How to Freeze an App on Xiaomi: The Complete Guide to 2026

Freezing apps on Xiaomi smartphones is an effective way to disable unnecessary services that consume battery power, take up RAM and collect data in the background. Unlike standard deletion, freezing allows you to completely stop the program, but save its data and settings in case it is needed later. MIUI, where many system applications (e.g., com.miui.analytics or com.xiaomi.midrop) cannot be removed without root rights.

In this article, we will analyze three proven ways to freeze applications on Xiaomi, Redmi and other platforms. POCO: through embedded tools MIUI, assisted ADB (without rooting rights) and using third-party utilities like App Freezer or Ice Box. Each method has its pros and cons - for example, ADB requires a PC connection, but works on all firmware versions, and third-party applications may conflict with security MIUI 14/15. We will also tell you which applications can be frozen without risking system stability, and which ones should not be touched.

Before you start, consider that freezing system components (such as com.android.phone or com.miui.securitycenter) can cause malfunctions in the phone. If you are not sure about the purpose of the application, you should first check its description in Settings. → Annexes → Application management or use APKMirror to analyze the package.

1 Freezing through built-in tools MIUI (rootless)

Xiaomi has designed the ability to disable applications directly in the system settings, but with some limitations, which is suitable for most user applications (such as social networks or games), but will not freeze critical system services.

1. Open “Settings” and go to the Applications → Application Management section.
2. Select the app you want from the list. If it's not in the main menu, click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Show All Apps.
3. Click the Disable button (it will only appear for those applications that support this feature).
4. Confirm the action in the window that appears. The application will be stopped, and its icon will disappear from the menu (but will remain in the list "Disconnected").

⚠️ Note: This method is not suitable for system applications MIUI — The disable button will be inactive for them, and after disabling some functions (for example, synchronization with Mi Account) may not work properly.

Backup of important application data

Make sure the application is not connected to system services

Check if there are any updates to MIUI (Some restrictions are removed in new versions)

Remember the name of the application package (e.g. com.facebook.katana for Facebook)-->

If the Disconnect button is missing, try an alternative path:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Management.
2. Select the application and set the mode to Limit background activity for it.
3. Go back to App Management and try to disable it again.

Built-in MIUI tools

ADB-team

App Freezer (Ice Box, App Freezer)

Don't freeze apps-->

2. Freezing through ADB (rootless)

Method by using ADB (Android Debug Bridge allows you to freeze any application, including system, without the need to obtain root rights. MIUI (12 to 15), but requires a smartphone to be connected to a computer, an advantage of the method is that frozen apps will not receive updates through Google Play, which is important to prevent them from spontaneously “freezing».

First, prepare everything you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB Tools (available for Windows, macOS and Linux).
• 📱 Xiaomi smartphone with enabled debugging USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press to activate the developer mode, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original to avoid connection problems).

Now, follow the following steps:

1. Connect your smartphone to your computer and confirm the permission to debug USB phone-screen.
2. Open the command prompt (or Terminal on macOS/Linux) and type:

adb devices

If the device is determined (its serial number will appear), move on.

1. To freeze the application, use the command:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 title.package

For example, to turn off Facebook:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.facebook.katana

1. Use: For defrosting:

adb shell pm enable name.package

💡 Useful tip: To find out the name of the package of the desired application, use the command:

adb shell pm list packages | grep "keyword"

For example, to search for all Google apps:

adb shell pm list packages | grep "google"

3. Freezing with the help of third-party applications

If the first two methods don’t work for you, you can use specialized utilities from Google Play, the most popular of which are Ice Box and App Freezer. These applications create an isolated environment (like Work Profile) in which frozen programs can’t work, but their data is stored. The main advantage of the method is that you do not need a connection to a PC, and the disadvantage is that some utilities may conflict with the security system. MIUI.

Let’s look at the Ice Box example:

1. Download and install Ice Box from Google Play.
2. When you first start the application will offer to create a Work Profile – agree.
3. In the main menu, click on the icon «+» Choose the apps you want to freeze.
4. Confirm the action. The applications will be moved to an isolated environment and will stop working.

⚠️ Note: Some antiviruses (e.g. Mi Security) may block Ice Box, considering it as potentially dangerous software.In this case, add the utility as an exception or temporarily disable protection during the setup.

