Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face the desire to personalize the interface beyond the standard capabilities of the MIUI or HyperOS shell. System launcher, responsible for the appearance of the desktop, dock bar and widget management, is a key element of interaction with the device. However, the standard System Launcher does not always meet the needs of advanced users who want to get pure Android or unique customization features.
The process of replacing or removing a system launcher requires caution, as it is a critical component of the operating system. Mistakes can lead to unstable interface operation, black screen appearance or cyclical device reboot. In this article, we will discuss in detail the safe methods of deactivating a standard application and installing alternative solutions without loss of warranty and data.
Before we take action, we need to understand the difference between removing a system component completely and disabling it. Complete removal requires root rights and carries high risks, while disabling or replacing it through ADB (Android Debug Bridge) is a safer and more reversible method. We will focus on methods that allow you to change the behavior of the system, while maintaining the ability to quickly return to factory settings if necessary.
Risks and consequences of removing the system launcher
Many users underestimate the role that System Launcher plays in the MIUI shell. It is not just a set of icons, but a deeply integrated service that manages gestures, lock screen (in some versions) and system notifications. Attempting to rough-down without preparation can leave the device without a control interface.
Among the most common problems after incorrect intervention is the so-called “black screen” when the system boots, but the user sees nothing but the background, there are also possible failures in the task manager and the inability to run other applications through standard system calls, which is why it is important to have a rollback plan for changes.
⚠️ Warning: Before any manipulation of system applications, be sure to create a full backup of important data. In the event of a critical system failure, recovery may require a complete reset to factory settings.
It’s also worth considering that some Xiaomi features, such as “Second Space” or specific control gestures, may stop working properly when using third-party launchers.The system may try to force back the standard interface, leading to persistent notifications or errors.
- 🔴 Loss of access to desktop and application icons.
- 🔴 Failures in the operation of system gestures of navigation.
- 🔴 Inability to open settings through the standard menu.
- 🔴 Conflicts with system widgets and live wallpaper.
⚠️ Warning: If after replacing the launcher, the phone stopped responding to touch, try to perform a forced reboot by clamping the power button on the phone. 10-15 In safe mode, third-party launchers often shut down automatically.
Preparation of the device for system modification
Successful system component replacement begins with proper preparation. The first step is to activate the developer mode, which is hidden by default in Xiaomi settings. Without this step, you won't be able to enable the USB debugging required to communicate with your computer.
To activate, go to Settings → About Phone and find the MIUI Version (or OS Version). You need to quickly click on this item 7-10 times in a row until you notice that you have become a developer.
☑️ Checklist of preparations
Next, go to Settings → Advanced Settings → For developers, find the USB Debugging option and activate it. The system will issue a warning about potential risks – confirm the action. It is also recommended to enable the USB Installation option if it is available in your region, although this is not always strictly necessary for working with ADB.
You'll need to install a minimum set of Google Platform Tools on your computer. This is the official package containing adb and fastboot.
C:\platform-tools
Method of disconnection via computer and ADB
The safest way to get rid of an intrusive standard launcher is not to physically remove it, but to disable it for the current user using the command line. This method does not require root rights and allows you to return everything back at any time with a simple command. Connect your smartphone to your computer with a cable and select File Transfer or USB Debugging mode in the menu that appears on the phone screen.
Open the command prompt or PowerShell in the adb tool folder. Enter the adb device command to make sure the computer sees the device. The smartphone screen should have a request for debugging permission — be sure to tick “Always Allow” and click “OK.”
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.homeThis command forcibly stops the System Launcher process and hides it from the list of active applications. Immediately after completing the command, the phone interface may blink, and the system will prompt you to choose a new application for the home screen. If you already have a third-party launcher (for example, Nova Launcher or Lawnchair), select it and click "Always".
It is important to understand that the disable-user command does not erase application files from the memory partition, but only marks them as inactive for the main user.This means that system updates can theoretically overwrite settings, but in most cases on Xiaomi the state is stable.
Complete removal via ADB (for experienced)
If the disabling method does not produce the desired result or you want to make room in the system partition, you can resort to completely removing the packet. This step is irreversible without reconnecting to the PC and having the original installation file (APK).
The process is similar to shutting down, but uses a different package manager command: Make sure you have internet access on your phone in case you need to urgently download an alternative launcher from Google Play.
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.homeThe -k option in the command indicates that the cache and application data are saved when deleted, which can be useful, but in the context of the system launcher, clean deletion is more often used. Once this command is executed, the standard interface will disappear completely. If the alternative launcher was not installed in advance, you will only see a black screen or a standard Android menu.
What to do if the interface is missing?
It is worth noting that on new versions of HyperOS, security mechanisms can block the removal of critical system components even through ADB. In this case, the system will give an error “Failure [not installed for 0]” or similar.
Installation and configuration of an alternative launcher
Once the System Launcher is deactivated or removed, the alternative must be activated immediately. Without a launcher, managing the smartphone becomes extremely difficult. The most popular and stable options for Xiaomi devices are Nova Launcher, Niagara Launcher and Smart Launcher.
Download your selected application from Google Play before you start the modification procedures. Once the standard launcher is disabled, the system automatically opens the default app selection menu. Select a new launcher and confirm the action. You can now customize the grid of icons, animations and gestures to your preferences.
| Launcher | Difficulty | RAM consumption | Customization |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nova Launcher | Medium | Low. | Maximum |
| Niagara Launcher | Low. | Minimum | Minimalism |
| Smart Launcher 6 | Low. | Average. | Automatic. |
| Lawnchair | Tall. | Low. | Pixel-style |
Some features, such as swipes to open applications or double taps to lock the screen, may require special permissions to function properly, and the new launcher will request them when it first starts, and in some cases, MIUI will need to additionally lock the launcher in memory so that the system does not “kill” its process to save energy.
💡
Go to the battery settings, find the launcher installed, and select No Limits mode, which will prevent accidental desktop crashes when cleaning up memory.
Solution and recovery of the system
Even if all instructions are followed, there may be unexpected situations: often users are faced with the fact that after a reboot the phone again offers to choose a launcher, or the new interface is unstable, in such cases, it is important to act consistently, checking logs and settings.
If you see a new launcher crashing all the time, try clearing its cache through Settings → Apps → All apps. There may be a conflict of themes. Xiaomi standard themes are often tied to the system launcher, so when you remove it, you should switch to classic design style or themes marked as compatible with third-party launchers.
⚠️ Warning: Avoid using "heavy" themes from the Mi Themes store after removing System Launcher.They may contain corrupted links to system resources, which will lead to a freeze of the interface.
In the worst case scenario, if the phone goes into a cyclic reboot, you will need to log in to Recovery mode. For Xiaomi devices, this is done by pressing the power button and the volume button. In the Recovery menu (if it supports reset) or through Fastboot, you can try to reset data (Wipe Data), which will return the phone to a factory state with a standard launcher.
💡
The main problem when replacing the launcher with Xiaomi is aggressive battery optimization. Be sure to set exceptions for the new application to keep it stable.
To recover a remote ADB system launcher without resetting, connect your phone to your PC in debugging mode. Even if the screen is not working, the command can be executed. Enter: adb shell pm install-existing com.miui.home. If the phone is not visible, try booting into safe mode (usually clamping the off button on the lock screen) where third-party launchers are not active, and repeat the procedure.