How to Remove Embedded Apps on Xiaomi: 5 Proven Methods

Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the problem of embedded apps that cannot be removed in standard ways. MIUI out of the box contains dozens of services — from Mi Browser to Mi Video — that take up memory, consume battery power and display ads. But can they be safely removed?

Many users are afraid to break the phone by deleting system files. Indeed, careless actions can lead to a cyclical reboot or loss of functionality. However, there are legitimate methods that allow you to uninstall unnecessary software without harming the system. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods, from simple (no root) to advanced (with superuser rights), and also tell you which applications should not be touched under any circumstances.

It's important to understand that removing system applications is a firmware interference, and even if you follow the instructions, there's always a risk of bugs, so before you do any manipulation, back up your data and make sure you know how to get your phone back to factory settings.

Why Xiaomi’s built-in apps can’t be removed in the standard way

In MIUI, all pre-installed programs fall into two categories:

• 📱 Custom apps – those that can be removed through the Settings menu → Apps: These are usually third-party services like Facebook or Netflix that Xiaomi installs through partnership agreements.
• 🔧 System applications – part of firmware integrated at the level /system/priv-app or /system/app. They are protected from removal because they are related to work. MIUI.

The manufacturer blocks the removal of system programs for several reasons:

1. Stability: Some services (such as MiuiDaemon) are responsible for updates, synchronization, or security.
2. Monetization: Apps like Mi Browser or Mi Music show ads that generate revenue for the company.
3. Ecosystem: Xiaomi aims to keep users in its ecosystem (e.g., through Mi Cloud or Mi Home).

But not all systems are critical, like the Mi Calculator or Mi Notes, which can be replaced with Google Play, and Mi Video is not needed by many users, and it's the apps that most people want to remove.

Method 1: Disabling embedded applications without removing (the safest method)

If you don't need radical measures, you just need to turn off unnecessary programs, which won't free up memory, but will stop them from working in the background and hide icons from the menu.

Instructions:

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 (such as Mi Browser) and open the page.
4. Click Disable (if the button is inactive, the application is critical to the system).

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Note: Disabling some services (e.g. MiuiSystemUI or SecurityCenter) may cause interface or notifications to crash. Check the name of the application in our table below before disabling.

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ Does not require root rights or ADB.
• ✅ It's easy to put it back.
• ✅ Minimum risk to the system.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Applications remain in the phone memory.
• ❌ Some services (such as MiuiDaemon) cannot be disabled.

Method 2: Remove via ADB (without root, but with a computer)

ADB (Android Debug Bridge) is an Android debugging tool that allows you to manage system files via the command line, and it can remove embedded applications without obtaining root rights, but you need to connect to a PC.

Step-by-step:

1. Download Google’s Platform Tools and unpack the archive.
2. Turn on the phone Developer Mode (7 times tap the MIUI version in Settings → About phone).
3. Activate Debugging by USB in the developer menu.
4. Connect your phone to your PC, open the command line in the adb.exe folder and type in: adb devices (the name of your device should appear).
5. Enter the command to delete (example for Mi Browser): adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.android.browser

🔹 List of popular removal packages:

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Note: Deleting the application files via ADB does not erase the application files completely - they remain in the system, but become inaccessible to the current user. When you reset the phone to factory settings, all the deleted programs will return.

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Before deleting through ADB, back up the application list with the adb shell pm list packages -f command. This will help restore the deleted ones if something goes wrong.

Method 3: Use MIUI Optimizer (only for firmware with unlocked bootloader)

MIUI Optimizer is a module for Magisk that allows you to manage system applications flexibly, including removing them completely.

How to use:

1. Install Magisk (requires unlocking the bootloader).
2. Download the MIUI Optimizer module and install it through Magisk Manager.
3. Reboot the phone.
4. Open Settings → MIUI Optimizer → Application Management.
5. Select unnecessary programs and click Delete.

The advantages of MIUI Optimizer:

• 🔄 Ability to restore remote applications in one click.
• 🛡️ Protection against the removal of critical services (module blocks dangerous activities).
• 📦 Support for batch removal (you can delete multiple applications at once).

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Warning: If the phone starts to slow down or restart after being removed via MIUI Optimizer, return the deleted packets and restart the device, 90% of the time this solves the problem.

Method 4: Manual removal via TWRP (for power users)

TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project) is a custom recovery that allows you to access system partitions of the phone. The method requires an unlocked bootloader and a TWRP installed, but gives you maximum control over the system.

Instructions:

1. Install TWRP for your Xiaomi model (see instructions on XDA Developers).
2. Load the phone into TWRP mode (usually pinch Power + Volume up).
3. Go to Advanced → File Manager.
4. Open /system/priv-app//system/app/ and delete folders with unnecessary applications (e.g. Browser for Mi Browser).
5. Reboot the phone.

🔹 What files can be deleted:

• 📁 Folders with application names (for example, Music, VideoPlayer).
• 📄 Files with the.apk and.odex extensions in the specified folders.

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Note: Delete files via TWRP is irreversible. If you delete a critical service (e.g. MiuiSystemUI.apk), the phone may stop loading. Always back up the /system partition before you change!

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TWRP removal is the most radical method, and only use it if you know exactly what you're doing and you have a backup to recover.

Method 5: Using third-party utilities (e.g. Debloater)

For users who don’t want to mess with ADB or TWRP, there are special utilities like Universal Android Debloater or MIUI Debloater Tool. They provide a graphical interface for managing system applications.

Example of Universal Android Debloater:

1. Download the program from GitHub.
2. Connect your phone to USB with debugging enabled.
3. Run the utility and wait for the list of packages to load.
4. Check the unneeded apps and click Uninstall selected packages.

The benefits of utilities:

• 🖥️ Convenient interface (no need to remember commands) ADB).
• 🔍 The ability to filter packages by category (e.g., only Xiaomi or Google).
• 📋 Automatic Log Creation (Can be Canceled).

Cons:

• 💻 Requires a computer (no mobile version).
• ⚠️ Risk of removing something important (programs don’t always block dangerous activities).

What Xiaomi apps cannot be removed

Not all system programs are safe to remove, and here are some critical services that will cause your phone to fail:

🔹 How to check if the application can be removed:

• Look at its description in Settings → Apps. If it says "System", be careful.
• Search for information about the package in forums (e.g. 4PDA).
• Before removing the application for a day – if the phone is stable, you can try to remove.

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If you're not sure, don't delete! Better disable the app or hide its icon through the launcher than risk the phone's performance.

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing Xiaomi's built-in apps