Xiaomi smartphone owners often face intrusive advertising, overconsumption of RAM and fast battery drain. One of the main reasons for these problems is the huge amount of pre-installed software that runs in the background. MIUI 12, despite visual improvements, has retained a lot of services needed only in regions or for a narrow circle of users.
Cleaning the system from excess “garbage” allows you to significantly improve the performance of the device. However, not everyone knows which processes are critical for the OS, and which can be disposed of without the risk of turning the phone into a “brick.” In this article, we will discuss in detail which applications can be safely disabled on Xiaomi MIUI 12.
Before you start, you need to understand the difference between deleting and disabling an application, which stops the application, hides the icon, and prevents you from starting the system, but does not delete files from the device, and it is the most secure optimization method, allowing you to return everything at any time if you find a lack of a feature.
Safe to Disable Google Services
Google preinstalles a suite of services on Xiaomi devices that run mail, maps and the Play Market store, but many of them are not vital to the basic functioning of the smartphone.
For example, Google Play Movies and Books is often in your memory, even if you've never used a library, and Google Duo is the same if you prefer other instant messengers for video calls, and you can deaktivirovat' through settings.
Be wary of Google Play Services, which will disrupt most third-party apps, including navigation and banking customers, and limit the use of less important add-ons.
- 📺 Google Play Movies – The Movie Library You Don’t Need Without a Subscription.
- 📖 Google Play Books – Reading service easily replaced by third-party readers.
- 📹 Google Duo – video calls that can replace Telegram or WhatsApp.
- 🎵 Google Play Music is an outdated service replaced by YouTube Music.
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Before a massive shutdown of Google services, make sure you have a contact backup as some sync features may stop working in the background.
It’s worth noting that disabling Google Assistant can be helpful if you’re not using voice control, which often helps reduce battery consumption while on standby, as the microphone stops constantly scanning the environment for commands.
Xiaomi System Apps: What You Can Remove
MIUI is famous for its functionality, but it has a lot of built-in applications that duplicate the functions of the analogues you installed. In MIUI 12, the list of such programs is especially large. The first candidate for removal is often the standard Mi Browser browser, which is known for its aggressive data collection policy and news feed.
Many users also ignore the built-in Mi Video and Mi Music app, preferring streaming services or local players like VLC. Their work in the background can consume up to 5-10% of battery power per day, turning off these components is the first step to energy saving.
⚠️ Note: Do not attempt to disable the system component MIUI System Launcher. This is your phone's main screen. Stopping it will make your desktop, icons, and menu navigation disappear.
The Get Themes app is a special feature that loads wallpaper and fonts, and if you don't plan on changing the look of the system, you can stop it so it doesn't waste traffic and resources checking for updates.
Developer mode and debugging by ADB
For advanced users who want to maximize system cleanliness, there is a method to disable applications through the computer. Standard settings menu tools can't remove some system components that are marked as critical. Here comes the ADB tool (Android Debug Bridge).
To get started, activate the developer mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on MIUI seven times. After the “You’ve become a developer” notification appears, open the Advanced Settings menu → For developers and turn on “Debugging by USB”.
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.analyticsThis command, entered in a terminal on a computer, will force the current user to remove the system analytics module, and you can do the same with other embedded services, knowing their exact packet identifiers, and it's a powerful tool that requires accuracy.
☑️ Preparation for work with ADB
It is important to understand that using ADB gives you rights close to root access, but without the risk of losing the warranty. However, one mistake in the name of the package can lead to unstable operation of the system.
Safe table for packet removal
To avoid having to search for application IDs manually, we have compiled a list of the most common system processes that can be safely disabled or removed via ADB on most Xiaomi devices.
| Name of the annex | Package Name (Package Name) | Risk of shutdown | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advertising service | com.miui.msa.global | Low. | Advertising disappears in standard applications |
| Mi Analytics. | com.miui.analytics | Low. | Collection of statistics on use is discontinued |
| Mi Browser. | com.android.browser | Low. | Nothing if there is another browser |
| Yellow pages | com.miui.yellowpage | Low. | Search for organizations in the call is turned off |
| Mi Credit. | com.micredit.in.global | Low. | Financial offers are turned off |
Using these identifiers in the ADB command line allows you to completely cut the application from the system for the current user. Once you reboot, you will not find any trace of them in either the Task Manager or the list of installed programs.
However, if you are unsure of your actions, it is best to limit yourself to a standard shutdown through the app menu.This is less effective, but ensures that you do not violate the integrity of Android system files.
Apps that cannot be touched
There is a fine line between system optimization. MIUI 12 has a number of components that will cause a cyclical reboot or loss of communication, including the framework's basic services.
It is strictly forbidden to remove or disable System Framework, com.android.phone (unless you use an alternative call with caution) and MIUI Security (in some versions this may cause access rights issues).
⚠️ Warning: Disabling the com.miui.cloudservice (Mi Cloud) system component may result in the inability to unlock the device after resetting if the Find Device feature is enabled».
Another critical element is the secure content provider, which is essential for the job. DRM-Without it, streaming services like Netflix or high-quality online cinemas will stop working, and some banking applications may refuse to run.
If you do something strange, immediately return all the changes. If you use ADB, the adb shell cmd package install-existing command will help you restore the remote application.
Cleaning up advertising and garbage
One of Xiaomi’s main motivations is to get rid of ads, which is built deep into the system in MIUI 12, and in addition to disabling the com.miui.msa.global package discussed above, you need to change your personalization settings.
Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Access to data. Find msa and deny it access to the network. Without the Internet, the ad module will not be able to download banners. It is also worth disabling “Get recommendations” in the theme and lock screen settings.
Hidden sources of advertising
Regularly cleaning the cache also helps keep the system on track. Use the built-in Security utility, but don't rely on it completely. Periodically check the list of running applications and forcefully stop the ones you're not using right now.
Remember that some junk files are actually cache that speeds up applications. Blind cleaning everything can cause programs to open longer than usual on the next run.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
Will the phone reset to factory settings after disabling system applications?
Can I recover a remote application via ADB?
Why did the phone start to work slower after the app was turned off?
Do I need root permissions to disable these apps?
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The best strategy is to turn applications off one by one, checking the stability of the system after each change, which will help identify the culprit of the problems if they occur.
In conclusion, the MIUI 12 setup allows you to turn your smartphone into a fast and clean tool, free from unnecessary noise. Experiment with settings, but always keep your prudence and understand the purpose of the switched-off component.