What are MIUI Quick Apps?

MIUI quick apps are uninstalled apps on all Xiaomi and Redmi Android phones that run without the need to be installed, which is similar to Huawei’s Quick Apps and Google’s Instant Apps. Xiaomi is an incredibly popular phone brand that’s been on the rise in recent years.

These phones are very cheap, powerful, and fast, but the Quick Apps have been targets of privacy issues.

Unfortunately, Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones do have some bloatware, mostly in those aforementioned MIUI quick apps. These apps are system locked, which means that they can’t be removed or uninstalled. Well, technically, they can, but it’s not easy to do.

Most recently, these apps have been getting a lot of traction because Google Play Protect has banned their updates. Read on for more details.

More About MIUI Quick Apps

Some readers may be confused by this complex name, so let’s explain what MIUI means. MI stands for Xiaomi, and UI stands for the user interface. In terms of design, MIUI is pretty impressive, really slick, and very fast.

However, MIUI is not ideal—at least, its quick apps aren’t. Some users don’t mind the extra bloatware that comes along with the MIUI quick apps, but most want to remove them and can’t. As we said, these apps are locked in your device, are hard to access, and even harder to remove.

It’s no wonder Google Play decided to remove MIUI updates entirely.

Why Has Google Play Protect Banned MIUI Quick Apps?

There’s something fishy going on with MIUI quick apps. Otherwise, Google Play Protect wouldn’t have banned them. The apps required over 55 system permissions, which is way too much. These permissions include recording audio, video, recording your calls, installing apps without your knowledge, collecting your IMEI, IMSI, and SIM numbers, etc.

All of the above are major privacy breaches that shouldn’t be tolerated. If people knew what they had on their phones, would they have allowed it? Certainly not. This situation is outrageous. Google had every right to ban this bloatware and spyware.

Google is just protecting its users, as should Xiaomi. Until recently, Xiaomi had a positive reputation, and this dilemma could severely tarnish their name. Hopefully, it’s all just a misunderstanding, as they claim.

The Official Statement Made by Xiaomi

Xiaomi couldn’t stay silent, so they released an official statement regarding the situation. They claim that this Quick Apps situation is a mistake due to the faulty algorithm of Google Play Protect. That’s their only defense, and they’re standing by it.

Only this answer doesn’t feel right and truthful. It sounds like a non-apology. But there’s no way such a big company could admit to spying on their users. It’s really shady, and we don’t know what to make of it. The whole situation is scandalous, to say the least.

Perhaps Edward Snowden was right, and we’re all carrying tracking devices in our pockets. Maybe Xiaomi is telling the truth, and their Quick Apps app was wrongfully banned. We won’t get into politics, but it’s common knowledge right now that Google and China are at Xiaomi’s throats.

They won’t start playing along any time soon, and the people who suffer are the users of their services. China has cut off all foreign services, and Google is retaliating with bans of its own.

Don’t Remove MIUI Apps on Your Own

It’s is best to leave these MIUI apps be. If Google permanently bans them, even better, you won’t have to deal with them. If not, it’s not safe for your device to remove some of its core apps. Doing so could mess up the smartphone and OS and leave some permanent damage.

Since you’re performing these changes, you’re the one responsible if you damage your Xiaomi device. In other words, you won’t get a refund or a new phone. For that reason, don’t bother with shady third-party apps that claim to remove all the bloatware from your phones.

Most bloatware removal apps are fake, and they often contain malware. It’s best to leave your phone be and avoid giving any unnecessary permissions to certain apps if you can help it.

Are All MIUI Quick Apps Bad?

Not all MIUI quick apps are bloatware. Allegedly, some of them were really bad, and Google Play Protect has blocked them. It would be best if you didn’t bother removing the apps yourself. The bad Quick Apps will get pulled at some point in time, or their permissions will get revised.

Hopefully, Xiaomi won’t allow such a scandal to repeat itself and will focus on permission revisions. Regardless, Xiaomi and Redmi Android phones are still fantastic, and their UI is excellent.

Most likely, the whole situation was a misunderstanding. What do you think? Let us know in the comments section below.