application cannot be removed by any means, it is not deleted through the settings, and when you try to use ADB, it returns an error, often because of the device administrator rights that were issued to the application, or the presence of active access rights in the menu "Special features".

Check the list of applications with administrator rights. To do this, go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Privacy → Device Administrators. If there is a suspicious application or virus, disable the administrator rights for it. After that, the delete button will be active in the standard settings menu.

In rare cases, an application may be infected with a miner virus or an ad module that blocks its uninstallation. In this situation, it is recommended to scan the phone with an antivirus or perform a factory reset. Wipe Data is a radical but most effective method of removing any malware, since it erases the entire partition with user data.

⚠️ Warning: If the phone is behaving strangely (windows open, battery goes down quickly) and you can’t remove the last app installed, you’re likely to have encountered a virus.

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If standard methods don't work, check administrator rights and special features, and often the blocking of deletion is caused by the increased privileges of the application.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)