How to Disable or Remove Google Apps on Xiaomi: All the Ways to Work

Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones come pre-installed with Google services from Play Store to Google Play Services. For most users, these apps are useful, but some want to disable or remove them for a number of reasons: saving battery life, freeing up memory, improving privacy or combating background activity. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to deactivate Google services on devices running MIUI 12-14, including hidden settings, ADB commands and alternative root-free methods.

It is important to understand that the complete removal of system applications without consequences is not always possible. Some services (for example, Google Play Services) are critical to the operation of other programs, and their disabling can lead to failures in YouTube, Gmail or banking applications. We will explain in detail which applications can be safely deactivated and which should not be touched to avoid problems with the functionality of the smartphone.

Why users want to disable Google apps on Xiaomi

The main reasons why Xiaomi owners are trying to get rid of Google services:

• 🔋 Battery savings: Background activity of Google Play Services and Google App can consume up to 10-15% of charge per day.
• 📱 Memory Freeing: Pre-installed apps take anywhere from 500MB to 1.5GB (depending on model).
• 🛡️ Privacy: Google services collect data about the location, activity and preferences of the user.
• ⚡ Improved performance: on weak devices (e.g. Redmi) 9A or POCO C31) background processes can inhibit the system.
• 🚫 Unused Features: Many users don’t use Google Assistant, Google Pay or Google Duo.

However, before turning off, you should evaluate the risks, for example, without Google Play Services, you will stop working:

• 📱Push notifications in most apps (including WhatsApp, Telegram).
• 🎮Games with Google Play Games support (such as Genshin Impact or Google Play Games) PUBG Mobile).
• 💳Banking applications (SberBank, Tinkoff, VTB may require Google services for security).

Method 1: Standard shutdown via MIUI settings

The easiest and safest method is to deactivate applications through the settings menu, which does not remove programs completely, but stops them from working and background activity, and is suitable for most users who want to save battery power without risking the system.

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings → Applications.
2. Select the All Apps tab (or Application Management in older versions of MIUI).
3. Find the right app (e.g. Google, Google Play Music or Duo) in the list.
4. Click on it → Disable (or Remove Updates if the Disable button is inactive).
5. Confirm the action in the window that appears.

Once disabled, the app will disappear from the menu, but will remain in the system, and it can be activated again through the same settings section.

⚠️ Note: Do not disable Google Play Services and Google Services Framework through the standard menu, as this may cause other applications to crash.

Method 2: Remove updates and reset to factory version

Many Google apps can’t be removed completely, but you can return them to the factory version by removing all updates, which will reduce space and background activity, and works for most services except mission-critical ones like Google Play Services.

How to do this:

1. Go to Settings → Apps → select the desired app (like Google Chrome or Google Maps).
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → Remove updates.
3. Confirm the action. The app will return to the version that was preinstalled on the smartphone.

After that, you can further disable automatic update:

1. Open Play Store → Click on the profile avatar → Settings.
2. Select Auto-Update Applications → Never.

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If after removing updates, the application continues to take up a lot of space, clear its cache in the settings (Settings → Apps → Storage → Clear the cache).

Method 3: Disconnect via ADB (without root rights)

For power users, there is a method to completely remove unnecessary Google apps using ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which does not require root rights, but requires connecting the smartphone to the computer, the advantage is the ability to remove even those programs that cannot be deactivated through settings.

What you need:

• 🖥️ A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB.
• 📱 Xiaomi smartphone with enabled debugging USB.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on Developer Mode on your smartphone: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on the MIUI Version until you become a developer notification appears.

USB debugging

• Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
• Turn on the debugging switch over USB.
• Connect your smartphone to your computer and confirm the debugging permission.
• Open the command prompt (CMD on Windows or Terminal on macOS/Linux) and type:

adb devices

(Your device should be displayed.)

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

(This command removes Gmail for the current user. Replace com.google.android.gm with the desired application package.)

List of packages of popular Google applications:

• 📧 Gmail: com.google.android.gm
• 🌐 Google Chrome: com.android.chrome
• 🎵 YouTube: com.google.android.youtube
• 🗺️ Google Maps: com.google.android.apps.maps
• 🤖 Google Assistant: com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox

⚠️ Attention: Do not remove through ADB the following packages, if not sure of the consequences: com.google.android.gms (Google Play Services) com.google.android.gsf (Google Services Framework) com.android.vending (Play Store) Their removal may lead to the inoperability of the smartphone!

Method 4: Using Magisk (for advanced users)

If you’re ready to get root rights, Magisk can remove any system applications, including Google Play Services, which is suitable for power users, as it requires unlocking the bootloader and installing a customized Recovery (TWRP).

Advantages:

• ✅ Complete removal of unnecessary applications.
• ✅ The ability to get it back (through backup).
• ✅ Flexible system setup.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Risk of "bricking" of the device in case of errors.
• ❌ Loss of warranty on most Xiaomi models).
• ❌ Possible problems with banking applications (due to SafetyNet).

Instructions:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (requires a wait of 7-14 days for new accounts).
2. Install TWRP for your Xiaomi model.
3. Sweep Magisk through the Recovery.
4. Install the System App Remover module (available in the Magisk repository).
5. Select the applications to remove and restart the device.

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Use Magisk only if you understand the risks! For most tasks, there are enough root-free ways (ADB or standard shutdown).

Method 5: Alternative firmware (without Google services)

If you want to get rid of Google services completely, you can install custom firmware without GApps (Google Apps).

• 📱 LineageOS (official or unofficial build without GApps).
• 🛡️ GrapheneOS (focus on privacy, but supports a limited list of devices).
• 🔧 Havoc-OS or Pixel Experience (with Google-free version option).

Advantages:

• ✅ Full control of the system.
• ✅ Lack of background activity of Google.
• ✅ The ability to use alternative services (e.g. MicroG instead of Google Play Services).

How to determine:

1. Unlock the bootloader (as in the way with Magisk).
2. Install TWRP or another custom recaveri.
3. Download firmware without GApps for your Xiaomi model (for example, from the XDA Developers forum or 4PDA).
4. Flush the firmware through the Recovery by running the Wipe partitions System, Data, Cache.

⚠️ Attention: Installing custom firmware erases all data on the device! pre-restore through TWRP Also note that some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro or Mi Cloud). POCO F3) have anti-Rollback protection, which can lock the device when rolling back to the old version MIUI.

What to do if you have problems after disabling Google apps

If you have encountered errors after deactivating Google services, follow these recommendations:

If the problems are serious (such as a bootloop or a persistent crash), try:

1. Log in to Fastboot (press Power + Volume down when turned on) and reflash the device via the Mi Flash Tool.
2. Install the official firmware through TWRP (if the Recovery are installed).
3. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center (if warranty is valid).

FAQ: Frequent questions about disabling Google apps on Xiaomi