The Redmi Note 7, which was released a few years ago, is still a popular device due to its value for money. However, over time, the Android operating system has become awash in software debris that not only takes up precious memory, but also consumes battery power. Owners often wonder what programs can be painlessly removed to give the gadget a second life.
In this article, we will discuss in detail the structure of pre-installed software in the shell of MIUI. You will learn to distinguish system components, the removal of which will lead to unstable work, from a regular bundle that can be safely eliminated. Proper optimization will significantly speed up the response of the interface and free up gigabytes of space for your personal files.
Before we take any drastic action, we need to understand that removing Google or MIUI system services through ADB can make it impossible to boot a device. We will look at safe cleaning methods available to the average user, as well as advanced ways for experienced owners. Your goal is to find a balance between the purity of the system and its functionality.
Analysis of the built-in MIUI software on Redmi Note 7
The MIUI shell installed on the Redmi Note 7 by default contains many applications that fall into three main categories: mission critical system components, Xiaomi functional utilities and third-party advertising software. Understanding this classification is the first step to competent optimization. System components are responsible for the basic operation of the phone: calls, SMS, power management and communication with hardware.
Functional utilities from the manufacturer, such as Explorer, Gallery or Music, can be removed if you plan to replace them with more advanced counterparts from Google Play. However, it is worth considering that some system widgets or functions may be tied to these applications. For example, removing a standard gallery may disrupt the work of some messengers when choosing photos to send, if you do not have an analog with the right permissions.
Special attention should be paid to advertising software and games preinstalled by partner companies, which are called bloatware, which does not have any benefit to the system, but consumes resources in the background, and these applications are the first candidates for removal, as they often run advertising notifications and collect user data.
⚠️ Note: Before removing any applications, it is strongly recommended to create a full backup of important data, as interference with system files can lead to unpredictable errors.
Safe removal through standard settings
The easiest and safest way to get rid of excess software on Redmi Note 7 is to use the built-in application manager. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps. Here you will see the full list of installed software. When you choose each application, pay attention to the presence of a “Delete” button. If the button is active, then the application is not critical to the system and can be removed without using root rights or a computer.
First of all, look for folders with games and entertainment content, which are often on the desktop or menu. Also check the Tools section, where you may be hiding unnecessary utilities such as Scanner (if you use a third-party antivirus) or Cleanup (if you prefer other methods of memory optimization), removing these elements will not affect the stability of Android.
If the delete button is inactive (gray), it means that the application is system-based, in which case it will not be removed by standard methods, but you can turn it off, which will hide the icon and prevent the start of processes, although it will still take up space in memory.
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Disabling system applications through settings is a safe alternative to uninstallation that does not require superuser rights and does not violate the warranty.
Remember to check the list of recently installed programs periodically. Often users install the applications themselves, which they then forget to delete, and they start working in the background, loading the Snapdragon 660 processor installed in this model.
Using ADB for deep cleaning of the system
For users who want to achieve maximum performance and free up space that is not available through the standard interface, there is a method of removing system applications through the Internet. ADB (Android Debug Bridge. This method requires connecting the smartphone to the computer via USB-cable and the presence of the driver and platform tools installed on the PC. Before the procedure, you must activate the developer mode on the Redmi Note 7.
To enable USB debugging, go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click 7 times on MIUI Version. After the message “You are a developer” appears, go back to the main settings menu, select “More” → “For Developers” and activate the Debugging switch over USB. When you connect to your computer, a debugging permission request will appear on the phone screen, which must be confirmed.
Once you have set up the connection, open the command line on your computer and enter a command to output a list of all packets: adb shell pm list packages. This will allow you to find the exact names of the application packages you want to remove. Be extremely careful: removing the wrong packet can lead to a "boot" (cyclical reboot) of the device.
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.bspThe above command is an example of removing a particular system component: there are ready-made lists of MIUI packages that can be safely removed, including MSA (MIUI System Ads) advertising services and analytics, and using such lists significantly reduces the risk of system damage.
☑️ Preparation for removal through ADB
⚠️ Note: Removing system packages through ADB is irreversible without resetting to factory settings. Make sure you know exactly what the removable component is responsible for.
Critical System Components: What to Remove Is Not Removable
There are a number of apps and services that are strongly discouraged from being removed on Redmi Note 7 unless you have a deep knowledge of the Android architecture, including Google Play (com.android.vending), which will no longer work without most modern applications requiring authorization, and you can’t remove the system framework (android) and power management components.
Special attention should be paid to applications related to telephony and communication. SIM-maps, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, will result in loss of functionality of communication modules, and their recovery will be possible only by flashing the device, which is a time-consuming process that requires unlocking the bootloader.
Below is a table with examples of components that are best left alone to avoid critical errors in the smartphone:
| Package name | Function | Risk of removal |
|---|---|---|
| com.miui.securitycenter | MIUI Security Centre | High: permission settings may be missing |
| com.android.phone | Telephony | Critical: the communication and the Internet will disappear |
| com.miui.powerkeeper | Battery management | High: possible overheating or rapid discharge |
| com.miui.wmsvc | MIUI window service | Medium: Interface failures |
Even if you are confident in your actions, always leave the option to roll back changes. In the case of ADB, some packets deleted for the current user can be returned by the adb shell cmd package install-existing command, but this does not work for all components.
Cleaning up of advertising software and MSA services
One of the main reasons users want to clean the Redmi Note 7 is intrusive advertising in system applications, which is responsible for its appearance by the MSA service (MIUI System Ads), which disabling or removing it significantly reduces the number of banner ads in standard applications such as Explorer, Music or Themes.
To disable ads without deleting system files, you can use the privacy settings. Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Access to personal data. Find the msa list and turn off the slider. The system will ask you to wait 10 seconds, then deny access. This procedure is recommended to repeat several times, as the service may try to resume work.
Also, turn off receiving recommendations from MIUI. To do this, go to the settings of each standard application (for example, “Conductor” or “Downloads”), find the “About the application” item and turn off the “Receive recommendations” option. This action will not remove the application, but will make it more comfortable and clean.
Hidden advertising processes
If you actively use third-party launchers and app stores, you can completely remove the GetApps store.This is the official Xiaomi store, which often duplicates the features of Google Play and is a source of notifications about new games and promotions.
Alternatives to standard Google and Xiaomi apps
After removing the standard set of applications, the user asks: how to replace them? For the Redmi Note 7 with its FullHD+ screen, lightweight counterparts are great, which consume less resources than heavy versions from Google. For example, instead of a heavy Facebook or Instagram client, you can use their Lite version or web applications.
Instead of a standard ad-filled MIUI Video player, you'd better install a VLC Player or MX Player, which supports all popular codecs, doesn't require extra permissions, doesn't show intrusive ads, and it's also better at playing high-resolution video by unloading the processor.
- 📸 Instead of a standard camera, try the Open Camera or Google Camera ports, which often give you better dynamic range and detail on the Samsung sensor. GM1.
- 📁 Standard Explorer is easily replaced with Files by Google or Solid Explorer, which have a more user-friendly interface and built-in cloud storage support.
- 🌐 Mi Browser is better replaced with Firefox Focus or Brave to protect against trackers and speed up page loading.
Using alternative software not only improves the user experience, but also improves the overall security of the device, as third-party developers often close vulnerabilities faster than stock software is updated in older models.
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Replacing heavy system applications with lightweight ones is the best way to extend the life of the battery and speed up the Redmi Note 7 without deep system interference.