Budget smartphone owners often encounter intrusive pre-installed software that takes up precious internal memory space. The Redmi 7A, despite its popularity, was no exception and received a standard MIUI set complete with advertising modules and duplicate services. Standard methods through the settings menu to uninstall these components, because they have the status of a system.
However, there is a proven way to force removal of unnecessary packets without the need to obtain Root rights. Using USB debugging and the ADB tool allows you to safely clean the Android operating system of garbage, which is especially true for devices with a limited storage capacity of 16 or 32 GB. In this article, we will discuss in detail the process of preparing, configuring and performing the cleanup.
Before you start taking action, you need to understand that tampering with system files requires care. Incorrect removal of critical components can lead to unstable interface operation or even a cyclical reboot of the device. We have prepared a detailed algorithm that minimizes risks and will help you make the Xiaomi Redmi 7A faster and cleaner.
Analysis of embedded software and the risks of removal
The MIUI operating shell is famous for its functionality, but it is also known for its abundance of pre-installed applications, often called bloatware. On the Redmi 7A, you can find Google services, Xiaomi's own developments (Mi Browser, Mi Video, Mi Music), as well as applications from third-party partners, such as Facebook or various games. Many of them work in the background, consuming RAM and battery power.
Not all system packages can be removed without consequences. There are critical components, such as System UI, Settings or input drivers, the removal of which will make the phone inoperable. It is important to distinguish between user software that can be safely demolished and system libraries that are necessary for the basic functioning of Android.
⚠️ Warning: Be sure to back up important data before starting the procedure. Although the risk is minimal when following the instructions, human error or power failure can lead to loss of information.
For safe navigation through the package list, it is recommended to use helpsheets that indicate the impact of removing a particular component. For example, removing Mi Browser is safe if you use Chrome, but removing Package Installer will block the ability to install any new programs.
Preparation of the smartphone Redmi 7A for debugging
The first step is to activate the hidden developer menu on your device, and without that step, your computer won't be able to access your phone's file system to execute commands, and it's simple, but it requires you to do sequential actions in the settings menu.
You need to go to Settings → About Phone and find the MIUI Version bar. Click on it quickly 7-10 times in a row until the pop-up notification “You are a developer” appears. Then a new option will appear in the main settings menu “Additional” or “Extended settings”, where you need to activate Debugging over USB.
☑️ Redmi Preparation Checklist 7A
When you first connect to your computer, you'll see a request on your smartphone screen to confirm debugging with an RSA key print. You'll need to tick "Always Allow" and press "OK." If you don't, the computer won't see the device in debugging mode, and no commands will be executed.
Installation of ADB tools on a computer
To interact with a smartphone, we need Android Debug Bridge (ADB) tools, a universal command-line utility that allows you to control an Android device from a PC, and there are several ways to install it: through a minimal tool package or as part of the Android Studio platform.
The easiest option for Redmi 7A users is to download the ready-made "Platform Tools" archive from the official Google website or verified sources. After downloading, the archive should be unpacked into the root folder of the disk, for example, C:\platform-tools, so that the path does not contain Cyrillic characters and is short.
adb devicesTo check the connection, open the command prompt (CMD) in the tool folder and type the command above. If the list shows the serial number of your device with device status, then the connection is established successfully. The unauthorized status indicates that you need to confirm access on the phone screen.
What to do if your computer can’t see your phone?
List of safe packet removal
Below is a table with the most common MIUI packages that can be removed without harming the basic functionality of the system. Packet names may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but prefixes are usually retained.
| Packet name | Description | Risks of removal |
|---|---|---|
| com.miui.browser | Standard Mi browser | Low (requires an alternative browser) |
| com.facebook.katana | Facebook appendix | Absent. |
| com.google.android.youtube | YouTube | Low (can be re-installed) |
| com.miui.videoplayer | Mi Video player | Low. |
In addition to these, com.miui.miservice and com.miui.analytics (statistics collection) are often deleted, and removing the latter is especially useful for increasing privacy and reducing CPU load, but it is worth remembering that some system notifications may stop coming correctly if notification services are affected.
It is not recommended to touch the packages associated with Security (security), Updater (updates) and Settings (settings). Even if they seem unnecessary, their absence can disrupt the security mechanisms or the recovery process of the system after a failure.
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Use the command `adb shell pm list packages` to display a complete list of all installed packages, which will help you find the exact names of the applications you want to remove.
Removal process through the command line
The uninstallation process itself is performed by entering special commands in the terminal. The command syntax is standard for all Android devices and looks like this: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 name packet. The flag --user 0 indicates the removal of the application for the main user, which actually hides it and stops processes without physically removing it from the system partition (which is safer).
Consider the example of removing the Mi browser. You need to type in the command: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.browser. After pressing Enter, you should get a Success response. If there is an error message, check that the package name is spelled correctly and that the connection is available.
⚠️ Warning: The team removes the application instantly without further confirmation. Be extremely careful when copying packet names so that you don't accidentally delete the system component.
For mass removal, you can create a text file with the.bat extension, which will prescribe a sequence of commands, which will save time if you plan to clean multiple devices or reinstall firmware often. Just save the command list and run the file on behalf of the administrator.
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Use of the flag `-k` If you accidentally delete the wrong thing, a simple reboot or reset can bring the application back to its place, since its files have not been physically erased.
Recovery of Remote System Components
If you delete the extra one during the optimization process or the system starts to work incorrectly, the deleted applications can be returned. Since we used the deletion method for the current user (--user 0), the APK files themselves remain in the system.
Syntax of the recovery command: adb shell cmd package install-existing the name of the packet. Enter the name of the previously deleted packet, and the system will restore it to standard. This takes a few seconds and does not require rebooting the device.
In a pinch, if the phone stopped loading or is running with critical errors, a full reset to factory settings (Wipe Data) will help. When reset, all user changes in the system partition are canceled, and the Redmi 7A will return to its original state, as after buying in the store.