How to delete undeletable applications on Xiaomi: a complete guide

The company's smartphones Xiaomi have long conquered the market due to the optimal price-performance ratio, but they have a proprietary shell MIUI there is one significant drawback - the abundance of pre-installed software. Many users are faced with a situation where services are “registered” in the device’s memory that they never use, but which cannot be deleted using standard means through the settings menu.

These apps, often called bloatware, not only take up precious space in the internal memory, but can also work in the background, consuming RAM and battery power. Fortunately, the system Android is built quite flexible, which allows you to bypass the manufacturer's restrictions and uninstall even those applications for which the "Delete" button is inactive.

In this article we will analyze in detail legal and safe methods of cleaning the system from unnecessary software. We will look at options from simply disabling services to advanced use of the command line ADB, and also warn against actions that can turn your phone into a “brick”.

Why the “Delete” button is inactive and what kind of applications are these

When you go to the application management menu and see that for some icons only a button is available “Disable” or “Stop”, this means that these apps have the status system. Developers Xiaomi integrate them deeply into the shell core MIUI, considering them necessary for the correct operation of the ecosystem or simply fulfilling the terms of contracts with advertisers.

Usually such applications are divided into three categories: critical Google services and proprietary systems utilities Mi (for example, “Music”, “Video”, “Themes”) and third-party advertising software pre-installed by the distributor. An attempt to delete a file directly through a file manager without root access will result in an access error, since the system partition is write-protected by regular users.

However, the “system” status does not always mean “necessary”. Many components, such as MSA (advertising service) or duplicate browsers, can be safely removed without affecting the functionality of the smartphone. The main thing is to clearly understand the difference between the service responsible for loading the device and a simple player.

⚠️ Attention: Removing critical system components, such as SystemUI, Settings or Google Play services, can lead to an endless reboot of the smartphone (bootloop) or complete inoperability of the touch screen.

Preparing the smartphone for the cleaning procedure

Before taking active steps to remove system packages, you must properly prepare the device. Most advanced methods require a computer and the inclusion of special debugging modes on the phone itself Xiaomi. Without this preparation, no third-party utility will see your device.

The first step is to activate developer mode. To do this, go to Settings, select About phone and quickly click 7 times on version MIUI. After the message “You have become a developer” appears, return to the main settings menu, find the section Advanced settings and enter the menu For developers.

In this menu you need to find and activate the switch USB debugging. The system will warn you about potential risks - confirm the action. It is also recommended to enable the “Keep the screen on” option when connecting charging, so that the process is not interrupted due to the smartphone going into sleep mode while executing commands.

If you plan to use methods that require rights superuser, make sure that your bootloader is unlocked, although to work via ADB this is most often not required. A simple high-quality cable connection and installed software on the PC are enough.

Disablement method through MIUI settings (Safe method)

The simplest and least risky way to deal with unnecessary software is to use the built-in shell functionality. Although it does not physically delete files from the disk, it completely stops them from running, hides them from the application menu and prevents them from running in the background.

To do this, go to Settings → Applications → All applications. Find an unnecessary app in the list, for example, a standard browser or news service. Click on it and select the button Disable. The system will warn that the application will be replaced by the factory version or hidden - agree.

This method is ideal for those who are afraid of harming the system. A disabled application stops consuming CPU resources and does not consume traffic. The only negative is that it still takes up memory space, albeit in a compressed form, but for most users this compromise is enough.

After disabling a number of services, you may notice an improvement in battery life, since the system will no longer constantly poll the servers of advertising networks or analytics services built into these applications.

Removal via a computer and the ADB AppControl utility

For those who want to physically delete application files, freeing up memory space, the best solution is to use a computer and special software. The app ADB AppControl provides a convenient graphical interface for working with the package manager Android, eliminating the need to enter complex commands manually.

After connecting a smartphone with USB debugging enabled, the app will scan the device and display a complete list of installed packages. You will be able to see not only the name of the application, but also its size, as well as its status (system or user). The interface allows you to select applications with check marks and delete them in batches.

It is important to note that when uninstalling via ADB the app creates a backup copy of the package being deleted. This means that if you accidentally delete something important, you can easily restore the application directly from the utility interface without reflashing the phone.

