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 of 2018, but its MIUI firmware is known for its abundance of pre-installed system applications. Many of them can not be removed in standard ways, which annoys users: they take up space in memory, consume battery power and can send unnecessary notifications. However, trying to get rid of them without preparation often leads to system failures, a reboot cycle or even a “brick” of the device.

In this article, we will discuss all working methods for removing system applications on Redmi 5 (codename rosy), including methods through ADB, third-party utilities and manual firmware editing. Particular attention will be paid to the unique risks to this model: for example, deleting the service com.xiaomi.mipicks on some versions of MIUI leads to the disappearance of the Settings icon from the desktop.

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

Unlike custom software, system applications in MIUI are protected at the firmware level, which is why the standard "Delete" press is not available for them:

• 🔒 Superuser rights: Most of the system APK-files are located in the folder /system/priv-app/ or /system/app/, Access to which is limited even for the administrator of the device.
• 🛡️ Protection MIUI: The firmware checks the integrity of system files at each boot, and if it detects the absence of critical components (e.g., com.miui.securitycenter), it can block the system from starting.
• 🔄 Automatic Recovery: Some applications (e.g. com.xiaomi.midrop) recover after rebooting thanks to the mechanism MIUI Optimization.

More than that, on Redmi. 5 version MIUI 9/10 (Android 7.1.2) Trying to delete com.android.browser with a standard uninstaller leads to an error INSTALL_FAILED_DEXOPT. This is due to the fact that the browser is integrated into the system framework as a dependency for other services.

⚠️ Note: Deleting applications like com.miui.analytics (statistics collection) or com.xiaomi.account (Xiaomi account) may result in inability to log in to the Mi cloud and loss of access to synchronize contacts.

Preparation of the device: what to do before removal

Before you start manipulating system files, follow the mandatory steps:

1. Create a backup through Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset. It's especially important to keep: 📱 Contacts (exports to VCF) 📸 Photos and videos (copy on PC) 🔑 Application data (use Mi Mover or Titanium Backup)

Find out the MIUI version

Settings → About the phone

Redmi 5

MIUI 9.2

MIUI 12.5

Turn on USB debugging.

Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times)


Settings → Additional → For developers → Debugging by USB

Install ADB drivers

Platform Tools

If you plan to use the method with ADB, check the connection with the command:

adb devices

The response should be the serial number of your Redmi 5 with device status.

Make sure battery charge > 50%|

Backup of important data |

Find out the exact version of MIUI and Android|

Enable debugging over USB and allow connection to PC|

Download the necessary utilities (ADB, MIUI Optimizer) |

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Method 1: Removal via ADB (without root rights)

This is suitable for users who do not want root access, but are willing to work with the command line, it allows you to disable system applications without physically deleting them (files will remain in memory, but will not run).

Algorithm of action:

1. Connect Redmi 5 to your PC and open the command line in the adb.exe folder.
2. Get a list of all packages: adb shell pm list packages -f
3. Find an unnecessary app (e.g. com.miui.weather2) and disable it: adb shell pm uninstall-k --user 0 com.miui.weather2

⚠️ Attention: Redmi 5s MIUI 11 and above delete com.miui.fm (FM-radio) causes the android.process.media error when the device is turned on next, because the radio module is integrated into the mediaserver system process.

Through ADB without root|

With root rights |

Using MIUI Optimizer|

Manual firmware editing |

I do not remove system applications-->

Method 2: Use MIUI Optimizer (for power users)

MIUI Optimizer is a community utility that allows you to deeply customize Xiaomi firmware without getting root. For Redmi 5, it is especially useful, as it supports system and vendor partitions even on a locked bootloader.

Instructions for use:

1. Download the latest version of MIUI Optimizer (supported by MIUI 9-12).
2. Install APK on your phone and open the app. Give all the permissions you've requested.
3. Go to App Manager and select System Apps tab.
4. Check the unneeded apps and click Uninstall.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔧 The ability to not only delete but also freeze applications (they will remain in the system, but will not run).
• 🔄 Automatically create a recovery point before changes.
• 📊 Shows dependencies between packages (e.g., that com.miui.notes requires com.miui.cloudservice).

