Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face intrusive pre-installed advertising and an excessive number of embedded programs. MIUI and HyperOS, despite their functionality, contain many utility applications that are not used in everyday life, but consume RAM and battery power. Removing such “garbage” allows not only to free up space, but also significantly speed up the interface, making it cleaner and more responsive.
The cleaning process does not require obtaining superuser rights (Root), which is an undoubted plus for data security and system stability. However, interfering with the system partition requires accuracy and following the instructions accurately. In this article, we will discuss safe methods for removing bloatware using a computer and specialized applications that will return your gadget to its original sharpness.
Before you take decisive action, you need to conduct proper preparation. Mistakes in the configuration stage can lead to the loss of important functions or even to a cyclical reboot of the device. Removing the system component of "Security" or "Settings" is guaranteed to cause the smartphone to fail and require firmware reflashing. So carefully read the lists of safe packets to remove and back up important data.
Preparation of the smartphone and inclusion of debugging
The first step is to activate the hidden developer menu, without which further manipulation is impossible. The standard interface hides these settings from random changes, so you need to perform several sequential actions in the settings menu. This is a basic procedure that every advanced Android user should know.
You need to go to Settings → About Phone and find the MIUI Version (or OS Version) bar. Click on it quickly 7-10 times in a row until the pop-up notification “You’ve become a developer!” appears. After that, a new option will appear in the main settings menu Additional → For developers, where the desired switches are located.
Inside the developer menu, find the USB Debug and activate it. The system will alert you to the potential risks of confirming the action. It is also recommended to enable the option “Debug by USB (security settings)” if it is available in your firmware version, although basic debugging is often enough to work with ADB.
☑️ Checklist of preparations
It is important to understand the difference between a normal charging connection and a data mode. When you first connect to a computer, a request for debugging permission will appear on your smartphone screen. Be sure to tick "Always Allow from this computer" and click "OK" or the computer will not be able to send commands to delete packets.
Installation of drivers and tools on PC
To interact with the Android operating system at the command line level, you need the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) toolkit, which is the official tool from Google, which allows you to manage your device, install applications and, most importantly for us, remove system components without root rights.
Download Platform Tools from the official Android developer site. The archive contains executables for Windows, macOS and Linux. Unpack the contents into the root folder of the disk, for example, in C:\adb, so that the path to the files is short and does not contain Cyrillic characters, which can cause errors when entering commands.
In addition to the tools themselves, the system may need drivers to identify your smartphone. In most cases, Windows 10 and 11 automatically install the necessary components when connecting a modern Xiaomi. If the device is displayed in the Device Manager with a yellow exclamation mark or as “Unknown device”, install the universal Google USB Driver or Xiaomi’s proprietary USB Driver utility.
⚠️ Note: Use only the original cable or quality analogue with support for data transfer. Cheap cables "charging only" will not allow the computer to see the smartphone, and all your attempts to enter commands will be unsuccessful.
To check the connection, open the command prompt (CMD) or PowerShell in the ADB tool folder and type in the adb device command. If the list shows the serial number of your device with device status, then the connection is established correctly. The unauthorized status means that you need to unlock the phone screen and confirm access.
Removal via ADB Command Line
This is the most reliable and professional method, giving you complete control over the process. You don't have to install third-party applications that may ask for unnecessary permissions. All actions are performed through text commands, which ensures predictable results with the right syntax.
First, you need to know the exact name of the package you want to remove. Names are com.android.calculator2 or com.xiaomi.misystem.
adb shell pm list packagesThe list will be huge, so it’s better to search for a specific application by adding a filter. For example, to find all Xiaomi services, type adb shell pm list packages | findstr xiaomi (for Windows) or adb shell pm list packages | grep xiaomi (for macOS/Linux).
Direct deletion is performed by the command adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 name packet. The flag --user 0 means that the application is removed for the current user, but physically remains in the system partition. This allows you to restore remote at any time by resetting settings or a special installation command, which makes the method safe.