Package name	Description	Can it be deleted?
com.miui.misys	MIUI System Services	No (Critical)
com.miui.msa.global	MSA advertising service	Yes (Recommended)
com.android.browser	Standard Mi browser	Yes (If Chrome is available)
com.google.android.youtube	YouTube	Yes (By desired)

When working with the utility, pay attention to the color coding of the packages. Typically, dangerous system components are highlighted in red, while those that are safe to remove are highlighted in green or yellow. Always read the description of the package before clicking the uninstall button.

What to do if the app does not see the phone?

If ADB AppControl does not detect the device, check the installed drivers. Try a different USB port (preferably USB 2.0) or replace the cable. Sometimes re-confirming debugging on the smartphone screen after connecting helps.

Manual removal via the ADB command line

For experienced users who prefer full control over the process, there is a method of manually entering commands. It does not require the installation of additional heavy software, just a set of tools Platform-tools from Google. This method provides maximum flexibility, but requires care.

After connecting the phone, open the command line on the computer in the folder with adb.exe and enter the connection test command:

adb devices

If a device marked deviceappears in the list, the connection has been established successfully. Next, you need to find out the exact package name of the application you want to remove. This can be done with the command:

adb shell pm list packages

Knowing the package name (for example, com.miui.analytics), use the command to remove for the current user (--user 0). This will remove the application from the user space, but leave it on the system partition in case of a factory reset:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 package_name

This approach is considered the most secure among the methods of complete removal, since it does not directly modify the system partition, but only hides the application for the main user. If necessary, you can return the application with the command cmd package install-existing package_name.

Using superuser rights (Root) and system uninstallers

The most radical method that gives access to all hidden corners systems means obtaining root access Root (superuser). On smartphones Xiaomi this requires unlocking the bootloader through the official utility Mi Unlock, which can take from 3 to 7 days of waiting.

After obtaining root access via Mgisk or SU, you can install powerful system uninstallers, such as System App Remover or Titanium Backup. These applications allow you to remove any components, including those that are protected even from the ADB command.

However, this method has serious drawbacks. Firstly, unlocking the bootloader and obtaining root access will void the warranty on the device. Secondly, some banking applications and services (Google Pay, Mir Pay) will stop working for security reasons until you hide the fact that you have superuser rights.

⚠️ Attention: Removing applications with root access is an irreversible process. If you delete a critical component, recovery is only possible through a complete flashing of the device with the loss of all data.

Use this method only if you know exactly what you are doing and understand the purpose of each package being deleted. For the average user, ADB capabilities are usually more than enough.

Restoring deleted applications and common errors

Even with careful work, a situation may arise when, after removing a service, the phone begins to behave incorrectly: the sound disappears, the network does not work, or the interface freezes. In such cases, it is important to remain calm and know how to roll back changes.

If you used the ADB method with the flag --user 0, the recovery takes seconds. All you need to do is connect your phone to your PC and enter the command to install the existing package. If the application was removed via Root or utilities with complete erasure, you will need to download the original installation file (APK) of the desired firmware version and install it manually.

A common mistake for beginners is deleting services Google Play Services or components MIUI System Framework. Without these libraries, most modern applications simply will not start, and the system may go into a cyclic reboot. Always check the dependency of the packages before deleting them.

In the event of a serious failure when the phone does not boot, the only way out is to enter the mode Recovery (press the power button and volume up) and perform a reset to factory settings (Wipe Data). This will return all deleted system applications to their places, but will delete your personal data.

Is it possible to remove Chinese applications on global firmware?

Yes, on global firmware versions MIUI Global Chinese applications are usually already removed or replaced with analogues. However, sometimes traces remain in the form of system libraries. They can be safely removed via ADB if they are not used by other apps.

Does deleting system applications affect receiving over-the-air (OTA) updates?

Usually no. Updates check the integrity of the system partition, but deleting applications for the current user (--user 0) does not violate the partition checksums. However, if you have root access, automatic updates most often stop coming.

Is it safe to delete the Security application on Xiaomi?

No, this is a critical application. It manages permissions, memory cleaning, antivirus and battery settings. Removing it may lead to unstable system operation and the inability to manage the access rights of other apps.

Do you need to enable USB debugging every time?

No, the “USB Debugging” option is saved in memory until you disable it yourself or until you completely reset your phone. You can safely disconnect the cable and use the phone as usual.

Why did it appear again after deleting the application?

This can happen after a major firmware update or a settings reset. The system restores the factory image, returning all pre-installed applications. The removal procedure will have to be repeated again.