How to Remove Unnecessary Home Apps on Xiaomi: All Working Methods

Xiaomi’s MIUI-based smartphones are known for their abundance of pre-installed apps, from Mi Browser and Mi Video to affiliate software like Facebook or Netflix. Many users want to get rid of this junk to free up memory, speed up the system or simply clear the menu of unnecessary icons. However, removing system applications is not an easy task: wrong actions can lead to malfunctions in the phone.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to remove native apps on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO, from securely disabling through settings to radical methods using ADB and superuser rights. You’ll learn which programs can be removed without risk and which ones are strongly discouraged. We’ll also tell you how to return a remote application if something went wrong.

Why you can’t just remove system apps from the menu

Unlike custom software that is installed from Google Play, native MIUI applications are protected from accidental removal, and this is done for a reason: many of them are responsible for key functions of the system.

• 🔧 Mi Security – manages application resolution and virus scanning.
• 📱 System Launcher – Responsible for the desktop and application menu.
• 🔄 MIUI Daemon – background process that ensures notifications and updates work.

If you remove such an application without preparation, the phone can:

• ⚠️ Stop loading (bootloop).
• 🔳 Errors when you start your camera, phone, or internet.
• 📉 Losing productivity due to work failures MIUI.

So before any manipulation of system files, be sure to back up via Settings → About Phone → Backup or third-party tools like Titanium Backup (requires root).

Method 1: Disabling system applications without removing

The safest method is not to delete, but to disable unnecessary programs, which hides them from the menu, stops background activity and frees up RAM, but does not affect system files, suitable for most users who do not want to risk the stability of the phone.

How to disable the application:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select a program from the list (for example, Mi Browser or Mi Music).
3. Click Disable (the button will appear if the application can be deactivated).
4. Confirm the action in the dialog window.

Applications disabled:

• 📴 They won't be on the menu.
• 🚫 They won’t be able to start automatically.
• 🔄 You can turn it back on at any time through the same settings.

What applications can be turned off without risk:

⚠️ Warning: Do not disable applications called com.android., com.miui. or com.xiaomi. in the batch name (as seen in the app settings). MIUI He can't work properly.

Method 2: Removal via ADB (without root rights)

If you don't shut down enough, you can uninstall apps using Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a tool for debugging Android devices, which doesn't require superuser rights, but it's still risky: the wrong command can disrupt the system.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows, macOS or Linux.
• 📱 Cable USB (preferably original).
• 🔧 Installed drivers Xiaomi and ADB.
• 🔒 Included debugging by USB phone-on.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times to unlock the developer menu), then go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers.
2. Connect your phone to your computer and confirm your trust in the device.
3. Open the command prompt (or Terminal on macOS/Linux) and type:

adb devices

If the phone is on the list, go ahead. If not, check the drivers and the cable.

1. Get a list of all packages installed:

adb shell pm list packages

1. Find the name of the package of the unwanted application (for example, com.android.browser for Mi Browser).
2. Remove it by command:

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

Example of Mi Browser removal:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.browser

💡

Before you delete, check if the app is a dependency for other features, for example, deleting Mi Account can disrupt cloud backup.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔓 Doesn't require root rights.
• 🔄 The application can be restored via adb shell cmd package install-existing name packet.
• 🛡️ Less risk than getting root.

⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. Mi Security) after deleting via ADB Can be restored after the update MIUI. To avoid this, disable automatic system updates in settings.

Method 3: Remove with MIUI Optimizer (requires unlocking the bootloader)

For users willing to take more drastic measures, there is a tool called MIUI Optimizer (formerly MIUI Hidden Settings), which allows you to uninstall system programs, configure hidden MIUI settings, and even modify animations, but it requires an unlocked bootloader and, in some cases, root to work.

How to use MIUI Optimizer:

1. Unlock the bootloader on the official Xiaomi website (the process takes up to 7 days).
2. Install MIUI Optimizer from the developer’s Telegram channel (official source).
3. Open the app and go to the App Manager section.
4. Select the unnecessary app and click Uninstall.
5. Confirm the deletion and restart the phone.

