Users of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face a situation where the necessary system or pre-installed application disappears from the menu or ceases to function after cleaning the memory. This can be due to automatic optimizers MIUI or HyperOS, which aggressively unload background processes to save battery power, and can also be caused by an accidental action of the owner or a failure in the launcher.
Recovery requires understanding the architecture of the Android operating system. Unlike a simple uninstallation, completely disabling a component hides its label and blocks the start of services. There are methods to return functionality that range from standard settings to using the engineering menu and command line.
In this guide, we will discuss all the current ways to activate hidden components, learn how to safely return deleted system files without losing warranty and data. It is important to follow the sequence of actions, since interfering with system processes requires caution.
Search and activate through standard settings
The first step should always be to check the basic settings of the smartphone. Android provides built-in functionality to manage the status of each package installed. Often the application is not removed, but simply frozen or hidden from the user interface.
To start, you need to go to Settings and find the App item. In some firmware versions, this section may be called All Apps or Application Management, and it displays a complete list of programs, including system services, that are usually hidden from the eyes of the average user.
⚠️ Warning: Do not force applications called SystemUI, Settings or Security to stop or change settings unless you are sure of their purpose.
Find the program you want in the list and click on it. If the Enable button is active (not grey), then the application is simply disabled. Click on it to start the activation process. If the button is missing or inactive, proceed to the following methods.
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Use search within the application list by typing the first letters of the name so you don’t scroll through hundreds of system processes manually.
Using the Hidden Applications Menu
The MIUI shell and the new HyperOS have a privacy-enhancing feature, so if a specific service's label is missing, it may have been moved to a secure folder, often in a gallery, a voice recorder, or a bank client.
To check this version, open the standard Security app (green zipper icon). In the tool menu, find Hide the app. The system will ask you to enter a pattern lock or password if this feature has been previously activated.
- 🔍 Open the Security app on the home screen.
- 📂 Scroll down to the Hide Apps section.
- 🔓 Enter the set password or fingerprint.
- ✅ Find the desired item in the list and switch the switch to the position "Included".
After these steps are done, the shortcut should appear on the desktop, if the application is on the hidden list but the switch is turned off, activating it will return the visibility of the icon, and in some cases, a launcher reboot is required to apply the changes.
Activation through developer mode and debugging via USB
If standard methods don't work, you'll need access to advanced system settings, which requires activating developer mode, which is a secure procedure that allows you to access all of your Android settings, including service management.
Go to Settings → About your phone. Find the MIUI version or OS version bar and quickly click on it 7-10 times in a row. A pop-up notice will appear that you have become a developer. Then a new section will appear in the settings menu Additional → For developers.
In the developer menu, find Do not turn off the screen or Log to make sure the menu is available. However, activation of disabled system components often requires activation of the Debugging over USB.
⚠️ Attention: Including debugging by USB Makes the device visible to the connected computer. Do not connect the phone to public charging stations with activated debugging to avoid data theft.
This menu may also include the option of View Services or Running Services, where you can see what processes are running and force the necessary services to run if they have been stopped by the system.
Using ADB for forced inclusion
The most powerful tool is Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which allows you to send commands directly to the operating system, bypassing the GUI, and is necessary if the application is removed for user 0 or deeply frozen.
You will need a computer (Windows, macOS or Linux) to work), USB-Xiaomi cable and installed drivers. download the platform SDK Platform Tools from the official developer site. Connect your smartphone, allow debugging in the pop-up window on the screen.
adb shell pm list packages -dThis command will display a list of all disabled packets. Find the name of the application you want (e.g. com.miui.calculator). To enable it, use the following command:
adb shell pm enable --user 0 com.miui.calculator☑️ Preparation for work with ADB
If the command is successful, the system will respond with a message Package enabled, the application will appear instantly on the menu, and this method is universal and works even when the system interface is damaged.
Table of common system packages
When working with the command line or searching in the settings, it is important to know the exact technical name of the component. Below is a table of the main Xiaomi system applications that users often try to restore.
| Title of the annex | Technical name of the package | Function | Importance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calculator | com.miui.calculator | Calculations | Low. |
| Conductor | com.miui.fileexplorer | File system | Tall. |
| Topics | com.miui.theme | Personalization | Medium |
| Security | com.miui.securitycenter | System protection | Critical |
| gallery | com.miui.gallery | Viewing photo | Tall. |
Knowing the exact name of the com.miui.securitycenter package is critical, as removing or disabling it can disrupt the entire interface.
Resetting launcher and system settings
In some cases, the problem is not the application itself, but the error of the desktop cache (launcher). If the shortcut is missing, but the application is enabled in the settings, cleaning the launcher data will help.
Go to Settings → Applications → All apps. Find System Launcher (or Launcher) on the list. Click Clean → Clear Everything. Desktop will reboot and icons will return to factory location.
What to do if the launcher does not start?
If that didn’t work, consider a full reset, which is an extreme measure that will delete all user data, and make sure to back up your Xiaomi Cloud or your computer before doing so.
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Cleaning up the launcher data does not delete your photos or contacts, but resets the location of icons and widgets on desktops.