MI Picks on Xiaomi: what is this app, how does it work and whether it should be kept on your phone?

If you own a Xiaomi, Redmi or a smartphone POCO, I'm sure you noticed a mysterious app in the list of installed programs. MI Picks. It comes out of the box, it doesn't have a desktop shortcut, but it's updated regularly on Google Play. What is it? Why is it pre-installed? And most importantly, can it be removed without harming the system?

In this article, we will discuss the appointment in detail. MI Picks, its connection to the Xiaomi ecosystem, and how useful (or useless) it is for the average user. You’ll learn how it affects the performance, security and autonomy of the device, and get step-by-step instructions on how to manage this application – from disabling to completely removing it.

Spoiler: MI Picks is not a critical system component, but its behavior depends on the version. MIUI And the firmware region, and in some cases, it may even be beneficial -- but more on that later.

What is it? MI Picks and why Xiaomi is installing it?

MI Picks (full name on Google Play — MI Picks – Personalized App Recommendations – is a personalized recommendation service from Xiaomi, whose main task is to analyze your preferences and suggest the installation of new applications, games, themes or services from the official Mi App Store and partner platforms.

It's basically a Google Discover or an App Store Today, but with a focus on content from Xiaomi and its partners, and it works in the background, collecting data about:

• 📱 Apps (which programs you use most often);
• 🎮 Playing games (if you play mobile games);
• 🌍 geolocation (for targeted proposals for the region);
• 🔍 Search queries in the system (if you are looking for something through Xiaomi Search).

It is important to understand that MI Picks is not a virus or spyware, it is a legitimate component of the ecosystem. MIUI, But there are some features, like Chinese firmware, where it's integrated deeper and can show recommendations right on the lock screen, whereas global versions have a more modest approach.

How MI Picks hit the phone and can it be avoided?

Annex MI Picks is preinstalled on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO firmware MIUI (with the exception of devices for the European market with MIUI It is included in the standard service package along with Mi Video, Mi Music and Mi Browser.

There are three ways in which MI Picks may be on your phone:

1. Pre-installation in firmware - the application is sewn into the system section and activated when the smartphone is first turned on.
2. Auto-update via Google Play – even if you manually remove it, it can return after updating other system components.
3. Installation with other Xiaomi apps – for example, when updating the Mi App Store or Mi Security.

You can only avoid it in two ways:

• 📦 Buy a smartphone with a pure Android (for example, POCO F5 Xiaomi 13T Pro in the version for Europe).
• 🔧 Install custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), but this will require unlocking the bootloader and losing warranty.

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If you buy Xiaomi from the official store, check with the seller which firmware is preinstalled. Global versions (marked Global) usually contain less preinstalled software than Chinese or Indian versions.

Functions MI Picks: What this app can do?

At first glance, MI Picks may seem useless, but it has a few specific features:

The most controversial feature is activity analysis. The app does collect data about your activities, but according to Xiaomi's privacy policy, this data is anonymized and used only for making recommendations. However, if you are concerned about privacy, it is better to disable the collection of statistics (more about this below).

Interesting fact: in some regions (for example, in India) MI Picks not only shows apps, but also local news, weather, and even offers from partner banks.

Impact MI Picks on the phone: pros and cons

Like any pre-installed application, MI Picks have their advantages and disadvantages. Let's look at them objectively.

Pros:

• 🎁 Free content – sometimes offers really useful apps or themes that are hard to find on your own.
• 🔄 Sync with Mi Account – if you have multiple Xiaomi devices, the recommendations will be the same on all.
• 📱 Lightweight – the app itself weighs less than 50MB and does not load the system with the right settings.

Cons:

• 🚫 Advertising in disguise – some “recommendations” are actually promotional materials of partners.
• 🕵️ Data collection – even if you don’t use the app, it can track your activity.
• 🔋 Background activity – without optimization can drain the battery by 1–3% per day.
• 📦 Inability to completely remove on some firmware (app returns after reset).

