How to remove all unnecessary applications on Xiaomi: from bloat to system programs

Xiaomi smartphones are famous for their value for money ratio, but many users are faced with one unpleasant feature - an excess of pre-installed applications. Even on new devices, MIUI takes up to 10-15 GB of memory, with a significant part devoted to programs that you will never use. Bloat (built-in garbage) not only eats precious space, but also slows down the system, consumes battery power and can collect unnecessary telemetry.

In this article, we’ll break down all the possible ways to remove unnecessary apps on Xiaomi – from standard methods through settings to advanced techniques using the app. ADB And Mi Unlock Tool, which software can be safely uninstalled and which can be disabled to keep the system stable, POCO and flagships of the Xiaomi series 13/14, where the bloat is particularly aggressive.

Why are there so many unnecessary apps on Xiaomi?

Smartphone manufacturers, including Xiaomi, pre-installed additional software for several reasons: First, it is partnerships with developers (for example, Facebook, Netflix, LinkedIn), who pay for the placement of their applications. Second, Xiaomi actively promotes its own services: Mi Browser, Mi Video, Mi Music and others that duplicate the functions of Google or third-party programs.

According to a study by Android Authority (2023), new Xiaomi smartphones have an average of 42 pre-installed apps, of which users actively use no more than 12. Some programs (e.g., com.xiaomi.midrop or com.miui.analytics) run in the background, consuming up to 5% of battery life per day. MIUI The global situation is aggravated by mandatory Google services that cannot be removed without root rights.

• 📦 Partner applications: Facebook, Netflix, LinkedIn, Booking, AliExpress (installed under regional agreements).
• 🔄 Duplicate services: Mi Browser (there is Chrome), Mi Video (there is YouTube), Mi Music (there is a Chrome) Spotify/Yandex Music).
• 📊 Hidden system processes: com.xiaomi.mipicks (advertising service), com.miui.analytics (statistics collection).
• 🔒 Blocked applications: Mi Pay, Mi Credit (not working outside China, but take up space).

Interestingly, on the Chinese versions of MIUI (without Google services), there is a 30-40% decrease in bloat, but there users face other problems - the lack of Google Play and restrictions on the installation of APK. In global firmware, the manufacturer makes a compromise: leaves some Chinese services and adds Western applications, which leads to double bloat.

Which apps can be removed and which ones can’t?

Before you start cleaning, it is important to understand which programs are critical to the system and which are not. Removing key MIUI components can lead to bootloop (a looped reboot) or failure of individual functions (for example, a camera or a mobile network).

Particular care should be taken with applications that have miui, xiaomi or android in their name. For example, com.miui.securitycenter is responsible for security and antivirus, and com.android.providers.media manages media files, and their removal can lead to failures in the gallery or settings.

⚠️ Attention: On models POCO F5 Redmi Note 12 deleting com.miui.gallery causes thumbnails to disappear from the "Recent Files" menu. If you use this feature, you'd better just turn off the gallery through the settings.

To accurately identify “safe” applications, we recommend using App Inspector (available on Google Play), which shows dependencies between programs and warns if removing one component will affect the work of another, and it is also useful to look at topic forums such as XDA Developers or 4PDA, where users share lists of safely removed applications for specific models.

Method 1: Remove applications through standard settings

The easiest and safest method is to use the built-in MIUI tools, which are suitable for removing user programs and some pre-installed applications.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the upper right corner, click on three dots and select Show All Apps.
3. Find an unnecessary app in the list and tap it.
4. If the Remove button is active, press it. If not, select Disable (this will stop the program from running in the background).

Unfortunately, most Xiaomi system applications cannot be removed this way, such as Mi Browser or Mi Video, which will be disabled and will remain in the device's memory.

• 📉 Reducing the background battery consumption by 3-7%.
• 🚀 Accelerate the launch of other applications (RAM is freed).
• 🛡️ Reduce the number of advertising notifications (especially from com.xiaomi.mipicks).

On models with MIUI 14 and later, a Memory Cleanup feature appeared, which automatically disables unused applications.

1. Go to Settings → Memory → Memory Cleanup.
2. Turn on the automatic cleaning option.
3. Choose Deep Cleanup and confirm the action.

⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi.eu firmware, the automatic cleaning function can delete the cache data of important applications (such as WhatsApp or Telegram.

Method 2: Remove system applications without rooting through ADB

If standard methods aren’t enough, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a debugging tool that allows you to remove system applications without obtaining root permissions. This method works on all Xiaomi models, including the Redmi Note 11, POCO X5 and Xiaomi 13 Lite.

To start, you need to turn on the Developer Mode and USB Debugging:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 7 times on the MIUI version until the notification “You became a developer” appears.
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
4. Activate Debugging via USB and confirm the resolution.

