How to completely remove standard applications on Xiaomi Redmi 9: from shutdown to deep cleaning

Xiaomi Redmi 9 smartphones come with dozens of pre-installed apps, many of which users call “junk”: Mi Browser, Mi Music, Mi Video, games from Xiaomi and partners. These programs take up space in memory, consume battery power in the background and sometimes even show ads. But can they be removed without harming the system?

In this article, 5 proven ways to get rid of unnecessary applications on Redmi 9, including methods without root rights and using ADB. We will analyze which programs can be removed safely and which should not be touched so as not to disrupt the MIUI.

Why you can’t just uninstall system applications like normal

Unlike programs installed from Google Play, standard Xiaomi apps are integrated into MIUI firmware and protected from accidental removal.Attempting to uninstall them via the Apps menu usually ends with the message Delete is impossible or the button Disable instead of Delete.

Reasons for such restrictions:

• 🔗 System dependencies: Some applications (e.g. Mi Security) are associated with the kernel MIUI and are responsible for security or updates.
• 📦 Separation of user and system data: files of pre-installed programs are stored in a protected partition /system/app, Where without root rights access is closed.
• 🔄 Recovery after reset: even if you delete the application through ADB, it can return after updating the firmware or resetting to the factory settings.

However, you can bypass these restrictions — most importantly, know which apps are critical for the smartphone and which are not. For example, removing com.miui.weather2 (weather) will not harm the system, but you can not touch com.android.phone (calls) absolutely.

Method 1: Disabling applications (without deleting)

The safest method is to disable, not delete it completely. The app stops working, disappears from the menu, but its files remain in memory, which is a good way to do this if you don't want to risk the stability of the system.

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 an unnecessary app (such as Mi Browser) and open the page.
4. Click Disable (if the button is inactive, the application is critical to the system).

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ Does not require root rights or a computer.
• ✅ You can return the application at any time through the same settings section.
• ✅ Safe for updates MIUI.

⚠️ Attention: Disabled applications still take up space in memory, although they do not consume resources. If you need to free up space, move to the following ways.

Make a backup copy of important data

Check the list of critical applications (see table below)

Battery charge of at least 50%

Turn off automatic updates MIUI time-manipulation-->

Method 2: Removal via ADB (without root rights)

ADB (Android Debug Bridge) is an Android debugging tool that lets you control your smartphone through a computer, and you can remove most of the standard Xiaomi Redmi 9 apps without getting root access.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows, macOS or Linux.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📥 Utilities. ADB and drivers for Xiaomi (you can download from the official website of Android Developers).
• 🔧 Included Debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Tap 7 times, then return to the additional → For developers).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect Redmi 9 to your computer and confirm your trust in the device on your smartphone screen.
2. Open the command prompt (cmd on Windows or Terminal on macOS/Linux) and type:

adb devices

If the device appears in the list, go ahead. If not, check the drivers.

1. Find out the batch name of the application you want to remove.

adb shell pm list packages | grep 'miui'

For example, to remove Mi Browser, the batch name is com.android.browser.

1. Remove the application by the command:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.browser

Once the smartphone is rebooted, the app will disappear. To return it, use the command:

adb shell cmd package install-existing com.android.browser

⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. com.miui.home – launcher) after deleting via ADB This will cause a cyclical reboot of your smartphone. Before removing, check the list of safe packages in the table below.

💡

If the adb device command doesn’t work, try reinstalling drivers or using a USB 2.0 port instead of 3.0 – sometimes this solves the connection problem.

Table: Which system applications can be removed and which can not

Before deleting, check if the application is used by other services. For example, com.miui.cloudservice is responsible for synchronizing with Mi Account, which will result in loss of access to cloud data.

💡

Deletion via ADB does not affect system files - the application is simply hidden for the current user.It is safer than complete removal with root rights.

Method 3: Removal with root rights (for power users)

If you're willing to take risks, you can root and delete applications forever, and this method gives you complete control of the system, but it has serious downsides:

• 🚨 Loss of warranty (if the phone is warranty, Xiaomi will refuse repairs).
• 🔄 Problems with updates - after installation OTA-root updates may fly.
• 🛡️ Security risk – access to system files for viruses.

How to get root on Redmi 9:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Mi Unlock Tool (requires binding to Mi Account and waiting 7 days).
2. Install a custom TWRP recavator for your model.
3. Sweep Magisk through TWRP to obtain root rights.

Once root is obtained, use a root-enabled file manager (such as Root Explorer) and manually remove application folders from:

• /system/app is a standard application.
• /system/priv-app is a preferred system program.

⚠️ Note: Removing files from /system This can cause a phone to crash. Always back up the system partition before making changes!

Method 4: Using third-party utilities (without ADB)

If you're having trouble working with ADB, you can use specialized software to remove system applications.

• 📱 App Inspector – Shows packet names and allows you to disable applications.
• 🖥️ Debloater Tool (for PC) – removes applications through the ADB graphically.
• 🔍 Package Disabler – disables programs without deletion (similar to the built-in function, but with advanced features).

Examples of Debloater Tool:

1. Download the utility from GitHub (official repository: https://github.com/0x192/universal-android-debloater).
2. Connect Redmi 9 to USB with debugging enabled.
3. Start the program and select Read device packages.
4. Check the unneeded apps and click Apply.

The advantages of third-party utilities:

• 🎯 More user-friendly interface than command line.
• 📋 Ability to create backups before removal.
• 🔄 Support for Remote Application Recovery.

Disadvantages:

• 💻 Computer (except App Inspector) required).
• 🛡️ Risk of installing malware (download only from verified sources).

Method 5: Flashing on custom firmware (for advanced)

The radical method is to install alternative firmware, such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience, which does not contain pre-installed Xiaomi apps and offers a “pure” Android.

The advantages of custom firmware:

• 🧹 Complete absence of Bloatware (unnecessary applications).
• 🚀 Higher performance and battery life.
• 🔄 Regular security updates (as opposed to regular security updates) MIUI, where updates are sometimes delayed).

Cons:

• 🔧 Installation difficulty (needs an unlocked boot loader and TWRP).
• 📱 Possible bugs (not all functions can work correctly, for example, NFC camera).
• 🔒 Loss of official Xiaomi support.

Instructions for installing LineageOS on Redmi 9:

1. Unlock the bootloader (as in the root-rights method).
2. Install TWRP for Redmi 9 (codename of the device – lancelot).
3. Download the LineageOS firmware for lancelot from the official website.
4. Download to TWRP, make a full wipe (clean the partitions system, data, cache).
5. Please. ZIP-Firmware file and GApps (Google services if needed).

⚠️ Note: Some features of Redmi 9 may not work on custom firmware. For example, Pixel Experience sometimes doesn't work properly. IR-Blaster (DU remote) Before installing, check the reviews on the forum XDA Developers.

How to return a remote application if you need it

If you have removed an app through ADB or root, but you suddenly need it, there are a few ways to return it:

1. via ADB (if removed by pm uninstall):

adb shell cmd package install-existing com.android.browser

2. Through system regeneration:

• Reset the settings to factory settings (Settings → Additional → Recovery and Reset).
• Or run the original firmware through the Mi Flash Tool.

Installing APK manually:

• Download the APK of a remote application from a reliable source (for example, APKMirror).
• Install it as a regular application (permission to install from unknown sources may be required).

If the application was part of the firmware (for example, Mi Security), a simple installation of APK is not enough - you will need to flash it.

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing apps on Redmi 9