How to permanently disable Google Photos on Xiaomi: from autoload to complete removal

The Google Photos app on Xiaomi smartphones often runs in the background, consuming Internet traffic, battery power and storage space — even if you don’t use it. By default, MIUI can automatically upload photos to the cloud, sync media files and send notifications about “memories.” If you prefer alternative services (such as Mi Cloud or Yandex Drive) or just want to get rid of excess software — this instruction will help you completely disable Google Photos on your Redmi, POCO or Xiaomi.

Unlike standard removal through the app menu, which often leaves behind background processes, we’ll look at the following: 5 Proven methods: from simple shutdown of autoboot to deep removal through ADB (All methods are tested on MIUI 14/15 and relevant to models 2020–2026 years (Redmi Note) 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T Important: some actions will require administrator rights or debugging of the USB — We will warn you about this in advance.

Why Google Photos Work Without Your Knowledge

Even if you have never opened an app, it can:

• 📤 Automatically upload photos to the cloud via mobile traffic (default settings often include this option).
• 🔄 Sync media with other devices via your Google account (for example, if you’ve ever logged in to it on a tablet).
• 📱 Show notifications about “memories” or suggestions to create collages (even if the application has not been used for a long time).
• 🔋 Consume up to 5-10% of battery power per day due to background processes (according to tests on Xiaomi 12 Pro).

The reason is that Google's services are integrated with MIUI. The manufacturer pre-installes Google Mobile Services (GMS), which includes not only Google Photos, but also the Google Play Store, YouTube, Chrome and other applications. Even after manual removal, some components are restored when the system is updated.

Method 1: Disabling Autoboot and Synchronization

If you don’t want to delete the app completely, but you need to stop background activity, just turn off autoload and sync, a method that is suitable for users who sometimes use Google Photos, but do not want it to work in the background.

Instructions:

1. Open the Google Photos app (if it isn’t on the home screen, search through the app menu).
2. Slip on the profile avatar in the upper right corner → select Photo Settings.
3. Go to Backup and Synchronization.
4. Move the slider to the off position (grey).
5. Confirm the action by pressing OK in the pop-up window.

After that, the app will stop uploading new photos to the cloud, but the files that have already been uploaded will remain, to delete them from the cloud:

• 🗑️ Go to photos.google.com → highlight unnecessary files → press Delete.
• ⚠️ Deleting from the cloud does not affect local copies on your phone.

Is synchronization disabled in Google account settings?

Are there any "memories" notifications in the curtain?

Google Photos icons missing from MIUI gallery

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⚠️ Note: If you use Mi Account to back up, disabling Google Photos will not affect the Mi Cloud.

Method 2: Remove updates and roll back to factory version

The Google Photos app on Xiaomi consists of two parts:

1. System software (embedded in MIUI, cannot be removed without root rights).
2. Updates via Google Play (you can delete by returning the app to the factory version).

A rollback to the factory version will remove all updates, but the application itself will remain in the system (without the possibility of automatic updates).

How to do this:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Google Photos in the list (use a search by name).
3. Tap it on. ⋮ (three-point) → Remove updates.
4. Confirm the action by pressing OK.

After the rollback:

• 🔒 The app will stop updating automatically (but a notification of the new version available may appear).
• 📵 Some functions (e.g. photo editor) may not work properly.
• 🔄 To return the updates, just open the Google Play Store and update the application manually.

Method 3: Complete removal via ADB (for advanced)

If you want to permanently remove Google Photos from your Xiaomi, but do not have root rights, the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) team will help. This method removes the application only for the current user, without affecting system files. When you reset your phone to factory settings or update MIUI, the application can return.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 📱 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 🔧 Included debugging by USB phone-on.
• 📦 Utility. ADB Tools (download from the official Google website).

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on USB debugging: Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. Tap version 7 times until the message "You're a developer" appears. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers. Activate USB debugging and confirm the action.

File transfer

command-line

terminal

ADB

adb devices

The serial number of your device should appear.

Google Photo

adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.google.android.apps.photos

Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Attention: After removal through ADB The app will disappear from the menu, but its data (cache, settings) can remain in the phone's memory. To clear them, use the command: adb shell pm clear com.google.android.apps.photos

Method 4: Disconnecting through Google Account Settings

If you don’t want to delete the app itself but you need to stop interacting with your account, turn off sync via Google’s settings, a technique that is useful if you use other Google services (like Gmail or YouTube), but don’t want Google Photos to have access to your data.

How to turn it off:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync (or Settings → Passport and Security → Accounts on new versions of MIUI).
2. Select your Google account.
3. Slip on account sync.
4. Find the item Google Photos and move the slider to the position Off.
5. Confirm the blackout.

How to set up Mi Cloud for autoloading photos:

1. Open Settings → Mi Account (or Settings → Accounts and Sync → Mi Cloud).
2. Sign in to your Xiaomi account (or sign up).
3. Activate the Synchronization Gallery option.
4. Choose Only over Wi-Fi to avoid wasting mobile traffic.
5. Press Start Sync.

Comparison of services:

💡

If you choose Mi Cloud, remember: when you reset your phone to factory settings, all data from the cloud can only be restored after you re-enter your Xiaomi account.

What if Google Photos returns after the MIUI update?

After major MIUI updates (such as version 14 to version 15), some system applications, including Google Photos, can be restored automatically, due to Google's policy of requiring manufacturers to support basic GMS services.

How to prevent the return of the application:

• 🔧 Turn off automatic app updates in Google Play Store → Settings → Auto-update of applications → Never.
• 🚫 Block the installation through ADB (You need root or special modules, such as App Systemizer for Magisk).
• 📵 Use alternative firmware without GMS (for example, MIUI EU or LineageOS, but this will require unlocking the bootloader.

If Google Photos is back,

1. Repeat the deletion via ADB (the command remains the same).
2. Check your Google account settings (it is possible that sync is enabled automatically).
3. Clear the cache and app data in Settings → Apps → Google Photos → Storage.

⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi models (e.g, POCO F5 or Redmi K60) The Google Photos app can be linked to the Google One system package, in which case its removal may affect the operation of other services (for example, Google Drive). Before removing, check the dependencies using the command: adb shell dumpsys package com.google.android.apps.photos

FAQ: Frequent questions about turning off Google Photos on Xiaomi