What can be removed through MIUI Optimizer:

• 🎵 Mi Music, Mi Video - Multimedia Players.
• 🌐 Mi Browser, Quick Apps – browser and mini-applications.
• 📦 Cleaner, Security – Optimizers (if you use alternatives).

What can't be removed:

• 🚫 MiuiSystemUI – Responsible for the interface.
• 🚫 MiuiHome - launcher (desktop).
• 🚫 TeleService – Telephone functions.

After removing applications through MIUI Optimizer, it is recommended that:

• 🔄 Reboot the phone.
• 📊 Check the free space in the settings → Warehouse.
• 🛠️ Install alternative programs (e.g. Google Chrome instead of Mi Browser).

Method 4: Complete removal with root rights

If you're willing to take the maximum risk for the sake of total control of your phone, you can get root rights and manually remove system applications, which gives you the greatest freedom, but also the greatest responsibility: a mistake can turn a phone into a brick.

What you need to get root:

• 🔓 Unlocked loader.
• 📱 Established custom recaveri (e.g, TWRP).
• 🛠️ Magisk-enabled firmware (e.g. LineageOS or modified) MIUI).

How to remove the application from root:

1. Install Root Explorer or Solid Explorer with root support.
2. Go to /system/app or /system/priv-app.
3. Find a folder with the name of the unwanted app (e.g. Browser for Mi Browser).
4. Delete the folder or rename it (add at the end of.bak).
5. Reboot the phone.

Advantages of root method:

• 🧹 Complete removal without traces.
• 🔧 Ability to edit system files.
• 🚀 Speeding up your phone by removing unnecessary processes.

Risks:

• ⚠️ Loss of guarantee.
• 🔴 Possibility of "bricking" the phone.
• 🔒 Security issues (some banking apps don’t work on rooted devices).

💡

Before getting root, be sure to check the forums (such as XDA Developers or 4PDA) for your Xiaomi model.Some devices (such as the Redmi Note 10 Pro) have modification protection, and improper actions can lock the bootloader permanently.

How to return a remote application if the phone stops working

If the phone starts to glittle or doesn't turn on after you delete the system app, don't panic. In most cases, the situation can be fixed.

Recovery methods:

1. Through ADB (if the phone is turned on): adb shell cmd package install-existing name packet For example, to recover Mi Browser: adb shell cmd package install-existing com.android.browser
2. Through MIUI Optimizer: If the application has been removed through this tool, try finding it in the Recycle Bin section and recovering it.
3. Firmware: If the phone doesn't turn on, you'll have to reflash it on Fastboot or Recovery.

• 📥 Download the official firmware for your model from the Xiaomi website.
• 🖥️ Use the Mi Flash Tool to Fastboot Firmware.
• 🔄 Select Clean All or Clean All and Lock (if you want to lock the bootloader back).

If the phone is stuck on the MIUI logo:

• 🔌 Hold the Power. + Volume Up for 10 seconds to reboot in Recovery.
• 🗑️ Select Wipe Data (Resetting Settings).
• 🔄 Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Note: If you have deleted critical system files (e.g, framework-res.apk), recovery ADB or MIUI Optimizer may not help, but in this case, the only way out is to completely reflash through Fastboot, which will erase all the data on the phone.

What Xiaomi Apps Can Be Uninstalled Without Risk (List for Popular Models)

Below is a list of apps that you can uninstall on most Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO devices (relevant to MIUI 14 and later), but before deleting, check if you are using features that depend on these programs.

Applications that cannot be removed (critical for the system):

• 🚫 com.miui.home – launcher (desktop).
• 🚫 com.android.settings – System settings.
• 🚫 com.miui.securitycenter – Security Center.
• 🚫 com.android.phone – telephone functions.
• 🚫 com.miui.system – System processes MIUI.

On devices with a MediaTek processor (e.g. Redmi 9A, POCO M3), removing some system applications can lead to loss of IMEI and network problems.

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing Xiaomi apps