How to Remove Hidden Applications on Xiaomi: 5 Ways to Work

Xiaomi’s MIUI-based smartphones are known for their abundance of pre-installed applications, many of which are hidden from the user. These programs take up space in memory, consume battery power, and can send data in the background. Unlike standard applications that can be disabled through settings, hidden services (com.miui.analytics, com.xiaomi.midrop, and others) require special methods to completely remove.

In this article, we will discuss 5 Proven ways to remove hidden apps on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO — From simple methods without root rights to advanced techniques using ADB We pay special attention to security: improper actions can lead to loss of warranty or "brick" of the device (complete inoperability). MIUI 14/15 Android 12/13/14.

Why Xiaomi’s Hidden Apps Can’t Be Removed in Standard Ways

Unlike custom software, Xiaomi system applications are protected at the firmware level, and here are the key reasons why they cannot be removed through the Apps menu:

• 🔒 Superuser Rights: Most hidden services (com.miui.system, com.android.updater) are system-based and require root access to modify.
• 🛡️ Protection MIUI: Firmware blocks changes in the folder /system/priv-app/, where critical components are stored.
• 🔄 Auto-Recovery: Even after manual removal, some applications (e.g. com.miui.miservice) recover after a reboot.
• 📱 Xiaomi intentionally restricts removal options to ensure the stability of the shell MIUI.

Interestingly, the number of hidden applications on Global ROM devices is 1.5-2 times less than on the Chinese versions (China ROM), which is due to GDPR requirements and local data protection laws.

⚠️ Warning: Removing system applications could disrupt Google Services, MIUI Accounts or functions like IR-Always back up through Settings. → The phone. → Backup before the start of manipulation.

Method 1: Disabling Hidden Applications Without Deleting (Secure Method)

If you don’t need to completely remove applications, but stop them and save resources, use the built-in MIUI tools:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select "Show all apps."
3. In the list, find the app you want (such as Mi Video or Mi Browser).
4. Click "Disable" → "Disable the application" (not "Delete updates!").

This method is suitable for:

• 🎬 com.miui.video (Mi Video)
• 🌐 com.android.browser (Mi Browser)
• 📊 com.miui.analytics (Collection of statistics)
• 📱 com.xiaomi.midrop (Mi Drop)

The apps that are disabled won't update, but they will stay in the device's memory, and they can be activated again at any time.

Method 2: Removal via ADB (without root rights)

ADB (Android Debug Bridge) is Google’s official tool that allows you to control your device via the command line, which works on all Xiaomi models (including Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 13) and does not require unlocking the bootloader.

Preparation:

1. Download Google’s Platform Tools and unpack the archive.
2. Turn on the phone "Developer Mode": go to Settings → About the phone and 7 times click on "Version" MIUI".
3. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate “Debugging by USB”.
4. Connect your phone to your PC through USB-cable (use the original cable for connection stability).

Instructions for removal:

1. Open the command line (cmd) in the folder with the platform-tools.
2. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices should appear the name of your device.
3. Get a list of all packages: adb shell pm list packages -f
4. Find the application you want (e.g. com.miui.analytics) and delete it: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.analytics

The --user 0 key means that the application is only deleted for the current user (without affecting system files).

Download Platform Tools|Enable the developer mode|Activate debugging by USB|Connect the original cable|Check the connection through `adb devices`-->

⚠️ Note: Do not remove packages with the names com.android., com.google. or com.qualcomm. – this can disrupt the basic functions of the phone, including mobile and Wi-Fi. Also avoid apps with the word “provider” in the name (for example, com.miui.provider).

Method 3: Using Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools

For users who do not want to manually enter commands, there is a utility Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools with a GUI: It automates the process of removing hidden applications and reduces the risk of errors.

How to use:

1. Download the utility from the official GitHub repository.
2. Unpack the archive and run the XiaomiADBFastbootTools.exe file.
3. Connect your phone in ADB mode (as in Method 2).
4. Select the "Uninstall system apps" section.
5. Check the unneeded apps and click "Uninstall selected".

Advantages of this method:

• 📋 Visual list of applications with a description.
• 🔍 Automatic filtering of dangerous packages.
• 🔄 Ability to restore remote applications.
• 📱 Support for all Xiaomi, Redmi and other models POCO.

The utility also allows you to deactivate advertising in MIUI, disable statistics collection and optimize the autoload of applications.

💡

Before using Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools, disable the antivirus – some programs (for example, Avast) block the launch of the utility, mistaken for malware.

Method 4: Removal with TWRP and Magisk (for advanced users)

If you’re willing to take drastic measures to gain full control of the device, you can use custom TWRP recaps and Magisk modules, a method that requires unlocking the bootloader, which will result in a reset of all data and loss of warranty on new devices (released after 2022).

Step-by-step:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Xiaomi tool (requires a Mi Account account and wait 7-30 days).
2. Install TWRP for your model (see instructions on XDA Developers).
3. Download the Magisk module and the Universal Debloater module.
4. Reboot to TWRP (button combination depends on the model, usually Power + Volume up).
5. Install Magisk, then the Universal Debloater module.
6. After the reboot, open Magisk, go to Modules and set up a list of removal apps.

Advantages of this method:

• 🧹 Complete removal of applications (including system upkeep files).
• 🔄 Possibility of rolling back changes through TWRP.
• 🛠️ Access to additional functions (e.g, ViPER4Android sound-enhancing).

⚠️ Note: On devices with Dynamic RAM Expansion (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Pro, Redmi) K60) Deleting some system applications may cause the memory expansion function to malfunction.Before experimenting, turn it off in settings: → Additionally. → Memory. → Expansion RAM.

Method 5: Manually delete via file manager (root only)

If you already have root rights, you can manually delete the system application uploads, which gives you maximum control, but you need to be careful.

Instructions:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to /system/priv-app/ or /system/app/.
3. Find a folder with the name of the application being removed (e.g. MiBrowser for com.android.browser).
4. Delete the folder or rename it by adding.bak at the end (e.g. MiBrowser.bak).
5. Reset the device.

Important nuances:

• 🔍 Check the contents of the folder before deleting it – sometimes there are important libraries (.so files) used by other applications inside.
• 📂 Do not delete files from folders /system/framework/ or /system/lib/ — It's going to crash the system.
• 🔄 If after deleting the phone stopped turning on, restore deleted files through TWRP (You must have a backup!).

Example: To delete Mi Music, find and delete folders:

• /system/priv-app/MiuiMusic
• /system/priv-app/MiuiMusicGlobal (on global firmware)

💡

Manual root removal allows maximum system cleanliness, but requires backup. An error when deleting a critical file can render the phone inoperable without flashing it.

How to Restore Remote System Applications

If you have problems after deleting the app (e.g., your camera or mobile internet stopped working), you can restore the app. Here are three ways to do this:

1. Through ADB (key-wise --user 0): adb shell cmd package install-existing com.miui.camera (replace com.miui.camera with the desired package).
2. TWRP: Download the official firmware for your model. Remove the system.img file from it. mount the image and copy the desired up-files to /system/priv-app/.
3. Using Magisk: Install the App Systemizer module. Download the remote application (e.g., with APKMirror). Convert the app to the system application through the module.

If none of the methods worked, then there is only a complete flashing through Fastboot:

fastboot flash all firmware.zip

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing hidden Xiaomi apps