Based on the results of tests on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ Xiaomi 13 Lite, MI Picks in the background consume about 30-70 MB of RAM and up to 1% charge per hour when used actively. This is not critical for modern smartphones, but can be noticeable on budget models like Redmi. A2.

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If you do not use the recommendations of Xiaomi, MI Picks can be safely turned off – it will not affect the stability of the system, but will save resources.

How to disable or remove MI Picks: step-by-step instructions

If you decide to get rid of it MI Picks, there are a number of ways, from simple shutdown to complete removal, depending on your firmware and technical background.

Method 1: Disconnect via settings (without root)

The safest and easiest method:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find it on the list. MI Picks (may be called com.miui.personalassistant).
3. Click Disable (or Remove Updates if the button is active).
4. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

After that, the application will stop working, but will remain in the system, so that it does not automatically update:

Open Google Play.

Find it. MI Picks on the installed list

Press three points. → Remove from Auto Update

Disable notifications from the application (in its settings)

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Method 2: Remove via ADB (without root but with PC)

If the shutdown is not enough, you can remove the application completely using ADB. For that:

1. Enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times, then go back to Additional → For Developers).
2. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.personalassistant
3. Reset the device.

⚠️ Note: On some firmware, this may cause Mi App Store to fail.If the app store stopped opening after deleting, return it. MI Picks by team:

adb shell cmd package install-existing com.miui.personalassistant

Method 3: Complete removal with root rights

For experienced users who are ready to get root:

1. Install Magisk or another root manager.
2. Use a root-access file manager (such as Root Explorer).
3. Delete the files: /system/priv-app/PersonalAssistant/PersonalAssistant.apk /system/priv-app/PersonalAssistant/oat
4. Clear the cache in /data/data/com.miui.personalassistant.

This method is guaranteed to remove the application forever, but deprives of warranties and can disrupt the work of other services. MIUI.

MI Picks and Security: Does it Collect Your Data?

One of the main questions users have is how safe is it? MI Picks and whether it's transferring personal information to third parties.

According to Xiaomi’s official privacy policy, the app collects the following data:

• 📊 Usage statistics (which apps you open, how often).
• 📍 Approximate geolocation (by IP or network data, not GPS).
• 🔢 ID Device and Mi Account (for synchronization of recommendations).
• 🔍 Search queries in the system (if you use built-in search).

It's important: MI Picks don't have access to:

• 📞 Your calls, SMS chat-chat.
• 📷 Photos, videos or files in your phone memory.
• 💳 Data of banking applications or payment systems.

However, if you are concerned about data collection, you can restrict the application’s access to:

1. Go to Settings. → Annexes → MI Picks → Permits.
2. Disable access to Location, Warehouse and Other Applications.
3. In the same menu, click Limit background activity.

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To completely stop collecting data, disable Ad Personalization in your Mi Account settings. → Confidentiality → Personalized recommendations and deactivate all switches.

⚠️ Attention: In Chinese firmware MIUI (For example, on smartphones for the domestic market) MI Picks may have extended permissions, including access to contacts or calendar.If you buy Xiaomi from China, it is recommended to immediately change firmware to global one.

Alternatives MI Picks: how to replace the recommendations from Xiaomi

If you deleted MI Picks, but want to get personalized recommendations, there are several alternative solutions:

If you only need themes and wallpapers for MIUI, can be used:

• 🎨 Zedge – a huge base of wallpaper and ringtones.
• 🖼️ WallpapersCraft – High-quality wallpaper with resolution sorting.
• 🌈 KWGT — to create custom widgets (requires customization skills).

For game lovers, instead of recommendations from MI Picks will do:

• 🎮 Google Play Games – Official Guidelines from Google.
• 🏆 TapTap is a popular platform for gamers with reviews and ratings.
• 🕹️ GameSpace (built-in to the MIUI) — if you do not remove it with MI Picks.

FAQ: Frequent questions about MI Picks