Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the problem of overcrowded memory and excessive amounts of preinstalled software. Developers of the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS integrate many services that are not always necessary for the average user. Standard system tools can not remove such programs, since the delete button in the settings menu is simply absent.
However, there are proven methods to safely dispose of excess “garbage” without the need to obtain Root rights. Using debugging tools over USB gives access to hidden Android functions, allowing you to remove even system components. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to clean a device from Bloatware, speed up its operation and free up precious space.
Before you start to act, you need to clearly understand the difference between user and system packages. Removing critical processes can lead to unstable work of the gadget or even Bootloop. We have prepared a list of safe applications for removal and cautions that will help avoid fatal errors.
Why Xiaomi does not allow you to remove system applications
The company's policy is to create an ecosystem where users interact with the manufacturer's services, with the firmware pre-installed Mi Browser, Mi Video, Mi Music and a host of ad modules, which take up space in the System section and often run in the background, consuming RAM and battery power.
The removal restriction is based on Android access rights. The user has guest rights, which prevents changes to the system partition. To circumvent this restriction, the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) protocol is used, which is originally intended for developers, but is actively used by enthusiasts for customization.
⚠️ Attention: Removing system components always carries risks. If you remove the package that runs the interface or telephony, the device may stop loading. Always check the name of the package before uninstallation.
Also, after Factory Reset, all remote system applications will return to their places. This is normal system behavior, since the original firmware does not contain information about your changes. Permanent removal requires a repeat of the procedure or a flashing of the device.
📊 What kind of shell is on your Xiaomi?
MIUI 12
MIUI 13
MIUI 14
HyperOS
other
Preparing a smartphone for the removal of Bloatware
The first step is to activate the hidden developer menu. Without this step, the computer will not be able to access the phone's file system. Find the About phone option in the settings and quickly click 7-10 times on the MIUI version or OS version bar.
After the notification "You became a developer" return to the main settings menu and go to the section "Additional → For developers. Here you need to find and activate the debugging switch over USB. When you connect to the PC on the smartphone screen, a request for debugging permission will appear - be sure to confirm it.
It will also require quality USB-Cheap charging cables often don't support data transfer, which will cause a connection error.Make sure your computer has basic Google drivers installed. USB Driver or Universal Driver ADB Driver.
The most convenient way for beginners is to use Xiaomi’s dedicated ADB/Fastboot Tools snail from developer Szibori.This is a graphical interface that automatically defines the device model and offers a secure list of apps to remove.
It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux computers, and when it runs, it downloads the required ADB components and offers you to select the mode of operation, so you don't have to type complex commands manually, which minimizes the risk of error.
java -jar XiaomiADBFastbootTools.jar
In the interface, you'll see a list of all the packages installed, and the system will highlight the ones that can be removed without affecting your phone, and you can select multiple apps at once and press Uninstall.
What if the program doesn’t see the phone?
If the utility does not detect the device, try to change USB-port, use another cable or reinstall the drivers, and make sure that the phone screen confirms the connection to the device. USB file transfer or debugging.> Method 2: Manual removal through the command line ADB For advanced users who want to have full control, the manual method is fine. It requires you to install Platform Tools on your computer. After unpacking the archive, open the command line in the tool folder and enter a command to check the connection. adb devices If a device with a serial number appears on the list, the connection is successfully established. Next, you can proceed to delete the packets. -k --user 0 [The important thing is to know the exact name of the package, which is often different from the name of the application. Consider the table of popular Xiaomi system applications and their security status when removed: Application name Packet name (example) Delete security Impact on the system Mi Browser com.android.browser Safely None if there is another browser Mi Video com.miui.videoplayer Safely Lost Standard Player Mail com.android.email Safe No Google Service com.google.android.gms Cards, Play Store, Notifications Critically Dangerously Stop Working UI Critically dangerous is the loss of the interface, black screen, bootloop List of safe to remove applications There is a list of components, the removal of which in most cases does not violate the basic functionality of the smartphone. However, if you’re actively using the Xiaomi ecosystem, some of them may be useful. 🗑️ Analytics – statistics and telemetry collection services. Deleting them increases privacy. 🗑️ Mi Credit / Mi Pay – payment service, relevant only in some regions. 🗑️ Facebook/Linkedin – Pre-installed social networks that can be removed without consequences. 🗑️ Yellow Pages is a number detector, often irrelevant for users from the CIS. Be careful about removing Mi Cloud. If you store photos or contacts there, after deleting the application, synchronization will cease, although the data on the server will remain. It is better to simply disable synchronization in account settings. ⚠️ Note: Do not delete packages with the words "Security", "Framework", "Provider" or "Telephony" in their name. If you notice that your phone is not working properly after cleaning it, or if you accidentally delete an important component, don't panic. These applications are not physically removed from the recovery section, but are only hidden for the current user. They can be easily returned. Use the reinstal command to restore ADB. Command syntax: adb shell cmd package install-existing. By entering the name of the deleted packet, you will return it to its place in seconds. 💡Removal through ADB non-wash APK-The file is permanently out of memory, but it only disables it for the main user, so it's easy to get it back to the same place in case of an error. In some cases, especially when you delete the system launcher or keyboard, the phone can behave strangely. If you can’t get into the settings, connect the external one. USB-keyboard or use voice control to start the recovery command. Frequently asked questions (FAQ) Do I need to unlock the bootloader to remove system applications? No, you don't need to unlock the bootloader. ADB It works on devices with a locked bootloader, because it uses the standard Android debugging protocol, which is available to all users after activation in the developer menu. Will removing apps reset the warranty on the smartphone? ADB is not a breach of warranty conditions, as you do not make changes to the system partition of the firmware or change the software. However, if you damage the system by your actions, the service center may refuse to repair free of charge, citing a "software failure due to the fault of the user". What is a "frozen" application and how is it different from deleting? Freezing disables the application, it stops working and updates, but takes up space in memory. Uninstall for user 0 hides the application and frees up user data, but the installation file itself remains in the system. For the average user, the difference is minimal, but deleting is preferable for cleaning the memory. Can you remove the ads in the system without Root rights? Partly. Deleting MSA packets (MIUI System Ads) and Analytics via ADB significantly reduces the amount of advertising. However, to completely disable it is also necessary to disable from the remaining system settings.