How to Disable or Replace the Default Phone App on Xiaomi

Many owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones face the annoying intrusiveness of Google's built-in feature set.The standard app that handles calls is often overloaded with unnecessary interface elements, inappropriate advertising, or simply does not match the user's personal preferences. The desire to disable or replace it with a more concise counterpart arises from those who appreciate minimalism and cleanliness of the system.

However, the process of deactivating the system component does not always go smoothly, since MIUI and HyperOS are strictly tied to the work of native services. In this article, we will discuss the safe ways to disable the Phone application, consider the risks of completely stopping system processes, and offer the best alternatives for comfortable communication.

It is important to understand that completely removing or “freezing” this module can lead to the inability to make calls, so the procedure should be approached carefully.

Why Users Want to Remove the Standard Feature Set

Xiaomi and Google’s standard phone app is often criticized for being too functional, which can only get in the way of everyday use, primarily advertising integrations that can appear on a call list or when you search for contacts, which not only distracts, but also consumes traffic and processor resources.

The second reason is the interface. The design of the MIUI shell can seem overloaded, with large buttons and unnecessary widgets on the dial screen. Users who are used to pure Android or specific launchers often look for a way to return the usual look of the caller or replace it with something more ascetic.

⚠️ Warning: Trying to completely remove the Phone system application without a working alternative will result in you being unable to receive incoming calls and dial emergency numbers.

Many also seek to turn off background activity to save battery life: Standard services often run in the background, synchronizing contacts and checking for spam, which is not always necessary for each user, and disabling unnecessary processes allows you to extend the battery life of the device.

Preparing for changes in the system

Before you make changes to system components, you need to make sure there's an alternative, you can't use your phone as a phone without a call app, so the first step is always to install a replacement from the Google Play store.

The popular and secure options are Truecaller, Simple Dialer or ExDialer. Once you install a new application, the system will automatically prompt you to choose it as your primary communication tool, a critical step that should not be missed.

It is also recommended to back up important contacts. Although disabling an application does not usually affect the database of numbers, there is always a risk of accidental loss of information when working with system settings.

Instructions: How to change the application by default

The safest and most appropriate way to disable a native app is to simply reassign priority, in which case the system software will remain in memory but will not be used. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.

In the management menu, find the default App section (often hidden in the optional three-dot menu in the upper right corner). Select Phone and specify the analog you previously installed. Now, when you try to make a call, the system will automatically run the selected program.

If you want to limit the background work of your native app, find it in the list of all programs (usually called “Phone” with the Google logo or MIUI). Go to the Battery section and select the Limit or No Limits mode (depending on the version of MIUI, the logic sometimes needs to be inverted for a forced stop, but it is better to choose “Energy Saving”).

⚠️ Note: On some strong-optimized firmware versions, after changing the application by default, the system may periodically return a standard call after updating or restarting.

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If after changing the application by default, notifications about missed do not come, check the notification settings for the NEW application and give it all the necessary permissions.

Disconnecting through ADB for advanced users

For those who want to remove an application from view completely without Root, there is a method of using USB debugging and the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) utility, which allows the packet to be “freezed” or removed for the current user, which effectively disables it.

First, activate Developer Mode. To do this, go to Settings → About Phone and quickly press 7 times on MIUI Version (or OS Version). Then, in the Additional → For Developers menu, turn on USB Debugging.

Connect your smartphone to your computer, install drivers and ADB. In the command line, type a command to search for packages associated with the phone:

adb shell pm list packages | grep dialer

Usually, the system package is called com.android.dialer or com.miui.dialer. To disable it, use the command:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.dialer

Once the command is executed, the application will disappear from the installed list and will no longer consume resources. However, as in the previous case, you must have a working alternative, otherwise the call interface may cease to appear at all.

Comparison of popular alternatives

Choosing a replacement is a matter of taste, but some apps have performed better than others in conjunction with Xiaomi shells. Below is a comparison of the key characteristics of popular solutions.

Truecaller is great for those who need to identify unknown numbers, but it requires a lot of permissions. Simple Dialer is the perfect choice for older devices or fans of minimalism, as it consumes almost no resources.

It is worth noting that some alternative calls may not work properly with the conversation recording feature on new versions of Android due to the security limitations of the operating system itself, not just the MIUI shell.

Possible problems and solutions

Once a standard application is disabled, users may encounter a number of difficulties, such as the Favorites widget on the desktop may stop updating or display contacts from a new phone book, in which case the widget must be removed and recreated by selecting the data source of the new application.

Another common problem is that you don't have dialing sound or a call reset right after the beep, which can be due to permission conflicts, go to the settings of a new app and manually grant all the rights you request, especially access to Contacts, Microphone and Phone.

⚠️ Warning: If after all the manipulations the phone stopped responding to incoming calls (the screen does not light up), try clearing the cache of the new application or temporarily turning the standard call back on through the application settings.

In rare cases, especially on Chinese firmware devices, the system can block third-party applications for calls, in which case only installing specialized patches or using methods requiring Root rights helps, which is not recommended for ordinary users.

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The most stable work is achieved when the replacement app has deep system integrations or is certified to work with your version of Android.

Outcomes and recommendations

Disabling the default phone app on Xiaomi is an effective way to get rid of ads and improve the interface, but the best solution is to change the priority in settings.

Use light alternatives if your smartphone is not high performance. For flagships, functional harvesters with a number detector will suit. Always keep a handy way to return the original settings, for example, through ADB or Safe Mode.

Competent software customization allows you to turn a standard gadget into a unique tool that fully meets your needs. Experiment with settings, but always keep prudence when working with system files.