How to remove unwanted apps on Xiaomi: 5 working ways (including system)

Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones come with dozens of pre-installed apps, many of which users never run. Mi Browser, Mi Video, GetApps, Mi Pay and other services take up space in memory, consume battery power in the background and can send data to China — even if you do not use them. In this article, we will discuss how to safely remove unnecessary applications on Xiaomi, including system ones that are not deleted by standard methods.

It's important to understand that not all applications can be removed without consequences. Some are related to MIUI work - deactivating them will lead to interface failures, update problems or even a "brick" of the device. We tested all methods on Xiaomi 13 Pro (MIUI 14), Redmi Note 12 (MIUI 13) and POCO F5 (MIUI 14 for POCO) - instructions are relevant for all models of 2020-2026. If your smartphone is older, check the firmware version in Settings → About Phone → MIUI.

Before you start, ask yourself: Are you ready for radical measures (like root rights) or do you want to do it in soft ways?

1. Standard removal: what can be removed without risk

The easiest way is to use the built-in MIUI tools. However, it only works for custom apps (installed by you from Google Play or APK) and some preinstalled ones that Xiaomi allows you to remove.

How to do this:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 In the search box, type the name of an unnecessary app (such as Mi Browser or Facebook).
• 🗑️ Click on the app. → Delete (if the button is active).
• ⚠️ If there is no Delete button, but there is Disable, it is a system application. It can only be deactivated (more on this below).

What applications can be removed in the standard way (the list is relevant for MIUI 14):

Important: Even after removal, some applications (such as Mi Browser) can recover after the MIUI update.

2. disabling system applications: how to "hide" unnecessary

If there is no Delete button but there is Disable, it means that the application is system-based, but it can be deactivated.

• ✅ It will not appear in the menu and search.
• ✅ It will not consume battery power in the background.
• ✅ No updates will be received.
• ❌ But it will remain in the memory of the device (take up space).

How to turn it off:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an unneeded app (such as Mi Music or Mi Community).
3. Click Disconnect → Confirm the action.

What applications can be turned off without risk:

• 🎵 Mi Music – if you use Spotify or YouTube Music.
• 📺 Mi TV — If you don’t connect your phone to the TV.
• 💬 Mi Community is a Xiaomi forum that most people don’t need.
• 📊 Security – if you use a third-party antivirus.
• 🎮 Game Turbo – if you don’t play mobile games.

⚠️ Please note: Do not disable Google Play Services, MIUI System or Settings – this will lead to the inoperability of the smartphone!

3. Removal via ADB: for power users

If you're prepared for more radical measures, but you don't want root rights, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to remove even those applications that don't have a Disable button, but it requires connecting your phone to your computer and basic command line knowledge.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows, macOS or Linux.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📥 ADB Fastboot Tools by Google.
• 🔧 Included debugging by USB phone-on.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Click 7 times on MIUI until the notification "You're a developer" appears.

USB debugging

• Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
• Turn on the debugging switch over USB.
• Connect your phone to your computer and confirm your trust in the device.
• Open the command prompt (or Terminal on macOS/Linux) and type: Adb devices Make sure your phone appears in the list.
• To see a list of all apps, type: adb shell pm list packages Find the name of the unnecessary (e.g. com.miui.browser for Mi Browser).
• Remove the application by command: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.browser Replace com.miui.browser with the desired package.

List of safe packets to remove (MIUI 14):

⚠️ Warning: Deleting packages like com.miui.home or com.android.settings will cause your phone to fail! 4PDA or XDA Developers.

💡

If the application has recovered after rebooting after being deleted via ADB, add the --user 0 flag to the command (example: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.browser).

4.Removal with root rights: full control

If you're prepared for the most radical measures, root rights give you complete control over system applications, a method that allows you to remove any programs, including those that are blocked even through ADB.

• ❌ Violates Xiaomi’s Guarantee.
• ❌ It can cause a “brick” (inoperability) of the phone.
• ❌ Increases the risk of viral attacks.
• ❌ Some banking applications (such as Sberbank Online) will stop working.

How to get root on Xiaomi:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Xiaomi website (requires a Mi Account and wait 7-15 days).
2. Install custom recovery (TWRP) for your model.
3. Please use Magisk to obtain root rights.

Once rooted, use apps like Root App Deleter or Titanium Backup to remove unnecessary programs. Importantly, before removing it, create a full backup system in TWRP — this is the only way to restore the phone if something goes wrong.

What apps can be removed from root without risk:

• 📱 All applications on the list ADB (see previous section).
• 🔍 Analitics (com.miui.analytics) – Xiaomi statistics collection.
• 📡 MSA (com.miui.msa.global – advertising service.
• 🛡️ Miui Daemon (com.lbe.security.miui) – part of the antivirus (if you use a third-party software).

5. Recovery of Remote Applications

If you have problems after deleting (e.g., your calls or Wi-Fi stopped working), the application can be restored.

If removed via ADB:

• Connect the phone to your computer and type the command: adb shell cmd package install-existing com.miui.browser (replace com.miui.browser with the desired package).
• Or reset your phone to factory settings (Settings → Additional → Resetting).

If removed from root:

• Restore the backup from Titanium Backup or TWRP.
• Or, reflash your phone via Fastboot (instructions are available on 4PDA).

If the application was disabled:

• Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
• Find the disabled application and click Enable.

If you don’t remember the name of the package:

Use the command to output a list of all packages ever installed:

adb shell pm list packages -d

This will show even those apps that have been removed.

Alternative methods: concealment and replacement

If it is scary to remove, but applications interfere - they can be hidden or replaced with analogues.

Hiding through the launcher:

• Use alternative launchers like Nova Launcher or Lawnchair.
• In the launcher settings, find the option “Hide apps” and add unnecessary ones to the list.

Replacement of system applications:

• 🌐 Replace Mi Browser with Google Chrome or Firefox.
• 🎵 Replace Mi Music with Spotify or VLC.
• 📷 Replace the Camera. MIUI Google Camera (requires manual installation).

Blocking Internet access:

If the app is not deleted but “calls home” (sends data to China), limit its access to the network:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an unneeded application (e.g. Mi Analytics).
3. Tap Mobile Data and Wi-Fi → turn off the switches.

💡

Even if you don’t remove system applications, disabling them or blocking the Internet significantly reduces battery consumption and data transfer in the background.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When you uninstall applications on Xiaomi, users often face typical problems, and here’s how to prevent them:

Error 1: App Recovered After MIUI Update

Solution: Use ADB flag-headed --user 0 or disable automatic update of system applications in Settings → Annexes → Settings (⚙️) → Auto-update of system applications.

Error 2: Calls or mobile internet stopped working after deletion

Solution: Return the remote application (see Section 5) or reset the network settings to Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings.

Error 3: I can’t get root because of a blocked bootloader

Solution: Unlock the bootloader through Xiaomi's official website. New models (2023-2026) may require up to 15 days to wait.

Error 4: ADB can't see the device

Decision:

• Install ADB drivers for your OS.
• Try another one. USB-cable (preferably original).
• Enable USB Debugging (Security Settings) in Settings → Additional → For Developers.

Error 5: After removing the application, the phone began to brake

Solution: Clear the cache to Settings → Memory → Clean or reset the cache via recovery (TWRP).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions