Modern Xiaomi smartphones come with a pre-installed set of programs often called bloatware. Owners of devices with a shell MIUI 12 often face a situation where half of the icons on the desktop seem to be redundant. These applications take up valuable space in internal storage, consume RAM and can reduce battery life of the gadget.
However, not all built-in components can be touched. Deleting critical system files can turn a device into a brick or cause cyclical reboots. In this article, we will discuss which packages are allowed to be deactivated or completely erased, and which are best left alone to keep Android running smoothly.
Analysis of embedded software and critical components
Before you start cleaning, you need to understand the architecture of the MIUI 12 shell, which divides applications into custom applications that are easily removed by standard means, and system applications that require special tools for uninstallation, the latter include Google services, security components and hardware drivers.
The safest way to check is to use the "Disable" function in the settings: If the button is active, the application can be frozen; if it is gray, then the component is vital to the operation of the operating system; Attempting to force the removal of such packets through ADB or third-party utilities can disrupt the phone.
There is a common misconception that the fewer apps, the faster the phone works. In practice, modern processors can easily handle background services if they are optimized, and it is poorly optimized services that collect telemetry or constantly access the network that create the problem.
⚠️ Warning: Never delete packages with the words "Security", "Framework", "SystemUI" or "Settings" in their name.
Why Xiaomi doesn’t let you remove apps?
Safe to remove Xiaomi services
In the shell of MIUI 12 there are a number of utilities that duplicate the functionality of third-party counterparts or simply are not used in certain regions.
First of all, you should look at ad modules and analytics, which do not carry a payload for the average user, but only broadcast ads in system applications, and you can also remove standard browsers and app stores if you use alternatives from Google Play.
A separate category is ecosystem services that you don't use, for example, if you don't have a Mi TV smart TV, you can remove the plugin, and the same goes for wearable services if you don't use Xiaomi fitness bracelets.
- 🗑️ MSA (MIUI System Ads: the main module of system advertising, its disabling significantly reduces the number of banners.
- 📊 Mi Analytics: Device usage statistics service, secure for removal.
- 🌐 Mi Browser: a standard browser that can be replaced with Chrome, Firefox or Yandex.
- 📺 Mi Remote: an IR port management app, you only need to control appliances through your phone.
Importantly, after a firmware update, remote system applications can return, which is normal system behavior, requiring re-cleaning or deeper locking techniques.
List of packets to be removed via ADB
Many of the system components of MIUI 12 are hidden from the user and do not appear in the installed application list. They require a computer and an ADB utility (Android Debug Bridge) to work with.
Before starting the procedure, activate the developer mode. To do this, go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on the build number seven times. Then, in the Additional → For developers menu, turn on “Debugging by USB”.
Connect your smartphone to your PC with a cable and enter the adb device command to check the connection. Once access is confirmed on the phone screen, you can proceed to delete packets with the adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 name packet command.
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.misys
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.videoplayer
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.playerThe table below shows the main packages that users often delete to optimize the system.
| Title of the annex | Packet name | Risk of removal |
|---|---|---|
| Mi Music | com.miui.player | Low. |
| Mi Video | com.miui.videoplayer | Low. |
| Mi Credit (Wallet) | com.mipay.wallet.id | Medium (if not used) |
| Post | com.miui.email | Low. |
| Calculator | com.miui.calculator | Low. |
☑️ Checking before packet removal
Work with Google Services and Other Garbage
Global versions of MIUI 12 pre-installed the full range of Google services, which are essential for most users to run Google Play, maps and sync contacts, but there are components that can be removed without losing core functionality.
For example, Google TV, Google Movies or Google Music are often duplicated by third-party services, and if you don’t actively use the Google ecosystem, you can only leave the basic Google Play Services and app store.
Be wary of removing Google One or Google Assistant, which can cause errors in your voice or backup system. Always check for dependencies before deleting.
⚠️ Note: Deleting the main com.google.android.gms package will cause most applications, including banking and navigation, to fail.
Also worth checking is the availability of carrier apps. In some regions, Xiaomi supplies phones with software from local cellular operators, programs such as com.android.carrierconfig (configuration) can not be touched, but branded launchers or games from the operator can be safely removed.
💡
Use the Package Disabler app or utilities that automatically identify safe to remove packages based on your smartphone model.
Recovery of Remote System Applications
If you delete the extra or the system starts to work incorrectly, the components can be returned, and because we didn't get the Root rights, we just deleted the apps for the current user, the original files remained in the system partition.
To recover, you'll need to reconnect your smartphone to your computer with USB debugging enabled. The command for reinstall looks similar to the uninstall command, but with a different flag. This allows you to return functionality without flashing the device.
Enter the adb shell cmd package install-existing packet name, which will cause the system to re-register the application for the current user, and the application data will be reset to the factory.
adb shell cmd package install-existing com.miui.player
adb shell cmd package install-existing com.miui.videoplayerIn cases where standard methods do not work, a complete reset may be required, but this is an extreme measure that will delete all user data, photos and contacts.
💡
All applications deleted through ADB can be restored by install-existing command, since the files are physically stored in the phone’s memory.
Alternative Optimization Methods Without Removal
It is not always necessary to remove applications to speed up Xiaomi’s work, often just limiting their background activity, which is especially true for services that are rarely needed but are required by the system to work properly.
Go to Settings → Applications → All applications. Select an unnecessary service, press Battery and set a background activity limit. This will prevent the CPU and network from consuming in the background.
You can also disable auto-start. In the Auto-Start menu, uncheck the boxes for applications that should not run with the system, which will significantly speed up the loading of MIUI 12 after the screen is turned on.
- 🔋 Battery Limitation: Bans the app from running in the background.
- 🚀 Disabling Autostart: Accelerates System Startup.
- 🔒 Advertising Blocking: Through DNS (e.g. dns.adguard.com in connection settings.
Using “light” versions of apps (Lite) also helps save resources, taking up less space and consuming less RAM, which is critical for budget smartphone models.