Owners of Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones often face a situation where the desktop turns into a chaos of unnecessary icons. This can be the result of accidental creation of duplicates, installing advertising software or simply wanting to put things in order in the MIUI interface. The standard removal procedure seems simple, but the shell of the Chinese manufacturer has its own features that can be confusing to the inexperienced user.
The problem is solved by several methods, depending on the type of shortcut: System application, preinstalled game or widget are removed differently. In some cases, a standard long-press does not give the desired result, and the icon stays in place, blocking access to other functions. Understanding the launcher architecture will help you quickly clear the space.
In this article, we will discuss all the nuances of desktop management on Xiaomi devices, how to get rid of seemingly undeleteable elements and why some programs can not be removed in the usual way, and we will also discuss the topic of hidden folders and system restrictions that are dictated by the security policy of Android.
Standard procedure for removing applications
The basic shortcut removal method on Xiaomi Redmi is universal and works most of the time. You need to find the desired icon on your desktop and click it for a long time. The screen will zoom in and a toolbar with a Remove button or basket icon will appear at the top of the display.
Drag the shortcut to the shopping cart area. If you installed the app from Google Play or a third-party source, it will disappear along with all the data. However, if you try to remove the system component, the system will issue a warning or suggest that you just hide the icon, which is the operating system's security mechanism.
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If when dragging the icon into the cart, the inscription “Delete the shortcut” appears, and not “Delete the application”, then you delete only the link, and the program itself will remain in the memory of the phone.
It's important to distinguish between deleting the application itself and deleting the shortcut. In the MIUI shell, sometimes you desynchronize when the icon is left hanging dead weight. In this case, cleaning the launcher cache through the settings menu helps, and this is a safe operation that will not affect your personal files.
Removal of widgets and folders
Widgets take up significantly more space than normal icons and often interfere with navigation. To remove the widget of weather, watches or news, the algorithm of actions is similar to removing applications. Press and hold the widget until the control menu appears. At the top of the screen will appear a red zone or button that says Delete.
With folders, it's a little different. If you have apps inside the folder that you don't need anymore, you can delete them one at a time, drag them to the trash, and when the folder becomes empty, it disappears automatically, and if your goal is to remove the shortcut folder itself, just unblock it by pulling all the icons out.
- 📱 Press and hold the widget until vibration.
- 🗑️ Drag the object to the top of the screen to the removal icon.
- ✅ Confirm the action if the system requests permission.
- 🔄 For folders: Remove all applications to make the folder disappear.
Some widgets, like the Widget Ribbon (the infinite tape to the left of the desktop), are part of the system launcher, and you can't remove them by the standard method, but you can turn them off, and you go to the launcher settings and you uncheck the box, and that frees up RAM.
What to do if the label is not removed
It is not uncommon for an app icon to fail to respond to deletion attempts or the "Delete" button to be inactive (grey), most often with Xiaomi system services such as Mi Video, Mi Music or GetApps. The company's policy allows you to hide these applications, but not remove them without root rights.
In this case, the "Disable" function comes to the rescue. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications. Find the problematic application in the list. If the "Delete" button is not available, try clicking "Disable" This will hide the icon from the desktop and stop the application processes, effectively removing it for the user.
⚠️ Note: Do not disable system components with the words "Framework" in their name. UI" Or "Google Services." This can lead to a cyclical smartphone reboot or loss of communication.
Another reason for the label's "immortality" may be device administrator rights. Some viruses or specific applications require these rights to work. Check the administrator list in the Settings menu → Passwords and Security → Privacy → Special Access Rights → Device administrators. If there's a suspicious item there, revoke the rights and try to remove the label again.
☑️ Access rights verification
Cleaning up advertising garbage and viruses
Often users encounter strange shortcuts that lead to websites or open ad windows, a sign of an adware infection that may not have a name or disguise itself as system files, often impossible to remove in the standard way, as the virus is actively working in the background.
To combat these shortcuts, you need to find the process itself. Go to the app menu and sort them by installation time. Look for apps without an icon or with a strange name. If you can't find an app on the list, try running Safe Mode. In this mode, third-party apps don't start, and you can safely delete the malicious file.
Also effective is to use an antivirus scanner built into MIUI. Open the Security app and run the check. The system automatically detects known threats and suggests that they be defused. After cleaning, restart the device.
How to get into Safe Mode on Xiaomi?
Comparison of removal methods
Different types of objects on the desktop require different removal approaches, and here is a table that will help you quickly navigate cleaning techniques depending on the situation.
| Type of object | Deleting method | Recovery capability | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|---|
| User application | Long pressing → Delete | Re-installation only | Frees up memory. |
| System application | Settings → Disable | Incorporation in settings | Hiding the icon, the process stopped |
| widget | Drag in the basket | Addition via widget menu | Doesn't affect memory. |
| Folder label | Extract all files | Creating a new folder | Visual change only. |
Using third-party launchers like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher can also change the logic of deletion. They often have more flexible gesture settings. For example, double-clicking an icon can be assigned to be deleted, which speeds up the process of cleaning the desktop.
If you use a third-party launcher, remember that removing the shortcut in it doesn’t always remove the app itself from the Android system. It’s just a change in the interface. You still have to go to system settings to completely uninstall.
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Disabling the system application is the best compromise if you do not want to get root rights, but want to remove unnecessary icons and stop background processes.
Resetting the launcher settings as a last resort
If Xiaomi's desktop isn't working properly, shortcuts aren't removed, and the interface is hanging, you may need to reset your launcher settings. This will return the desktop to its original state, like after you buy. All your folders and icon locations will be reset to factory values.
To do this, go to Settings → Applications → All apps. Find the listing for "Luncher" or "System Launcher." Click on the Clean button and select Clear Everything. After that, the screen will blink and the desktop will reboot.
⚠️ Note: Before resetting the launcher, make sure you have a backup of important data, although photos and contacts are usually not affected.
This method is especially useful if you have updated your MIUI firmware and are experiencing graphical glitches.Reset launcher often solves problems with "ghost" icons that display incorrectly or do not respond to touch.
In conclusion, shortcut management on Xiaomi Redmi is a skill that allows you to keep your device clean and in order.Knowing the differences between removing an app, shortcut and widget, you can effectively control your digital.