How to Remove Google Maps from Xiaomi Phone: Step-by-step Instructions

Google Maps is pre-installed on most Xiaomi smartphones and often runs in the background, consuming battery power, traffic and taking up space in memory. Many users want to remove it - whether due to privacy, resource savings or preference for alternative navigators like Yandex.Maps or 2GIS. However, standard deletion through the application menu is often not available: the system gives an error or simply hides the icon, leaving the service active.

In this article, we’ll break down 5 working ways to remove Google Maps from Xiaomi (including models on the site). MIUI 12-15 and HyperOS), and we will also tell you how to disable automatic recovery of the application and what consequences it can have. Instructions will be suitable for both unrooted devices and phones with root rights, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13 and others.

Why Google Maps Cannot Be Deleted in the Standard Way

The Google Maps app on Xiaomi is a system service (or bloatwer) that the manufacturer integrates into firmware.

• 🔹 The annex is set out in the section /system, Not in the user's memory (/data).
• 🔹 It is protected from removal without root rights or special tools.
• 🔹 Even after "deleting" through Settings → The app is restored with the next Google Play update.
• 🔹 Certain functions MIUI (For example, geolocation in the camera or weather may depend on Google services.

Xiaomi also often enters into agreements with Google to pre-install their services, so removing them completely may violate the license terms, but in practice, this does not lead to a locking of the device, only to the loss of functionality (for example, Google Pay or Find My Device).

⚠️ Note: On HyperOS devices (e.g. Xiaomi 14 or Redmi) K70) Some methods may not work due to the changed system architecture. Before removing, check the firmware version in Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI.

Method 1: Disable Google Maps without deletion (for non-rooted devices)

If you don’t have to completely erase the app, just stop it and hide the icon, use this method. It does not require root rights and is suitable for most Xiaomi models:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search bar, enter Maps and select Google Maps.
3. Click Disable (if the button is inactive, click Stop first).
4. Confirm the action in the window that appears.
5. Return to the main app menu – the Google Maps icon will disappear.

This method does not physically remove the application, but prevents it from starting and saves up to 15-20% of the battery that was previously spent on background activity.

Check the MIUI version in the settings

Close all background applications

Connect your phone to Wi-Fi (for stability)

Make a backup copy of important data-->

Method 2: Removal via ADB (without root rights)

The Android Debug Bridge (ADB) tool allows you to uninstall system applications without obtaining superuser rights, a method that works for all Xiaomi bootloaders.

First, turn on the USB debugging:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Press the MIUI version 7 times to activate the developer mode.
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
4. Activate Debugging via USB and confirm the resolution.

Now connect your phone to your PC and execute the commands:

adb shell


pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.apps.maps

If the team doesn’t work, try an alternative:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.apps.maps

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI Maps can recover after rebooting Google Maps. To avoid this, immediately turn off the automatic update in Google Play after completing the commands (see Method 4).

💡

If ADB does not recognize the device, install Mi PC Suite drivers or use Google USB Driver universal drivers.

Method 3: Complete removal with root rights

If your Xiaomi has root rights (for example, after installing Magisk or SuperSU), you can delete Google Maps permanently, and any root-enabled file manager, such as Root Explorer or FX File Explorer, will do.

Instructions:

1. Open the file manager and go to /system/priv-app/PrebuiltGmsCore or /system/app/Maps.
2. Find files with names: Maps.apk Maps.odex (if any) Lib folder with dependencies

Maps.apk.bak

Reset the device.

Alternatively, you can use the command in the terminal:

su


mount -o rw,remount /system




rm -rf /system/priv-app/PrebuiltGmsCore/Maps*




reboot

After that, Google Maps will be deleted without the possibility of recovery through Google Play. However, please note that some features (such as geolocation in Google Photos) may stop working.

Method 4: Disabling Automatic Update

Even after Google has been deleted, Maps may return after the Google Play Services update. To avoid this, turn off the automatic update for this app:

1. Open the Google Play Store.
2. Find Google Maps in your search.
3. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and uncheck the checkmark with Auto Update.
4. Choose Not Update.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When deleting Google Maps, users often face problems, and consider common mistakes and their solutions:

1. Error "Cannot delete the package" when using ADB: 🔹 Reason: Application protected by flag PRIVILEGED. 🔹 Solution: Use the command adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.apps.maps with root rights.
2. Google Maps Recovered After Rebooting: 🔹 Reason: Automatic update enabled in Google Play. 🔹 Solution: Disable Auto Update (see Method 4) or remove Google Play services completely (risky!).
3. Other apps (YouTube, Gmail) have stopped working): 🔹 Reason: Google Mobile Services Critical Dependencies Removed (GMS). 🔹 Solution: Restore GMS Core through TWRP or re-flash the device.
4. Geolocation in the camera or weather does not work: 🔹 Reason: Some functions MIUI Depends on Google Location Services. 🔹 Solution: Install an alternative geolocation service, such as MicroG.

⚠️ Note: On HyperOS devices (e.g. Xiaomi 14), removing system applications can cause Mi Account to crash and account lock. Before experimenting, back up via Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

FAQ: Frequent questions