Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphone owners often face intrusive MIUI functionality that is hard to ignore, and one of them is Content Center, a service that automatically creates folders and widgets on the desktop, which is designed to improve the user experience by grouping applications into categories, but in practice it only clogs the interface and consumes the resources of the device. Many users are looking for a way to completely get rid of this component to restore the cleanliness of the design.
The problem is that standard systems can't hide or delete this service. Launcher settings often lack a switch that automatically generates folders. However, there are proven ways to circumvent restrictions to deactivate MIUI Content Center without obtaining superuser rights. In this article, we'll look at safe ways to clean up your desktop from excess junk.
To do most of the things that I've described below, you don't need a deep programming knowledge or sophisticated tools, but a standard set of applications preinstalled on the system or connected to a computer. It's important to understand that disabling system components requires care so that you don't accidentally disrupt other services. HyperOS and newer versions of MIUI have similar architectures, so the methods will be relevant to most modern models.
What is Content Center and Why Delete It
Content Center is a built-in MIUI shell algorithm that analyzes installed applications and tries to automatically sort them, and when it is activated, the system creates folders with names like Game, Tools, or Social Networks by placing icons there, often without the user's knowledge, suddenly changing the structure of the desktop.
The main reason that power users tend to remove this component is because of the personalization violation: you carefully arrange the icons, choose wallpaper and widgets, and the system makes its own adjustments in the background, which is not only annoying visually, but can also reduce performance, as the service constantly analyzes the list of installed programs and their use.
⚠️ Note: Complete removal of system packets through ADB It is recommended to first try to disable the function through the settings, if such an option is available in your version of the firmware.
In addition, Content Center is often associated with advertising modules and telemetry collection. Even if you don’t see explicit ads, background processes can transmit data about your smartphone usage habits to the company’s servers, and turning off this service is a step toward increasing privacy and reducing battery load.
Disconnection through launcher settings
The first and safest step is always to check the standard settings of the system. In some regions and firmware versions, Xiaomi engineers have left the ability to disable smart sorting. To do this, go to the settings menu of the desktop itself. Find the section responsible for the appearance and organization of the space.
Inside the launcher settings menu, you should look for items related to Auto Sort or Smart Folders. The interface may vary depending on the version of MIUI. If you find a "Create folders automatically" switch, just put it in an inactive state, which will prevent the system from creating new groups of applications.
However, if the standard method didn't work and the switch was missing or inactive, more radical measures would be needed, often with new updates, to hide the option, to force users to use the service, and then debugging tools would be necessary.
☑️ Checking settings
Removal via ADB without Root Rights
The most effective and safe way to remove system components is to use the Android Debug Bridge toolkit (ADB). This method does not require unlocking the bootloader or obtaining superuser rights, which preserves the device warranty. You will need a computer (Windows, macOS or Linux) and USB-smartphone-wire.
Before starting the procedure, you need to activate the developer mode on the phone. → About the phone and quickly press 7 times on the field "Version" MIUI" or "Version". OS". After the notification that you have become a developer, go back to the main settings menu, select Additional → For developers and turn on the switchboard "Debugging by" USB".
After connecting the phone to your computer and installing the drivers, open the command line or terminal in the folder with ADB. Enter a command to check the connection:
adb devicesYou'll see a request for debugging permission on your smartphone screen -- confirm it. Now you can manage the packets. To find the exact name of the Content Center package, use the command:
adb shell pm list packages | grep content⚠️ Warning: Be extremely careful when entering delete commands. Removing the incorrect system packet can lead to a bootloop (cyclic reboot) of the device.
The process responsible for content is usually called com.miui.contentcenter or com.android.quicksearchbox (depending on the version).
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.contentcenterThis command doesn't delete the file physically, it freezes it for the current user. The system stops starting the process, and it disappears from the interface. If you want to return it as it was, just replace the word disable-user with enable in the same command.
Use of Universal Android Debloater
For those who don’t want to mess with the command line, there’s Universal Android Debloater (UAD) graphics utility, an open-source cross-platform application that automatically identifies the connected device and offers a list of system applications to remove. The program’s interface is understandable even to beginners.
After downloading and running UAD on your computer, connect your smartphone in debugging mode. The program will scan the device and display a list of packages divided into categories: safe, recommended and dangerous. Find in the list of MIUI Content Center or Content Center and click the delete button (usually the basket icon).
The advantage of this method is that UAD often contains packet descriptions, which reduces the risk of removing critical components. However, the program database may not update as quickly as new versions of MIUI are released, so some packets may not be recognized or labeled incorrectly.
What if the UAD can't see the phone?
Comparison of disposal methods and their consequences
The choice of method depends on your technical background and the desired result. Each method has its pros and cons, which should be considered before starting the procedure.
| Method | Difficulty | Security | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launcher settings | Low. | Tall. | Low (often not working) |
| ADB team | Medium | Tall. | Tall. |
| Universal Debloater | Low. | Medium | Tall. |
| Root rights | Tall. | Low. | Maximum |
Root rights give you maximum control by physically removing files from the system partition, but this nullifies the warranty, disrupts banking applications (without any additional tricks), and risks turning the phone into a brick if it fails.
The ADB method is the middle ground, and it allows you to completely eliminate the service from the interface and stop its processes, while maintaining the integrity of the system partition. In case of problems, you can always do a full reset (Wipe Data) to return the original state.
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Before any manipulation of system packages, back up your important data to a cloud server or computer, which will take a few minutes, but will save your photos and contacts in the event of a crash.
Possible problems and solutions
Unforeseen situations may occur during the deletion process, such as when the Center Content is turned off, the desktop may become unstable or the search widget disappears, because some components of MIUI are closely intertwined. If you encounter problems, the first thing you should do is try to restart the device.
If the phone is stuck on the logo or reboots constantly after rebooting, you need to enter Recovery mode. To do this, press the power and volume button (the combination depends on the model). From the recovery menu, select Wipe Data. This will return factory settings and restore deleted system files.
Another common problem is automatic system updates that return remote components. To avoid this, it is recommended to disable automatic MIUI updates in settings or use third-party utilities to block updates. In HyperOS, change protection mechanisms can be stricter.
⚠️ Note: If you upgrade to a new version of Android or MIUI, previously applied commands ADB They can stop working, and the packet is activated again.