List of Xiaomi MIUI 12 apps for safe removal

Xiaomi smartphone owners often face a situation where the device memory is filled with system debris and pre-installed software. The MIUI 12 shell, despite its functionality and visual appeal, sins with an excessive number of built-in services, many of which do not provide any benefit to the user in a particular region, but only consume RAM and battery power.

Cleaning the system of excess software allows not only to free up gigabytes (memory), but also significantly speed up the interface. Standard means of settings menu can not remove everything, as the administrator rights limit access to system components, which is why deep cleaning requires the use of specialized tools and an accurate list of packages.

In this article, we will discuss which Xiaomi components can be safely disabled or removed, and which cannot be touched, you will learn how to prepare the device for the procedure and what risks exist when interfering with the structure of the Android operating system.

⚠️ Warning: Before you start any manipulation of system files, be sure to create a complete backup of data. Incorrect removal of critical components can lead to a cyclic restart (bootloop) of the device.

Preparing a smartphone to remove system applications

The process of getting rid of the built-in software requires pre-configuring the smartphone itself. Without activating the developer mode and debugging via USB, it will be impossible to transfer commands from computer to phone. This is the standard Android security measure that protects the device from unauthorized access.

The first thing you need to do is activate the developer menu. Go to Settings → About the phone and find the MIUI version. Click on it 7 times in a row before the successful activation message appears. Then a new section will appear in the “Additional” or “Extended settings” menu.

Inside this section, you need to find and activate the slider "Debugging by" USB». The system will give you a risk warning, you can accept it, and it's also recommended to include an option on this menu «USB-Debugging (security mode)" if available in your firmware version, this will allow the computer to gain advanced packet management rights.

It is important to use quality USB-If you connect to your computer, you'll see a request for debugging permission on your smartphone screen -- check the "Always Allow" box and confirm the action. Now your Xiaomi is ready to work with external utilities.

Removal Tools: ADB and Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools

To perform the deletion operation, we will need software on the computer. The most reliable and proven method is the use of the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) toolkit, which is the official utility from Google that allows you to control the device through the command line.

There are two main ways to do this: use the command line manually or use graphical shells. Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools from developer Szaki is ideal for beginners, it automatically determines the phone model, shows a list of packages, and marks safe to remove.

If you prefer manual control, you'll need to download Platform Tools from the official Android developer site. After unpacking the archive, open the command line in the tool folder. Check the connection by entering the command:

adb devices

If the list shows the serial number of your device with device status, then the connection is established correctly. -k --user 0 However, manually entering packet names tedious is fraught with errors, so using scripts or GUI-preferable programs.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use third-party programs with dubious reputations that promise “one-click acceleration”; they may contain malicious code or remove critical system libraries.

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Use only official ADB drivers or time-tested open source utilities to avoid data compromise.

Safe to remove system applications Xiaomi

MIUI 12 has a range of applications that are not critical to operating systems, and removing them will not affect the ability to make calls, send SMS or connect to Wi-Fi, primarily for services that are targeted at the Chinese market.

Safe components include analytics services, ad units and duplicates of standard Google apps, for example, if you use Chrome or Yandex, the built-in MIUI Browser can be easily removed, and the same applies to the GetApps app store (formerly Mi Apps) if you are not using the Xiaomi ecosystem.

• 📦 com.miui.miservice – a service application that often causes advertising notifications.
• 📦 com.miui.analytics – a module for collecting usage statistics that consumes traffic.
• 📦 com.xiaomi.joyose is a service that controls game settings, but often interferes with the work of other applications.
• 📦 com.miui.videoplayer - built-in video player, which is easily replaced by third-party analogues.

You can also remove applications for working with maps (MIUI Maps), recorder, scanner QR-However, remember that removing standard tools will require installing alternatives from Google Play.

Dangerous Packages: What You Can't Remove in MIUI 12

There is a category of applications that will lead to unstable operation of the system or complete inoperability of the smartphone: these are the so-called system frameworks and services that provide the basic functionality of Android and MIUI.

Don’t touch any packages related to telephony, contacts, system UI, and security. Deleting Security Center will make it impossible for you to manage application permissions and antivirus protection. Deleting System UI will cause the interface to disappear.

Also, be careful with Google Play Services (com.google.android.gms) that will disrupt most modern applications, including maps, navigation, and banking, if you’re not an expert, it’s best to leave those components alone.

Removal of MSA Advertising and Services

One of the main reasons for cleaning up the system is advertising, and in MIUI 12, it's MSA (MIUI System Ads) service that's responsible for it, and even after you turn off the ads in the settings, this process can continue to work in the background, and removing them completely through ADB is the most effective way to get rid of intrusive banners.

To remove it, look for com.miui.msa.global (for global versions) or com.miui.msa. Once it is removed, ads in standard apps should disappear. It is also recommended to remove the com.miui.miadserve package, which is responsible for advertising services.

However, it is worth noting that after updating the system or resetting the settings, these packages can return, in which case the procedure will have to be repeated, and some users also delete Daemon processes related to analytics to prevent reloading of advertising modules.

Recovery of Remote System Applications

If you accidentally delete an important component in the optimization process, or if the system starts to work incorrectly, don't panic. Applications deleted through ADB don't disappear from the recovery section forever, they just disappear for the current user. They can be easily returned.

To recover, use the command in ADB:

adb shell cmd package install-existing name packet

For example, to return the Security Center, the command will look like this: adb shell cmd package install-existing com.miui.securitycenter. If you used a graphics utility like Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools, there is usually a “Restore” tab or a list of previously deleted packages with a return button.

In extreme cases, if the phone stopped booting (bootloop), only resetting to factory settings through Recovery Mode will help. To do this, press the volume and power button. In the recovery menu, select Wipe Data. This will return all system applications to their places, but delete your personal data.

⚠️ Warning: Recovery (Wipe Data) completely cleans internal memory.Make sure you have an up-to-date copy of photos and documents.

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Removal via ADB is reversible until the phone is completely reset, which makes it possible to experiment with system settings.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)