However, there are limitations:

• ❌ Does not work on firmware with a locked bootloader (you need to unlock through the Mi Unlock Tool).
• ❌ Some applications (e.g. com.xiaomi.finddevice) are not removed due to anti-Rollback protection.

💡

If after using MIUI Optimizer, the phone started to brake, clear the cache in recovery: turn off the device, press Power + Volume Up, select Wipe Cache.

Method 3: Complete removal with root rights

This is a way to maximize freedom, but also maximize risk, and Redmi 5 has two ways to get root.

1. Through Magisk (recommended): Unlock the bootloader via Mi Unlock Tool (requires a Xiaomi account binding). Set custom recovery (TWRP) for rosy. Squeeze Magisk through recovery.

Through SuperSU

• It requires patching a boot image using SuperSU.
• Not compatible with MIUI 11 or later due to changes in selinux.

After rooting, use Root Explorer or Titanium Backup to remove the root. APK-file:

• /system/app/ is a standard application.
• /system/priv-app/ - Privileged System Services.
• /data/app/ - updates to system applications.

⚠️ Attention: On Redmi 5 removal /system/priv-app/MiuiSystemUI/MiuiSystemUI.apk This results in a loss of interface functionality (black screen after booting) and can only be restored through flashing.

If you delete something critical, return the file back from the backup or reflash the firmware through the Mi Flash Tool in Clean All mode.

What system applications can be removed without risk

Not all pre-installed programs are equally important, but here is a list of secure apps to uninstall on Redmi 5 (checked at MIUI 9-12):

• 🌍 com.android.browser – standard browser (can be replaced with Chrome).
• 🎵 com.miui.player – Music player (alternative: Poweramp, VLC).
• 📺 com.miui.video - video player (alternative: MX Player).
• 📝 com.miui.notes – Notepad (data synced to Mi Cloud if enabled).
• 📊 com.miui.cleanmaster – memory cleaner (functions duplicated by built-in optimizer).
• 🎮 com.xiaomi.glgm – Game Turbo (only gamers need it).
• 📡 com.miui.fm — FM-radio (only works with headphones as an antenna).

However, it is not recommended to remove these applications (the risk is high):

• ❌ com.android.settings – System settings.
• ❌ com.miui.securitycenter – Security Center (manages permissions).
• ❌ com.xiaomi.account – Xiaomi account (linked to the cloud and store).
• ❌ com.miui.systemAdSolution – Advertising service (its removal breaks the widgets work).

On Redmi 5 with MIUI 10, there is a feature: removing com.miui.analytics leads to an error in synchronizing time in the status bar, which is due to the fact that the service is also responsible for updating the time zone.

adb shell dumpsys package com.name.packet

If the output has a requiredFor string, then the application needs other components of the system.-->

Removal Alternatives: How to Disable System Applications

If the risks of removal scare you, consider safer ways to:

1. Disable via Settings: Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management. Select an unnecessary application (like Mi Pay) and click Disable.This hides the application from the menu and stops its background activity, but does not free up space in memory.
2. Greenify: Greenify allows you to freeze system applications, preventing them from running automatically, works without root, but with root it gives more features.

Hiding icons

• In the MIUI launcher, you can remove the icons of system applications from the desktop, holding them and dragging them to the Hide menu.

This will reduce battery consumption without removing the app itself.

Restore the system after a failed removal

If after manipulating the system files Redmi 5 stopped working normally, use one of the methods of recovery:

If you have removed a critical application and have not made a backup, the only reliable way to get it back up is to flash the full firmware through Fastboot. Any stable version of MIUI for the rosy model (e.g. MIUI 10.2.2 Global) will work for Redmi 5.

⚠️ Note: When running through the Mi Flash Tool, be sure to choose Clean All mode rather than Clean All and Lock. The latter will block the bootloader, and you will need to wait 720 hours (30 days) to re-unblock).

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing system applications on Redmi 5

Firmware through TWRP

• Download the full firmware for your version of MIUI.
• In recovery, select Install and click ZIP-file.