How to Remove Xiaomi’s Standard Apps: 5 Proven Ways

Why are Xiaomi’s built-in apps bothering users?

Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones come with dozens of pre-installed apps, from useful MIUI services to advertising utilities like Mi Browser or Mi Video. Many of them not only take up memory space, but also run in the background, consuming battery power and traffic. According to a 2023 study, up to 15% of the CPU time on new Xiaomi devices is spent on the background activity of standard applications.

Complicating the problem, even after being “deleted” through the settings menu, many applications simply deactivate and their files remain on the system, leading to the accumulation of “digital garbage” – pieces of code, cache and updates that continue to take up space. In this article, we will discuss legal and technical ways to completely remove embedded software, including methods for users without root rights and advanced techniques for experienced users.

It's important to understand that not all standard applications can be removed without consequences. Some of them are critical to the operation of MIUI - their removal can lead to interface failures or complete failure of the smartphone.

What standard Xiaomi apps can be removed without risk?

Not all pre-installed programs are equally useful, experts distinguish three categories of embedded applications Xiaomi:

• 🔴 Critical - Deletion will cause system failures (e.g. MiuiSystemUI, Security).
• 🟡 Conditionally safe – can be removed, but some functions MIUI It will stop working (for example, Mi Browser or Mi Music).
• 🟢 Safe to delete – does not affect the stability of the system (e.g. Mi Pay, Mi Community, Facebook App Installer).

Here is a list of apps that most users delete without negative consequences (checked at MIUI 14/15):

⚠️ Note: If you use Mi Account features (such as cloud backup or device search), do not remove com.xiaomi.account and com.miui.cloudservice.

Method 1: Disable standard applications through settings (without root)

The easiest and safest method is to deactivate unnecessary programs, which will not remove them completely, but will stop background activity and hide icons from the menu. MIUI 12-15:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Show all apps.
3. Find the app you want (such as Mi Browser) and open your card.
4. Click Disable (or Remove Updates if the button is active).
5. Confirm the action in the window that appears.

🔹 What does it mean:

• 📱 The app will disappear from the menu and stop running.
• 🔋 Battery consumption and traffic will stop in the background.
• 📤 Free up some of the RAM (but not permanent!).

⚠️ Note: Some system applications (e.g., Security or MiuiDaemon) cannot be disabled via the standard menu.

Method 2: Remove via ADB (without root but with PC)

To completely remove standard applications without obtaining root rights, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge: This method requires you to connect your smartphone to your computer, but it doesn't violate warranty. POCO any version MIUI.

📌 What's the matter:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📱 Included debugging by USB smartphone.
• 🛠️ Installed Xiaomi drivers and package ADB Tools.

🔧 Step-by-step instruction:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (Tap 7 times)
2. Enable USB debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Connect your smartphone to your PC and select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
4. Download ADB Tools and unpack the archive.
5. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB.
6. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices should appear the name of your device.
7. Remove the unnecessary application by command (example for Mi Browser): adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.android.browser

💡 List of popular commands for removal:

Mi Video:      adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.videoplayer


Mi Music:      adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.player




Mi Pay:        adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.mipay.wallet




Facebook:      adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.facebook.appmanager




User Feedback: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.bugreport

💡

Before deleting an application via ADB, check its packet name with the command adb shell pm list packages | grep "name." For example, adb shell pm list packages | grep "miui" will display all applications with "miui" in the name.

Method 3: Removal with root rights (for power users)

If you're ready to root, the system cleanup capability is expanded many times over, allowing you to remove any application, including those critical to MIUI, but you need to be careful, and an error can lead to a device being "bricked."

🔹 How to get rooted in Xiaomi:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Xiaomi website (requires a Mi Account account and wait 7-15 days).
2. Install custom TWRP or OrangeFox recavators.
3. Please use Magisk to obtain root rights.

🛠️ Deletion tools:

• 📱 Root Explorer – file manager with access to system folders.
• 🔍 Titanium Backup – allows you to delete and freeze applications.
• 🧹 SD Maid – Clears residual files after deletion.

⚠️ Note: Removing the following applications will cause malfunctions MIUI:

• com.miui.home – launcher (disappears desktop).
• com.android.settings – system settings.
• com.miui.securitycenter – Security Center (responsible for permissions)
• com.xiaomi.finddevice – search for a device (if you delete it, you will not be able to find the phone if you lose it).

Method 4: Use custom firmware (complete replacement of MIUI)

The Radical method for those who want to get rid of all standard Xiaomi applications is to install alternative firmware.

• 🌍 LineageOS – “clean” Android without excess software.
• 🔄 Pixel Experience – firmware with an interface like Google Pixel.
• 🚀 Havoc-OS - customizable firmware with many settings.
• 🔒 GrapheneOS – firmware with a focus on security and privacy.

📌 The benefits of custom firmware:

• 🧹 Complete lack of built-in Xiaomi applications.
• 🔋 Improved autonomy through optimized code.
• 🆕 Regular security updates (unlike older versions) MIUI).

⚠️ Cons and risks:

• 🔧 Installation difficulty (requires bootloader unlock and Fastboot experience).
• 📱 Possible problems with the camera, NFC or sensors (depending on the model).
• 🚫 Loss of official guarantee.
• 🔄 The need for manual firmware updates.

🔗 Where to download firmware:

• XDA Developers is the largest instructional community.
• The official website of LineageOS.
• Pixel Experience.

💡

Installing custom firmware is the most radical way to get rid of standard apps, but it is only suitable for power users. For most, methods with ADB or disabling through settings are enough.

Method 5: Hiding applications without deleting (alternative)

If you don't want to risk the stability of the system, but you want to take the apps out of your sight, you can hide them. It won't free up memory, but it will make the interface cleaner.

• 📂 Desktop folders – Move unnecessary icons to the folder and hide it in the far corner of the screen.
• 🔍 Search by application - in MIUI You can turn off the display of applications in the menu, but they will remain in the system.
• 🛠️ Third-party launchers, such as Nova Launcher or Lawnchair, allow you to hide the icons of any application.

🔹 How to hide applications in Nova Launcher:

1. Install Nova Launcher from Google Play.
2. Press your finger on the desktop → Settings Nova.
3. Go to Apps and Widgets → Hide Apps.
4. Check the boxes for unnecessary programs.

⚠️ Note: Hiding apps doesn’t stop them from doing background activity. If the goal is to save battery or traffic, use the methods in the previous sections.

What if the system is unstable after removing the application?

If, after manipulating standard applications, Xiaomi has started to slow down, restart, or issue errors, follow the following steps:

1. Reboot your smartphone – sometimes it solves cache problems.
2. Clean the cache through the receptacles: Turn off the phone → Press down Power + Volume Up → Select Wipe Cache
3. Restore the Remote Application via ADB: adb shell cmd package install-existing com.name.packet
4. Reset your settings (if nothing helps): Settings → The phone. → Resetting settings ⚠️ Note: This will remove all data from the device!
5. Reflash MIUI via Fastboot (extreme case).

📌 List of errors and their causes:

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing standard Xiaomi apps