Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones out of the box contain dozens of pre-installed apps, from useful services to advertising utilities that most users will never use. Research shows that up to 30% of the firmware on MIUI devices can be safely removed, freeing up to 1-3 GB of memory and reducing background activity. However, not all programs are equally safe: removing critical components can lead to camera malfunctions, push notifications or even a complete smartphone failure.
In this article, we will discuss three categories of Xiaomi applications: 1 Safe to remove (advertising, duplicate functions, underutilized), 2 Conditionally deleted (can affect individual functions, but not the stability of the system), 3 Prohibited to remove (system services, without which MIUI will not work correctly).
You will also learn how to uninstall applications correctly โ through settings, ADB or root rights, and what to do if problems arise after removal.
Why is Xiaomi so many unnecessary apps?
The MIUI shell is known not only for its functionality, but also for its abundance of pre-installed software, and the reasons for this lie in Xiaomiโs business model:
- ๐ฐ Monetization through advertising: Apps like Mi Browser, Mi Video or GetApps show targeted ads, bringing additional revenue to the company. MIUI 14 advertising modules are integrated even into system utilities such as Security).
- ๐ Localization for different markets: In Chinese firmware (China) ROM) Baidu, Tencent and Alipay services are pre-installed, and global (Global) ROM) โ Facebook, Netflix and LinkedIn, many of which duplicate the functions of Google services.
- ๐ Duplication of features: Xiaomi often includes in the firmware alternatives to standard Android applications: instead of Google Chrome โ Mi Browser, instead of Google Messages โ Mi Messages.
- ๐ฑ Partner Agreements: The manufacturer enters into contracts with developers (e.g, WPS Office, LinkedIn, by committing to pre-install their software, which users rarely use, but you can't remove without root rights.
According to XDA Developersโ tests, after removing unnecessary applications on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+, battery life increased by 12-15%, and application opening speeds increased by 8-10% due to reduced background activity, but not all programs can be removed by standard means, some of them are protected by the system.
List of safe to remove Xiaomi apps (2026)
These programs can be removed without risk to system stability. They either duplicate the functions of other applications, or are advertising / underused utilities. MIUI 14/13 on global and European firmware (Global/EU ROM).
| Title of the annex | Package name (package name) | What is responsible for? | Can I remove it without root? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Browser | com.android.browser | Branded browser with advertising and low speed | Yes. |
| Mi Video | com.miui.videoplayer | Video Player with Integrated Advertising | Yes. |
| GetApps (Mi App Store) | com.xiaomi.mipicks | Branded app store with advertising | Yes. |
| Mi Music | com.miui.player | Music Player (Duplicates Google Play Music) | Yes. |
| Mi Pay | com.mipay.wallet | Payment system (not operating outside China) | Yes. |
You don't need root rights to remove these applications.
- Go to Settings โ Applications โ Application Management.
- Find the right app in the list and tap it.
- Click Remove (if the button is active) or Disable (if deletion is blocked).
โ ๏ธ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO F5 Xiaomi 13T) The Remove button may be hidden. In this case, use ADB (instructions below or disable the application via Settings โ Annexes โ Show all applications โ [select] โ Shut down.
Backup of important data
Check the version of MIUI in Settings โ About the phone
Make sure your Mi Account is not linked to your device (if you plan to use ADB)
Charge your phone at least 50 times%-->
Conditionally Removable Applications: Risks and Consequences
These programs can be removed, but their absence can lead to a partial loss of functionality, for example, the ability to use branded gestures, themes or sync with other Xiaomi devices will disappear.
- ๐ฑ Mi Share (com.miui.mishare.connectivity) โ is responsible for fast file transfer between Xiaomi devices. without it, the Mi Share feature in the notification panel will not work.
Critical information: Uninstallation of the com.miui.securitycenter app on some models (e.g. Xiaomi 12 Pro) makes it impossible to install it APK-To get the function back, you'll have to reset your phone to factory settings.
If you still decide to remove one of these applications, we recommend first disabling it and test the operation of the smartphone during the course of the application. 1-2 Use the root-rights-free removal method ADB:
adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.mishare.connectivityReplace com.miui.mishare.connectivity with the application package you want. After you execute the command, restart the device.
