How to remove system applications on Xiaomi without ROOT: proven ways and risks

Owners of smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO They regularly encounter embedded applications that take up memory, consume battery power, and display intrusive advertising, and the manufacturer blocks standard removal of such programs, offering only the ability to disable or hide them. However, there are legal methods of completely removing system utilities without obtaining ROOT-rights - using debugging tools, ADB-commands and hidden functions MIUI.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working ways to remove system applications on current firmware versions (MIUI 14/15), including nuances for different models (Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12, POCO F5, etc.). Particular attention will be paid to the risks of system damage due to incorrect actions and ways to restore the device to work. All methods have been tested on devices with a closed bootloader and without unlocking OEM Unlock.

Why Xiaomi is blocking the removal of system applications?

The manufacturer integrates dozens of pre-installed programs into MIUI for several reasons:

• 📱 Service Ecosystem: Apps like Mi Browser, Mi Video or GetApps sync with Xiaomi account and provide access to branded features (such as Quick Apps or Mi Share).
• 💰 Monetization: Advertising in Cleaner, Security or Themes generates revenue for companies even on budget models.
• 🔧 System Stability: Some utilities (e.g. com.miui.analytics) are responsible for collecting telemetry and updating, and removing them may disrupt the operation of the system. MIUI.
• 📡 Local requirements: China and India have regional services (e.g. Mi Pay for India) that cannot be removed due to legal regulations.

It is important to understand that even seemingly useless applications can be linked to the core of the system, such as com.miui.hybrid for integrating hybrid applications, and com.android.cts.ctsshim for compatibility with Google Mobile Services, and their removal will lead to critical failures, including the inability to pass SafetyNet and banking applications.

Method 1: Disconnect via MIUI settings (without deleting)

If your goal is to simply free up RAM and get rid of notifications, you just need to disable unnecessary applications, which does not delete files from the device, but stops them from working and hides them from the menu.

⚠️ Warning: Disabling system utilities like com.miui.securitycenter may disrupt Game Turbo and virus scanning.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Tap three points (⋮) → Show all the processes.
3. Select an app (such as Mi Browser) and click Disable.
4. Confirm the action by agreeing to the warning.

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If the “Disable” button is inactive, try first to remove all app updates through the same “Application Management” section.

Method 2: Remove via ADB (without ROOT)

The Android Debug Bridge (ADB) tool allows you to remove system applications through the command line without requiring superuser rights.The method works on all Xiaomi devices with unlocked USB Debugging (USB debugging).

Advantages of the method:

• 🔧 No, he doesn't. ROOT or unlock the loader.
• 📁 Completely deletes application files (as opposed to disabling).
• 🔄 The possibility of recovery through the same ADB-team.

Enable debugging by USB in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (7 times tap)

Install Xiaomi USB Drivers on PC

Download ADB Tools from Google

Connect your phone to your PC and confirm your trusted device-->

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and open Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (macOS/Linux) in the adb folder.
2. Check the connection command: Adb devices should appear serial number of the device.
3. Get a list of all packages: adb shell pm list packages -f
4. Find the name of the package of the desired application (for example, com.miui.browser for Mi Browser).
5. Delete the application by command: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 name packet Flag --user 0 indicates deletion only for the current user (does not affect the system).

⚠️ Note: Deleting packages prefixed com.android. or com.qualcomm. can result in communication loss, camera failure, or cyclic reboot.Before experimenting, backup your adb backup.

Method 3: Using Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools

For users not familiar with the command line, there is a utility Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools is a graphical shell for managing system packages. The program automates the removal process and provides a list of "safe" applications.

Download the utility from the official repository on GitHub. the Interface supports Russian and works on Windows, Linux and macOS.

How to use:

1. Install and run the program, connect the phone in ADB mode.
2. In the main menu, select Manage Applications.
3. Check the boxes for unnecessary applications (green – safe, red – dangerous).
4. Press Uninstall Selected and confirm the action.

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Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools automatically filters packages according to the level of risk and offers to restore remote applications with one click.

Method 4: Remove via TWRP (requires an unlocked bootloader)

If you have a bootloader unlocked on your device and custom recovery TWRP installed, you can remove system applications directly through the file manager, a method that is more flexible but requires prior preparation.

Warnings:

• ⚠️ Unlocking the bootloader resets all data on the device.
• ⚠️ Some Xiaomi models (such as the Redmi Note 10 Pro) have anti-rollback protection, which can lock the device when the firmware rolls back.

Instructions:

1. Install TWRP for your model (instructions on XDA Developers).
2. Boot into recovery: Turn off the phone, then press Power + Volume up.
3. Go to Advanced → File Manager.
4. Open the /system/priv-app or /system/app folder.
5. Remove folders with the names of unnecessary apps (for example, Browser for Mi Browser).
6. Reset the device.

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Before deleting files in TWRP, back up /system through the Backup → System Image option, which will allow you to restore the device in the event of a failure.

Method 5: Hide applications via Launcher (alternative to uninstall)

If you just need to remove the icons of the system programs from the home screen, but leave them in the system, use the functions of the launcher. This method does not affect performance, but visually cleans the interface.

Options:

• 📱 Hiding in POCO Launcher: Hold your finger on your desktop → Launcher settings → Hide applications.
• 🔍 Hidden folder: Drag unneeded apps into a folder and hide it in the menu.
• 🎨 Third-party launchers: Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher lets you hide any applications, including system ones.

The advantage of the method is reversibility: applications remain functional and can be returned to the screen at any time, but they will still take up space in memory and consume resources in the background.

What to do if the phone stops working after removal?

Incorrect removal of system packages can lead to:

• 🔄 Cyclical reboot (bootloop).
• 📵 Loss of network or mobile data.
• 🔒 Screen lock (print/face unlocking does not work).
• 🚫 Google Play Services Errors (banking apps are not working).

Recovery methods:

⚠️ Note: If the device does not boot even in Fastboot, you will need an authorized Xiaomi service center to flash through the Fastboot. EDL-Self-attempts can result in a complete breech (irreparable damage).

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing system applications