How to safely remove unnecessary system apps on Xiaomi without ROOT: The Complete Guide 2026

Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones come with dozens of pre-installed apps, many of which users never run. MIUI is known for its abundance of system software, from Google duplicate services to proprietary utilities like Mi Video, Mi Music or GetApps. These programs take up space in memory, consume battery power in the background and can send analytics — even if you don’t use them.

Device owners often look for ways to remove Xiaomi system applications without root rights, but are afraid of damaging the firmware or losing the warranty. Fortunately, there are several legal methods, from simply disabling through settings to deep cleaning with ADB. In this guide, we will analyze all the current methods, their pros and cons, and also tell you what applications can be removed without risking system stability.

Important: even without ROOT, some methods require caution, such as removing critical services (such as MiuiSystemUI or SecurityCenter) can result in a device reboot or interface failure, and we have compiled a list of safe to remove programs and detailed each step to minimize the risks.

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

Unlike custom software, Xiaomi’s pre-installed software is integrated into MIUI firmware at the system level.

• 🔒 Deletion Protection: Android blocks direct uninstallation of the system APK through a standard interface.
• 📦 Partitioning: Many applications consist of multiple components (e.g. com.miui.gallery and com.miui.gallery.editor), removing one can break the other.
• 🔄 Recovery after updates: After the MIUI update, remote applications can return.

And some services are shell-related, such as removing MiuiHome will make it impossible to access the desktop, and uninstalling SecurityCenter will disable antivirus and application permissions, so you need to be clear about which applications are critical to the system and which can be safely removed before any manipulations.

⚠️ Warning: Some methods (e.g., via ADB) require debugging to USB. This temporarily reduces device protection. Once operations are complete, turn off debugging in the developer settings (Settings → About Phone → Version MIUI – tap 7 times).

Method 1: Disabling system applications through settings

The easiest and safest method is to disable, not uninstall, and the app will remain in memory, but will stop working, updating and consuming resources, a method suitable for most Xiaomi-branded utilities, such as:

• 🎵 Mi Music (music player)
• 🎬 Mi Video (video player)
• 📦 GetApps (branded app store)
• 📡 Mi Remote (DU remote)
• 📊 MiuiDaemon (analytics service)

How to turn it off:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select "Show all apps."
3. Find the desired application (such as GetApps) and open its page.
4. Click "Disable" (if the button is inactive, the application is critical to the system).
5. Confirm the action in the dialog window.

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ Does not require PC connection or special knowledge.
• ✅ It is easy to return the application to work (on button).
• ✅ Safe for system stability and security.

⚠️ Warning: Disabled applications may be activated again after resetting settings or updating MIUI. Check their status after updates.

Method 2: Remove via ADB (without ROOT)

ADB (Android Debug Bridge) is an Android debugging tool that allows you to execute commands from a computer, and you can remove Xiaomi system applications without root rights, but with some restrictions:

• 🔧 Works only for applications labeled as "removable" (not all system APK are covered by this).
• 🖥️ Requires a smartphone to be connected to a PC and installed ADB.
• 🔄 After updating MIUI Remote applications can return.

Step-by-step:

Download and install ADB on a PC (e.g., via [Platform Tools]https://developer.android.com/studio/releases/platform-tools)|

Enable USB debugging on Xiaomi (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – tap 7 times, then Settings → Additional → Developers → Debugging on USB)|

Connect your smartphone to your PC and confirm trust in your computer |

Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB|

Check the connection with the adb device command (the serial number of the device should be displayed)-->

List of commands to remove popular system applications:

adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.videoplayer       # Mi Video


adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.player            # Mi Music




adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.xiaomi.mipicks         # GetApps




adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.browser           # Mi Browser




adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.notes # Notes




adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.calculator # Calculator (if not needed)




adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.xiaomi.scanner # Scanner QR-codes

If the command returns Failure [DELETE_FAILED_INTERNAL_ERROR] error, then the application is protected from removal. In this case, try to disable it through the settings (1 Method) or use an alternative command:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.videoplayer

This command does not remove the APK, but disables it for the current user, which has a similar effect.

💡

Before mass deletion, back up the list of installed applications with the command adb shell pm list packages > apps.txt. This will help restore deleted programs if something goes wrong.

Method 3: Using Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools

For users who do not want to manually enter commands ADB, there is a utility Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools - a graphical shell for managing system applications. The program supports most models Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO, and allows:

• 🗑️ Remove preinstalled applications.
• 🔄 Restore the deleted APK.
• 📋 View a list of all system programs with security removal notes.

