How to return a remote application on a Xiaomi smartphone: all working methods

You've deleted the app you want on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO -- and you don't know how to get it back? It's familiar to many people, like accidentally clicking, deleting the cache, or even "optimizing" it with MIUI, which has left important programs missing. Fortunately, you can restore the remote app on Xiaomi's Android devices in a number of ways, from simple (via Google Play) to advanced (using ADB or backups).

In this article, we will discuss 5 proven methods, including recovery through MIUI Settings, download history of the Play Store, third-party backups and even manual installation of.apk files. We will focus on the nuances of the MIUI 14/15 firmware and models with limited access to system folders (for example, Xiaomi 13/14 or Redmi Note 12).

1.Recovery through Google Play download history

The fastest and most versatile way is to use the installation history in Google Play, which is suitable for all applications downloaded through the official store, including games and utilities, the main condition is that you must be logged in to the same Google account from which you previously installed the program.

How it works:

• 📱 Open Google Play Store on your Xiaomi.
• 👤 Slip on the profile avatar in the upper right corner → Select Application and Device Management.
• 🔍 Go to the Control tab. → Established → Not installed (or the Library in new versions).
• 🔄 Find the desired application in the list and click Install.

If the application is not displayed in the library, check:

• 🔒 It may have been removed from your account (for example, if you bought it from a different Google profile).
• 🌐 The application could have been removed from the Play Store by the developer (relevant for older versions of programs).
• 📵 The device has disabled the Internet or blocked access to Google services (relevant to Chinese firmware Xiaomi).

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If the app is not in the library, try manually entering its name in the Play Store search. Sometimes the system does not show programs in the “Not Installed” section, but they are available for re-download.

2. Return via MIUI settings (for preinstalled applications)

Many MIUI system applications (e.g. Mi Video, Mi Music, GetApps) cannot be completely removed, they are only disabled or hidden.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the upper right corner, tap on the three-point menu → select Show All Apps (or Hidden Apps in newer versions of MIUI).
3. Find the app you want in the list (e.g. com.miui.videoplayer for Mi Video).
4. Click Enable or Show (if the button is inactive, the application has been removed completely).

Important: This method only works for built-in MIUI applications. If you manually delete a.apk file through Root or ADB, you won’t be able to return it.

3. Restore from MIUI or Google backup

If you backed up before you uninstall the app, the chances of recovery are significantly higher. MIUI offers two types of backups:

• 🔄 Local copy (retained in device memory or on the device) SD-map).
• ☁️ Cloud Backup (in Mi Cloud or Google Drive).

How to recover from a local copy:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
2. Select the last backup (check the date of creation – it must be before the application is removed).
3. Click Restore and tick the Applications (or select a specific application if there is such an option).
4. Confirm the recovery and wait for the process to complete (the device will restart).

For cloud recovery:

• 🔗 Mi Cloud: Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Recovery from backup.
• 🔗 Google Drive: When you first set up your device or through Settings → Google → Backup.

Never | Once a month | Before the MIUI update | Only when you reset | I don't know how to do it-->

Manual installation APK-file (for manually removed applications)

If the application has been removed completely (for example, via Root access or ADB), and it is not in the Play Store, there is still the option with manual installation of the.apk file.

• 📦 Older versions of apps removed from Google Play.
• 🔧 System utilities MIUI, which cannot be re-installed in a standard manner.
• 🚫 Blocked regional programs (e.g. Mi Pay for other countries).

Where to get.apk:

• 🔍 Official sources: developer site or APKMirror (check hash files!).
• 📁 Backups from other devices (e.g., via Mi) PC Suite).
• 💾 Firmware extraction MIUI (system-application).

How to determine:

1. Download the.apk file to your device (for example, to the Downloads folder).
2. Open any file manager (such as Mi File Explorer) and find the downloaded file.
3. Put it on him. → press Set.
4. If the “Installation locked” error appears, allow installation from unknown sources in Settings → Applications → Special Access → Install unknown applications.

🔹 Download files only from verified sources (APKMirror, official sites).

🔹 Compare the hash file (MD5/SHA-1) original.

🔹 Check the permissions of the application (no suspicious requests should be made).

🔹 Install antivirus (such as Mi Security) to scan the file.-->

5. Recovery through ADB (for power users)

If an application has been removed with Root or ADB permissions and standard methods don’t work, you can try to return it using the command line.

• 🖥️ Computers with installed ADB and Xiaomi drivers.
• 🔌 Included debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Tap 7 times on the version MIUI → return to → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 📝 The exact name of the application package (e.g. com.android.chrome for Google Chrome).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect Xiaomi to your PC and allow debugging over USB.
2. Open the command line (cmd) and enter:

adb shell


pm list packages -u

This command will show you a list of packets that have been disabled (but not deleted!) and if you have an app on the list, turn it on:

pm install-existing com.name.package

If the package is completely removed, try reinstalling it from the backup:

adb install path/to/file.apk

Warning: misuse of ADB can cause MIUI to malfunction.Do not remove or modify system packages without understanding the consequences!

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The ADB method is the only way to return system applications removed with Root rights, but it requires technical knowledge and can disrupt firmware stability.

Comparison of recovery methods

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When you restore remote applications, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ways to solve them:

⚠️ Note: If the application does not start after recovery or gives an error, check its permissions in Settings → Annexes → [name] → Permits, maybe after the reinstallation, they dropped.

Error 1: “The app is not compatible with your device” in the Play Store.

• 🔹 Check if the app is blocked for your Xiaomi model (for example, some programs do not support Redmi with a Mediatek processor).
• 🔹 Update Google Play Services to Settings → Annexes → Google Play Services → Update.
• 🔹 Try downloading.apk from a third-party source (see section 4).

Error 2: The app has recovered, but the data is lost.

• 🔹 If you have autosynchronization enabled (for example, for games through Google Play Games), try logging in to your account within the app.
• 🔹 Check if there is a backup of data in Settings → Google → Backup.
• 🔹 For instant messengers (such as WhatsApp), check if the backup of chats is saved in Google Drive.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI Global Stable: Some system applications (such as Mi Video or Mi Music) can automatically update to the latest version after recovery. If you need a particular version, disable auto-update in the Play Store.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions