How to Remove Google Search from Xiaomi Mi A3 Desktop: All the Working Methods

Why Google Search Bar appears on screen and can it be removed without consequences?

Google’s search widget on the Xiaomi Mi A3 home screen is the standard solution for Android One devices. Unlike Xiaomi’s classic MIUI-enclosed smartphones, it uses a “pure” Android with minimal refinements, meaning that the search widget is integrated at the Pixel Launcher level (or its Android One modification) and is not always deletionable by standard methods.

The main reasons why users want to get rid of the search bar are:

• 📱 Saving screen space – the widget takes up to 20% of vertical space.
• 🔍 Unnecessary functionality – if you use another search engine (e.g. Yandex or DuckDuckGo).
• 🎨 Aesthetics – a string violates the minimalist desktop design.
• 🔋 Performance – the widget consumes up to 5% charge per day due to background activity.

It is important to understand that on Xiaomi Mi A3 you can not remove the Google search widget through system settings - it can only be hidden or replaced with an alternative launcher. All the methods in this article do not require root rights and do not violate the device warranty. However, some ways can reset the desktop settings - save the location of the icons in advance.

Method 1: Remove via widget settings (works 60% of the time)

The easiest method is to try to remove the widget manually. On the Mi A3, this doesn't always work because of the firmware, but it's worth trying:

1. Press and hold your finger on the Google search bar.
2. If a menu with the option to Remove or Remove from the screen appears, drag the widget into the cart (usually at the top of the screen).
3. If the menu doesn’t appear, try dragging the widget in either direction: sometimes the basket is activated when you move.

⚠️ Note: On some versions of the Mi firmware A3 (For example, Android 10 QQ3A.200805.001) The widget is locked from deletion, and then you'll see a notification saying, "This widget can't be deleted." If you see this message, go to the next way.

Check the Android version in Settings → About the phone

Take a screenshot of the current location of the icons

Make sure your phone has enough charge (minimum 30%)

Close all background apps (especially Google and Assistant)

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Method 2: Disabling the Google App (radical method)

If the widget is not physically removed, you can disable the Google app itself, which is responsible for the search bar, which has side effects - voice search, Google Assistant and some functions of the Chrome browser will stop working.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications and notifications → Show all applications.
2. Search for Google (not to be confused with Google Play Services!).
3. Click Disconnect → Confirm the action.
4. Restart your phone (Power → Reboot).

After disabling the search bar will disappear, but:

• 🚫 Voice search will stop working on the command “OK, Google".
• 🚫 In the Chrome browser will disappear search bar on the main page.
• 🚫 Some system applications (such as Google Photos) may not work well.

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If links from messages stop opening after Google is disabled, install an alternative browser (such as Firefox) and make it the default browser in the application settings.

Method 3: Use of an alternative launcher (100% working method)

The most reliable way to get rid of the search bar is to install a third-party launcher. The Xiaomi Mi A3 works best:

How to install and configure the launcher:

1. Download the selected launcher from Google Play.
2. After installation, click Home → select a new launcher as Always.
3. In the launcher settings (Long-click on the screen → Settings), turn off the option "Show search bar" or "Google Discover".
4. If necessary, adjust the gestures, the size of the icon grid and the theme of the design.

Method 4: Disable Google Discover (for Android 10+ firmware)

On the Mi A3 with Android 10 and later, the search bar is often tied to Google Discover, which can remove the widget:

1. Open Settings → Applications and notifications → Show all applications.
2. Google → Memory and Cache → Space Management
3. Turn off the option "Show Discover on the home screen".
4. Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Note: Some of the Mi's firmware A3 After that, you might miss the swipe left to call the news feed, and you'd have to reset the launcher settings through the Settings to return the function. → Annexes → Pixel Launcher → Warehouse → Clear the data.

Method 5: Use ADB-Teams (for advanced users)

If previous methods have failed, you can remove the widget via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires connecting the phone to a computer and basic command line knowledge.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on USB Debugging on your phone: Go to Settings → About Phone. 7 times click on Build Number to activate Developer Mode. Go back to Settings → System → For Developers and turn on USB Debugging.

Mi A3

ADB-tools

Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB.

adb devices

(Should appear Xiaomi Mi A3 device with serial number)

adb shell pm hide com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox

(This command hides the search widget)

Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Attention: After use ADB-The pm hide widget will disappear, but you may have problems with Google Play Services updates:

adb shell pm unhide com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox

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ADB-commands are the most powerful tool for removing system widgets, but requires caution.Misuse can cause launcher failure!

What to do if nothing helps: extreme measures

If all of these methods fail, there are two radical options:

1. Reset Launcher settings: Go to Settings → Apps → Pixel Launcher → Storage. Press Clear Data and Clear Cache. Once rebooted, the widget may disappear, but all icons on the desktop will reset.

Installation of custom firmware:

On the Mi A3, you can flash alternative firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience) where the search bar will not be the default.

• 🔧 Requires to unlock the bootloader (fastboot oem unlock).
• 🚨 Resets all the data on the phone.
• 📱 It is not guaranteed (if it is still valid).