MIUI and its global version of HyperOS often come with software pre-installed that the user doesn’t always need. Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphone owners regularly face the need to free up internal memory or simply remove unnecessary icons from the desktop. Some programs can be removed by standard methods, while others require more advanced tools.
Not only does cleaning your device save precious space, it can also have a positive impact on battery life. Background processes of unnecessary services consume processor resources, which is especially noticeable on budget models. In this guide, we will discuss all available ways of uninstallation, from simple actions on the menu to the use of computer utilities.
It is important to understand the difference between user and system applications, as the approaches to removing them are radically different: user programs are removed in one click, and working with system components will require debugging over USB. Below is a detailed guide to help you safely optimize your gadget.
Standard removal of user applications
The easiest and safest way to get rid of unnecessary software is to use the built-in shell functionality, which is suitable for all applications that you downloaded yourself from Google Play or GetApps, as well as for some pre-installed services that the manufacturer has allowed to be removed.
Click on the icon and hold your finger until the context menu appears. Depending on the version of MIUI, you may need to select Delete or drag the icon to the basket located at the top of the screen. If the application is system-based and secure, the delete button will be missing or inactive, signaling the need to use other methods.
⚠️ Note: If you delete an application associated with your account (such as a banking or social network), make sure to remember the login details, as you will have to re-install the authorization.
The alternative is through device settings. Go to Settings → Applications → All apps. Find the program you want, tap the name of the program, and select the Delete button, which is convenient because it shows the exact amount of space and cache you have.
Removing system applications through settings
Some built-in Xiaomi components can be uninstalled without superuser rights unless they are critical to running the OS. Often this applies to analytics services, extra browser shells or regional services. The mechanism of action is similar to removing user software, but the list of programs available for removal is already available.
Go to the application management menu and carefully examine the list. If the delete button is active, the system believes that this component can be safely removed. However, it is worth remembering that even authorized system applications can have dependencies.
- 📱 Find the application in the list of installed programs.
- 🗑️ Click the “Delete” button and confirm the action.
- 🔄 Restart the device to apply changes.
Once the system component is removed, the icon disappears and the space is vacant. Unlike custom programs, system programs often leave no traces as folders in the file system, because they are stored in a secure partition. If you notice strange behavior after deleting the system, you can return the application through resetting settings or re-installing updates.
What to do if the removal button is grey?
Use of debugging by USB and ADB
To remove deep embedded system applications that are not removed by standard methods, a protocol is used. ADB (Android Debug Bridge. This tool allows you to send commands directly to the operating system, bypassing the GUI. You'll need a computer to work, USB-cable and installed drivers.
The first step is to activate the hidden developer menu. → About the phone and quickly press 7 times on the field "Version" MIUI» or "Version" OS». After you have become a developer, go to the section Additional → For developers, you need to activate the debugging by switch. USB».
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 name.packetConnect your smartphone to your computer and type a command in the terminal. The key here is knowing the exact name of the package, which often differs from the name of the application. For example, the theme system store may be called com.miui.themes. Using this command removes the application only for the current user without physically erasing it from the system partition, which makes it easy to restore functionality by resetting to factory settings.
☑️ Preparation for work with ADB
⚠️ Attention: Removing critical system components such as “Security”, “Google Play Services” or “System” UI», It can cause a cyclic restart (bootloop) or complete inoperability of the device.
List of safe to remove system packages
Xiaomi owners often want to get rid of ads and telemetry. There is a list of packages that usually do not affect the basic functionality of calls and messages. However, the situation can change from firmware version to version, so you should always be careful.
Below is a table of common packets that are often removed to “unload” the system, and the name of the packet is given in the format required to enter the ADB command line.
| Title of the component | Packet name | Risks of removal |
|---|---|---|
| Mi Browser (Browser) | com.android.browser | Low (needs another browser) |
| Mi Music (Music) | com.miui.player | Low. |
| Mi Video (Video) | com.miui.videoplayer | Low. |
| Mi Credit (Finance) | com.mipay.wallet.in | Low (not relevant for the Russian Federation) |
| Analytics (Analytics) | com.miui.analytics | Medium (may bring back ads) |
When you remove analytics packages, you may notice a decrease in the number of promotional offers in system applications. However, some personalization features may stop working correctly. Always weigh the need to remove each specific component.
💡
Deletion via ADB is reversible only by resetting the settings to factory settings, as the application physically remains in the system partition, but becomes invisible to the user.
Cleaning cache and residual files
Once applications are uninstalled, the device often has tails — residual files, logs and cache — and MIUI has a built-in Security app to remove them, which analyzes the file system and suggests that you clean up debris that hasn't been automatically deleted.
Run the Security → Cleanup app. The system will scan the device and show you the amount of files that can be safely deleted. Regularly cleaning the cache helps keep the interface running fast, especially on devices with little RAM. Don't worry about personal photos or documents - they are not affected by this procedure.
- 🧹 Open the Security app».
- 📊 Press the "Cleaning" button».
- ✅ Confirm the removal of the proposed files.
You should also check the Download folder manually and Android/data (Often, after removing games or heavy applications, there are archives of data that take up gigabytes of space, and manually checking these directories through the file manager allows you to find forgotten installers. APK-file.
Recovery of Remote System Applications
If you've removed something that's superfluous in the optimization process and the system is starting to get unstable, don't panic. Because ADB only removes the application for the current user, resetting the system completely will put all the system components back in place, and it's a guaranteed way to restore performance.
To recover without a full reset, you can use the same ADB command, but with an installation option, or simply reinstall the remote application through the GetApps store or official website if it is part of the Xiaomi ecosystem. In some cases, simply updating the system to a new version by air helps.
Resetting to factory settings is done via the Settings menu → About Phone → Reset → Erase all data. This operation will completely delete all your personal data, so make sure to back up important files before you do it. After resetting, the phone will look like it was when you bought out of the box.