How to return a disabled application to Xiaomi: all working methods

Have you accidentally or intentionally disabled a system/third-party app on Xiaomi and now you can’t find it on the menu? or after the MIUI update, important software disappeared from the installed list? This situation is familiar to many owners of the brand’s smartphones — especially those who actively optimize autoboot or clean cache through Settings → Apps. Unlike complete deletion, disabled programs do not take up space in memory, but do not show up in the launcher. They can be returned — and we will show how to do this on Redmi, POCO and Mi series.

In this article, you will find 5 proven ways to turn the app back on, from standard MIUI 14/15 tools to advanced ADB methods and hidden menus. We will also look at why some programs (such as com.miui.analytics or com.xiaomi.midrop) are blocked automatically, and how to avoid them being turned off again. All instructions are relevant for Android 12-14 devices with the MIUI shell (including global and Chinese versions of the firmware).

Why apps are turned off on Xiaomi

Xiaomi’s app shutdowns are for three main reasons, and only one of them is related to user actions.

• 🔧 Manually disable via settings. The user clicked “Disable” in the app information menu (for example, to stop background activity of com.miui.daemon or com.android.vending.
• 🤖 Automatic optimization MIUI. The system can deactivate underutilized applications to save battery life (Battery function) → Optimization: This is most often done with pre-installed services like Mi Video, Mi Music or GetApps.
• 🔄 Conflict after the update. MIUI (For example, 13 to 14, some system components may be disabled due to changes in security policies, such as com.miui.securitycenter or com.lbe.security.miui.

It is important to distinguish between disabling and uninstalling: in the first case, the program data is saved, in the second case, it is erased completely. If you see an application in the Settings list → Apps → All applications, but it is marked as “Disable” – it can be restored. If the program is not even there, you will need to reinstall (for system utilities – only through ADB or custom firmware).

⚠️ Note: Some system applications (e.g., com.miui.systemAdSolution) are blocked MIUI They're forced to turn on, and they can cause malfunctions in the smartphone.

Method 1: Enable through standard MIUI settings

The easiest method is to use built-in shell tools, which is suitable for all user applications and parts of the system (except for critical services like com.android.phone).

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Show All Apps (or All Apps depending on the MIUI version).
3. In the list, find the application that is disabled – it will be marked in gray and the inscription “Disabled”.
4. Click on it, then select Enable (or Activate).
5. Confirm the action in the dialog window.

If the Enable button is inactive or not, the application is a protected system component, in which case one of the alternative methods (see below) will be required. Also check if the application is hidden in the launcher - for this:

• 📱 Click the empty space on the main screen and select Launcher Settings.
• 🔍 Go to Hidden Apps and make sure the program you want isn’t on this list.

Method 2: Use the hidden menu "Special features"

Some system applications (e.g. com.miui.accessibility or com.android.settings) can be enabled through the feature menu, which works even if the program doesn't appear in the main MIUI list.

1. Open Settings → Special features → Special features services.
2. Enable the slider Allow access to services (if it is disabled).
3. Scroll down the list and find the app that is disabled, which may be called differently than in the launcher (for example, Mi Share will appear as com.xiaomi.midrop).
4. Activate the switch next to the name and confirm the action.

This method is especially useful for returning utilities related to:

• 🔊 Sound and vibration (e.g. com.android.soundrecorder).
• 👁️ Availability features (e.g. com.google.android.marvin.talkback).
• 🔄 Data synchronization (e.g. com.miui.cloudservice).

⚠️ Note: Enabling some services through special features may lead to conflict with other features MIUI. For example, activating com.miui.voiceassist sometimes blocks Google’s voice assistant from working.

Method 3: Recovery through ADB (for system applications)

If the standard methods did not work, and the application is system (for example, com.miui.home – launcher). MIUI), It can be returned with the help of ADB (Android Debug Bridge. This requires you to connect your smartphone to your PC and enable debugging. Be careful: wrong commands ADB They may disrupt the system!

Step-by-step:

1. Activate USB debugging: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version to unlock the developer menu. Go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers and turn on USB Debugging.

Connect your smartphone to your PC

Open the command line (Windows) or the terminal (macOS/Linux)

adb shell pm enable <name packet application>

For example, to enable the MIUI launcher:

adb shell pm enable com.miui.home

adb reboot

To find out the exact name of the package of the disabled application, use the command:

adb shell pm list packages -d

It will display a list of all deactivated programs, copy the desired name (for example, com.xiaomi.scanner for the document scanner), and substitute the switching command.

💡

If after the command adb shell pm enable there is an error "Operation not allowed", try to first unlock the bootloader through the official Xiaomi website. SMS-Unlock code (usually 3-7 days).

Method 4: Reset the launcher settings (for hidden icons)

Sometimes the app is not disabled, but simply hidden in the launcher due to a failure in the MIUI Launcher settings. This most often happens after updating or using third-party themes.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the MIUI Launcher (or com.miui.home) and tap on it.
3. Select Warehouse → Clear the data (no cache!).
4. Confirm the action. The launcher will restart and all icons will return to their original state.

Instructions:

1. Download. APK-file on a smartphone (for example, through a browser).
2. Open the file with a file manager (e.g. Files by Google or standard Mi File Explorer).
3. Click Install and confirm replacement of the existing package.
4. After installation, restart the device.

For system applications (such as Mi Video or Mi Calculator), this method will not work – they can only be reinstalled via ADB or custom recovery (TWRP).

• 🚫 Don't install it. APK from unreliable sources – this can lead to infection with viruses.
• 🔄 If the version APK More than the one that was disabled, conflicts may arise.
• 📦 Some applications (such as Google Play Services) require the installation of all dependent packages.

How to prevent automatic disabling of applications

To avoid re-disabling important programs, configure MIUI according to the following rules:

1. Turn off battery optimization: Go to Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization. Find the right app and select No Limits.
2. Add autoboot exceptions: Open Settings → Apps → Autoboot. Enable the slider for mission-critical programs (such as instant messengers or banking apps).

Stop MIUI from turning off background processes

• In Settings → Applications → Application Management, select the desired one.
• Slip the battery → Background activity and set without restrictions.

We also recommend:

• 🛡️ Regularly check the list of disabled applications through the command adb shell pm list packages -d.
• 📵 Avoid using memory cleaners like Clean Master or Security – they often turn off useful services.
• 🔄 Update MIUI to the latest stable version - in new firmwares bugs with spontaneous disabling of programs are fixed.

Frequent Questions (FAQ)