If you use App Freezer, note that after you reboot your phone, some apps can “unfreeze” themselves. To avoid this, add the utility to the autoboot (Settings) → Battery. → Auto-start).

💡

Before freezing system applications through third-party utilities, check their compatibility with your version. MIUI on the forum Xiaomi.EU or 4PDA.

4.What applications can be frozen without risk?

Not all Xiaomi apps can be safely frozen, for example, disabling com.android.systemui will cause the interface to fail completely, and freezing com.miui.securitycenter will prevent you from accessing security settings. Below we have compiled a list of safe and dangerous packages to freeze.

✅ Freezing is safe (for most users):

• 📱 com.miui.analytics – collection of usage statistics (does not affect the operation of the system).
• 🎵 com.miui.player – standard music player (if you use third-party apps).
• 📁 com.android.documentsui – file manager (can be replaced by Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer).
• 📊 com.miui.bugreport – error reports (required for diagnostics only).
• 🔄 com.xiaomi.midrop - Mi Drop (unless you use Wi-Fi file transfer).

❌ Dangerous to freeze (risk of failure):

• 📞 com.android.phone – phone calls (freezing will cause loss of network).
• 🔒 com.miui.securitycenter – Security Center (blocks access to many settings).
• 🏠 com.miui.home - launcher MIUI (desktop).
• 🔋 com.android.settings – system settings (complete interface paralysis).
• 📶 com.android.bluetooth – Bluetooth module (disables all wireless devices).

If you are not sure about the purpose of the package, use the service APK Decompiler or search through AppBrain, and you can back up your system through Settings. → Additionally. → Backup and reset before experiments.

💡

Before freezing system applications, check their dependence on other services. For example, disabling com.google.android.gms (Google Play Services) can disrupt most applications, including banking.

5.How to defrost the app if something went wrong?

If the phone starts to work unstable after freezing the application (for example, the Internet is gone, notifications stop coming or the device is constantly restarting), you need to immediately return everything to its original state.

🔹 If you freeze through ADB:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command line.
2. Enter the defrosting command:

adb shell pm enable name.package

For example:

adb shell pm enable com.miui.analytics

🔹 If you use built-in tools MIUI:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Show off.
3. Find the right application and click Enable.

🔹 If frozen using an Ice Box or analogue:

1. Open the Ice Box and go to the Frozen tab.
2. Select the app and click on the “defrosting” icon (usually a cross-over snowflake).
3. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

⚠️ Warning: If the application doesn’t work properly after defrosting (for example, it doesn’t open or it gives errors), try clearing its cache and data in Settings. → Annexes → Application management → Storage. If that doesn't work, reinstall the app through Google Play.

6. Alternative optimization methods (if freezing does not help)

If freezing applications doesn’t work (for example, the battery is still running out too fast), try alternative optimization methods:

• 🔋 Background activity restriction: Go to Settings → Battery. → Battery management and set for unnecessary applications mode Limit background activity.
• 🚫 Disable Autostart: In the same section (Battery Management), turn off Autostart for applications that don't need to run in the background.
• 📵 Blocking the Internet: In Settings → Connections → Data use prohibit background use of mobile traffic and Wi-Fi for unnecessary services.
• 🔄 Cache reset: Regularly clear the app cache in Settings → Warehouse → Cleaning (especially relevant for social networks and instant messengers).
• 🛠️ Switching to custom firmware: If you are annoyed by the large number of preinstalled applications in the MIUI, Consider installing Xiaomi.EU or LineageOS (requires unlocking the bootloader).

It is also important to consider the energy saving regimes in MIUI:

• Battery – Balance between productivity and savings.
• Balanced is the optimal mode for most users.
• Extreme energy saving – disables background activity of almost all applications (useful when traveling).

If you notice that after the update MIUI Some apps have started working in the background again, check the battery settings - sometimes a factory reset returns all restrictions to the original state.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When you freeze your Xiaomi apps, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ones and how to solve them:

If after freezing the applications the phone began to slow down or overheat, check the use of the device. CPU In Settings → The phone. → Status of the system → Use of the CPU. Perhaps one of the remaining active apps is consuming too much resources, in which case try to disable it or set a limit on background activity.

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Before mass freezing of applications, make a backup of the system through Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset, which will allow you to quickly restore the phone to work in case of an error.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions