How to completely remove FaceMoji Keyboard from Xiaomi: 5 working ways

Xiaomi’s FaceMoji Keyboard is often the default on the brand’s smartphones, but not everyone likes it. The app takes up space in memory, consumes battery power with background processes and sometimes even replaces the system keyboard without the owner’s consent. Worse yet, standard removal through the app menu doesn’t always work – the “Delete” button may be inactive or absent at all.

In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to remove FaceMoji Keyboard from Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices, including models on MIUI 12/13/14 and HyperOS. You will learn how to uninstall an application without root rights, using ADB, through Safe Mode, and what to do if the keyboard returns after a reboot.

Why is FaceMoji Keyboard difficult to remove?

The FaceMoji Keyboard app falls into the category of system utilities that Xiaomi integrates into MIUI firmware.

• 🔒 It is protected from accidental deletion (the button "Delete" is hidden or blocked).
• 📦 Keyboard files can be decompressed in the system partition /system/priv-app, Where there's no root access.
• 🔄 After resetting settings or updating the firmware, the application can recover automatically.
• 📱 On some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T Or the Redmi Note 11 Pro.+) Keyboard is linked to Mi Account services.

FaceMoji is often linked to other components of Xiaomi’s ecosystem, such as:

• 🎭 Thematic engine (com.android.themes)
• 🤖 Voice assistant XiaoAI (com.miui.voiceassist)
• 📱 Mi Share (Fast File Transfer Service)

So simply turning off the keyboard in the settings doesn’t always solve the problem — it can continue to run in the background or appear after a reboot.

Method 1: Standard removal through settings (if the button is active)

On some Xiaomi models (especially those with global firmware), the FaceMoji keyboard can be removed in the standard way.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search box, type FaceMoji.
3. Click on the FaceMoji Keyboard app (or com.facemoji.keyboard).
4. If the "Delete" button is active, press it and confirm the action.

⚠️ Note: On most devices with MIUI The delete button will be blocked or replaced with "Disable". In this case, proceed to the following methods.

If the Remove button is inactive, but there is a Disable option, use it. It won't delete the application files, but it will stop it from working and hide it from the interface. However, after updating the firmware, the keyboard may be activated again.

Method 2: Removal via ADB (no root rights)

If standard uninstallation is not available, the most reliable way is to use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which works on any Xiaomi device, including models with a locked bootloader, and does not require superuser rights.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS.
• 📱 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 🔧 Utilities. ADB Fastboot (you can download from the official Android website).
• ⚙️ Included debugging by USB smartphone.

Step-by-step:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Press 7 times on "MIUI Version." Go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers. Enable "Debugging on USB" and confirm permission.

File Transfer (MTP)

ADB

adb devices

The name of your device should appear.

adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.facemoji.keyboard

If you have an error, try an alternative command:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.facemoji.keyboard

⚠️ Note: Once the command is executed, the application will disappear from the menu, but its files will remain in the system partition.This means that after resetting the settings or updating the firmware, the keyboard can return).

Method 3: Disable Safe Mode (if ADB doesn't help)

If deleting through ADB didn’t work or you don’t want to connect your phone to your PC, try turning off the keyboard in Safe Mode.This is a temporary solution, but it will help get rid of intrusive notifications and automatic activation.

How to Sign In to Safe Mode on Xiaomi:

1. Press the power button until the shutdown menu appears.
2. Press and hold the "Switch off" (or "Reboot" on some models).
3. Confirm the safe mode entry (the Safe Mode will appear on the screen).

In safe mode:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the FaceMoji Keyboard.
3. Click "Disable" and confirm the action.
4. Restart your phone in normal mode.

Instructions for devices with Magisk:

1. Install a file manager with root rights support (such as Root Explorer or Mixplorer).
2. Go to /system/priv-app/FaceMojiKeyboard/ or (on some firmware): /system/app/FaceMojiKeyboard/
3. Delete all files in this folder (or rename it by adding.bak at the end).
4. Reset the device.

Alternatively, through TWRP:

1. Download to TWRP Recovery.
2. Select "Advanced → File Manager".
3. Find and delete /system/priv-app/FaceMojiKeyboard/.
4. Wipe your cache (Wipe → Cache) and restart.

Important: Deleting system files can cause unstable operation of the device.Be sure to back up your system files via TWRP before the procedure!

Method 5: Resetting settings (extreme case)

If none of these methods worked, and the FaceMoji keyboard keeps popping up, you have a complete reset, and this method will delete all the data from the device, so only use it as a last resort.

How to reset your settings to Xiaomi:

1. Make a backup copy of important data (photos, contacts, messages).
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Select "Erase all data."
4. Confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Xiaomi 13, Redmi) K50 After reset, FaceMoji Keyboard can be installed automatically along with other system applications:

• 📵 Turn off the internet immediately after the first setup.
• 🔧 Remove the keyboard through ADB network-connected.

What if FaceMoji returns after being deleted?

Many users find that after removing the FaceMoji Keyboard, it returns after a firmware update or reboot, which is due to the system application recovery mechanism in MIUI.

If the keyboard keeps coming back, try:

• 🛡️ Install an alternative firmware (e.g. LineageOS or Pixel Experience).
• 🔧 Use the Magisk module to block installation of system applications.
• 📵 Disable all Xiaomi services in account settings.

💡

The most reliable way to prevent FaceMoji from returning is by combining uninstalling through ADB+ to disable firmware auto updates.

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing FaceMoji Keyboard