How to use:

1. Download the utility from the official repository on GitHub.
2. Install and run the program on PC.
3. Connect your smartphone to your computer with USB debugging enabled.
4. In the main window, select "Manage Applications".
5. Check boxes for unnecessary applications (green – safe to remove, red – critical).
6. Press "Uninstall Selected."

Advantages of Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools:

⚠️ Warning: The utility may not recognize some POCO custom firmware models. Check compatibility on the project page on GitHub before using it.

Method 4: Hiding system applications with a launcher

If your goal is to simply remove icons of unwanted applications from your desktop, but leave them on the system, you can use alternative launchers, which does not remove programs, but makes them invisible and inaccessible to random launch.

Popular launchers with support for hiding applications:

• 🌐 Nova Launcher (paid feature "Hide Apps").
• 📱 Apex Launcher (free hiding in settings)
• 🔍 Microsoft Launcher (hiding through the application menu).

How to hide apps in Nova Launcher:

1. Install Nova Launcher from Google Play.
2. Hold your finger on the desktop → "Settings Nova".
3. Go to "Apps and Widgets Settings".
4. Select "Hide Apps."
5. Check the boxes for unnecessary programs (such as Mi Video or GetApps).
6. Press "Done."

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ Does not require PC connection or superuser rights.
• ✅ Easy to cancel (just change the launcher back to the standard one).
• ✅ Does not affect the operation of the system.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Applications remain in memory and may be updated.
• ❌ Some launchers consume an extra battery.

Method 5: Debloating via TWRP (for advanced users)

If you're willing to take more drastic measures, you can use custom TWRP recaps to remove system applications. This method requires unlocking the bootloader, but does not require ROOT. However, it is only suitable for advanced users, since improper actions can lead to a "brick" of the device (complete failure).

Step-by-step:

1. Unlock the bootloader on your Xiaomi through the official Mi Unlock Tool (requires a Mi Account binding and a wait of 7-30 days).
2. Install TWRP for your model (see the XDA Developers forum for instructions).
3. Download the debloat script for your version of MIUI (e.g. MIUI Debloater or Universal Debloater).
4. Download to TWRP (Switch Off → Press the Power button + Volume Up).
5. Go to Install and select the downloaded script.
6. Confirm the installation and restart the device.

Advantages of the method:

• 🧹 Removes applications at the firmware level (not returned after updates).
• 🔧 Allows you to fine-tune the list of software to be removed.

Risks:

• ⚠️ Loss of warranty (unlocking the bootloader voids Xiaomi warranty).
• ⚠️ The ability to "brick" when errors in the script.
• ⚠️ Manual firmware updates (auto-updates MIUI will not work).

💡

Use TWRP only if you are confident in your actions. For most users, there are only 1-3 options (disconnect, ADB or launcher).

What Xiaomi system applications can be removed without risk?

Not all pre-installed programs are equally useful, and below is a list of apps that can be safely removed or disabled on most Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO devices:

Applications that cannot be removed (critical to the system):

• 🚫 com.miui.home – launcher (desktop).
• 🚫 com.android.settings – System settings.
• 🚫 com.miui.securitycenter – Security Center (manages permissions).
• 🚫 com.miui.systemui — interface MIUI (notification panel, curtain).
• 🚫 com.google.android.gsf — Google services (required for the Play Market to work).

If you are in doubt about whether you can uninstall an application, use the list of secure packages in specialized forums, such as 4PDA or XDA Developers.

What to do if after removing the applications the phone began to glittle?

If you have problems after manipulating system programs (cyclic reboot, interface errors, lack of network), follow the following steps:

1. Check the error log: connect the device to your PC and follow the command: adb logcat | find "Error" This will help identify which application caused the crash.
2. Restore the remote application: adb shell cmd package install-existing com.miui.videoplayer (replace com.miui.videoplayer with the problem application package).
3. Reset: If errors are critical, reset via Settings → System → Reset. This will return all system applications, but save user data (photos, contacts, etc.).
4. Reflash the device: in extreme cases, install a clean version of MIUI through Fastboot (instructions on the official Xiaomi website).

If the problem occurred after using ADB, try to return all applications with the command:

adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 [application package] && adb shell cmd package install-existing [application package]

⚠️ Warning: If a mobile Internet or Wi-Fi service is lost after the system application is removed, a critical service (e.g. com.android.phone for communication or com.miui.wifi for Wi-Fi) is likely to be removed.

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing Xiaomi system applications