How to Remove Embedded Apps on Xiaomi Redmi 5: 5 Verified Ways

Xiaomi Redmi 5 owners often face the problem of overloading with unnecessary pre-installed applications. Even after resetting to factory settings, many Miui services — such as Mi Video, Mi Music, GetApps or Cleaner — come back, taking up precious memory space and wasting battery life. But can they be removed forever?

Standard methods like disabling or hiding through settings don’t solve the problem: applications stay on the system, continue to update and consume resources. In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods – from simple (without root rights) to radical (with unlocking the bootloader and using ADB). It is important to understand that removing system components can affect the stability of the device, so each method requires careful approach.

Before you start, check the MIUI version on your Redmi 5: Settings path → About Phone → MIUI version. This depends on the choice of method – some ADB commands only work on old firmware (up to MIUI 12), and new ones will require unlocking the bootloader.

1. disable embedded applications through settings (without root)

The safest, but also the least effective way is to turn off unnecessary services, which won't physically remove them, but will stop background activity and hide icons from the menu, suitable for applications like Mi Pay, Mi Community or Games that aren't critical to the system.

How to do this:

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 app you want (e.g. com.xiaomi.mipicks for GetApps).
4. Click "Disable" and confirm the action.

⚠️ Limitations of method:

• 🔄 Apps will remain in memory and will be updated through Google Play.
• 📱 Some system services (e.g. Security or Finder) cannot be disabled.
• 🔧 After resetting, all applications will return to active state.

If you need to remove, not disable – read on.

2. Remove via ADB (without root, but with a connection to a PC)

The Android Debug Bridge (ADB) method allows you to remove system applications without obtaining root rights. It is suitable for users who do not want to risk the warranty, but are willing to work with the command line. On Xiaomi Redmi 5, this method only works with an unlocked bootloader or on firmware older than MIUI 11.

What you need:

• 🖥️ A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB Tools.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📱 Included debugging by USB: Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Press 7 times, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect Redmi 5 to your PC and confirm debugging permission.
2. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (Linux/macOS) in the folder with adb.exe.
3. Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices must appear serial number of the device.
4. Get a list of all packages: adb shell pm list packages | grep 'xiaomi'
5. Remove an unnecessary app (e.g. Mi Music): adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.player

Install Xiaomi drivers on PC|

Enable debugging over USB on your phone |

Download ADB Tools (platform-tools) |

Connect the phone with the original cable |

Check the list of packages before removing-->

⚠️ Warning: Deleting critical services (e.g. com.android.phone) will result in loss of communication or cyclical reboot. Always check the packet name before executing a command.

List of safe packets to remove on Redmi 5:

3. Unlock the bootloader and remove via TWRP

To completely remove system applications from the physical media, you will need to unlock the bootloader and install custom recovery (TWRP), which provides maximum freedom, but lacks warranty and requires caution.

⚠️ Note: Unlocking the bootloader on Xiaomi is officially supported, but:

• 🔐 Links your Mi Account to your device for 72 hours (you can’t sell/give your phone during this period).
• 📉 Resets all the data on the phone.
• 🚫 Cancellation of the warranty (if it is still valid).

Steps to unlock:

1. Link Mi Account to your phone in Settings → Xiaomi Account.
2. Go to en.miui.com/unlock and download the Mi Unlock Tool.
3. Launch the utility, log in to your account and follow the instructions (the phone should be in Fastboot mode).
4. Once unlocked, install TWRP via the command: fastboot flash recovery twrp.img

You can now remove applications through TWRP:

1. Download to recovery (Off. → Power + Vol+).
2. Select Mount → System.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and manually remove application folders from /system/priv-app or /system/app.
4. Reset the device.

4.Using Magisk and the Debloater module

If you already have root rights (obtained through Magisk), the most convenient way is to use the Xiaomi Debloater module, which allows you to remove embedded applications without risking damage to the system, since it works at the level of cloaking (the applications remain in memory, but become invisible to the system).

How to determine:

1. Download the Xiaomi Debloater module (available on XDA Developers).
2. Open Magisk Manager and go to the Modules section.
3. Click "Install from storage" and select the downloaded file.
4. Reboot the phone.

After installation of the module:

• 📱 In the settings of the phone will appear a new section "Debloater".
• 🔍 Select removal apps (such as Mi Browser or Mi Drop).
• 🗑️ Press "Apply" and restart the device.

✅ Advantages of the method:

• 🔄 The ability to roll back changes (it is enough to remove the module in Magisk).
• 🛡️ It is safer than manual removal through TWRP.
• 📱 It does not require re-unlocking the loader.

5. Installation of custom firmware (radical method)

If you’re tired of MIUI limitations, you can completely replace the firmware with an alternative one, like LineageOS or Pixel Experience, which will remove all of Xiaomi’s built-in apps, but require technical skills.

⚠️ Note: The scaling can be:

• 📵 Deprive support for certain functions (e.g, IR-blaster NFC).
• 🔋 Reduce battery life.
• 📡 Determinate communication stability (especially on firmware without official Redmi 5 support).

How to install LineageOS:

1. Unlock the bootloader (see Section 3).
2. Download the firmware for Redmi 5 (codename rosy) from LineageOS.
3. Download GApps (Google Service Package) for your version of Android.
4. Download to TWRP and run Wipe → Advanced Wipe (select Dalvik, System, Data, Cache).
5. Install the firmware, then GApps and restart.

💡

Before installing custom firmware, back up the EFS partition via TWRP — it contains IMEI and modem data. It will be extremely difficult to recover it after loss!

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced users sometimes make mistakes when removing system applications, and here are the most common problems and solutions:

🔹 "The application is not removed through ADB"

• 🔌 Check if the debugging is included USB and whether the cable is properly connected.
• 📱 Restart your phone and PC.
• 🔄 Try another version. ADB (For example, from Android Studio).

🔹 "Phone does not boot after deleting applications"

• 🛠️ Boot in. TWRP and restore the backup.
• 📥 Fastboot phone with official firmware.
• 🔍 Check which app caused the crash (usually com.android.telephony or com.miui.home).

🔹 "After updating MIUI Remote applications are back"

• 🔄 Repeat the removal procedure through ADB magisk.
• 📵 Turn off automatic updates of system applications in Google Play.
• 🛡️ Install the Disabler for module MIUI in Magisk to block recovery.

💡

If after removing the applications, the phone stopped turning on, do not panic: in 90% of cases, flashing through Fastboot helps the official ROM from Xiaomi.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions