How to prevent the removal of applications on Xiaomi: protection of the system from accidents

Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphone owners often face a situation where an important program disappears from the desktop.This can be due to an awkward movement of a child, an accidental swipe or the actions of an inexperienced user who took the gadget in his hands. The MIUI shell and its successor HyperOS offer flexible tools, but the “prohibit removal” function is not always obvious to the average owner.

There are several layers of protection, from simple interface locking to deep system constraints. Data security depends on how well you configure access to uninstallation functions. In this article, we will look at all available methods, from built-in parental controls to specialized utilities.

It is important to understand that completely removing system components without Root rights or ADB connectivity is impossible, but hiding them and blocking user actions is a solvable task. We will look at both software protection methods and physical limitations that will help maintain the integrity of your application ecosystem.

Use of the Parental Control function

The most effective and regular way to limit other users’ actions is through the built-in Parental Control tool, which is integrated deep into Xiaomi devices and allows you to create isolated profiles or limit current one. To activate, go to Settings → Screen Time or search for settings by typing in Parental Control.

After you turn on the function, you will need to create PIN-code or use biometrics to confirm changes. From the restrictions menu, select Application Limitation. Here you can prohibit not only the launch of specific programs, but also access to the GetApps store or Google Play, which indirectly prohibits the installation of new and removal of old programs, as the control menu disappears.

⚠️ Attention: If you forget PIN-It's very difficult to reset the code from parental control without losing data. Write the combination in a safe place or use a linked Mi Account to recover it.

It is important to note that in limited profile mode, the user will not be able to see the "Delete" button with a long click on the icon, this creates a reliable barrier for children or the elderly who can accidentally remove the desired software. MIUI Blocks the call of the system dialog removal.

Blocking by restricting access to settings

Deleting most user applications requires access to the system program management menu, and if you block the path to these settings, the uninstallation process becomes impossible for the average user, using the Access to Settings or Application Lock function.

Go to Security → Application Lock. Add the Settings app and, if necessary, the Application Manager. Now, when you try to log into the settings menu, the system will ask for a password, a pattern lock or a fingerprint. Without authorization, you will not be able to enter the list of installed programs and click the Delete button.

• 🔒 Settings protection: blocks the login to the system menu where the delete button is located.
• 📱 Hiding icons: some launchers allow you to hide the icons of system utilities from public access.
• 👆 Biometrics: Using Face ID or finger scanner speeds up access for the owner, but stops strangers.

This method is especially effective when you need to protect your smartphone from the actions of adults who may inadvertently clean the device.

Guest mode and Second Space

Second Space allows you to create a completely isolated copy of the system on one device, which is the perfect solution if you need to give the phone to another person, but you don't want them to have access to your data or be able to change the structure of the main desktop.

In Space Two, the user gets a clean desktop, so you can either not install the app store or install only the minimum of programs that you need. Because the spaces are divided, the actions in the second profile have no effect on the main one. Deleting the application in the second space will not affect the main profile.

There's also Guest Mode, which is activated through the notification bar, which is a temporary profile that is completely cleared after the session is over, and while the guest is using the phone, they can't remove apps from the owner's main profile, because they only see the basic set of programs.

Screen fixation (In-app lock)

For situations where you need to give a phone to someone to use only one particular program (for example, YouTube for children or a navigator for the driver), there is a screen fix function. It prevents you from leaving the application and therefore blocks access to the desktop and program management menu.

To activate the mode, go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Privacy → Screen Fix. Turn on the switch and select the unlock method (pin code or). Now, after you launch the desired application, click the menu button (three dots or square) and select the pin icon or "Secure".

As long as the screen is fixed, the user will not be able to:

• 🚫 Get to the main menu or list of running tasks.
• 🚫 Press the Home or Back button (if this is prohibited by settings).
• 🚫 Access the notification curtain and settings.

To exit the mode, you need to press the combination of buttons (usually "Back" and "Menu" or a long press of the power button, depending on the Android version) and enter a password. This is guaranteed to protect against accidental removal, since the application management interface is completely unavailable.

⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI When the screen is locked, the notification curtain may remain available. Check the status bar access settings in lock mode so that the user cannot turn off the Internet or start the task manager.

Use of third-party launchers and blockers

If Xiaomi’s standard tools aren’t enough, you can use third-party solutions. Launchers (desktop shells) often have built-in protection features. For example, Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher let you set a password to change the configuration of the desktop, although removing applications through them may still require system confirmation.

A more radical method is to use specialized blocking applications like AppLock or Kids Place, which create a sandbox. You put the permissioned applications inside, and the user only works in this limited environment, and you try to go outside the sandbox or delete the application, and you lock it with a password.

However, installing such programs on Xiaomi requires careful permission settings. The aggressively system kills background processes, so you need to:

• 🔋 Allow AutoRun for Blocker.
• 🔋 Disable Battery Savings for this App.
• 🔋 Lock the application in memory (Lock in the multitasking menu).

💡

Use the "Kiosk" mode on enterprise Android (Android Enterprise) versions if you want to turn a Xiaomi tablet into a scoreboard. This completely prohibits any changes to the system.

Protecting System Applications from Removal

System applications deserve special attention. By default, the user cannot delete critical system components (Phone, Messages, Settings) without superuser rights. However, some preinstalled programs (Bloatware) can be deleted, which sometimes leads to errors in the system.

To prevent the removal of even system programs that are allowed to be removed, you can use the ADB command from your computer, an advanced method that requires connecting a cable and installing drivers, and you can change the status of an application to "system-only" by hiding the delete button from the interface.

adb shell pm hide --user 0 com.example.app

This command will hide the application, but it won't delete it. To completely block the removal requires a deeper modification of the rights, which is not recommended without experience, since you can get Bootloop (cyclic reboot). Standard MIUI protection is already quite strong: when you try to remove the system component, you get a warning about possible failures.

💡

System applications are protected by default from removal, and additional blocking is required only for specific cases or protection from advanced users.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)