How to turn off Google Phone on Xiaomi: the full guide

Modern Xiaomi smartphones running on global firmware versions often come pre-installed with Google’s service package, which includes a standard call app that many users find uncomfortable or are just used to the MIUI Dialer interface. There is a natural desire to replace a standard call with a more functional counterpart or simply return the native interface.

The process of disabling a system application has its nuances, as Google Phone is an important part of the Android ecosystem. Wrong actions can lead to loss of call history or problems with determining a number. However, if you act consistently and use proven methods, you can safely deactivate a standard call and install any other one.

In this article, we will take a look at all the available ways to replace and disable an application, how to prepare a device, what alternatives exist and what to do if the system blocks your actions, and we will look at both software methods through settings, and deeper ways to manage system components.

Why do users want to remove Google Phone?

The main reason Xiaomi owners are looking for a way to disable Google Dialer is because it works on devices certified for the European market, and a few years ago, the company introduced a mandatory feature to record conversations with voice alert, which for many was a critical inconvenience.

In addition, the application interface may seem too minimalistic or conversely overloaded with integrations that are not used daily. Some users prefer the classic MIUI design, which is more familiar and often contains more flexible settings for blocking spam and managing contacts within the same ecosystem.

⚠️ Warning: Completely removing the system application without an alternative call will make it impossible to make and receive calls. Make sure the new application is installed and configured before disabling the old one.

Privacy issues are also worth noting: While Google claims to be a high-security company, some users prefer to minimize the amount of data they transmit by choosing open-source analogs or local solutions to store their call history.

Preparing a smartphone before changes

Before making changes to system components, a number of preparatory steps must be taken to ensure that your data is safe and that you can quickly roll back changes in case of unforeseen errors, and first make sure you have a stable network connection.

The second important step is to back up your contacts, and even if they're synced to your account, you can always use an extra copy in.vcf format to export your contacts through the app's menu or through your Google Account sync settings.

The third thing is to install an alternative app, and you can't turn off the current call unless you have another default on the system, download the one you've selected from Play Market or GetApps, but don't open it yet.

Finally, check for administrative device rights. Certain security features may block attempts to disable system applications. Go to Settings → Passwords & Security → Privacy → Special access rights and make sure you have full control of the device.

Standard way to disable through settings

The safest and easiest method available to any user is to use an integrated application manager, which doesn’t require root rights or a computer connection, but it only freezes the application, not removes it completely.

To start, open your Xiaomi's settings menu. Go to the Apps section and go to All Apps. Find Phone (blue handset icon) in the list. Note that there may be two apps with a similar name: native from MIUI and from Google. We need the latter.

In the app information menu that opens, click the Remove Updates button, which will return the program to the factory version, which is often necessary to activate the full shutdown button. Once the process is complete, the button may change to Disable.

⚠️ Note: If the "Disable" button is inactive (gray), then the current version of the application is system and cannot be deactivated by standard methods. ADB-team.

After a successful shutdown, the system will automatically prompt you to select the default app for making calls. Select the previously installed alternative. Now Google Phone will no longer appear in the menu and consume resources in the background.

Using ADB for deep cleaning

For advanced users who have not been helped by standard methods, there is a way to force them to disable via the Android debugging bridge (ADB), which allows them to hide system applications for the current user, which is effectively equivalent to deleting, but retains the possibility of recovery.

You will need a computer (Windows, macOS or Linux) to work), USB-Xiaomi cable and installed drivers. On the smartphone, you need to activate the developer mode. To do this, seven times click on the build number in the About Phone section, then turn on Debugging by Debugging. USB developer menu.

Connect your phone to your PC and run the command line in the ADB tool folder. Enter a command to check the connection:

adb devices

You'll see a request for debugging permission on your smartphone screen, confirm it. If the console displays the serial number of the device, the connection is successful. You can now move on to deleting the packet.

The key command here is the third row of the table, which forcibly hides the com.google.android.dialer package for the main user, and once that command is executed, the call interface disappears, and the system will assume that the application is not installed.

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Save the list of commands in a text file on your computer so you don't re-enter them if you need to restore the system. A single letter error can cause the wrong component to be disabled.

Selection and Configuring of Alternative Calling

Once the default application is disabled, the question is how to replace it, and the market offers a variety of solutions, from lightweight postcards to powerful number detector harvesters, depending on your priorities: speed, design or functionality.

One popular option is Truecaller, which is famous for its extensive spam database, but it requires broad permissions and Internet access. Simple Dialer (or its forks) is a great option for minimalists, which requires no unnecessary permissions and works instantly.

Xiaomi owners may also consider returning to their hometown MIUI Dialer. for this, it is often enough to simply install a global firmware or find a compatible one. APK-The old version file, where the recording function worked without warning, is the only way to get a native recording of a conversation without third-party crutches on new versions of Android.

When setting up a new application, be sure to check the permissions. Make sure that the call you select has access to the microphone, contacts and phone. Without these permissions, it will not be able to work correctly, and the system will constantly give out errors when the call is in.

• 📞 Simple Dialer – Ideal for old devices, open source, no advertising.
• 🛡️ CallApp – a powerful number detector, but demanding on battery resources.
• 🎨 Right Dialer – Modern Material You Design, Support for Themes.
• 🤖 Foss Dialer is a completely free solution without trackers and analytics.

Possible problems and ways to solve them

Unforeseen complications can occur in the process of replacing system components, one of the common problems is “perpetual boot” or cyclical reboot if an application that other services consider critical is disabled, in which case downloading to safe mode will help.

To enter Safe Mode on Xiaomi, you usually need to press the off button and then hold your finger on the "Stop" item on the screen for a long time. In Safe Mode, only system applications load. If the phone is turned on, find the disabled application and turn it back on through the settings.

⚠️ Note: If the phone does not turn on even in safe mode, you will need to flash the device through the computer using the Mi Flash Tool utility and save data (the Clean All option without locking the bootloader).

Another problem is the lack of sound when talking or the inability to complete a call. This often happens when two installed calls conflict, when the system forgets which interface to display. The solution is one: completely delete one of them or clear the data of both through the Apps menu → Application Management → Phone → Memory → Clear everything.

Users may also find that after updating the MIUI or HyperOS system, the settings are reset, and Google Phone becomes active again, in which case the shutdown procedure will have to be repeated, or use more radical methods, such as freezing through Titanium Backup (requires Root).

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The most common mistake is trying to delete the call without first installing and configuring the alternative, resulting in loss of communication.