Just tweak it

[doggydog2]

XIAOMIEU/miGlobe/ROS cleanup actions

BOOT SCRIPT

What it does:
* choose 7 categories of app removal
* disable 36 apps as per post 6 (preferred method, ppl can reenable)
* uninstall super sticky apps (i'd still prefer disabling by renaming, but didn't work)
* remove usage access for google (this is the only part not working - because of custom ROM, they say)
* recover hostname modified by xiaomi (privacy) (hardcoded, but could read it from settings in future)
* remove weird XiaomiEU app icons
* disable wifi diagnostics
* disable dumping of network

Download: file attached

Installation:
- run in su terminal or add to any startup script

ADAWAY LIST

What it does:
* adds as many Xiaomi servers to adblocker as possible

Download: file attached

Installation:
- open Adaway menu on the left and choose 'Your lists'
- click menu button on the top right and choose 'Import all lists'
- choose your file, and apply

What actions are needed after MIUI ROM is installed and what is already improved:

[automated] to disable:

Browser, Cloud Print, CloudServiceSysbase, com.mui.translation.xmcloud, com.xiaomi.micloudsdk.SdkApplication, Digital Wellbeing, Email, Google, Feedback, File Manager, Google Backup Transport, Google Calendar Sync, Google Contacts Sync, Google One Init Setup, Google Partner Set Up, Joyose, Mi Account, Mi Cloud, Mi Cloud backup, Mi Credit, Mi Video, Mi Wallpaper Carousel, MiCloudSync, Music, NextPay, Xiaomi service framework

[automated] to delete (can't disable):

FindDevice, Miuidaemon, MiuiHome, Xiaomi service framework

Disabling MiuiHome helps a lot as this launcher causes gfx problems (empty black screen) even when it's not selected as home provider.
Another tasks post flash weekly update:
- [automated] root magisk 19 (with one click in L.R.Team TWRP)
- [enhanced] reenable hosts in Adaway including attached custom Xiaomi blacklist
- [automated] remove /system/media/theme/miui_mod_icons
- [not working yet] redisable app permissions, 'Usage Access' and 'Modify system settings' (the later ensures first two are not enabled later - the aggressive Xiaomi/Google apps ignore user choices and help each other to restore permissions user doesn't like)
- redisable Device Admin, Trust admin (find my device, smart lock)
- [automated] LOG_PATH_FLAG=0 in cnss_diag.conf and /data/vendor/wlan_logs/ transformed to file - this is usually kept after ROM upgrade, this is where WiFi spying and tcpdumpin' takes place
- [automated] xiaomi pushes "Mi9" hostname, that's not privacy sensitive, need to setprop net.hostname [YOURNAME] on each boot (e.g. 3C script)

 

[doggydog2]

original bash

Oh i hate MIUI so much, but have to live with it until alt ROMs will come, fully supporting fingerprint, bluetooth, camera.
This MIUI (EU) is so aggressive overwriting all apps and dialogs in the system, and it's overall ugly and unnecessarily complex (except pro-looking charging animation, 24h wallpaper, and AOD). It blocks starting apps by default, it blocks app notifications by default. Battery ops are a joke, and all memory cleaner triggers kill virtually everything running. Zero respect for high prio notif apps running. It's so modified that tons of xposed modules won't have impact. It even annoys with data connection dialogs, download operations.. they stick their nose everywhere. I don't trust this company at all, so i've taken stronger measures and zero byte to Xiaomi policy.

In first round of making this phone less retail and more pro is
- revoke all authorizations (get the hell out Xiaomi)
- stop feeding device ids (oh they even have choice for it, but i need more complex and trustful blocking via Xposed) to xiaomi apps
- delete xiaomi account, now that won't stop findDevice and other cloud nonsense from running (contradiction to Xiaomi statement findDevice not supported on unlocked bootloaders)
- disable xiaomi packages via titanium/3c:

BugReport.apk
CloudBackup.apk
CloudService.apk
CloudServiceSysbase.apk
GoogleBackupTransport.apk
Joyose.apk
MiGalleryLockscreen.apk
MiVideo.apk (useless app without DLNA)
Music.apk (useless app without DLNA)
NextPay.apk
ThemeManager.apk

but hey, it's not always possible, some apps can't be disabled, this aggression can be stopped by not deleting but renaming the files in /system/[priv-]app e.g.:

FindDevice.apk.disabled 
MiuiDaemon.apk.disabled (can be disabled but will still show up, what)
MiuiHome.apk.disabled

- firewall block any remaining xiaomi apps to stop Baba/Baidu etc connections
Rinse and repeat til you see no data transferred in the network monitor.

