How to Disable or Remove Google Play Store on Xiaomi: All the Techniques Work

The Google Play Store is an integral part of the Android ecosystem, but many Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO users want to get rid of it, ranging from wanting to save battery power to having to use alternative app stores (like APKMirror or Aurora Store).

In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to disable or completely remove the Play Store on Xiaomi devices with MIUI 14/15 firmware (including global and Chinese versions). Importantly, some methods require root rights or ADB, others work without them. Choose the right option depending on your model (Xiaomi 13T, Redmi Note 12, POCO F5, etc.) and level of technical training.

Why you can’t just remove the Play Store as a regular app

The Play Store is part of Google Mobile Services (GMS), a set of system services deeply integrated into Android, and even if you see the Remove button in the app settings, it's actually only deactivating updates, not completely removing them.

• 📱 The icon disappears from the desktop, but the com.android.vending process remains active.
• 🔄 Automatic application updates continue to load (unless disabled separately).
• 📊 The service collects data about your activity to personalize advertising.
• 🔋 Consumes up 5-15% Battery charge per month (according to tests on Xiaomi) 12 Pro MIUI 14).

Moreover, on some models (POCO X5, Redmi 10C), an attempt to remove the Play Store through Settings → Apps leads to the error “You can’t delete the system application” This is due to Google’s policy of obliging manufacturers to leave GMS intact on certified devices.

Method 1: Deactivate Play Store without root (the safest method)

If you don’t have to completely remove a service, but stop it and hide the icon, this method is best suited. It doesn’t require root rights or ADB, but has a limitation: the Play Store can be activated again after the MIUI update.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search bar, type in “Play Market” and select the application.
3. Click “Disable” (if the button is inactive, first click “Stop”).
4. Confirm the action in the dialog window.
5. Return to the main settings menu and go to Settings → Desktop → Hide apps.
6. Check the “Play Market” box and save the changes.

After that:

• ✅ The icon will disappear from the desktop.
• ✅ Background processes com.android.vending will be stopped.
• ❌ But, next time you update. MIUI through OTA Play Store May Be Activated Again.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI for Russia (e.g. Redmi) 12C After deactivation of the Play Store, Google Pay and YouTube services may stop working.

Method 2: Remove updates and roll back to factory version

If the Play Store has been updated through itself, it can be rolled back to a factory version that takes up less space and has fewer background processes, a method that works on all Xiaomi devices, including the POCO M5 and Xiaomi 13 Lite.

1. Go to Settings. → Annexes → Play Market → Three points (⋮) → Remove updates.
2. Confirm the action. The app version will reset to the one it had when you bought the phone.
3. Return to the Play Store settings and click “Disable”.
4. To prevent automatic updates, open Settings → Apps → Google Play Services → Storage → Space Management → Delete all data.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔄 Returns the original version without any additional features.
• 📉 Reduces RAM consumption by 20-30 MB (tests on Redmi Note) 11 Pro+).
• 🔒 Blocks automatic update installation.

💡

If the Play Store continues to update after the rollback, block it in Settings → Special Opportunities → Special Opportunities Services → Play Store → Disable.

Method 3: Removal via ADB (no root, but requires a PC)

For users who are ready to connect the phone to a computer, there is a more radical method - deleting via Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which does not require root rights, but if you do not act correctly, it can lead to disruptions in other Google services.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times, then return to Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🛠️ Utility. ADB (download from the official website).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.
2. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB.
3. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
4. Run the command to remove Play Store: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.vending
5. Reboot the phone.

Result:

• ✅ Play Store will be completely removed for the current user.
• ✅ Google services (such as Gmail or Maps) will continue to work.
• ⚠️ When resetting the phone to the factory settings Play Store will return.

Method 4: Complete removal with root rights (for power users)

If your Xiaomi has root rights installed (for example, through Magisk), you can delete the Play Store forever, including all its system components. MIUI EU, PixelExperience or other custom builds.

Warning: Incorrect root actions can lead to bootloop or loss of functionality of other applications. It is recommended to backup Nandroid through TWRP before starting.

Instructions:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to /system/priv-app/ or /system/app/.
3. Find folders with names: Phonesky (the main application of the Play Store), PrebuiltGmsCore (the core of Google services), Google ServiceFramework.

.bak

Settings → Storage → Clean up

Reboot the phone.

After removal:

• ✅ Play Store will disappear from the system forever.
• ✅ Released before 150-200 MBT memory.
• ⚠️ Apps that depend on Google Play Services (e.g. Uber, Google Maps) will no longer work).
• ⚠️ Certain functions MIUI (For example, Cloud Sync can cause problems.

💡

If important applications stop working after deleting, restore deleted folders from the backup or reflash your phone through Fastboot.

Method 5: Use of alternative firmware (for enthusiasts)

The most radical way to get rid of the Play Store is to install firmware without Google services. There are several options for Xiaomi devices:

1. MIUI without GMS (e.g. MIUI China or MIUI EU without Google) are officially supported by Xiaomi, but require unlocking the bootloader.
2. Base-based castor firmware AOSP: 📱 LineageOS (minimalist Android without Google), 📱 PixelExperience (with optional options) GMS), 📱 Havoc-OS (flexible configuration).

MicroG firmware

CalyxOS

GrapheneOS

Installation process:

1. Unlock the bootloader through Mi Unlock Tool (requires a Xiaomi account binding and wait 7-14 days).
2. Install custom recovery (TWRP or OrangeFox).
3. Download the firmware from the official website (for example, LineageOS) and transfer it to the phone.
4. Flow through recovery by running Wipe → Format Data.

Solution: Use YouTube Vanced or NewPipe (does not require Google Services).