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Before using ADB, enable USB debugging in Settings โ About Phone โ MIUI Version (tap 7 times) โ Developer Settings โ USB debugging.
Xiaomi System Applications Prohibited from Removal
These programs cannot be removed categorically, and their absence will lead to critical failures, including:
- Inability to boot the system ("bootloop").
- Loss of communication (mobile network, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth will not work).
- Sensor failure (a gyroscope, accelerometer, proximity sensor will not work).
- The constant errors like "com.android.systemui stopped."
| Title of the annex | Package name (package name) | Effects of removal |
|---|---|---|
| System UI | com.android.systemui | The notification panel will disappear, no gestures will work. |
| MIUI Core | com.lbe.security.miui | Complete inoperability of the MIUI shell |
| Telephony | com.android.phone | Lack of mobile communication and SMS |
| Bluetooth | com.android.bluetooth | Bluetooth and device pairing will not work |
Even if you see these apps on the list through ADB or a file manager with root rights, donโt try to remove them. At best, the smartphone will stop turning on, at worst, you will need to flash it through Fastboot.
โ ๏ธ Warning: Forums sometimes advise you to delete com.qualcomm.qti.telephonyservice to โoptimize the networkโ and this app is responsible for modem operation on Qualcomm-powered smartphones (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro).+ or POCO X5 Pro) Deleting it will result in total loss of communication!
How to remove system applications without root rights (via ADB)
If the Remove button is inactive, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which works on all Xiaomi smartphones with the bootloader unlocked and USB debugging enabled.
Step-by-step:
- Download and install Googleโs Platform Tools (includes ADB and Fastboot).
- Enable USB Debugging in the Developer Settings (Settings โ About Phone โ MIUI Version โ Tap 7 times, then go back to Settings โ Additional โ For Developers).
- Connect your smartphone to your PC and confirm the debugging permission.
- Open the command prompt (cmd) in the folder with ADB and type:
adb devices(The name of your device should appear.)
adb shell pm list packages | grep 'miui'(Shows a list of all apps with miui in the package title.)
adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.videoplayer(Replace com.miui.videoplayer with the package of the desired application.)
After completing the command, restart your smartphone. the application will disappear from the menu, but its data will remain in memory (they can be cleared through Settings โ Memory).
What if the ADB canโt see the device?
How to return a remote application if something goes wrong
If the smartphone starts to work incorrectly after removing the system application (for example, notifications stop coming or the mobile network disappears), it can be restored.
- ๐ If removed through ADB: Use the team:
adb shell cmd package install-existing com.miui.videoplayer(Replace com.miui.videoplayer with the package of the desired application.)
- ๐ฆ If removed through root: Download the original firmware for your model from the Xiaomi Firmware Updater website, extract it from it APK-file of the desired application and install it manually.
- โ๏ธ If the smartphone doesn't turn on: You'll need to flash it over Fastboot or Recovery. The instructions for each model are different - look for them on the forums XDA or 4PDA.
If youโre not sure which app caused the crash, try resetting to factory settings (Settings โ About Phone โ Settings Reset) that will return all system programs, but delete user data.
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Before removing system applications, always back up via Mi Cloud or third-party utilities like Titanum Backup (requires root).
Alternative ways to free up memory on Xiaomi
If you donโt want to take the risk of removing system applications, there are safer optimization methods:
- ๐๏ธ Cache Clearing: Go to Settings โ Memory. โ Clear the cache, it'll free up until 1-5 GB without removing applications.
- ๐ Transfer of applications to SD-Map: In Settings โ Annexes โ [select] โ Memory can be transferred to a memory card (not working on all models).
- โ๏ธ Application Freeze: Apps like App Quarantine (requires root) or Shelter (without root) allow you to โfreezeโ unnecessary software without removing it completely.
- ๐ Disabling Autostart: In Settings โ Annexes โ Application management โ Auto-start can be banned background work of unnecessary programs.
- ๐ฅ Use lightweight versions: Replace heavy apps (such as Facebook) with their Lite versions or web versions.
It is also worth disabling auto-update apps in Google Play and regularly check the list of installed programs for the presence of underutilized utilities.