How to Remove Embedded Apps on Xiaomi Redmi 8: Safe Methods and Risks

Why Xiaomi’s built-in apps are bothering users and can they be safely removed

The Xiaomi Redmi 8, released in 2019, is still a popular budget device due to its balanced performance and update support. However, many owners face the same problem: an abundance of pre-installed applications from MIUI that cannot be removed by standard means. This not only takes up precious memory, but also consumes battery power, and some services (such as msa or Mi Video) are actively working in the background, sending data to Xiaomi servers.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working ways to remove system applications on Redmi 8 – from the most secure (hiding icons) to radical (complete removal via ADB or root rights).It is important to understand that some methods can lead to unstable system operation or loss of warranty, so before you start, be sure to read the risks and make a backup of the data.

Before you start removing, identify which apps are bothering you, and most users want to get rid of:

• 📱 Du Apps (browser, cleaner, battery) – duplicate Google features;
• 🎬 Mi Video and Mi Music – Unnecessary Media Players;
• 📊 Security – aggressively blocking background processes;
• 🔄 Mi Drop and Mi Remote are rarely used utilities;
• 📢 GetApps and Mi Community – Xiaomi Advertising Services.

Method 1: Hiding icons without removal (the safest method)

If you just don’t like the icons of pre-installed apps on your desktop, but don’t want to risk system stability, use the built-in Hiding feature in MIUI. This method doesn’t remove programs physically, but makes them invisible on the menu.

Instructions:

1. Press the icon of an unnecessary app (for example, Mi Video).
2. In the menu that appears, select Remove (or Hide, depending on the version of MIUI).
3. Confirm the action. The icon will disappear from the desktop, but the application will remain in the system.

To bring back the hidden icon:

• 🔍 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management;
• 🔄 Slip on three dots in the upper right corner and select Show Hidden Apps;
• 📱 Find the right application and uncheck the box from the option Hiddenly.

⚠️ Warning: Hidden apps continue to update through the Play Market and consume resources. If the goal is to free up memory, this method will not work.

💡

In MIUI 12+, hidden applications can be found through a system search (swipe down on the desktop), type in the name of the program and it will appear in the results, even if its icon is hidden.

Method 2: Disable applications through settings (without root)

A more radical, but still safe, way is to shut down system applications, which shuts down system applications, frees up RAM, and prevents background activity, but program files remain in the device's memory.

How to turn it off:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an unneeded app (such as Mi Browser).
3. Click Disable (the button may be gray if the application is critical to the system).
4. Confirm the action. The app will stop working and disappear from the menu.

Not all system applications can be disabled this way, for example, Security or Mi Account are locked to disable, as they are responsible for security and synchronization.

⚠️ Note: Disable applications such as Google Play Services or MIUI Daemon could cause smartphone malfunctions, including network connection or notification issues.

Method 3: Removal via ADB (without root, but with risk)

For users willing to take a small risk, there is a method of removing system applications through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), an official tool from Google that allows you to control the device through a computer, the advantage of the method is that you do not need root rights, but if you make a mistake, you can disrupt the system.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux;
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original);>
• 🛠️ Utility. ADB (download from the official website);
• 📱 Included debugging by USB Redmi 8.

Step-by-step:

Enable USB debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (stamp 7 times) | Connect your phone to your PC and allow debugging | Download and unpack ADB to your computer folder | Open the command prompt in the ADB folder (Shift + PCM → Open the PowerShell window here)

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1. Connect Redmi 8 to your computer and allow debugging (a request will appear on the smartphone screen).
2. Open the command line in the ADB folder and type: Adb devices Make sure the device is identified (serial number should appear).
3. Get a list of all packages: adb shell pm list packages -f Find the name of the unwanted app in the list (e.g. com.miui.video for Mi Video).
4. Remove the application by command: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.video Replace com.miui.video with the desired package.

If the command runs without errors, the application will be removed for the current user (not completely from the system).

adb shell cmd package install-existing com.miui.video

⚠️ Attention: Removing critical packets (e.g. com.android.systemui) can lead to bootloop.Before experimenting, study the purpose of each packet!

Method 4: Using MIUI Optimizer (requires unlocking the bootloader)

For users willing to go for more serious manipulations, there is a utility MIUI Optimizer, which allows you to remove system applications without root, but requires an unlocked bootloader, which is suitable for advanced users, since unlocking the bootloader resets all data on the device and can be ineffective.

What needs to be done:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Mi Unlock Tool (instructions on the Xiaomi website).
2. Install MIUI Optimizer from the app store or from the 4PDA forum.
3. Run the utility and grant superuser rights (if required).
4. In the App Manager section, select unnecessary apps and click Uninstall.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔧 Delete applications completely (not just for the user);
• 🔄 Ability to recover remote packets;
• 🛡️ Less risk of failure compared to manual ADB.

Disadvantages:

• 🔓 Requires unlocking the bootloader (data loss);
• 📉 Possible problems with OTA-update;
• ⚠️ Risk of “bricking” with incorrect actions.

💡

Unlocking the bootloader on Xiaomi is officially allowed, but voids the warranty. Once unlocked, the device will be reset to factory settings, and the data will be deleted without recovery.

Method 5: Complete removal with root rights (for advanced)

The most radical way is to remove root-enabled system applications, which gives you complete control of the file system, but with serious consequences if you make mistakes. Redmi 8 requires root to:

1. Unlock the loader;
2. Install custom recovery (e.g. TWRP)
3. Switch to Magisk for root rights management.

After receiving root, you can delete applications through:

• 📱 Root Explorer (manually delete folders in the /system/app or /system/priv-app);
• 🛠️ Titanium Backup (convenient interface for removal);
• 💻 ADB with root rights (adb shell su command).

Example of removal via ADB root:

adb shell


su




mount -o rw,remount /system




rm -rf /system/app/MiVideo




mount -o ro,remount /system




reboot

⚠️ Note: Deleting system files from root can make the device unusable OTA-In some cases, you'll have to manually refashion your smartphone via Fastboot.

What to do if the phone is unstable after removing applications

If after manipulating the system applications, Redmi 8 started to slow down, restart, or issue errors, try the following steps:

1. Recovery of Remote Packets

• 🔄 Through ADB: adb shell cmd package install-existing com.miui.video
• 📦 Backup (if backup was done in Titanium Backup).

2. Reset to factory settings

• 🔧 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Resetting settings;
• ⚠️ All data will be deleted, but system applications will be restored;
• 🔄 After reset, update the firmware to the latest version.

3. Flashing through Fastboot

If the smartphone is not turned on or stuck on the logo:

1. Download the official firmware for Redmi 8 from the Xiaomi website;
2. Unpack the archive and run through the Mi Flash Tool in Fastboot mode;
3. Select the Clean All option for a full reinstallation.

💡

If Google services have stopped working after you delete your system applications, check for com.google.android.gms and com.google.android.gsf. Deleting them will result in a loss of Play Market functionality.

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing system applications on Xiaomi Redmi 8