What Xiaomi apps can be painlessly removed through ADB: a safe list of 2026

Xiaomi’s MIUI-based smartphones are known for their abundance of pre-installed applications, many of which users never run. These programs take up precious memory, consume battery power in the background, and sometimes even collect data about your activity. Fortunately, with the help of the ADB tool (Android Debug Bridge), you can safely remove most unnecessary system applications – but only if you know which ones will not disrupt the stability of the device.

In this article, we will not only list the applications that can be removed without risk to the system, but also explain how to do it correctly, which packages are responsible for critical functions. MIUI, And we'll also warn you against common bugs, and you'll learn how to distinguish junk apps from system components, why some programs come back after an update, and how to minimize the consequences of removing them, POCO and flagships Xiaomi 13/14 — For them, the list of safe packets to remove may differ.

Why you can’t just delete apps through settings

In the standard Settings → Applications menu, most preinstalled MIUI programs either don’t have a Remove button or are inactive, because they are installed in /system and are system-based, and cannot be uninstalled in the usual way, either through ADB or root rights.

What’s more, even if you disable the app through settings (Settings → Apps → Select App → Disable), it:

• 📦 It will still take up space on the disk (just won’t run).
• 🔄 Can be automatically activated after the update MIUI.
• 📡 Some services (e.g. com.miui.analytics) will continue to work in the background.

That is why completely removing ADB software is the only reliable way to get rid of unnecessary software, but there is a major danger: removing critical packets can lead to loss of functionality (for example, the notification bar disappears) or even a device breeze (if you remove the components responsible for booting the system).

Preparing for removal: what to do before working with ADB

Before proceeding with removal, follow the mandatory preparatory steps:

Enable debugging over USB in the developer settings

Install ADB drivers on your computer

Create a backup copy of important data

Record the IMEI and serial number of the device

Check the battery charge (minimum 50%)-->

The most important step is unlocking the developer mode and enabling debugging over USB.

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Click 7 times on the MIUI version (you will be notified “You are a developer”).
3. Return to the main settings menu, open Additional → for developers.
4. Activate USB Debugging and OEM Unlock switches (the latter is not always needed, but recommended).

Also, be sure to install ADB drivers on your computer. Minimal ADB and Fastboot will work for Windows, and install it via brew install android-platform-tools (macOS) or sudo apt install adb (Linux) for macOS/Linux.

adb devices

If the device is displayed in the list, everything is set up correctly. If not, check the drivers or cable.

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Before deleting applications, take a screenshot of the list of installed packages by the adb shell pm list packages | grep 'miui\|xiaomi' command. This will help restore deleted programs if something goes wrong.

List of safe to remove applications on Xiaomi (2026)

Below is an updated list of packages that can be removed without critical consequences for the operation of MIUI. We have divided them into categories by application type. Please note that on some models (for example, POCO F5 or Xiaomi 13 Ultra), some packages may be missing or have other names.

A full list of secure uninstall packages (over 50 items) can be found in the spoiler below, and we recommend removing applications gradually, checking the stability of the system after each step.

Some apps (e.g. com.miui.gallery) are not recommended to be removed, even if you use Google Photos, but are integrated into the system and can cause errors when opening images from other apps.

• 🔧 System, framework, service - critical components.
• 📱 Home and Launcher – Responsible for the Desktop.
• 🔒 Security, guard – security related.

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Only delete packages that you know are intended for, and if in doubt, it's better to turn off the app through settings than risk system stability.

Step-by-step: How to remove applications through ADB

When you have decided on a list of unnecessary packages, follow this instruction:

1. Connect your phone to your PC through USB-cable (preferably original).
2. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with adb.exe.
3. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices Make sure your device appears in the list.
4. Launch the ADB: Adb shell shell shell
5. Remove the unnecessary application by command (replace package.name with the real package): pm uninstall -k --user 0 package.name Flag --user 0 means that the application is removed only for the current user (without affecting other accounts on the device).

Example of Mi Video removal:

pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.videoplayer

If the command is successful, you will see a message Success. To return the remote application, use:

cmd package install-existing package.name

for /f %i in (packages.txt) do adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 %i

-->

What apps should not be removed (and why)

Some packets may seem unnecessary, but removing them will cause serious problems.

• 🚨 com.android.providers.settings is responsible for system settings. Deleting will result in resetting all parameters.
• 🚨 com.miui.securitycenter is a security center, without which application permissions will not work.
• 🚨 com.miui.home - launcher MIUI. Removal will make the phone unusable.
• 🚨 com.google.android.gms are Google services. Many applications won't work without them.
• 🚨 com.qualcomm.qti.uceShimService – a component for working with a modem (on devices with Qualcomm chipsets).

Also, avoid removing packages with names:

• 📶 Telephony, radio - connected to cellular communication.
• 🔋 Battery, Power - Power Management.
• 📱 Bluetooth, Wifi, and NFC are wireless modules.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro)+) com.miui.tsmclient is responsible for the work NFC And Google Pay, which would make it impossible to pay with your phone.

What to do if something breaks after removal

If you delete a critical package and your phone is not working properly, there are a few ways to get it back:

1. Restore via ADB: cmd package install-existing package.name If the package is not restored, try reinstalling it manually via adb install, pre-downloading APK from a reliable source (for example, APKMirror).
2. Reset: If the system is unstable, reset via Settings → About Phone → Reset. This will return all system applications, but delete user data.
3. Fastboot flashing: In a pinch, you can flash the phone with the official firmware through the Mi Flash Tool, which is a radical method, but it's guaranteed to bring the device back to working order.

If after removal, the icons on the desktop disappeared or the notification panel stopped working, most likely, you have removed the launcher or system UI. In this case, only flashing will help.

⚠️ Note: On devices with a blocked bootloader, flashing through Fastboot can lead to blocking the Mi Account.Be sure to unlock the bootloader through the official Xiaomi tool before that.

How to prevent the return of remote applications after the MIUI update

One of the main problems when removing system applications is their automatic recovery after updating MIUI. To avoid this, use one of the methods:

• 🔄 Turn off automatic updates in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system → ⚙️ → Auto-update.
• 📥 Remove updates through ADB For example, if com.miui.analytics returned after the update, repeat the deletion command.
• 🛡️ Use Magisk modules (root required) such as Universal Debloater or MIUI Debloater that blocks packet recovery.
• 📦 Install custom firmware (for example, LineageOS or Pixel Experience) that does not have pre-installed Xiaomi software.

If you don’t want to give up the official MIUI, but you’re not willing to put up with returning unwanted apps, consider disabling them via ADB instead of completely removing them.

pm disable-user --user 0 package.name

This hides the app from the system, but does not remove it completely, which reduces the risk of problems after updates.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions