MIUI: How to Disable System Apps

If you own a Xiaomi, Redmi, or POCO phone running MIUI, you can disable many pre-installed system apps directly from the Settings menu, without root or a PC. This guide walks you through the exact steps, explains what disabling actually does compared to uninstalling, and covers the common pitfalls and safer alternatives.

What Does “Disable” Mean on MIUI?

Disabling an app on MIUI (and Android in general) stops it from running in the background, removes it from the app drawer, and frees up some storage space, but it does not delete the app files from your phone. The app remains installed in the system partition, but it is deactivated for the current user. This is different from uninstalling, which removes the app entirely—something you can only do for apps you installed yourself. System apps are baked into the firmware and cannot be fully removed without root access or a custom ROM.

When you disable a system app, it also clears its cached data and stops all background processes. You can re-enable it later from the same menu, and your data (if any) may be reset.

How to Disable System Apps in MIUI Settings

The most straightforward method works on MIUI 12, 13, and 14 (Android 11–13). The menu names are consistent across recent versions.

Open Settings on your phone.
Scroll down and tap Apps (or App management on some versions).
Tap Manage apps.
Tap the ⋮ (three-dot) menu in the top-right corner and select Show all apps.
Find the system app you want to disable—you can use the search bar at the top.
Tap the app to open its info page.
If the app can be disabled, you’ll see a Disable button (grayed out if it’s essential). Tap it.
Confirm by tapping Disable app in the popup.

That’s it. The app will disappear from your app drawer and stop running. To re-enable it, go back to the same app info page (you may need to search for it under “All apps” again) and tap Enable.

Which System Apps Are Safe to Disable?

MIUI comes with a lot of pre-installed apps, but not all of them are safe to disable. Disabling critical system components can cause crashes, force-closes, or even boot loops. Here is a practical list of apps that are generally safe to disable on most MIUI devices:

Mi Browser – the default web browser; you can use Chrome or Firefox instead.
Mi Video – the video player; not needed if you use another player.
Mi Music – the music player; safe to disable.
GetApps – Xiaomi’s app store; you can still install apps from APKs or other stores, but some system updates may rely on it.
Mi Pay – Xiaomi’s payment service; only disable if you don’t use it.
Mi Cloud – cloud backup; disabling it stops sync, but you can still back up manually.
Feedback – the user feedback app; safe to disable.
Print Spooler – only needed if you use wireless printing.

Avoid disabling any app that has “System” in its name, or apps like System UI, Settings, Launcher, or Package Installer. These are essential for the phone to function.

What Happens When You Disable a System App?

Disabling an app has several immediate effects:

The app icon disappears from the home screen and app drawer.
All background processes for that app are terminated.
The app’s data (cache, settings, login info) is cleared.
You free up some storage space—usually a few megabytes to a few hundred megabytes, depending on the app.
The app can no longer receive updates from the Play Store or Xiaomi’s app store.
Other apps that depend on it may stop working. For example, disabling Mi Cloud might break the “Find My Device” feature.

It’s worth noting that disabling an app does not remove it from the system partition, so it still occupies some storage space (the APK file itself). The “freed” space is mostly the app’s data and cache.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

Users often run into a few issues when disabling system apps on MIUI:

The Disable button is grayed out. This means the app is a critical system component. You cannot disable it through the normal settings. Some apps can be disabled via ADB (Android Debug Bridge) commands from a computer, but that requires enabling developer options and USB debugging. Proceed with caution—disabling a critical app via ADB can cause instability.
You can’t find the app after disabling it. That’s normal—it’s hidden. To re-enable it, go to Settings > Apps > Manage apps, tap the three-dot menu, and select “Show all apps”. Then search for the app by name and tap Enable.
Other apps start crashing. If you disabled an app that other apps depend on, you’ll see error messages or force-closes. The fix is simple: re-enable the app you disabled. If you’re not sure which one caused it, re-enable the most recent ones you disabled.
System updates fail. Some MIUI updates require certain system apps to be present. If you’ve disabled too many, an OTA update might fail. Re-enable all disabled apps before installing a system update.

Disabling vs. Uninstalling vs. Hiding Apps

It’s easy to confuse these three terms:

Disable – stops the app from running and hides it, but the app remains installed. You can re-enable it later.
Uninstall – completely removes the app and its data. Only possible for user-installed apps. System apps cannot be uninstalled without root.
Hide – removes the app icon from the launcher but the app still runs in the background. MIUI has a “Hide apps” feature in the launcher settings that does this.

If you just want to declutter your home screen, hiding apps is a safer option than disabling them. If you want to free up RAM and battery, disabling is more effective. Uninstalling is only for apps you installed yourself.

Alternative Methods: ADB and Third-Party Tools

For apps that cannot be disabled through the MIUI settings (the Disable button is grayed out), you can use ADB commands from a computer. This method does not require root, but it does require enabling Developer Options and USB debugging.

On your phone, go to Settings > About phone and tap “MIUI version” 7 times to enable Developer Options.
Go to Settings > Additional settings > Developer options and enable “USB debugging”.
Connect your phone to a computer and install ADB (Android Debug Bridge) tools.
Open a command prompt/terminal and type adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 <package.name> (replace <package.name> with the actual package name, e.g., com.mi.globalbrowser for Mi Browser).
To re-enable, use adb shell pm enable <package.name>.

This method is more powerful but also riskier. If you disable a core system package, your phone may become unstable. Always note the package names you disable so you can re-enable them if needed.

Third-party apps like “App Manager” or “Package Disabler” can also disable system apps without a PC, but they often require special permissions or root. Be wary of apps that promise to “debloat” your phone—they may disable too many things and cause issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will disabling system apps improve battery life?

Yes, but only slightly. Disabling apps that constantly run in the background (like Mi Browser or Mi Video) can reduce background activity and save a bit of battery. However, modern MIUI already aggressively manages background processes, so the difference may be minimal.

Can I disable system apps without root?

Yes. The settings method works for most apps. For apps that can’t be disabled via settings, you can use ADB commands from a computer—no root required.

What happens if I disable a system app and then reset my phone?

A factory reset will re-enable all system apps. The disable state is stored in the user data partition, which is wiped during a reset. So after a reset, you’ll need to disable them again.

Is it safe to disable MIUI’s “GetApps” app?

Generally yes. GetApps is Xiaomi’s app store. Disabling it will stop app recommendations and updates from that store, but you can still install apps from APKs or other sources. Some system apps might try to re-enable it, but it’s not critical.

Why can’t I disable some apps like “System UI”?

System UI is the app that renders your status bar, notifications, and navigation gestures. Disabling it would make your phone unusable. MIUI blocks disabling for critical system components to prevent crashes and boot loops.

Does disabling an app free up storage space?

Yes, but only the data and cache are freed, not the app’s APK file. For example, disabling Mi Browser might free up 50–200 MB, but the app itself still occupies space in the system partition.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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