Google Photos on Xiaomi smartphones: appointment, safe removal and alternatives

If you own a Xiaomi smartphone, you've probably noticed Google Photos, a photo storage and sync service, on the list of Google Photos apps. Many users are wondering why they need it when they have a standard gallery. MIUI, How to remove it without harming the system and how to do it correctly. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the nuances of working with Google Photos on Xiaomi devices, including hidden features, removal risks and step-by-step instructions for different versions of the firmware.

It's important to understand that Google Photos isn't just another unnecessary app; it's integrated with the Google ecosystem and can affect other services like Google Drive, Gmail, or even contact backup. But for many Xiaomi users, its availability remains a mystery, especially if they're actively using alternative cloud storage like Mi Cloud or Yandex Drive. Next, we'll look at how the app interacts with the system, what data it consumes, and whether it can be disposed of without consequences.

What is Google Photos and Why You Need It on Xiaomi

Google Photos is a cloud service from Google designed to automatically back up, organize and access photos and videos from any device. On Xiaomi smartphones, it is preinstalled by default, as the company cooperates with Google in the framework of the Google Mobile Services program (GMS). This means that without this package, the device will not be able to use Google Play, YouTube, Gmail and other key services.

The main features of Google Photos on Xiaomi:

• 📸 Automatic sync: photos and videos are uploaded to the cloud in the background, saving space on the device.
• 🔍 Search by content: the service recognizes objects, faces and even text in pictures (for example, you can find all photos with dogs or tickets).
• 🎨 Editing and collages: built-in tools for quality improvement, animation creation and collages.
• 📁 Memory Management: Proposals to Free Up Space by Deleting Files Already Uploaded to the Cloud.

However, for Xiaomi users, the relevance of the service is often questioned. MIUI It has its own gallery with cloud sync via Mi Cloud. Second, Google Photos consumes traffic and battery power in the background, which can be critical for devices with limited resources. Google has also restricted free storage to 15GB per account since 2021, forcing many to look for alternatives.

Can you delete Google Photos from Xiaomi: risks and consequences?

Technically, you can remove Google Photos from Xiaomi, but there are a few nuances here. The application is classified as system (preinstalled), so simply clicking “Delete” in the app menu may not work.

• ⚠️ Failures in other Google services: for example, contact backup or Google Drive will stop working correctly.
• 🔄 Automatic Recovery: After Updating MIUI The app may appear again.
• 📱 Firmware problems: on some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T Redmi Note 11: Deleting system applications can block OTA-update.

However, if you’re determined to get rid of Google Photos, there are a few safe ways to do this:

1. Disconnect: You can disable autostart and remove from the menu without removing it completely.
2. Remove updates: return the application to the factory version, saving space.
3. Deactivation through ADB: The most radical method for experienced users.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI Global or MIUI Europe Deleting Google Photos completely can lead to the error com.google.process.gapps. If you are not ready for possible crashes, it is better to limit yourself to disabling sync.

Step-by-step: How to disable or delete Google Photos

If you decide to get rid of Google Photos, follow one of the instructions below depending on your goal.Reminders that complete removal is only suitable for power users!

Method 1: Disabling Autostart and Notifications

The most secure method that does not require superuser rights is:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Google Photos in the list and select it.
3. Press Stop (if the button is active).
4. Go to Permits and disable access to Warehouse, Camera and Microphone.
5. In the Battery section, select Limit background activity.
6. Return to the main menu of the app and click Remove Updates (if the button is available).

Method 2: Remove updates (free up space)

This method will return the application to the factory version, saving up to 100-300 MB of memory:

1. Open the Settings. → Annexes → Google Photos.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Remove Updates.
3. Confirm the action. The app will go back to the version it had when you bought the phone.

Backup photos in Mi Cloud or on PC

Turn off autoload in Google Photos settings

Check the free space on the device (minimum 1 GB)

Charge your phone to 50% or more

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Method 3: Complete removal via ADB (for advanced)

This method requires PC connection and command knowledge ADB. It is suitable for devices with an unlocked boot loader:

1. Install. ADB Tools on the computer and connect the smartphone USB (Turn on the debugging. USB In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI, press 7 times).
2. Open the command line and type: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.apps.photos
3. Restart the device. The application will be removed for the current user.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Poco) F3 or Redmi K40) after removal ADB Other Google apps may be missing icons, in which case resetting or re-installation will help. GMS via Fastboot.

