How to restore a remote application on a Xiaomi smartphone: from simple ways to ADB

Deleting an application on Xiaomi sometimes happens by accident – just one careless click in the Settings → Applications menu or after “general cleaning” through the MIUI optimizer. Unlike iOS, where remote programs remain in the App Store library, on Android it is more difficult: the system does not always save the installation history, and some applications (for example, system) can disappear without the possibility of standard recovery.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working ways to return a remote application to Xiaomi, from basic (re-install from Google Play) to advanced (restor via ADB or backup MIUI). Particular attention will be paid to system applications that cannot be installed in the standard way, and nuances for devices with a locked bootloader. All instructions are relevant for MIUI 14/15 and models from Redmi Note 10 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

1.Re-install from Google Play or Mi App Store

The most obvious and quick way is to download the app again, but even here there are pitfalls, especially if you're talking about pre-installed programs (such as Mi Browser, Mi Video or GetApps).

How to check if the application is available for re-installation:

🔍 Open the Google Play Store and type the name of the app in a search, and if it appears in the results, you can install it again.
📱 For Xiaomi system applications, try the Mi App Store ("GetApps" icon with yellow package.
⚙️ If the app is not located, check if it is hidden in the store settings. on Google Play, go to Profile → Settings → General. → Hidden applications.

Important: Some apps (such as Mi Pay or Mi Remote) may be region-specific. If your Xiaomi smartphone is bought in China and you use it in Russia, some of the apps may not appear on Google Play due to geo-blocking, in which case changing the account region or installing via APK will help.

📊 How do you usually restore remote applications?

Through Google Play

Backup copy.

Through APK-file

I'm not restoring it, I'm re-installing it.

2.Recovery through installation history in Google account

If the app was installed via Google Play, it can be returned through your account history, which works even for remote programs, unless they have been completely uninstalled (for example, through ADB or root rights).

Step-by-step:

Open Google Play in your browser on your computer or smartphone.
Click on the profile icon in the upper right corner → Apps and Devices Management.
Go to the Management tab. → Established → Not on the device.
Find the desired application in the list and click “Install”.

Limitations of the method:

❌ It does not work for system applications MIUI (For example, Security or Themes).
❌ If the app was removed more than a year ago, it may not show up in history.
❌ Some programs (such as beta versions) may be hidden from history.

💡

If the app doesn’t show up in Google Play history, try logging in to an account on another device – sometimes the list is updated with a delay.

3. Restore system applications via MIUI Lab or hidden settings

Many Xiaomi pre-installed apps (such as Mi Music, Mi Calculator or Notes) can’t be installed from Google Play, they’re part of the firmware and are only removed via ADB or root, but can be returned via hidden MIUI settings.

Instructions for MIUI 14/15:

Open the Settings app and go to About Phone.
Click the MIUI version 7-10 times until the message “You are a developer!” appears.
Return to the main settings menu and open Additional → Special features → MIUI Lab.
Find the system application recovery option (on some firmware it may be called Reset deleted apps).
Select the desired application from the list and confirm the recovery.

Alternatively, if there is no MIUI Lab:

📱 Install Mi Hidden Settings (requires permission to access settings).
🔧 Go to the System App Restore and select the program you want.

What if the MIUI Lab is not displayed?

On some firmware (especially global ones), the MIUI Lab section may be hidden. In this case, try: 1. Install MIUI bootloader and download the full firmware for your model, then manually extract the APK of the desired application. 2. Use ADB (described in section 5). 3. Reset to factory settings (but this will delete all data!).

4. Restore from MIUI backup or Google Drive

If you regularly back up your remote app using Local Backup in MIUI or Google Drive, the chances of returning the remote app are much higher.

Method 1: Local backup of MIUI

📁 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Backup and reset → Local reservations.
🔄 Select the last copy made before deleting the application and click Restore.
⚠️ Note: When you restore a copy, all application data (such as WhatsApp messages or game progress) will be replaced with those that were at the time of the backup creation.

Method 2: Google Drive (User Apps Only)

☁️ Open the Settings. → Google → Backup.
🔙 Click Recover Data and select the desired copy.
❗ Restriction: Google Drive only stores a list of installed apps, not their data. APK-files are not backed up!

Type of backup	Restores applications	Recovers application data	Root required
Local copy of MIUI	✅ Yes.	✅ Yes.	❌ No.
Google Drive	✅ Yes, list only)	❌ No.	❌ No.
TWRP-backup	✅ Yes.	✅ Yes.	✅ Yes.
Titanium Backup	✅ Yes.	✅ Yes.	✅ Yes.

💡

Local backup MIUI is the only way to return both the application itself and its data without root rights.

5. Installation via ADB (for system applications)

If the application has been completely removed (for example, through ADB or root-rights), standard methods will not help, in which case you will have to install it manually through Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which is suitable for power users and requires a PC.

