Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face intrusive cloud services that by default tend to upload all images to the Internet. Google Photos is a powerful tool, but its automatic operation can quickly exhaust space in the Google Drive cloud or consume mobile traffic without your knowledge.
Many users prefer to store media files locally or use alternative cloud storage, so the need to completely disable the service becomes acute. In this article, we will discuss in detail all available methods to stop background loading and completely deactivate the application.
You will learn how to properly configure sync settings to keep your personal photos private, as well as how to free the device’s memory from cache. Below are proven ways to use current versions of the MIUI and HyperOS shells.
Disabling Automatic Synchronization in the Application
The easiest and safest way to stop photos from uploading is to turn off the backup function directly in the app settings, which does not remove the program from the device, but stops transferring data to the corporation's servers. You will need to open the Google Photos app and go to the user profile.
Once you log in, find the section for Autoboot and Sync. This is where the master switch is, which activates or deactivates the background process. Once you disable this option, new images will no longer upload to the cloud, but old photos that have already been uploaded will remain available on your Google account. This is a critical point for those who want to just stop using traffic.
It's worth noting that even when the sync is turned off, the app can request permissions to access media files to display them in the gallery. This is normal Android behavior that doesn't affect data transfer. However, if you want to be sure of complete isolation, it's a good idea to check your network access settings.
In some versions of the interface, settings may be hidden in the submenu. Make sure you check the account that is currently active, especially if multiple Google accounts are authorized on the device.
☑️ Checking the synchronization settings
Restriction of background data transmission
If you can't completely disable sync for any reason, or you want to leave the feature only for Wi-Fi, you need to configure your mobile data usage settings. Android system allows you to flexibly manage the access of applications to the Internet. → Annexes → All applications.
Search the Google Photos list and select Data Use. Here you will see detailed statistics and switches. Turning off background data transfer is guaranteed to prevent photos from loading when the smartphone screen is off or you are using other programs.
⚠️ Note: Background data restriction may cause notifications of new shared albums or library changes to arrive with a delay.
It’s also helpful to disable data roaming if you travel frequently, which will save your budget from unexpected traffic bills. Redmi Note and Poco smartphone owners may notice that the system sometimes restores these settings on its own after updating the firmware, so it’s worth checking periodically.
You can also deny the app access to Wi-Fi if your version of the shell allows, although this is an extreme measure. Most often, simply unchecking the mobile Internet permission, leaving Wi-Fi active for the home network.
Why does the app keep uploading photos?
Removing updates and rolling back to the factory version
Google system applications are often updated automatically through the Play Store, getting new features that you may not need.In some cases, the current version of the app is unstable or consumes more resources.You can roll the application back to the state in which it was installed in the factory.
To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Google Photos. In the bottom corner of the screen (or in the menu of three dots at the top), find the “Delete Updates” button. The system will warn that all application data will be deleted, but it is safe for your gallery.
Once rolled back, the app will return to the base version, which often helps to “reset” the wrong sync settings that may have stuck in the system. However, keep in mind that without manually disallowing the Play Store settings, the app can update automatically again.
To prevent auto-update, open the app page in the Play Store, click on the three dots in the top right corner and uncheck the box for Auto Update. Google Photos will now remain in the old version until you decide to update it yourself.
Complete removal of the system application
A radical but effective method is to remove the app altogether. Since Google Photos is a system component in many Xiaomi firmware, routine desktop removal may not be available, requiring access to advanced settings or the use of ADB.
If your HyperOS or MIUI 14+ device has a Remove button in the app menu, just use it. This is the cleanest way to get rid of the service. If the button is missing or inactive, you will need a computer and Android Debug Bridge toolkit.
To remove via ADB, follow the following steps:
1. Enable USB debugging in the Developer section.
2. Connect the phone to the PC and start the command line.
3. Enter the command to remove the packet:
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.apps.photosThis command will only remove the application for the current user, without affecting the system partition, which is safe and reversible. If you need to return the application, just execute the command adb shell cmd package install-existing com.google.android.apps.photos.
⚠️ Note: Removal of system components through ADB Make sure you enter the package name (com.google.android.apps.photos) without errors so as not to damage other Google services.
Use of alternative galleries
Once you disable or delete Google Photos, you may be wondering, "Where do you watch photos now?" The standard Xiaomi gallery provides a wide range of features for viewing, editing and sorting media files. It is completely standalone and does not require the Internet.
However, if you don’t like the standard interface, the app store offers a variety of alternatives, popular options include Simple Gallery, A+ Gallery or F-Stop, which often have more flexible privacy settings and don’t impose cloud services.
| Annex | Type | We need the Internet. | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi Gallery | Systemic | No. | Integration with the Mi cloud, hidden albums |
| Google Photo | Cloudy | Yes (for synchronization) | Smart search, shared albums |
| Simple Gallery Pro | Aside | No. | Open source, pin code protection |
| 1Gallery | Aside | No. | File Encryption, Hidden Album |
When choosing an alternative, pay attention to the permissions requested. A good gallery should not require access to a microphone or location for easy viewing of images. Installing a third-party application by default will also speed up the opening of a photo when sending in instant messengers.
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Tip: If you use a third-party gallery, go to your system settings and set it as your primary image opening app in the Default Apps section, which will save you from the constant "What to Open?" questions.
Cleaning the cloud and freeing up space
Just disabling sync is not enough if your Google One cloud is already crowded. It's important to understand the difference between deleting a photo from your phone and deleting it from the cloud. If sync is active, deleting a picture in the Google Photos app will delete it everywhere.
To make room safely, the best way to do this is to use a computer: go to photos.google.com from a PC, pick out the files you don't need and delete them. Then clear the shopping cart on the site, and then start cleaning your smartphone memory.
On the device itself, use the “Free Space” function (if the application is still installed and configured to work without syncing, although this is risky) or manually delete files through the file manager. Xiaomi’s file manager allows you to sort files by size and date, which is convenient for finding “heavy” videos.
Remember to check the Recycle Bin folder in the phone gallery. Deleted files can be stored there for up to 30 days, continuing to take up precious space of Xiaomi internal memory.
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Security rule: Before mass deleting photos, always back up important data to an external hard drive or computer. The cloud is convenient, but the physical medium is more reliable.