How to Remove Google Search from Xiaomi Screen: From Simple Shutdown to Deep Cleaning

The Google Search widget on Xiaomi’s home screen can be annoying, taking up space, slowing down your system, and gathering data about your actions. Even after resetting or updating your firmware, this search bar often returns as a pesky ad. In this article, we’ll look at all the possible ways to remove it, from basic methods in the MIUI/HyperOS interface to radical solutions using ADB and custom firmware.

It's important to understand that Xiaomi integrates Google services at the system level, so simply dragging the widget into the cart won't always work. We've tested all the methods on devices with MIUI 14, HyperOS 1.0 and older versions -- the results are summarized in the compatibility table below. If you're willing to sacrifice some functionality for the sake of clean interface, then the ways to turn off Google Play Services or remove through ADB will give the maximum effect.

We warn you beforehand that some actions require developer rights or even unlock the bootloader. If you're a beginner, start with the first three methods, which are safe and reversible. APK-file.

1. Simple removal of Google Search widget from the home screen

The most obvious and safe way to do this is to remove the search bar as a normal widget, which works on all versions of MIUI and HyperOS, but has a limitation: Google itself will remain on the system and can appear after updates.

Instructions:

• 📱 Press the search bar with your finger on the main screen.
• 🗑️ Drag it up to the Remove icon (or Recycle Bin) that appears at the top of the screen.
• 🔄 If the widget is not deleted, try to first go to Settings → Main screen screen → Widgets and disable Google Search there.

On some firmware (e.g. MIUI 13 for the global version), the widget may be glued to the screen.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Google in the list and select Disable (do not delete!).
3. Return to the main screen, the widget should disappear.

⚠️ Note: Disabling the Google app may disrupt other services such as Gmail, YouTube or Google Maps. If you actively use them, move on to the next method.

2. disable Google Search through launcher settings

If simply removing the widget is not enough, you can block it from appearing at the launcher level, which does not require superuser rights and is reversible.

For the standard MIUI/HyperOS launcher:

1. Click on the empty space on the home screen and select Screen Settings (or Home Screen Settings).
2. Go to the Widgets or Additional Settings section.
3. Find Google Search and turn off the slider next to it.
4. Save the changes and restart the device.

For alternative launchers (e.g. Nova Launcher or Lawnchair):

• 🔧 Open the launcher settings (long press on the home screen) → «Settings»).
• 🔍 Go to the section Widgets or Docking station.
• 🚫 Find Google Search and block it or remove it from the list of allowed widgets.

If the search bar still appears after this, it is built into the system launcher, in which case only replacing the launcher with third-party or more radical methods will help (see sections 4 and 5).

3. Remove Updates and Reset Google Search

Often the problem lies in the automatic updates of the Google app. The system version of the search bar can be minimalistic, but after updating through the Play Market, it inflates into a full widget.

Step-by-step:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Google.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Remove Updates.
3. Confirm the action and restart the phone.
4. Return to the Play Market, search Google and click Cancel Update (if the button is active).
5. Turn off automatic updates for this application.

For reliability, block updates via ADB (without root rights):

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.vending


adb shell dpm set-device-owner com.google.android.gms/.devicepolicy.DPCReceiver

⚠️ Note: Reverse updates may cause errors in other Google services, such as Google Pay or Google Assistant.If you use these features, skip this step.

4. Delete Google Search via ADB (no root)

If previous methods didn’t work, you can remove the search bar using Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a method that doesn’t require root rights, but requires you to turn on the developer mode and connect to your PC.

Instructions:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on the MIUI Version (or HyperOS Build Number). Go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers and enable USB Debugging.

ADB-driver

Terminal

adb devices

Make sure your device is listed.

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox

Reboot the phone.

If the team doesn’t work, try an alternative:

adb shell pm hide com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox

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Before execution ADB-Create a recovery point in the TWRP (This will help to return the system to working condition in case of errors.

⚠️ Note: Deleting com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox may disrupt Google Assistant and voice search. If you use these features, replace the command to disable: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox

5. Radical methods: custom firmware and debloating

If you are willing to go to extreme lengths, you can completely remove all Google services from the system, which requires unlocking the bootloader and installing custom firmware (such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience).

Advantages:

• 🧹 Completely delete all Google trace files.
• 🚀 Increased productivity (less background processes).
• 🔒 Improving confidentiality.

Disadvantages:

• ⚠️ Loss of warranty on most Xiaomi models).
• 🔧 Complexity of the process for beginners.
• 📵 Some features (like Google Pay) will stop working.

Step-by-step instructions for installing custom firmware:

For those who don’t want to install custom firmware, there is an alternative to debloating through Magisk or Universal Debloater, a method that requires root rights but allows you to selectively remove unnecessary applications, including Google Search.

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Google Apps (GAPPS) is the only way to completely get rid of all Google services, including background processes that consume battery and traffic.

6.Alternative solutions: replacement of the launcher and setting up the DNS

If deleting Google Search seems too risky, you can simply hide it with a third-party launcher or block it at the network level.

The best launchers for Xiaomi without Google Search:

• 🌟 Nova Launcher – flexible setup, gesture support, no forced widgets.
• 🏡 Lawnchair is an open source lightweight launcher based on the Pixel Launcher.
• 🔄 Microsoft Launcher – Windows integration, but no aggressive Google search.
• 📱 Smart Launcher 6 – Automatic Sorting of Applications, Minimalistic Design.

To block Google at the DNS level:

1. Install the Blokada or NextDNS app.
2. Add domains to the blacklist: google.com www.google.com clientservices.googleapis.com
3. Activate. VPN-regime.

This won’t physically remove the widget, but it will block its operation and data collection, and the downside is that it may have problems with other Google services (e.g. YouTube may be slowing down).

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing Google Search on Xiaomi