Next, connect your smartphone to your computer and execute the following commands in the terminal (pre-installing ADB):

adb devices


adb shell




pm list packages | grep 'xiaomi' # Shows all Xiaomi apps




pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.xiaomi.mipicks # Example of deleting an advertising service

Here is a list of securely removed packages for most Xiaomi devices:

• 🗑️ com.xiaomi.mipicks – advertising service (Mi Apps).
• 🎵 com.xiaomi.music is a standard music player.
• 📺 com.miui.videoplayer - video player (if you use it) VLC or MX Player).
• 📖 com.xiaomi.joyose – a book reading service (not available in Russia).
• 💰 com.xiaomi.payment – Mi Pay (not relevant outside China).

Once you execute the commands, the apps will disappear from the menu, but their data will remain in memory. To completely clear the place, use the command:

pm clear com.xiaomi.mipicks

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Before mass deletion, back up adb backup -apk -all -f backup.ab. This will allow you to restore applications if something goes wrong.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI 13/14 Deleting com.miui.securitycenter causes the system to not be updated via OTA. If you plan to update "over the air", this package is better not to touch.

Method 3: Using the Mi Unlock Tool for deep cleaning

For users willing to take drastic measures, there is an official tool from Xiaomi, the Mi Unlock Tool, which allows you to unlock the bootloader, after which you can install custom firmware (for example, Xiaomi.eu or LineageOS) without bloat.

• ⏳ The unblocking process takes 72-168 Hours (requires a Mi Account linking).
• 🔓 Unlocking resets the device to factory settings.
• ⚠️ On some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T) Unblocking will cancel the guarantee.

If you are prepared for these victims, follow the instructions:

1. Download Mi Unlock Tool from the official Xiaomi website (link).
2. Enable OEM Unlock in the developer settings.
3. Connect your phone to your PC in Fastboot mode (clip Volume Down + Power).
4. Launch the Mi Unlock Tool and follow the instructions (you will need to log in to your Mi Account).

Once you unlock the bootloader, you can install custom recaps (TWRP) and firmware without bloat.

• 🌍 Xiaomi.eu – European firmware without Chinese services, but with support OTA.
• 🛠️ LineageOS – “pure” Android without branded bells and whistles Xiaomi.
• ⚡ Pixel Experience – firmware with Google Pixel interface and minimal blotom.

The 4PDA forum has detailed firmware guides for each model. For example, the Redmi Note 10 Pro recommends Xiaomi.eu 14.0.6.0, where all unnecessary apps are removed, but camera and NFC features are retained.

Method 4: Root access and complete cleaning (for power users)

If you're willing to go to extreme lengths, getting root rights will give you full control of the system, and you can remove any application, including critical MIUI components, from the root, but there are risks:

• 🚨 Security breach (some banking applications will stop working).
• 🔄 Loss of ability to update through OTA.
• 🛡️ Cancellation of warranty (on most models).

To get a root on Xiaomi, Magisk is usually used.

1. Unlock the bootloader (see the previous section).
2. Install the custom TWRP recavator.
3. Download the latest version of Magisk (GitHub).
4. Fly Magisk through TWRP and restart the device.

Once you get the root, use Root Explorer or Titanium Backup to uninstall system applications. Here is a sample list of what you can safely uninstall (checked out on Xiaomi 11T Pro):

/system/priv-app/MiBrowserGlobal


/system/priv-app/MiVideoGlobal




/system/priv-app/Analytics




/system/priv-app/MiDrop




/system/priv-app/YellowPage

To delete, use the command in the terminal:

su


rm -rf /system/priv-app/MiBrowserGlobal

⚠️ Attention: Removal /system/priv-app/MiuiSystemUI If you accidentally delete a critical file, restore it from a backup or reflash the device.

Once cleaned, it is recommended to “freeze” the remaining unwanted applications using App Quarantine or Island (to create an isolated environment), which will avoid accidental start of system processes.

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Getting root rights gives you maximum freedom, but it gives you no security and can disrupt key functions, and use this method only if you are confident in your actions.

How to prevent unnecessary applications from returning?

Even after cleaning, some applications may return after the MIUI update. To avoid this, follow these tips:

• 🔄 Turn off automatic app updates on Google Play.
• 📵 Block the Internet for unnecessary services through Settings → Mobile network → Background restriction.
• 🛡️ Use Magisk modules like Universal Debloater or Xiaomi Debloater to permanently lock the Bloat.
• 📥 Install updates manually, pre-checking the list of changes for new applications.

On models with MIUI 14, Light Mode has been introduced, which disables some of the system applications to activate it:

1. Go to Settings. → Special facilities.
2. Select Light Mode and turn it on.
3. Confirm the disabling of unnecessary services (the list can be edited).

If you use custom firmware, check regularly for updates from the community, such as Xiaomi.eu, which releases patches every week to close false updates to system applications.

For full ad blocking and telemetry, install Blokada or AdGuard with the Xiaomi domain filtering setting:

• data.mistat.xiaomi.com – statistics collection.
• sdkconfig.ad.xiaomi.com – Advertising servers.
• api.brs.intl.miui.com – push notifications.

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing apps on Xiaomi