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

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face intrusive system applications of Google, in particular the Chrome browser. the standard operating system MIUI or HyperOS rigidly integrates the services of the American corporation, and completely remove them in the usual way through the settings menu is not possible. the “Delete” button in the application manager is usually absent or replaced with “Disable”, which only hides the icon, but leaves files in the memory of the device.

But there are proven methods to not just hide, but actually deactivate the browser, which may be necessary to free RAM, improve autonomy or for digital hygiene purposes, when the user prefers alternative browsers. In this article, we will look at all the options available, from simple disconnection through settings to deep cleaning the system with the help of a computer.

Before you start taking action, it is important to understand the difference between normal deactivation and complete deletion of packets. If you just click a button on the menu, the application will stop running, but its residual files will continue to take up space. ADB-commands that allow you to interfere with the system partition of Android without superuser rights (Root).

Why users want to remove the standard browser

The main reason that enthusiasts and ordinary users are looking for a way to turn off Chrome on Xiaomi is because of resource consumption. Google’s browser is known for its gluttony: it actively uses background processes, geolocation and synchronization, even when you are not using it. On budget models of smartphones with a small amount of RAM, this can lead to noticeable slowdowns in the interface.

And there are also some who are annoyed by the aggressive integration policies: Android often considers Chrome the default browser and insists on opening links in it, ignoring the alternatives you have set, which in some cases leads to conflicts, when you try to open a document or click on a link from the messenger, you start a heavy process that takes a long time to load.

Another important aspect is privacy: While Google has high security standards, collecting telemetry and user habits through the browser remains a matter of controversy: By disabling the system app, you break one of the channels for collecting information about your movements and search queries within the Xiaomi ecosystem.

Disconnection method through standard MIUI settings

The safest and easiest way for every smartphone owner to use is to use the built-in shell functionality, which requires no connection to a computer and does not pose a risk of system damage, but it only freezes the application, putting it into sleep mode, but does not physically remove it.

To perform the procedure, you need to go to the Settings menu of your device. Next, you should find the App section and select All Apps. In the list that opens, you need to find Chrome (often marked with the Google logo). Once you log in to the app menu, you will see the “Disable” or “Stop” button, clicking on it will cause the icon to disappear from the desktop and the background processes will stop working.

It's important to note that after this procedure, the browser will still be in the System Applications section, and if you decide to return it, you'll just have to go back to the settings and click "Enable," which is ideal for those who are afraid of experimenting with the code but want to temporarily remove the interference element.

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After disconnecting through the settings, it is recommended to restart the smartphone to make sure that all the browser's background services are actually stopped and do not consume battery power.

Preparing for removal via ADB: necessary tools

A deeper intervention that effectively equates to removal would require the use of an Android debugging bridge (ADB), a standard developer tool that allows you to control your smartphone system from a computer, which is safe if you follow the instructions and does not require you to obtain Root rights, which preserves the device’s warranty.

First of all, you need to activate the developer mode on your Xiaomi. To do this, go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click 7 times on the MIUI Version (or OS Version). After the message “You became a developer”, you can go to debugging settings.

You will need to download the Platform Tools package from Google’s official website, a set of utilities that includes ADB and Fastboot. Unpack the archive into a convenient folder, such as the root of the C drive. Also make sure that the smartphone has the current ADB drivers installed, although modern versions of Windows 10 and 11 often install them automatically when you connect the cable.

Step-by-step instructions for deactivation through the command line

After preparing all the tools, connect the smartphone with the computer through a high-quality USB-The phone screen will be asking for permission to debug. USB — Make sure to check the "Always Allow" box and click "OK." Now you can move on to the command line.

Open the platform tool folder, press Shift and right-click on the empty space, selecting "Open PowerShell window here" or "Open terminal." Enter adb devices. If a device with a serial number appears on the list, the connection is established correctly.

Now you have to type in a command to delete the packet. For Google Chrome, it looks like this:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.chrome

Once you enter the command and click Enter, the system will give you a message, "Success," which means that the packet has been deleted for the current user (user 0), the icon will disappear, the application will stop updating and occupy space in the user partition. It is important to understand that physically the files remain in the system partition, but they become inaccessible and inactive.

⚠️ Note: When typing commands, be extremely attentive to the syntax. A mistake in the package name can lead to the removal of critical system components, which will cause unstable operation of the Xiaomi interface.

Restore the browser after deletion

Many users worry that once they have been radically removed through ADB, it will be impossible to return the application back, which is not true. Because we didn't erase files from the system partition, but only delete them for the current profile, it takes a few seconds to recover and doesn't require a flashing.

To return the functionality, you need to reconnect the phone to the computer in debugging mode and enter the reinstal package command.

adb shell cmd package install-existing com.android.chrome

An alternative, simpler way is to reset the smartphone completely to the factory state (Hard Reset), in which all user changes, including hidden packages, will be reset, and system applications will return to their original state, as when buying a device.

Comparison of methods of deactivation of system applications

The choice of method depends on your goals and level of technical training. For the average user who just wants to clean the desktop, standard settings are enough. For advanced users who want to maximize optimization, the method with ADB will suit.

The table below compares the main characteristics of different methods of influencing system applications in the Android/Xiaomi environment:

It is worth mentioning the existence of the Shizuku utility, which allows you to run ADB-commands directly from your phone without a computer using wireless debugging.This is a modern and convenient way to manage packages, which is gaining popularity among Xiaomi owners.

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Use of the ADB-Teams are the middle ground between the security of standard settings and the radicality of obtaining Root rights.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)