List of safe packet removal
If you make a mistake and delete something extra, don't panic. Since the application is not physically erased, but only hidden to the user, it can be returned by the command: adb shell cmd package install-existing the name of the package. This only works if you used the method with a user 0 flag, not a complete removal with root rights.
Using graphical snails for cleaning
For those who are afraid of the command line, there are handy programs with a graphical interface that automatically scan the smartphone, identify the names of packages and mark them with color depending on the degree of risk of removal. ADB/Fastboot Tools from developer Szaki.
This utility is written specifically for the Xiaomi ecosystem and is able to remove advertising services, system applications, as well as unlock the bootloader and reset FRP. After connecting the smartphone, the program will offer a list of categories: System, Analyticas, Bloatware. You will only tick unnecessary components and click the Uninstall button.
Another powerful tool is Universal Android Debloater, which supports not only Xiaomi, but also Samsung, Huawei, OnePlus. The interface allows you to search for packages by name, read their features and create lists for mass removal. This is a great choice if you want to do a deep clean immediately after you buy a new device.
| Name of utility | Difficulty | I need a Root. | Functional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi ADB Tools | Low. | No. | Special. for Xiaomi, removing ads |
| Universal Debloater | Medium | No. | Universal, Package Search |
| ADB AppControl | Low. | No. | Russian language, application freeze |
| Titanium Backup | Tall. | Yes. | Complete removal, backups. |
When using graphic shells, always pay attention to color labeling: Green usually means safe removal, yellow means caution (you can remove, but functions can disappear), and red - critical system components that are strongly recommended not to touch without deep knowledge.
Risk analysis: What can not be removed
Android and the MIUI/HyperOS shell are complex mechanisms where many processes are interconnected. Removing a key component can result in a bootloop (cyclic reboot), a broken touchscreen, or no communication. Before pressing the delete button, make sure you understand the function of the packet being removed.
Critical are packages related to telephony (com.android.phone), contacts, system interface (com.miui.home or com.android.launcher3) and Google Play services. Deleting the launcher will result in you not having a desktop and the phone turning into a "brick" until you install an alternative launcher via ADB.
Be especially careful with the Security and Services and Feedback apps. The former manages permissions, battery and memory cleanups, without which the system will become unmanageable. The latter is often scolded for collecting data, but deleting it can disrupt Mi accounts.
⚠️ If after removing any application, the phone begins to behave strangely (heats, does not catch the network, errors fly out), immediately restore the deleted packet through the phone. ADB Or perform a full reset (Wipe Data).
Always keep a list of deleted packages. If you delete Calculator or Dictophone, it's okay, you can download them again from the store. But if the system framework for Bluetooth or Wi-Fi is missing, it will be more difficult to restore the module.
System Recovery and Frequently Asked Questions
Even with the utmost care, there are situations where you need to roll back changes. If the smartphone stopped loading, you will be helped by Recovery mode. Press the Volume Up + Power buttons on the phone turned off. In the recovery menu, select Wipe Data (data reset) This will return all system applications to their places, but delete your personal files.
Regular garbage removal is not required if you have removed unnecessary services once. However, after major firmware updates (OTA updates), some remote applications may return, in which case the cleaning procedure will have to be repeated using the previously saved list of commands or profiles in the debloather program.
Remember, clean systems are faster and more efficient, and battery life is more efficient. Background ad processes constantly wake up the processor, keeping the phone awake, and freeing up resources can extend the life of the device and improve the user experience.
💡
Save a list of deleted packets in a text file on your computer. If you reflash your phone or buy a new model of the same brand, you can quickly apply the list again.
In conclusion, customization is a way of experimenting: Start by removing obvious garbage, such as aggregator browsers or games from partners. Gradually, as you learn the features, you can optimize your Xiaomi for your own needs, making it a unique tool.
💡
Safe removal is possible only through ADB flag-headed --user 0, That allows you to restore the remote without flashing.