Applications on Xiaomi that can be removed without harming the system

Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often face a situation where they find many pre-installed programs after buying a new device, which take up precious space in internal memory and can consume CPU resources in the background, and the problem is especially acute for models with a small amount of storage, where every gigabyte counts.

MIUI and its new successor, HyperOS, are rich in services, some useful and others outright garbage or duplicates. In this article, we’ll look at which Xiaomi apps can be removed without disrupting the phone’s core functionality, which will help you speed up your gadget and make room for personal files.

Before we take any drastic action, it is important to understand the difference between user and system components. Deleting critical services can lead to unstable operation or a device building, so we have prepared a detailed list of safe items to remove, drawing on the experience of thousands of users and tests.

Analysis of embedded software: what is what

All pre-installed programs fall into three main categories: system, service Google and Xiaomi, as well as advertising debris: system components are responsible for calls, SMS, interface operation and basic functions, and it is strongly recommended not to touch them, as this can disrupt the entire operating system.

The second group is the services linked to Mi Account or Google Account, which includes cloud storage, music, video and themes, and if you're not using the Chinese manufacturer's ecosystem, most of these elements can be painlessly disabled or removed, but it's worth remembering that some of them are deeply integrated into the shell.

The third category is what's called bloatware, which is affiliate apps, games and utilities that often don't benefit a particular user, and they are the ones that are most likely to be removed, and there are many other apps on the list that include Booking, Facebook, various marketplaces and news aggregators.

• 📱 System: Phone, Messages, Contacts, Camera, Gallery (basic).
• ☁️ Service: Mi Cloud, Mi Video, Mi Music, Google Play Services.
• 🗑️ Bloatware: Affiliate Games, Marketplaces, News Widgets.

Understanding this classification will help you avoid errors. Deleting the system package "Security" or "Updater" can make it impossible to boot the system or receive security updates. Always check the purpose of the application before uninstalling it using a search on the Internet by the name of the package.

⚠️ Warning: Be sure to back up your data before cleaning up. Even when you remove "safe" applications, conflicts can arise, especially on different versions of firmware. MIUI 12, 13, 14 or HyperOS.

List of safe to remove Xiaomi apps

Let's start with apps that Xiaomi has developed that can be removed without fatal consequences for the smartphone, primarily multimedia content, and if you prefer third-party players like VLC or streaming services like Netflix, you don't need native players.

You should also pay attention to the theme and wallpaper store. Themes takes up a lot of space and is constantly hanging in the process. If you don't plan to change the visual style of the system, you can remove it. Similar to the situation with the Mi Browser, it is often overloaded with advertising and news feeds, so many users replace it with Chrome or Firefox.

Advertising and statistics services deserve special attention. Advertising and statistics services can be disabled in the system settings, but the components themselves often remain in memory. Deleting packets associated with msa (MIUI System Ads) significantly reduces battery load and removes pop-ups.

Below is a table with specific packet names that users most often delete to optimize the system. ADB-team.

Remember, when you remove some of the components, you can lose the widgets on your desktop. It's normal. If you accidentally delete the extra, you can always download them. APK-Remote application file from the verified resource and install it again through the installer menu.

Cleaning up Google services and third-party garbage

Xiaomi smartphones, like most Android devices, come with a set of Google services. You can’t completely remove them, as Gmail, Maps, Play Market and many third-party apps tied to Google Play Services will stop working.

Firmware versions are often used on global versions of Facebook apps, and even if you don't use them, they can run in the background, com.facebook.katana packets and related services are better removed or frozen, which will free up RAM and reduce traffic.

Also worth checking for pre-installed games and apps from partners (e.g. AliExpress, Booking, TikTok in some regions) are often bundled and not mandatory for the system to work.

For advanced users, it is possible to remove Google system components such as Google TV, Google Play Movies or Google Music if you do not use them, but you should do this with caution using ADB, as they may not be removed by standard means.

⚠️ Warning: Deleting Google Play Services or Google Play Framework will render most applications, including banking clients and navigators, inoperable.

Removal through settings and standard interface

The easiest and safest way to get rid of excess software is to use Android built-in tools, a method that doesn't require a computer connection or special knowledge, but is suitable for removing user applications and some system applications that the manufacturer has authorized to be uninstalled.

To do this, go to Settings → Applications → All Apps. Find an unnecessary program in the list, click on it and select Remove. If the button is inactive (gray), then the application is system-based and protected from removal in the usual way.

In some cases, instead of deleting, you have the Disable feature, which hides the app from the menu and prevents it from running, but the files stay in memory, which is a good compromise if you're afraid of disrupting the system, but you want to get rid of the annoying element.

• 🔍 Go to the phone settings.
• 📲 Select the "Applications" section".
• 🗑️ Find the target application in the list.
• ❌ Click "Delete" or "Disable".

Note that the interface may be slightly different on different versions of MIUI, and in newer versions of HyperOS, the application management menu has become more informative, showing the amount of space you occupy and access rights. Use this information to make your decision to delete.

Deep Cleaning with ADB (for Advanced)

If standard methods don't allow you to remove the built-in app, the ADB tool comes to the rescue. It's Google's official tool that lets you control the device from a computer via the command line. It doesn't require Root rights, making it safer than using questionable removal software.

To get started, activate the developer mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on the build number 7 times. Then, in the Additional → For developers, turn on USB debugging. Connect the phone to your PC and run a command to check the connection.

adb devices

Once you have confirmed the connection on your smartphone screen, you can delete the packets. The command to delete is as follows:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 <name packet>

For example, to delete Mi Video, the command would be: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.videoplayer. The --user 0 flag means that the application is removed for the current user, but formally remains in the system, which allows you to restore it to factory reset in case of something.

Using ADB gives you complete control over the list of packages installed, you can remove even those components that are hidden from the user, but here the golden rule is: seven times measure, once cut. Do not delete packets that you do not know the purpose of.

System Recovery and Typical Errors

Even with careful removal, there can be problems. A smartphone can start to run slower, the camera stops starting or the sound disappears. In such cases, do not panic. Most problems are solved by resetting settings or restoring remote components.

If the phone stopped loading (cyclic reboot), try entering Recovery mode. To do this, press the power and volume button (the combination depends on the model). In the recovery menu, select Wipe Data. Remember that this will delete all personal data, so backup is mandatory.

It's a common mistake to delete the system launcher or input components, and if you delete the keyboard and you don't install the new one, it's hard to enter the password. USB-keyboard OTG-using the Google Assistant cable or voice input if it is active.

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Tip: Keep a text list of deleted packets. If problems start after deleting, you will know which file to restore or find an APK to install.

It is important to understand that firmware updates can return remote system applications. After a major update to MIUI or HyperOS, it is recommended to check the list of programs again and repeat the cleaning procedure if necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Proper cleaning of the smartphone from bloatware can speed up the operation of the old device by 15-20% and free up to 2-3 GB of internal memory.