Removing System Apps on Xiaomi Redmi 5: A Complete Guide to Risks and Solutions

Xiaomi Redmi 5 is one of the most popular budget smartphones, but its MIUI firmware is known for its abundance of pre-installed applications. Many of them not only take up space in memory, but also consume battery power in the background. However, removing system applications is a process that requires caution: improper actions can lead to unstable device operation or even “bricking”.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can uninstall embedded applications on Redmi 5, from secure root-free methods to radical unlocking solutions, which apps can be removed without consequences, and which ones are strongly discouraged, and we’ll look at alternatives: disabling, freezing, and hiding unnecessary programs.

Important: Redmi 5 came with different MIUI versions (9 to 12), and the removal process may be different. All the instructions in this article are relevant for standard global and Chinese firmware. If your device runs on custom firmware (such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience), some methods may not work.

Why can’t you just uninstall your system apps like normal?

System applications in Android are integrated into firmware and have the status of priv-app or system/app.

• 🔒 Protected from removal by standard Android tools (no button "Delete" in the settings).
• 🔄 Linked to other system components – removing them can cause errors in the work MIUI.
• 🛡️ Some of them are critical for security (e.g. com.miui.guardprovider is responsible for permissions).
• 🔄 Can be automatically restored after a firmware update.

For example, deleting com.android.phone will cause network loss, and deleting com.miui.home will cause desktop loss, and even if you delete an application via ADB or root, the system may “forget” its existence and start to issue errors when you try to access related functions.

On Redmi 5 with MIUI 10 and below, some system applications (such as Security or Themes) cannot be removed completely – they will return after a reboot or update.

Method 1: Disabling system applications without root (the safest method)

If you just need to make room and stop the background activity of unnecessary applications, just turn them off.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Show System Processes.
3. Find an unneeded app (e.g. Mi Video, Mi Music, Browser).
4. Click Disable (if the button is active).

⚠️ Note: Not all system applications can be disabled, such as com.miui.securitycenter or com.android.settings will not be available to disable.

Mi Video and Mi Music| Mi Browser| Game Turbo| Cleaner apps | Mi File Explorer file manager (if you use the alternative)

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Applications disabled:

• ✅ They don't take up RAM.
• ✅ Not updated through the Play Market.
• ❌ Still take up space in the device's memory (but slightly).
• ❌ Can be activated again after resetting settings.

Method 2: Remove via ADB (without root, but with PC connection)

The Android Debug Bridge (ADB) method allows you to remove system applications without obtaining root permissions, but requires a connection to a computer.

The work will require:

• 🖥️ A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📱 Included debugging by USB Redmi 5 (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times, then return to Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.
2. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB.
3. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
4. Get a list of all packages: adb shell pm list packages -f
5. Find an unnecessary app (e.g. com.miui.video for Mi Video) and delete it: adb shell pm uninstall-k --user 0 com.miui.video The flag -k stores the app data, and --user 0 points to the current user.

⚠️ Attention: Removal through ADB It doesn't erase the application completely -- it stays in the system partition, but it becomes inaccessible to the current user.

💡

Before deleting through ADB, back up the application list with the adb shell pm list packages > apps.txt command. This will help restore deleted packets if something goes wrong.

Method 3: Removal with root rights (for power users)

Getting root rights to Redmi 5 gives you full access to the system partition, but requires unlocking the bootloader and installing a custom recap (such as TWRP).

• 🚨 Loss of warranty (if it is still valid).
• 🔄 Disruption of work OTA-update.
• 🛡️ SafetyNet problems (banking apps, Google Pay won’t work).
• 🔧 Need for manual recovery after unsuccessful manipulations.

If you do decide to take a risk, follow the instructions:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Mi Unlock Tool (requires a Xiaomi account binding and wait 72-360 hours).
2. Install TWRP Recovery for Redmi 5 (the version should match the model: rosy for global firmware, vince for Chinese).
3. Please use Magisk to obtain root rights.
4. Use Root Explorer or Titanium Backup to remove system applications from folders: /system/app//system/priv-app/

⚠️ Note: Removing the following packets will cause the device to fail:

• com.android.phone – telephony service (no network).
• com.android.settings – system settings.
• com.miui.home – launcher (disappears desktop).
• com.android.systemui is a system interface (black screen).

Method 4: Alternatives to Deletion – Freeze and Hide Applications

If you don’t want to risk system stability but want to get rid of intrusive applications, consider alternative methods:

1. Freeze via Titanium Backup (requires root)

Freezing disables the app, but it doesn't delete its files.

• ✅ You can quickly defrost if something goes wrong.
• ✅ Does not affect firmware updates.
• ✅ Save the application data (if you need to return it).

2. Hiding through Nova Launcher (no root)

If the application does not interfere with the work, but spoils the view of the desktop:

1. Install Nova Launcher from Play Market.
2. Press your finger on your desktop → Settings Nova → Apps and widgets.
3. Choose Hide Apps and mark the unnecessary ones.

3. Restriction of background activity

For applications that cannot be removed or disabled:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the application → Battery → Limit background activity.
3. Turn off autostart: Settings → Permissions → Autostart.

💡

Freezing and hiding are the safest ways to remove system applications without risking damage to firmware, which require no root rights and are easily reversed.

What system applications can be removed without consequences on Redmi 5?

Here is a list of apps that most users delete without any critical consequences, but even removing them can affect some of the features of MIUI.

⚠️ Note: Even “safe” applications can be linked to other components. MIUI. For example, deleting com.miui.analytics (collecting statistics) can lead to errors in the work of the website or security.

How to restore remote system applications?

If the system becomes unstable after removing the application, there are several ways to return everything back:

1.Recovery through ADB

If you have removed the application with pm uninstall, you can restore it as follows:

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

2. Flashing through TWRP

If the removal was through root:

1. Download the full MIUI firmware for Redmi 5 (the version should match the current one).
2. V TWRP Choose Install and click through. ZIP-firmware file (wipe tick) Dalvik/Cache).

3. Reset to factory settings

If nothing helps:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Recovery and Reset.
2. Select Settings Reset (all data will be deleted!).

⚠️ Warning: After resetting or flashing all user data (photos, messages, apps) will be erased. Backup in advance via Settings → System and device → Backup.

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing system applications on Redmi 5