Removing system applications on Xiaomi: safe list and instructions

Owners of brand smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi i POCO often face a situation where the internal memory of the device is filled with unknown apps even before the start of active use. The shell MIUI and its successor HyperOS are famous for the abundance of pre-installed software, which not only takes up gigabytes, but also consumes RAM in the background. This leads to reduced autonomy and slower interface operation in the first months of using the gadget.

Many users are wondering whether it is possible to safely get rid of this digital garbage without turning their phone into a “brick”. The answer is yes, but requires extreme caution and understanding of the Android architecture. Removing critical system components may result in cycling or loss of the ability to make calls. Therefore, before starting any manipulations, it is necessary to clearly distinguish between what is superfluous and what is the basis of the operating system.

In this article we will analyze in detail the list of applications that can be uninstalled without harming the functionality of the device. We will look at removal methods both through standard settings (for advanced users with superuser rights) and a more secure method through a computer using ADB (Android Debug Bridge). Understanding these processes will allow you to free up space and speed up your work Xiaomiwhile maintaining its stability.

Categories of software to be removed: what can be removed without fear

The first step in optimization is the identification of parasitic apps. Conventionally, all pre-installed software on Xiaomi can be divided into three groups: critical system services, functional MIUI applications and third-party advertising garbage (bloatware). It is the third group that is subject to unconditional removal. This includes various news aggregators, application stores from third-party developers, and demo versions of games, which often cannot be deleted in the standard way through the settings menu.

The second group consists of the company’s own developments, duplicating the functions of Google or third-party services. For example, a browser MIUI Browser, a music player MI Music or the “Themes” application. If you prefer to use Chrome, Spotify third-party launchers, then you can safely delete your native analogues. This will not break the system, but will free up processor resources from background indexing and updates.

⚠️ Attention: Never delete applications that have the words “System”, “Framework”, “Provision” or “Device Health” in their names. Disabling these components will result in the smartphone not working and will require flashing via Fastboot.

Particular attention should be paid to analytics and advertising services. In firmware for the global market they are less aggressive than in the Chinese versions, but they are still present. Removing packages responsible for collecting usage statistics (MSA, Analytics) will not only speed up the work, but also increase your digital privacy. However, it is worth remembering that some personalization functions may no longer work correctly after they are removed.

Preparing the device for deep cleaning

Before you begin deleting, you need to properly prepare your smartphone. The standard Android interface does not allow you to remove system applications without root access, which are difficult to obtain and may void your warranty. An alternative and most secure method is to use USB debugging and the ADB utility on your computer. This method does not require unlocking the bootloader and does not violate the integrity of the system partition.

First, activate developer mode on your device. Go to Settings → About phone and quickly click 7 times on the item MIUI version (or OS version). After a notification appears that you have become a developer, go to the menu Advanced → For developers. Here you need to find and activate the switch USB debugging.

It is also recommended to create a backup copy of important data. Although the described method is considered safe, human error or communication failure during the transmission of commands can lead to unexpected errors. Save contacts, photos and documents to cloud storage or to your computer. Make sure that the smartphone battery is charged at least 50% so that the device does not turn off during operation.

You need to install a minimum set of ADB tools on your computer. This can be done by downloading Platform Tools from the official Android developer website or using ready-made driver builders. After unpacking the archive into a convenient folder, connect the phone to the PC with a cable. A request for debugging permission will appear on the smartphone screen - be sure to check the “Always allow” box and click “OK.”

List of packages safe to remove

There is a specific list of packages, testing of which has shown them to be completely safe to remove on most devices. Xiaomi. Below is a table with Package Names and their descriptions. You can rely on this list when entering commands for uninstallation.

Package name	Description of the application	Consequences of uninstallation
com.miui.analytics	MIUI analytics system	Absent, increasing privacy
com.mipay.wallet.in	Mi Pay (regional)	Inability to use Mi Pay
com.facebook.katana	Pre-installed Facebook	Absent (if not used)
com.miui.miservice	Services and feedback application	It is impossible to send an error report
com.miui.weather2	Standard Weather application	You need to install an alternative

In addition to those indicated in the table, you can remove packages associated with video services if you do not use them. For example, com.miui.video (Mi Video) and com.duokan.phone.remotecontroller (Remote Control), if your phone does not have an infrared port. There is also often a package com.miui.daemonthat is responsible for collecting statistics, but its removal in new versions of HyperOS may be blocked by the security system.

⚠️ Attention: Interfaces and names of packages may differ slightly depending on the firmware version (Global, China, EEA) and device model. Always check the purpose of the application before deleting it through the search engine by the name of the package.

If you use an ecosystem Xiaomi (smart home, watch, headphones), be careful when deleting the application com.miui.mihome or Bluetooth services. In some cases, uninstalling the Bluetooth system manager may cause wireless headphones to stop connecting or become unstable.

Hidden system processes

Some applications, such as “Security” (com.miui.securitycenter), are better not to be completely removed, but only to disable their auto-start and notifications. Complete removal may disrupt permissions for other apps.

Instructions for removal via ADB Shell

The most reliable cleaning method is to use the command line. After connecting your phone and setting up debugging, open a terminal (Command Prompt or PowerShell) on your computer in the ADB tools folder. First of all, check the connection with the command adb devices. The list should display your device with serial number and status device.

To remove a specific application, use the command pm uninstall with flag --user 0. This flag is critical: it deletes the application only for the current user (owner), without affecting the system partition. This means that in case of an error, the application can be easily restored with a factory reset.

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.analytics

Instead com.miui.analytics substitute the name of the desired package from the list above. After entering the command, press Enter. If the operation was successful, the terminal will display a message Success. If you see a message Failure [DELETE_FAILED_INTERNAL_ERROR], it means that the application is protected from deletion or is no longer in the system.

Repeat the procedure for all unnecessary apps from your list. Do not try to remove everything at once with bulk scripts indiscriminately - this can lead to dependency conflicts. After completing all operations, reboot your smartphone using the command adb reboot or manually for the changes to take effect completely.

Restoring deleted system components

What to do if, after deleting, you find that some important function has stopped working? For example, access to files is lost or the camera does not work. Don't panic. Since we used the "per-user" method of uninstallation, the application data was not physically erased from memory, it was simply hidden.

To restore, simply issue the install command with the same user flag. The command syntax looks similar to delete, but instead uninstall is used install-existing.

adb shell cmd package install-existing com.miui.analytics

This command will return the application to its original state with all default settings. This is the main advantage of the ADB method over obtaining root access, where an error can cost the functionality of the entire system. It is recommended to save a list of deleted packages in a text file so that, if necessary, you can quickly restore them all at once.

⚠️ Attention: If after restoration the application does not appear in the menu, perform a complete cache clear via Recovery Mode. Press the Volume Up + Power buttons when the phone is off and select Wipe Cache (not to be confused with Wipe Data!).

In rare cases, when the phone goes into an endless reboot (bootloop) after unsuccessful experiments, only a complete data reset (Hard Reset) will help. This will delete all user files, so the importance of regular backups cannot be overstated. Entering recovery mode is done using a key combination specific to each model Xiaomi.

Alternative methods and common errors

In addition to the command line, there are graphical shells that simplify the process. Applications like NoBloat or the previously mentioned UAD scan the system and mark dangerous packages in red. However, it is worth understanding that no app provides a 100% guarantee of security, since firmware configurations are constantly changing.

A common mistake for beginners is trying to remove “Google Play Services” or “Framework”. This is strictly forbidden. Without Google services, maps, the app store, push notifications, and account synchronization will not work. Removing (Framework) will result in the phone simply not being able to load the graphical interface.

Another myth is deleting the system launcher (com.miui.home). If you want to install a third-party launcher (Nova, Niagara), just set it as the main one in the settings. Removing the native launcher may result in the fact that if a third-party application crashes, you will not have access to the desktop to correct the situation.

Problem with Mi Account

On some devices with a linked Mi Account, deleting certain system applications may cause an account verification error at boot. If you plan to sell the phone, it is better to restore all stock applications before resetting.

FAQ: MIUI Optimization Questions and Answers

Is it safe to delete the Security app?

Full deletion is not recommended as it controls permissions and cache clearing. However, you can disable its auto-start and notifications through application settings so that it does not hang in memory.

Do you need to obtain root access to remove system garbage?

No, this is not necessary. The ADB (Android Debug Bridge) method allows you to remove any user and most system applications without unlocking the bootloader and violating the warranty.

What are com.android.vending packages and can you touch them?

com.android.vending is the Google Play store. Removing it will deprive you of the ability to download applications and update installed apps. You cannot delete it if you use the Google ecosystem.

Will the deleted application return after updating the firmware?

Yes, when updating the system over the air (OTA) or via_recovery, all system applications are restored to their factory state. You will have to repeat the cleaning procedure after each major MIUI update.