Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face a situation where, after updating the operating system or resetting to factory settings, some important programs disappear from the desktop or become unavailable for launch. This is not a mistake, but a feature of the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS, which allows the system to deactivate rarely used components to save resources. However, if you urgently need access to a browser, calculator or specific service from Google, it must be forcibly activated through the settings menu.
The process of restoring functionality can vary depending on the version of Android and the regional firmware installed on your device. In some cases, the app icon is simply hidden from view, in others it requires full activation through the system manager. Understanding how to turn the disabled application on Xiomi Android will help avoid panic and unnecessary trips to the service center, as the problem is solved by software methods in a couple of minutes.
Next, we’ll take a look at all the activation options available, from standard interface settings to advanced USB debugging methods, and learn why the system blocks certain components from starting and how to safely circumvent these limitations without losing warranty.
Find hidden and disabled programs in settings
The first and most logical step is to check the standard application management menu. The MIUI shell has a built-in filter that hides system processes, but allows you to manage user and some pre-installed services. To get there, open Settings and go to the Applications section, then select All Apps. Here you can see the full list of installed software.
At the top of the screen, you'll see three dots or a menu icon that will open the drop-down list of options when you click on it. You need to find and activate the Show System Processes switch. Without this action, many important components, such as Downloads, File Manager, or Google Play services, can remain hidden from the user's eyes even if they are formally enabled.
Once you turn on the system processes display, scroll through the list and find the app you want. If it's disabled, the name will be next to the "Disable" status or the "Enable" button, and clicking on this button will trigger the activation process, after which the icon must return to the desktop or in the menu of all applications.
- 📱 Open the smartphone settings and go to the "Apps" section».
- 👁️ Click on three dots in the corner and select Show System Processes».
- 🔍 Find the required program in the alphabetical list.
- ⚡ Click the “Enable” button and wait for the process to complete.
⚠️ Warning: Do not force unknown system services with names like Android System, Mi Service Framework, or Cloud Service unless you are sure of their purpose.
Activation through the menu of special features
Sometimes the app doesn’t show up in the general list or the power button is locked (gray). In such cases, it’s worth checking the special features section, where some Xiaomi features can be deactivated by default. Go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Special features.
This is where you have settings for people with disabilities, but also important system utilities, like Security or Memory Cleans, sometimes hide in this section, and if you see the right app in the Downloaded Services or Installed Services list, just put the slider in the active position.
The system can request confirmation of action, warning that the application will access data on the screen or other functions. This is standard Android security procedure, and for regular applications Redmi or Poco, it is completely safe.
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If the power slider returns to its original position, try restarting the smartphone and repeating the procedure. Sometimes background processes block the change of settings before restarting the system.
Importantly, new versions of HyperOS may have changed the menu structure, so if you don't find the right item, search by settings. Type the app name into the search bar at the top of the settings screen, which often leads directly to the right switch, bypassing complex menus.
Use of Developer Mode and ADB
For advanced users who have not been helped by standard methods, there is a more powerful tool, the developer mode and the command line ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to control the state of packets at a deep level, forcibly including even those components that are hidden from the average user.
First, activate the developer mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and click 7 times in a row on MIUI Version / OS Version. After the notification “You became a developer” appears, go back to the settings menu, find the Advanced Settings → For developers and turn on the Debugging on USB.
adb shell pm enable --user 0 com.android.browserIn the example above, the command turns on the browser, but you need to substitute the batch name of your application. To find out the exact name of the package, you can use the command adb shell pm list packages or install the analyzer application from the Play Market store. Be extremely careful: improper use of commands can disrupt the system.
- 💻 Connect your phone to your computer through high-quality USB-cable.
- 🔧 Install the drivers. ADB and the Tools platform on PC.
- 📱 Allow debugging on the pop-up window on the smartphone screen.
- ⌨️ Enter the switch on command to the console on the computer.
⚠️ Attention: Use ADB Turning on critical system components that have been specifically disabled by the manufacturer can cause a bootloop (cyclic reboot.
List of useful ADB commands for package management
Solving problems with Google and Google Play services
Google services, which are critical on global firmware versions and may be disabled or missing in Chinese ones, are worth noting. If you don’t have a Google Play Store, YouTube or Gmail, the problem often lies in the disabled basic Google Play Services service.
For global versions of firmware (Global) ROM) It is easy to enable services through the app menu, as described in the first sections. ROM) And you've installed Google services manually, and they may conflict with the system, so try to clear the service data: Settings. → Annexes → All applications → Google Play Services → Clean up → All data.
Once the data and cache are cleaned, restart the device. The system will reinitiate the services and they should work correctly. If the problem persists, it is possible that the versions of the frameworks do not match the Android version, and you will need to update the components through the Play Market store.
☑️ Diagnostics of Google services
Comparison of methods for incorporating applications
The choice of method depends on your technical background and the specific situation. Below is a table that will help determine the best way to solve the problem for your case.
| Method | Difficulty | Risks. | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Through the app menu | Low. | Minimum | High (for user software) |
| Special facilities | Low. | Minimum | Medium (for service utilities) |
| ADB (Command Line) | Tall. | Medium/High | Maximum (for hidden system) |
| Resetting settings | Medium | Loss of data | High (radical decision) |
As you can see from the table, for most users, standard settings are enough, and ADB is only justified in difficult cases where other methods are powerless, and you shouldn't use complex tools where you can do with a simple switch.
What to do if the application is not included
There are times when the Enable button is inactive or the app is immediately disabled back, which may indicate damage to the application files or conflict versions. First try to update the problematic component through the GetApps store or Play Market.
If the update doesn't work, you can try to remove the updates for that application. Go to the program properties, click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Remove Updates. After that, the system will roll back to the factory version of the component, which can then be activated normally.
As a last resort, if a critical system application (such as Phone or Messages) doesn’t work, a full Wipe Data reset may be required.Be sure to back up important contacts and photos before this procedure, as all information from the phone will be deleted.
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If standard methods don't work, the problem may not be settings, but damage to the system partition, in which case (the most effective) way is to flash the device through the Mi Flash Tool.