Unknown apps on Xiaomi: why appear and how to get rid of

You open the app menu on your Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5 Pro, and you find programs that you didn't exactly install: "Mi Browser" next to your Chrome, "Mi Video" when you're using YouTube, or a suspicious app with Chinese characters. Where do they come from? Is it a virus, a preinstalled software, or a consequence of an update? MIUI?

In 80% of cases, such applications are not the result of hacking, but a feature of the firmware MIUI But there may be some really dangerous programs hiding in the middle of them, masquerading as system-based programs. In this article, we'll look at all the possible sources of "extra" applications, learn how to distinguish between safe and malicious applications, and show you how to remove the unnecessary without risking the system, and also answer the question of why some programs come back after resetting.

1. Xiaomi apps preinstalled: what can be removed and what can’t

Firmware MIUI (Especially in the global and Chinese versions, it initially contains dozens of apps that the user did not install, some of which are system services that the smartphone will not work properly without, and the other is marketing affiliate programs that Xiaomi integrates for monetization.

Here is a typical list of “extra” apps on new devices Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO:

• 🌐 Mi Browser – a browser from Xiaomi (duplicates) Chrome/Edge)
• 🎬 Mi Video - Video player with advertising
• 🎵 Mi Music – Music player with integration of Chinese services
• 📱 Cleaner – Memory Optimizer (often aggressive)
• 🛒 Mi Pay – payment service (not operating outside China)
• 📊 Security – antivirus with advertising of other applications

Can they be removed? Yes, but with reservations:

• ✅ Safely deleted: Mi Browser, Mi Video, Mi Music, Mi Pay, Games, Themes.
• ⚠️ Remove with caution: Cleaner (may disrupt background optimization), Security (responsible for some system checks).
• ❌ Cannot be deleted: Settings, Phone Services, MIUI System and others marked "System" in settings.

⚠️ Note: Removing system applications through ADB or root access can lead to loss of warranty and unstable operation of the smartphone. For example, after removing Mi Share, the function of fast file transfer between Xiaomi devices may stop working.

2. "Viruses" or legitimate programs? How do you tell the difference?

Not all unknown applications are harmless, but here are the signs of potentially dangerous software:

• 🔍 Unintelligible name in Chinese or with a random character set (e.g. com.duokan.phone).
• 📥 It appeared after the installation of pirates. APK or games from a third-party source.
• 🔄 Installs other programs on its own (see Settings) → Annexes → Established).
• 📊 Consumes a lot of traffic or battery (checked in Settings) → Battery).
• 🚫 Blocks removal through the standard menu.

Use:

1. VirusTotal: Download it APK-Application file (can be retrieved through APK Extractor) and check on virustotal.com.
2. Malwarebytes: A free Android scanner that finds spyware.
3. Xiaomi Settings: Go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → Three points (⋮) → Special access and check if the program has administrator rights or access to the SMS.

If the application turns out to be a virus, do not manually delete it - use an antivirus or reset your smartphone to factory settings (Settings) → The phone. → Some viruses disguise themselves as system processes (e.g. com.android.system) and removing them without knowledge can bring the phone down.

3. Where Apps Come From: 5 Major Sources

Let’s look at all the possible reasons for the appearance of unfamiliar programs on Xiaomi:

Especially often users are faced with the autoinstallation of applications after the update. MIUI. In 2023, many Redmi Note 11 owners complained about the Mi. AI and Mi Remote after updating to MIUI 14.This is not a virus, but Xiaomi’s policy of integrating new services.

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To disable automatic installation of recommended applications, go to Settings → Google → Advertising and deactivate the option “Personalized Advertising».

4. Step-by-step instructions: how to remove unnecessary applications

The removal methods depend on the type of application. Let's look at all the options:

🔹 Method 1: Standard removal

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the desired application in the list and tap it.
3. If the "Delete" button is active, press it.

🔹 Method 2: Disconnect (if deletion is blocked)

1. In the app menu, select “Disable” (this hides it from the menu and stops background work).
2. Complete removal of system applications will be required ADB.

Install Xiaomi drivers on PC|Put the debugging on. USB In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (7 times to tap) → Additionally. → Debugging by USB|Download Platform Tools from Google|Connect your phone to your PC and allow debugging-->

🔹 Method 3: Removal through ADB (skilled)

To remove system applications:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command line in the folder with ADB.
2. Enter the command: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.example.app (replace com.example.app with a batch name for the app, for example, com.miui.browser for Mi Browser).
3. Reset the device.

📌 List of batch names of popular Xiaomi apps:

• com.miui.browser — Mi Browser
• com.miui.video — Mi Video
• com.miui.cleanmaster — Cleaner
• com.xiaomi.scanner — Scanner
• com.miui.miservice - Mi Service Framework (cannot be removed)

⚠️ Warning: Removing com.lbe.security.miui (Security) can disable virus scanner and check installed APK. If you are not using an alternative antivirus, it is better to simply disable the app rather than uninstall it.

5.Why apps come back after a reset or update

Many users complain, “I dropped Xiaomi to factory settings, but Mi Browser and Cleaner came back!”

1. Recovery from backup MIUI: If you have selected a recovery from Mi Cloud during the phone setup, then along with the contacts and SMS System applications could also be returned.
2. Update MIUI: Some applications (such as GetApps) are installed automatically when you update your firmware through OTA.
3. Google Play Services: If you’re logged in to a Google account where certain apps were previously installed, they can sync again.

How to avoid this:

• 🔄 When resetting, don’t recover from Mi Cloud – select “Setting up as a new phone».
• 📥 Before the update MIUI Turn off the automatic installation of recommended applications in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Three points (⋮) → Special access → Installation of unknown applications.
• 🚫 If you use a Google Account, remove unnecessary apps from the list installed in Google Play in advance.

6. Alternative firmware: how to get rid of bloat once and for all

If you are annoyed by the abundance of unnecessary applications in the MIUI, consider:

🔹 Option 1: Transition to MIUI bloate-free (castom assemblies)

There are modified versions. MIUI, Where all unnecessary applications are removed, but stability is maintained:

• 🌍 MIUI EU (europe.miui.com – official European firmware without Chinese services.

📌 How to install:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool.
2. Download the firmware from the forum xiaomi.eu.
3. Install it via TWRP or Fastboot.

🔹 Option 2: Install LineageOS or Pixel Experience

These firmwares are completely replaced MIUI on "pure" Android without bloat:

• ✅ No unnecessary applications.
• ✅ Quick security updates.
• ✅ More control over the system.

Cons:

• ❌ Maybe it won't work. IR-blaster (DU remote) or camera at full capacity.
• ❌ No Xiaomi features (e.g. Second Space).

⚠️ Warning: Installing custom firmware voids warranty and can cause a device to "break" if you don't follow the instructions. For example, incorrect firmware Redmi Note 10 Pro version for Redmi Note 10 will make the phone inoperable.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When trying to get rid of unnecessary applications, users often make critical mistakes:

If you have already made one of these mistakes, try:

• 🔄 Restore the Remote Application through ADB: adb shell cmd package install-existing com.example.app
• 📥 Flash your phone through the Mi Flash Tool (instructions on the official website).

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Before any manipulation of system applications, make a backup through Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset → Local backup, which will allow you to restore the phone if something goes wrong.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions