How to Remove Unnecessary Programs with Xiaomi Mi Box S: From Standard Ways to ADB

Xiaomi Mi Box S

Android TV

The Mi Box S uses a modified MIUI TV firmware, where many system services (e.g. Mi Home, Xiaomi Market) are tied to proprietary features. Simply clicking “Delete” on the menu is often not available — instead, only “Disable” or “Hide” is suggested. But there are workarounds, from hidden settings to ADB commands, which allow you to get rid of even built-in utilities.

In this article, we will discuss all the working methods of removing programs from basic to advanced, including cleaning residual files and resetting to factory settings, and explain which applications can not be removed so as not to disrupt the system.

1. Standard removal through Android TV settings

The easiest method is to use the built-in Mi Box S. It is suitable for custom applications (manually installed via Google Play or APK), but is useless for most preinstalled services.

To remove the program:

1. Open the main console menu and go to Settings → Applications.
2. In the list, find the desired application and select it.
3. Click on “Delete” (if the button is active) or “Disable” (if deletion is blocked).

⚠️ Note: The Remove button will be inactive for system applications (e.g. Mi Remote, Live). TV). In such cases, you will have to use ADB or third-party launchers (we will talk about them below).

If the app isn’t deleted but takes up a lot of space, try clearing its cache:

• 🧹 Cash: In the app menu, click "Storage» → «Clear the cache».
• 🗑️ Data: You can immediately erase user data (accounts, settings), but this will not free up much space.
• ⚙️ Disable: If you can’t delete, disable the application – it will stop working and will not waste resources.

2. ADB Removal: for system and secure applications

If the standard method didn’t work, Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a debugging tool that lets you control the console via the command line, will help, which removes even embedded applications, but requires preparation.

What you need:

• 💻 Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original from Xiaomi).
• 📥 Utility. ADB Tools (download from the official website).
• ⚙️ Included debugging by USB on the Mi Box S.

Step-by-step:

1. Activate USB debugging: Go to Settings → About → Software Version. Click on Software Version 7 times until the notification “You’ve become a developer” appears. Go back to Settings → For Developers and turn on “Debugging on USB”.

Connect the console to the PC:

• Connect the Mi Box S and your computer with a cable.
• The console will be asked for permission to debug - confirm.
• Run ADB: adb devices If the console appears in the list, type a command to delete (replace com.example.app with the application package): adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.example.app

🔍 How do you find the application package? Use the command:

adb shell pm list packages | grep "appendix name"

Important: Removing system applications (e.g. com.xiaomi.mitv.appstore) can disrupt firmware. Back up before experimenting!

3.Using third-party launchers to manage applications

If ADB seems complicated, the alternative is to install an alternative launcher (such as an ATV Launcher or Sideload Launcher), which gives you advanced access to managing applications, including hidden ones.

Advantages of the method:

• 🎯 Ability to remove/hide system applications without ADB.
• 📂 Convenient interface for sorting and cleaning memory.
• 🔄 Quick switch between launchers (you can return the standard one).

How to install and use:

1. Download. APK Launcher (for example, Sideload Launcher) USB-accumulator.
2. Connect the flash drive to the Mi Box S and install the launcher through the File Manager → Install.
3. Launch the launcher and find the “Application Management” section in it.
4. Select the unnecessary app and click “Delete” or “Hide”.

⚠️ Note: Some launchers may conflict with firmware MIUI TV. If after installation the console began to brake, return to the standard launcher in the settings (Settings) → Annexes → Default launcher).

💡

Before installing a third-party launcher, check it is compatible with your version of Android TV.Some versions of Sideload Launcher do not work on the Mi Box S with firmware older than 2021.

4. List of safe and dangerous to remove applications

Not all programs on the Mi Box S can be removed without consequences. Below is a table divided into secure, conditionally secure and critical applications.

💡 Tip: Before removing the system application, check its package on the Internet (for example, on forums). 4PDA). Users often share experiences on what programs can be safely removed on a particular firmware.

5.Cache cleaning and factory resetting

If deleting applications didn't help to free up space, the problem may be cache or fragmented data.

• 🧹 Cache Clearing for All Apps: Go to Settings → Storage and discharge → Internal memory. → Cache data. Confirm the cleanup (this won't delete personal files, but will free up to 1-2 GB).

Reset to factory settings:

An extreme measure if the console is slowing down very hard, will delete all user data and applications!

1. Open Settings → Storage and Reset → Resetting.
2. Select “Erase Everything” and confirm.

⚠️ Warning: After reset, the console will return to the "out of the box" state, including all pre-installed applications. ADB, They'll come back, to avoid that, before they're dumped:

1. Save the list of deleted packets (adb shell pm list packages -u).
2. After resetting, repeat removing them via ADB.

6. Alternative ways: disabling updates and blocking ads

Sometimes the problem isn't with the apps themselves, but with their background activity: automatic updates, ads, or services that consume resources.

• 🚫 Disable Auto Updates: Open Play Market → Settings → Auto-Update Applications. Select "Do not update automatically».

Block ads:

Install Blokada or AdGuard for Android TV (requires manual APK installation) This will reduce the load of ad modules in apps.

Freeze unnecessary services:

With ADB, you can not delete, but “freeze” applications so that they do not work, but remain in the system:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.example.app

To defrost:

adb shell pm enable com.example.app

📌 Example: If you are annoyed by advertising in Mi Video, instead of removing the application (which can disrupt the firmware), it is enough to block its access to the Internet through Blokada or disable it in the settings.

💡

Disabling auto-updates and blocking ads can significantly speed up the console, even if you do not remove the apps themselves.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When you uninstall programs with Mi Box S, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common solutions:

• 🔌 The prefix is not defined in ADB: Check if the debugging is included USB, Try another cable or port USB Sometimes it helps to reboot the console.
• 🔄 After removal, the application returns: This is due to automatic recovery of system applications.To avoid, disable firmware updates in Settings → About the prefix → Updating the system.
• ⚠️ The console stopped turning on: Most likely, the critical system component was removed. Try resetting through Recovery (hold Reset when you turn on).
• 📱 The remote does not work after removing com.xiaomi.mitv.remote: This application is responsible for the proprietary functions of the remote.Install it back through ADB: adb install com.xiaomi.mitv.remote.apk