Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face a situation where the internal memory of the device is filled with incomprehensible programs that cannot be removed in the standard way. MIUI shells and the new HyperOS are famous for having pre-installed software that not only takes up valuable gigabytes, but also consumes CPU resources in the background, which leads to reduced autonomy and slowdown of the interface, which is especially noticeable on budget models with small amounts of RAM.
Fortunately, the modern Android ecosystem allows you to bypass manufacturer restrictions without the need to obtain superuser rights or flash the device. Using USB debugging and specialized utilities gives you complete control over the list of installed packages. You can get rid of intrusive advertising, Chinese services and duplicate applications, turning your smartphone into a clean and fast tool.
Before we take any drastic measures, we need to understand the difference between user data and system components. Incorrect removal of critical services can lead to unstable operating system performance or even a “brick” of the device. In this guide, we will look at safe cleaning methods that are relevant to all modern models of the brand.
Risk analysis and device preparation
The process of removing system components requires care, as you interfere with the integrity of the operating system. The main danger lies in the removal of packages responsible for basic functionality, such as SystemUI, Phone or Settings. If you deactivate the service necessary to run the graphics shell, the smartphone can go into an endless reboot or stop responding to touch.
⚠️ Note: Removal of system components through ADB It is not irreversible, but requires a computer to recover, but a mistake in selecting a package can make the phone unusable until it is reset or flashed.
The first step should always be to prepare the device. You need to activate the developer mode, which is hidden by default. To do this, go to the Settings → About menu and quickly click 7 times on the MIUI Version (or OS Version). Once the notification “You became a developer” appears, you can proceed to the debugging setting.
In the advanced settings menu, find the Developer section, you need to activate the USB Debugging switch. When you connect to your computer, you'll see a request for debugging permission on your smartphone screen, be sure to confirm it by ticking the "Always Allow from this computer." Without this step, the computer will not be able to send commands to the device.
☑️ Preparation for the removal of system software
Required tools and drivers
To do this successfully, you’ll need a personal computer running Windows, macOS or Linux. ADB mobile client applications exist, but they often run unstable and require additional permissions, so using a PC is the most reliable option. The main tool will be the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) package, which provides an interface to communicate with the device.
There are two main ways to do this: use pre-built graphics shells or work through the command line. For beginners, utilities like Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools or Universal Android Debloater are ideal. These programs have a user-friendly interface where system applications are categorized and security levels are marked for removal, which minimizes the risk of accidental damage to the system.
If you prefer manual control, you will need to download Platform Tools from Google’s official website. After unpacking the archive, add the tool folder to the system environment variables or run the command line directly from this directory. Also make sure that the computer has universal Google USB Driver drivers or Xiaomi-specific drivers installed.
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Use the original. USB-Cheap charging cables often don’t support data transmission, leading to connection errors and the inability to send a command.
Removal through graphical ulites (the safest method)
The most gentle way to clean the system is to use specialized software with a graphical interface. Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools (developer of Szaki) is the de facto standard for owners of devices of this brand. It automatically determines the model of your smartphone, the version of Android and MIUI, offering a list of recommended applications for removal.
Once you connect your smartphone and start the utility, it will ask for permission to debug. In the main window, you will see the Debloat button. Clicking on it will open a list of all installed packages. Utilities of this type often mark safe to remove elements in green, and systemically important ones in red or gray.
The deletion process takes place in a few clicks, and you select unnecessary apps (e.g. Mi Video, Mi Music, Facebook, Netflix) and click the deletion button. The program will generate and send the necessary ADB commands. This eliminates human error and syntax errors, which is especially important for users unfamiliar with the terminal.
Manual removal via ADB command line
For advanced users who want to have full control, manual terminal removal is available, requiring the knowledge of package name, such as the standard Mi Browser browser has the packet name com.android.browser, and the GetApps app store has the packet name com.xiaomi.mipicks.
To get started, open the command line in the ADB tool folder and type in the adb device command to check the connection. If it goes well, you'll see your device's serial number. Then you'll need to log into the device shell by entering the adb shell command. Now you're inside the smartphone file system.
Direct removal is performed by the pm uninstall command -k --user 0 - The name of the package. -k Stores the cache and app data in case you want to restore it (although when deleted for the user) 0 data is usually deleted, and --user 0 It indicates deletion for the main user. It is important not to confuse this command with complete deletion from the system, which would require root rights.
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.videoplayer
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.facebook.katana
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.youtube⚠️ Note: pm uninstall only removes the application for the current user. APK They stay in the system partition, but they stop loading into memory and displaying in the interface, which is safer than completely deleting, and allows you to restore the application by factory reset.
Safe table for removing system packets
Below is a list of common Xiaomi system applications that are most likely to be removed.However, always check the relevance of package names for your particular firmware version, as they may differ from region to region and MIUI versions.
| Packet name | Description of the annex | Security of removal | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|---|
| com.miui.videoplayer | Mi Video (Video player) | Safe. | Lack of built-in player |
| com.miui.player | Music by Mi | Safe. | Lack of built-in player |
| com.xiaomi.scanner | Scanner. QR-code | Safe. | It can be replaced by analogues |
| com.miui.miservice | Services and feedback | Safe. | It is impossible to send an error report |
| com.android.browser | Mi browser | Safe. | We need an alternative browser |
There are packages that are strongly discouraged from being removed without a deep understanding of Android architecture, including the Security Center (com.miui.securitycenter), which manages resolutions and battery, and System UI (com.android.systemui), which is responsible for status bar and navigation, and their removal will cause the interface to fail.
What if the sound or network is lost after the removal?
Recovery of Removed Components and Frequent Errors
Even with secure methods, there may be situations where you need to return a remote application, because we only used the removal method for the current user (--user 0), The original installation file is still there. To recover, you just need to know the name of the package and use the adb shell cmd package install-existing com.example.package command.
It is a common mistake to try to remove applications that seem useless but are dependencies for other services. For example, deleting Google Play Services or system frameworks will cause banking applications, cards and sync to stop working. Always check the destination of a package online before removing it, unless you use automated tools.
Another problem is blocking the debugging process with antivirus or MIUI protection. If your computer stops seeing the device while it's working, check the USB settings. From the developer menu, select USB File Transfer (MTP) mode, and sometimes reconfirming debugging on your smartphone screen with each new cable connection helps.
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The main principle of safe cleaning is that if you are not 100% sure what a particular system package with an obscure name is responsible for, it is better to leave it.Saving 50MB of memory is not worth the risk of losing the phone's performance.