Some UI fixes already done:
- AOD doesn't show any notifs -> use "MIUI AOD Notification icon" xposed module, however, it will show too much (not configurable)
- Notch is ugly like hell, can't smart-crop it like OnePlus(R) -> use Notch Remover app (i'd like some system solution rather, due to performance reasons)
- AI button can be fully configured, forget MIUI choices and install xposed Edge
- Device health, the new feature, is hidden, just trigger it via activities, then create the app icon via its UI for convenience
- several vanilla dialogs are accessible via Settings search or activities like appops, notifications
- navigation [bar] enhanced by xposed Edge

I applaud:
- existing offline cron-able backup (although it won't save 90% of system settings which is so needed on this ROM)
- complex data usage configuration
- not hiding call recording, no need for xposed tweaks
- good battery info (wide icon, great animations and LED confirmation), oh yeah, Qi people do need this for practical reasons
- all recent micro tweaks like click on clock on quick settings opens clock
-notif. light, samsung style - great , double tap wake, raise2wake (producing too many smp2p-sleepstate wakelocks) - also great

I (or hopefully a ROM author) would like to fix this:
- remove their Security (which i think includes all memory and battery handling), PermissionManager nonsense
- remove status bar alarm icon, just go already! (fix via xposed and 3c didn't work! it's on the left)
- reduce status bar height to align with notch (xposed plugin didn't work)
- show batt% when notifs are expanded (batt% is literally nowhere to be shown, not in Battery details either, unless you turn on % status bar icon which is annoying, want to see % only when expand quick settings just like on other phones - that is user friendly)
- this UI overwrite app icons, omg..why.. of course i don't use their lausy home app (which doesn't even bring Pie swipe-to-apps action), but twisted icons will show up in all system dialogs
- Pie navigation [bar] is only good in vanilla pie, Samsung OnePlus and Xiaomi managed to destroy it by customizations, would love AOSP style in full screen mode (navbar-less), Xiaomi additionally created "original" swipe-from-right Back action, which interferes with GBoard swipes
- how to enable either Oreo or original Pie recents? used to tweak it via xposed Edge on note9,6t
- the MAC is not randomized, are you kidding me + device name you set won't matter when you make connections, they push Mi9-Mobile name, i don't like both for privacy reasons
- weather widget (where is it), linking weather cities to clock cities
- AOD only on notification with a preview (OnePlus style)
- voice navigation in Camera, this will require a different app
- remove all stupid confirmations with timeouts with several seconds

- "this UI overwrite app icons" -> fixed by using Global dev version

i tried the Global Dev ROM http://en.miui.com/download-361.html and i was shocked that it's the same firmware except those ****ty icons! not much missing, very very little things only.. few more processes (like facebook snitchware), the firewall blocked them proactively.. no byte sent. will be cleansed quickly. i saw Night mode and 48mpix mode in camera briefly but it depends on kernel somehow. weird. so weird brand.

 

[DavidRJ]

-notif. light, samsung style - great , double tap wake, raise2wake (producing too many smp2p-sleepstate wakelocks) - also great

Getting massive smp2p-sleepstate wakelocks - even with double tap and raise to wake disabled. Any idea what else could be causing this?

 

[doggydog2]

Getting massive smp2p-sleepstate wakelocks - even with double tap and raise to wake disabled. Any idea what else could be causing this?

AOD, double tap to wake, pocket lock, handwave gesture, out-of-pocket gesture..some of those.. i just tested disabling this wakelock and it didn't help battery life. but i have a parasitic magisk/xposed drain now so maybe i don't spot the difference right now.

 

[doggydog2]

Achieved good battery life in the end. No bad wakelocks at all. I have a temporary AOD set, d.tap to wake, so this is not causing it. Now i will turn on Pocket lock back. I guess just like it was written in the other thread, the wakelocks are caused by the doze gestures ("Phh" menu in Settings).
Vaste majority of glitches above are fixed in the AOSP ROM. Definitely far better than any Xiaomi ROM tested. Next time i wouldn't waste any time with Xiaomi software IF the classic root unfriendly functionality works (fp, bt-car, cam..). That will be precondition for a buy in future, and 2 week unlock period will be considered hard too. If OnePlus will put QC/QI to model 8, that'll be the next phone.
Root-friendly brands:
1/ OnePlus (all easy, ROM is ok to keep, all functions kept) - WINNER
2/ LG (pretty easy, lil bit functionality can be lost, but they keep back fingerprint & community don't care about their new models -> dead brand)
3/ Xiaomi sort of (difficult unlock, terrible software, very difficult flashing, all functions kept)
4/ Samsung sort of (problems with some functionality, more and more obstacles for developers, Knox, bad battery....tired of it)

 

[doggydog2]

Gutripping list - what to do after installation/upgrade of MIUI

moved to first post

 

[*justintime*]

Why don't you just buy another phone? It's easier...
What's worse for one.... Isn't for another.

I have got pretty good SOT 6 hours on wifi around 5 on mobile network.

I like Miui...and all the Chinese oehhhh they are spying tin foil head stuff come on...

 

[doggydog2]

XiaomiEU app icons can be removed here: non-destructively rename /system/media/theme/miui_mod_icons (thanksgod)
Magisk compatible: 19.0+ (not booting with any earlier version)
QuickStep compatible: no
Still can't find link to Running services, they really care to hide it. This activity Settings\com.android.settings.RunningServices gets overwritten by app info which counts size on disk but at least give backdoor to original app properties.

 

[doggydog2]

Why don't you just buy another phone? It's easier...
What's worse for one.... Isn't for another.

I have got pretty good SOT 6 hours on wifi around 5 on mobile network.

I like Miui...and all the Chinese oehhhh they are spying tin foil head stuff come on...

my SOT is easily above 10hours sadly i can't find a modern phone, with rootability, wireless charging, fingerprint not in the back. forget SD card, notches and tons of other requirements.. so this is a list:
https://www.gsmarena.com/results.php3?nRamMin=6000&chkWCharging=selected&idFingerprint=5
discount unrootable huawei, nokia and i'm literally stuck with just S10 and Mi9. it's so bad situation. S10 struggles with root yet as Samsung created yet another tricks. Soon rooting will be a hate speech and we'll be arrested

 

[xephyris]

Thank you for looking into all this and writing it up here.

I was tempted to give MIUI a go temporarily since everything else is early stages right now, but I think I'll wait for the GSIs instead. And hey, "just buy another phone or willingly give up your privacy to megacorps and the government" is pretty great if you'd like to live in a dystopia at some point

 

[*justintime*]

Thank you for looking into all this and writing it up here.

I was tempted to give MIUI a go temporarily since everything else is early stages right now, but I think I'll wait for the GSIs instead. And hey, "just buy another phone or willingly give up your privacy to megacorps and the government" is pretty great if you'd like to live in a dystopia at some point

@doggydog2 grow up.... Playing a game who has the largest....?? I was just saying with it the phone and software isn't that bad.
Buy a Pixel or OP
@xephyris
Ghehehe man man man..... Like you have privacy in 2019...wake up...

So giving all your **** to Google is no problem for you...?

 

[derKoder]

Are you using miui.eu from (xiaomi.eu) or global rom EU version?

 

[rasmali]

The op sounds like he came here to promote Oneplus for some reason.

 

[doggydog2]

(duplicit)

 

[doggydog2]

@xephyris thanks, GSI is strong already except the fingerprint not excellent. i'm watching git changes, literally reading the code, and can't wait for more fixes.. for an AOSP - not bad status already with fp,bluetooth,camera,aptx working. Let's talk about other device AOSPs with features missing.. GSI is generic but when devs actually own the device, the progress is far batter (FlokoRom being the best, now new TWRPs progressing).
@*justintime* don't understand what you blab about, i was just saying what is the situation. as you're long member, you should have remembered the golden times where all this stuff was easy and you could choose any mobile. and no "nonsense to fix in next generation" existed like notches or back fingerprints. also i'm giving little to Google, have zero ads, cleaned fingerprints of my internet activity, device data is cloaked etc to the extent i actually don't need to clean up Xiaomi processes. i do have privacy in 2019.. that's something i'm not even describing here as it's generic, here i fight the specific xiaomi bloat. when i sniff my network connections or trace personal data usage, i am satisfied. it's very clean.
@rasmali ..and not promoting, as i spend too much time to fix this Xiaomi, it's pretty hard from unlock process, TWRP problems, Gapps problems, battery issues, camera issues to the MIUI. Also tested all ROMs, kernels, recoveries so i'm sharing/getting the knowledge to make sure we all later profit. maybe i'll script the cleanup process from post #6. true the OnePlus is cool, i did just single flashing/restoring process there for me and one for another person, and it's perfectly working from A to Z.. it's shocking easy compared to Mi9. just lacking QC+Qi:/

 

[zetlaw]

Keep posting updates, as you im trying to find a solution for the Running services.

 

[bilal91]

any way to disable xiaomi service framework without causing problems?

 

[denzel09]

any way to disable xiaomi service framework without causing problems?

Which problem you have disabling it through adb?

 

[bilal91]

Which problem you have disabling it through adb?

i've heard it could cause a bootloop...have you done it through adb and can you direct me towards how you did it?

 

[doggydog2]

Delete (can't disable):

FindDevice, Miuidaemon, MiuiHome, Xiaomi service framework

Introducing Xposed plugin "MIUI Anesthetist".
It will help disable the above ultra-sticky services which cannot be disabled (and we're not talking about normal system dialogs, we're disabing with root tools already).
However the author doesn't realise the spy company Xiaomi made 2 of them even more ultra-sticky: Miuidaemon, Xiaomi service framework.
The Xiaomi invented the way to load those even when disabled. As you can see in "Running services"* the processes are active.
*I'm kidding - you won't see it there as Xiaomi disabled this transparency tool, you need another root tool to check running processes.
So you still need to rename them in /system/[priv-]app folder.
Plus the FindDevice "disabled" with help of this plugin will make many error popups by another part of the system which tries to trigger it at all cost.

so it looked good first, as disabling would ultimately bring the convenience of setting and forgetting even during ROM updates.
That's not the case, so there's still maintenance needed as in the post 6.