How to transfer photos from Google Photos to Mi Cloud or other storage

If you decide to abandon Google Photos, the first thing you need to do is move all your data to another storage, and here are the step-by-step instructions for the most popular alternatives:

Transfer to Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

Mi Cloud offers 5GB of free space and is closely integrated with the gallery MIUI:

1. Open the standard gallery on Xiaomi.
2. Choose an album or individual photos, click Share → Mi Cloud.
3. Log in to Xiaomi’s account and confirm the download.
4. Enable autoboot in Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → gallery.

Transfer to Yandex Disk

Yandex Drive gives 10 GB free and supports automatic download:

1. Install the Yandex Drive app from Google Play.
2. In the settings, turn on Autoupload photo.
3. Select a folder to download (such as Camera) and confirm.

Transfer to PC via cable

The most reliable way is to copy files directly:

1. Connect your smartphone to your computer via USB (select File Transfer mode).
2. Open the DCIM → Camera folder on your phone.
3. Copy all files to the hard drive of the PC.

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Before transferring photos, check to see if sync is enabled in both clouds at the same time, which can lead to duplicate files and fast space consumption.

What to do if you have problems after deleting Google Photos

You have successfully removed Google Photos, some features MIUI These are the problems and their solutions:

Problem 1: Other Google services are not working

If Gmail, Google Drive or Play Store are no longer open after deletion:

• Try clearing the cache of these apps in Settings → Annexes.
• Reinstall Google Play Services via APKMirror.
• Reset your Google Account settings in Settings → Accounts. → Google.

Problem 2: App Recovered After Update

On devices with MIUI Google Photos may be back after OTA-To avoid the update:

• Turn off automatic update installation for system applications in Settings → Annexes → Settings (⚙) → Auto-update of applications.
• Use it. ADB Re-deletion (see instructions above).

Problem 3: Gallery photos are missing

If the images were lost after manipulation with Google Photos:

• Check the folder. DCIM/.thumbnails — Sometimes the miniatures are cached there.
• Restore files via Google Photos in the web version (photos.google.com).
• Use data recovery software such as DiskDigger or Recuva (root required).

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If you have a critical failure after you delete Google Photos (e.g., a constant reboot), the only reliable way to get it back up is to reset to factory settings.

Alternatives to Google Photos for Xiaomi Owners

If you are looking for a replacement for Google Photos, look out for these apps that are optimized for the best possible applications. MIUI:

1. MIUI Standard Gallery

The built-in Gallery app on Xiaomi supports:

• 📂 Local and Cloud Albums (via Mi Cloud).
• 🔍 Search by date and location (if geolocation is enabled).
• 🎨 Basic editing tools (trimming, filters, correction).

Disadvantage: There is no automatic object recognition (like Google Photos).

2. Simple Gallery Pro

Paid application (~300 rubles) open source. Advantages:

• 🔒 No advertising or tracking.
• 📁 Support SMB/FTPS (file-access).
• 🛡️ Encrypting albums.

3. Amazon Photos

Free storage for Amazon device owners (or Prime subscribers):

• 📦 Unlimited space for photos (for video - 5 GB).
• 🌍 Autoboot over Wi-Fi.

The interface is less convenient than Google Photos.

4. F-Stop Gallery

For advanced users:

• 📊 Support for tags and tags.
• 🔄 Synchronization with Nextcloud/OwnCloud.
• 🖼️ Viewing RAW-file.

Tips for Optimizing Photo Storage on Xiaomi

Even if you don't use Google Photos, photos can take up gigabytes of memory. Here's how to make space:

1. Include photo compression in MIUI

Go to Settings. → Memory. → Cleanup → Photos and select Compress Photos. This will reduce the weight of the images without noticeable loss of quality.

2.Tune automatic cleaning

B Settings → Memory. → Autocleaning enable the option to Remove duplicate photos.

3. Use the format. HEIF/HEIC

New Xiaomi models (e.g. Xiaomi 13 or Redmi Note 12) support format HEIF, which takes up 2 times less space than JPEG, It's the same quality:

1. Open the chamber.
2. Go to Settings. → Photo format.
3. Choose Highly Effective (HEIF).

4. Transfer the photo to the memory card

If your Xiaomi supports microSD (e.g. Redmi) 10C POCO M5), Bring the photos there:

1. Open the gallery.
2. Select files, press More → Move.
3. Select the memory card as the target folder.

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To avoid loss of quality during compression, copy the original photos to a PC or external drive before mass processing.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Google Photos on Xiaomi