Step-by-step:

Download ADB Tools and unpack it on your computer.
Enable USB debugging on your smartphone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (7 taps) → Additional → For developers → Debugging over USB.
Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.
Download. APK-file of the desired application (for example, with APKCombo or APKMirror).
Open the command line in the folder with ADB and execute: adb install -r -d name file.apk Flag -r allows you to reinstall the application, and -d - downgrade the version if necessary.

System applications (e.g. Mi Security) may require an additional command:

adb shell cmd package install-existing com.miui.securitycenter

Where com.miui.securitycenter is the batch name of the application (you can find out through the App Inspector).

⚠️ Attention: Installation of system APK without root rights can lead to the error “App not installed”. In this case, you will need to unlock the bootloader and get root access, which voids the warranty Xiaomi.

Download ADB Tools on PC

Enable debugging by USB on a smartphone

Download APK-Application file (version must conform to the MIUI)

Connect your phone to your PC via the original cable

Check that drivers ADB (There should be no exclamation marks in the Device Manager)-->

6.Manual APK extraction from MIUI firmware

If the application was part of the firmware (e.g. Mi Home or Mi Fit), it can be extracted from the official MIUI package.

Instructions:

Download the full firmware for your model from the official Xiaomi website (select the version corresponding to your current MIUI).
Unpack the.tgz file (e.g., via 7-Zip), then extract the.zip archive.
Inside, find the system/priv-app or system/app folder – this is where the APKs of system applications are stored.
Copy the desired APK to your phone and install it through any file manager (e.g. Mi File Explorer).

Important: Install only those APKs that are intended for your version of MIUI. Installing files from another firmware can cause errors or conflicts.

If you are not sure what APK you need, look for the names:

📱 MiuiCalculator.apk — calculator;
🎵 MiuiMusic.apk — music-player;
📝 MiuiNotes.apk — note-book.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When you restore remote applications, Xiaomi users often face typical problems, and let's look at the most common ones and how to solve them.

Error 1: “Application not installed” (when installing APK)

🔹 Reason: Incompatibility of the version APK current MIUI or processor architecture (arm64/armeabi).
🔹 Solution: Download APK from the APKMirror website, choosing the right architecture (for modern Xiaomi it is the same). arm64-v8a).

Error 2: Application is installed but not opened

🔹 Reason: No dependent libraries or services (e.g. Miui Payment Service).
🔹 Solution: Set up all related APK from the same firmware or use it ADB To do this, adb shell pm install-existing --user 0 com.xiaomi.payment

Error 3: Not displayed in MIUI Lab

🔹 Reason: Restore is disabled in your firmware version (often on Global) ROM).
🔹 Solution: Re-fly the phone to EU ROM (For example, xiaomi.eu or use ADB.

⚠️ Note: If you are restoring a system application on Xiaomi with a locked bootloader, some methods (e.g. installing through a system application) TWRP) This will require unlocking through the Mi Unlock Tool, which takes up to 720 hours of waiting.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

Can I restore a remote application without a computer?

Yes, if it was installed through Google Play or Mi App Store.Try:Find it in installation history (play.google.com) → Profile → Application management → Not on the device. APK through file manager (if you have backup) Restore from local backup MIUI (Settings → Backups. System applications are PC-independent, and they will. ADB root.

How to find out the batch name of the application for ADB?

There are a number of ways: 🔍 Use App Inspector (shows package name for all installed programs). 📱 On root-right devices, you can execute the command: adb shell pm list packages | grep "miui" (replace miui with part of the app name). 🌐 Search for the name in the database APKMirror - in URL or description usually specified package.

What to do if after recovery the application is constantly dyed?

This is a typical problem when installing an APK from another version of MIUI or architecture. Try: Remove the application and install the version corresponding to your firmware (check in Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version). Clear the cache and data through Settings → Apps → [name] → Storage. If the application is system, follow the command: adb shell pm clear com.miui.example (replace com.miui.example with the real package). If nothing helps, only reset to factory settings (with loss of data).

Can I recover the data of the remote application (for example, save in-game)?

It depends on the type of backup: ✅ Local copy. MIUI — restores both the application and its data (for example, progress in games or settings). ❌ Google Drive – only stores the list of apps, not their data. ✅ Titanium Backup (requires root) - restores and APK, data. ❌ Installation APK manually, data will be lost if there was no separate backup. For games with cloud-based saves (e.g., through Google Play Games), data will be automatically recovered after re-installation.

How to prevent the accidental removal of applications on Xiaomi?

V MIUI There are several ways to protect: 🔒 Disable the Optimizer: Go to Settings → Annexes → Optimization → Disable (this will prevent automatic removal of "unnecessary" programs). 🛡️ Block the application: In the application menu (Settings) → Annexes → [Title]) press Lock - this will prevent its deletion without password. 📱 Hide system applications: Mi Hidden Settings allows you to disable the display of system programs in the list to delete. It is also recommended to regularly back up through Settings → Backup.