How to completely remove apps on Xiaomi Mi TV Stick: 5 proven ways

Why standard app removal on Mi TV Stick doesn't always work

Owners of Xiaomi Mi TV Stick often face a problem: many pre-installed apps cannot be removed by standard means. Even after clicking the "Delete" button in the menu, they continue to take up space in the device's memory or recover after a reboot. This is due to Xiaomi's policy, which blocks the complete removal of system applications through the graphical interface.

The fact is that most of the embedded applications on the Mi TV Stick are system-based and stored in a secure partition of memory, and the average user can only turn them off or hide them from the menu, but not remove them completely, but there are workarounds, from using ADB to installing alternative launchers, which we will discuss in detail below.

Another thing that's interesting is that once you update your firmware, many remote applications can recover automatically, because it syncs with Xiaomi servers and downloads a standard set of software, and to avoid that, you'll need not only to delete it, but also to block the automatic installation.

Method 1: Standard removal via Mi TV Stick settings

To begin with, the simplest method that works for custom apps (manually installed via Google Play or APK) won’t get rid of built-in services, but will free up space from unnecessary games or streaming platforms.

Instructions:

1. Turn on the Xiaomi Mi TV Stick and go to the main screen.
2. Select the application you want to remove and press the “OK” button on the remote (usually 2-3 seconds).
3. In the menu that appears, select Delete (or Uninstall in English firmware).
4. Confirm the action by pressing OK.

If the Remove button is inactive or not, the application is protected by the system, in which case move on to the following methods.

Is the application running in the background (close it through the “Recent” menu)

Is there enough free space on the device (minimum 200 MB)

Is Mi TV Stick connected to the Internet (some apps require online confirmation)

Whether important data is stored (for example, logins in streaming services)-->

Method 2: Disabling system applications (without root)

If the app can't be removed, it can be disabled, which will stop all background processes, free up RAM and hide the icon from the menu, and works for most embedded services, except for mission-critical ones like Google Play Services.

Step-by-step:

1. Open Settings (cog in the upper right corner of the main screen).
2. Go to the Appendix section → All Appendices.
3. Find the app you want (such as Mi Home or Netflix) and select it.
4. Click Disable (or Disable)
5. Confirm the action in the window that appears.

⚠️ Note: Disabling system applications can cause some features to work in an unstable way, for example, if you disable Google Play Services, other software updates will stop working.

List of applications that can be safely disabled:

• 📺 Mi TV (unless you use a branded launcher)
• 🎮 Game Center (if you don't play mobile games)
• 📡 Mi Remote (unless you control the equipment via remote control)
• 📊 Mi Share (if you don’t use the file transfer function)

Method 3: Remove via ADB (for power users)

To completely remove system applications, you will need to connect to Mi TV Stick via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to remove even those programs that are blocked by the manufacturer, but requires accuracy - an error can lead to the failure of the device.

What you need:

• 💻 Computer with Windows, macOS or Linux
• 🔌 USB-cable (for connecting Mi) TV Stick to PC)
• 📦 Utility. ADB Tools by Google
• 🔧 Included debugging by USB device-wise

Instructions:

1. Activate Developer Mode on Mi TV Stick: Settings → About Device → Build Number (click 7 times in a row)
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect the device to the computer through USB-cable (use the port) OTG, if there is).
4. Open the command line (or terminal) and check the connection: Adb devices should show the name of your device.
5. Remove the application by command (replace package.name with a real identifier): adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 package.name

🔍 How do you know the name of the package? Use the command:

adb shell pm list packages | grep "appendix name"

For Netflix, for example, it would be com.netflix.ninja.

⚠️ Note: Removing system packages (e.g. com.google.android.gms) may result in a loss of device functionality.Before experimenting, backup with adb backup.

adb shell pm hide package.name

This hides the packet from the system, but does not physically remove it.-->

Method 4: Use of alternative launchers

If you’re annoyed by the standard Mi TV Stick interface with a bunch of unnecessary icons, you can install a launcher sideways.This won’t physically remove apps, but will hide them from view and add additional features (like folders, widgets, or voice search).

The best launchers for Android TV:

How to install the launcher:

1. Download. APK-launcher USB-drive or download directly to the device via the browser.
2. Open the File Manager on Mi TV Stick and start the installation.
3. After installation, click Home on the remote and select a new launcher as the main one.

✅ Pros of the method: does not require root rights, reversible process, improves usability.

❌ Cons: apps remain in memory, some launchers can brake on weak devices.

Standard from Xiaomi|ATV Launcher|Leanback Launcher|TV Launcher|Other-->

Method 5: Reset to factory settings (last resort)

If the device is full of unnecessary apps, and previous methods have not worked, you can do a complete reset, which will delete all user data and applications, return the Mi TV Stick to the "out of the box" state, a radical method, but effective - especially if the device started to slow down.

How to reset your settings:

1. Open Settings → Additional → Recovery and Reset.
2. Select Factory Data Reset (or Factory Data Reset).
3. Confirm the action by entering PIN-code (if installed).
4. Wait for the process to be completed (5-10 minutes).

⚠️ Attention: After discharge:

• 🔄 You will have to reconfigure Wi-Fi, accounts and screen settings.
• 📥 All installed applications (including paid ones) will be removed.
• 🔐 If you previously linked your Google account, you will need to enter your login and password.

After the reset, Xiaomi system applications will recover, but all user data (cache, logins, saves) will be erased without the possibility of recovery.

How to Free Up Space for Mi TV Stick Without Deleting Applications

If you don’t want to delete apps or need them “just in case”, you can optimize memory in other ways. Xiaomi Mi TV Stick has limited storage (usually 8 GB, of which ~4-5 GB is available), so even a small space saving matters.

Effective methods:

• 🧹 Cache Clearing: Go to Settings → Apps, select the program and click Clear Cache. For YouTube or Netflix, this can free up to 500MB.
• 🗑️ Download Delete: Check the Download folder through the file manager – unnecessary ones often accumulate there. APK media.
• ☁️ Transferring data to the cloud: Photos, videos, and music can be uploaded to Google Drive or Mi Cloud, and then delete local copies.
• 🔄 Disabling Automatic Updates: In Google Play → Settings turn off Auto-Update applications.

It is also worth checking the hidden files:

Settings → Storage → Internal Memory → Other Files

It often stores temporary data from streaming services or updates.

💡

Regularly cleaning the cache and removing unnecessary downloads can free up to 1-2 GB of storage without removing applications.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When working with Xiaomi Mi TV Stick, users often make mistakes that lead to crashes or loss of data, and let’s look at the most common ones and how to prevent them.

Error 1: Remove system applications without backup

Many people who are uninstalled through ADB are faced with the device not connecting to Wi-Fi or not running Google Play, which is due to the removal of critical packages such as com.google.android.gsf.

⚠️ Note: Before removing any package through ADB Check the name in the AppBrain database, and if it says "System" or "Critical," you'd better not touch it.

Mistake 2: Interrupting the discharge process

If you turn off the Mi TV Stick from the socket during the factory reset, the device may freeze on the Xiaomi logo or not at all, in which case you will need firmware via USB (instructions are available on the 4PDA forum).

Error 3: Installation of launchers from unverified sources

sidenia APK-files may contain viruses or advertising software. Always download launchers from official sources:

• 🛡️ Google Play (for certified applications)
• 🔗 APKMirror (for verified) APK)
• 📥 Official Developer Websites

Error 4: Ignoring firmware updates

Many people turn off updates to avoid returning deleted applications, but older firmware versions may contain security vulnerabilities or compatibility errors with new applications, and the best option is to update, but immediately after that repeat removing unnecessary software.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions