How to Uninstall In-Built Apps (Bloatware) from Xiaomi Phones: A Complete Beginner’s Guide

Smartphones have become an essential part of our daily lives, but many devices come with apps we never use. These unwanted apps, often called bloatware, can slow down your phone, eat up storage, and even show you unwanted ads. If you are a Xiaomi (Mi/Redmi/Poco) phone user, you’ve probably noticed that your phone comes with many pre-installed apps that you cannot remove through the normal uninstall option.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about uninstalling in-built apps on Xiaomi phones. Whether you’re a complete beginner or someone with some technical knowledge, you’ll learn:

• What bloatware is and why it exists.
• The safe ways to disable or uninstall bloatware.
• Step-by-step instructions using different methods.
• How to reduce or block ads in MIUI.
• The risks and precautions you should take before making changes.

By the end of this article, you’ll have a clear plan for cleaning up your Xiaomi device and improving its performance without damaging your system.

What Is Bloatware?

The term bloatware refers to pre-installed applications that come with a smartphone. These apps are usually locked by the phone manufacturer or vendor, meaning you cannot easily uninstall them.

Common examples of bloatware:

• Default browser apps.
• Pre-loaded games.
• Xiaomi apps such as Mi Music, Mi Video, Mi Browser, or Themes.
• Promotional apps that serve ads or collect data.

Almost every smartphone brand including Samsung, Xiaomi, Vivo, Oppo, and HTC—ships their devices with such apps. The reason is simple: brands want to make their interface unique, promote their own services, and sometimes even earn revenue through advertisements or partnerships.

The problem? These apps often:

• Run in the background and use up RAM.
• Display ads and notifications.
• Consume mobile data.
• Take up valuable storage space.

This is why many users search for ways to remove or disable them.

Can You Really Remove Xiaomi Bloatware?

Yes, but with some limitations. By default, Xiaomi doesn’t allow users to uninstall most of its system apps. If you long-press and try to remove them, you’ll only see the “Disable” or “Force Stop” option for some apps, while others can’t be touched at all.

There are three main approaches to dealing with bloatware:

1. Disable apps using MIUI’s hidden settings (Beginner-friendly).
2. Use ADB and Fastboot commands (More advanced).
3. Rooting your phone (Not recommended for beginners).

We’ll cover the first two, as they are safe and don’t require rooting.

Method 1: Remove Bloatware Using MIUI Hidden Settings

Xiaomi phones have an app called MIUI Hidden Settings, which gives you access to options that aren’t visible in regular settings. With this, you can disable or uninstall certain system apps.

Step-by-step guide:

1. Download and open the MIUI Hidden Settings app.
   • You can find it on the Google Play Store or through trusted APK sources.
2. Choose your Android version.
   • Select the correct version your Xiaomi phone is running on.
3. Go to “Manage Applications.”
   • This section shows a list of all the installed apps, including system apps.
4. Select the app you want to remove.
   • For example, Mi Video, Mi Music, or other apps you don’t use.
5. Tap on “Disable” or “Uninstall.”
   • If uninstall is available, choose it. Otherwise, disable the app to stop it from running.
6. Confirm your action.
   • Tap on “Disable app” in the pop-up window.

That’s it! You’ve successfully disabled/uninstalled the app. Repeat this process for every unwanted app.

This method works for many pre-installed apps but not all. For apps that still cannot be removed, you’ll need to try Method 2.

Method 2: Remove Bloatware Using ADB and Fastboot

This method is more technical but also more powerful. ADB (Android Debug Bridge) allows you to connect your phone to a computer and send commands to uninstall apps. The advantage is that it works for almost any Android device, not just Xiaomi.

Important: You must carefully follow the steps. Doing something wrong could cause problems with your phone’s system.

What you need:

• A computer (Windows, macOS, or Linux).
• A USB cable to connect your phone.
• ADB and Fastboot tools installed on your computer.

Step-by-step guide:

1. Enable Developer Options on your Xiaomi phone.
   • Go to Settings > About Phone > Tap “MIUI version” 7 times until developer mode is activated.
2. Enable USB Debugging.
   • Go to Settings > Additional Settings > Developer Options > Turn on USB Debugging.
3. Connect your phone to the computer.
   • Use the USB cable and allow permission when prompted.
4. Install ADB and Fastboot on your computer.
   • Download from the official Android developer website.
5. Open Command Prompt/Terminal on your computer.
   • Type: adb devices This will check if your phone is connected properly.
6. Get the list of installed packages.
   • Type: adb shell pm list packages
7. Uninstall the unwanted app.
   • Use the command: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 packagename
   • Replace packagename with the actual app package (e.g., com.miui.videoplayer).
8. Reboot your phone.

Now the app is completely removed from your device.

If you run into issues or the system crashes, don’t worry you can always reset your phone to factory settings.

Method 3: Disabling MIUI Ads

Apart from bloatware, Xiaomi phones are infamous for showing ads inside system apps. Luckily, you can turn them off.

Steps to disable MIUI ads:

1. Go to Settings > Additional Settings > Authorization and Revocation.
2. Find MIUI System Ads (msa).
3. Tap the switch to revoke authorization.
4. Confirm when the pop-up appears.

Additionally, you can disable ads in individual apps like Mi Browser, Mi Music, and File Manager by going into their settings and turning off “Recommendations.”

This will make your phone experience much cleaner and less annoying.

Is It Safe to Remove Xiaomi Bloatware?

This is the most common question, and the answer is: mostly safe, but be careful.

Risks involved:

• Removing essential apps may cause your system to become unstable.
• Xiaomi doesn’t officially support uninstalling system apps.
• Some apps are linked with core features, so disabling them may affect performance.

Tips for safety:

• Start with non-essential apps (like Mi Video, Mi Music, or third-party bloatware).
• Avoid removing apps that handle security, updates, or system settings.
• Always back up your data before making changes.
• If something goes wrong, reset your phone to factory settings.

So far, most users report no major issues after removing bloatware with the methods above.

Why Xiaomi Pre-Installs Apps

It’s worth understanding why Xiaomi adds these apps in the first place:

1. Revenue generation – Xiaomi sells phones at low prices but makes money through ads and app promotions.
2. Ecosystem control – They want users to rely on Mi apps instead of Google’s or third-party apps.
3. Customization – MIUI (Xiaomi’s software) tries to provide a unique user experience compared to stock Android.

While this strategy helps Xiaomi keep phone prices low, it can be frustrating for users.

Benefits of Removing Bloatware

If you successfully remove or disable unnecessary apps, you’ll notice:

• More storage space available.
• Faster performance (less RAM usage).
• Better battery life.
• A cleaner interface without ads and clutter.

For many users, these benefits make the effort worthwhile.

Final Thoughts

Xiaomi makes some of the most affordable and feature-packed smartphones in the market, but the downside is the number of pre-installed apps and ads in MIUI. Thankfully, with the right steps, you can take back control of your device.

To summarize:

• Use MIUI Hidden Settings if you want a simple, beginner-friendly option.
• Use ADB and Fastboot for more powerful app removal.
• Always be careful, back up your data, and avoid touching critical system apps.
• Disable ads through the Authorization and Revocation settings.

By cleaning up your Xiaomi phone, you’ll enjoy a smoother, faster, and more private mobile experience.

Remember: Take your time, follow each step carefully, and only remove apps you’re sure you don’t need. With this guide, you now have all the knowledge you need to confidently uninstall in-built apps and make your Xiaomi phone truly yours.