Xiaomi MIUI-based smartphones come with Google services pre-installed, from Google Play Services to Google Play Store. For many users, this is convenient, but some want to get rid of them for reasons of privacy, battery saving or using alternative ecosystems (such as Huawei AppGallery or Aurora Store). In this article, we will discuss all the working ways to remove GMS (Google Mobile Services) from Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices, including hidden nuances and risks.
Itโs important to understand that completely removing Google services can disrupt some applications (such as YouTube, Gmail or Google Account-authorized games). However, for most tasks, there are alternatives โ from MicroG (a lightweight analog of GMS) to manually installing APK. We will look at methods of varying complexity, from simple disabling through settings to deep cleaning through ADB and custom firmware.
Why users are removing Google services from Xiaomi
The main reasons for uninstallation of GMS are related to performance, security and ideology:
- ๐ Battery savings: Google Play Services consumes up to 10-15% It's a very powerful charge in the background, even if you don't use Google. On the budget Redmi, it's especially noticeable.
- ๐ก๏ธ Privacy: Google collects data about location, app activity, and even your travel history โ even if youโve turned off geolocation.
- โก System Acceleration: On weak chipsets (e.g. Snapdragon) 4xx or Helio Gxx) background processes GMS slow down.
- ๐ Using alternative ecosystems: For example, in China, Xiaomi smartphones are sold without a smartphone GMS, Many users prefer this option.
But there is a downside: without Google services, the following will stop working:
- ๐ฎ Games with authorization through Google Play Games (e.g. Genshin Impact or Google Play Games) PUBG Mobile).
- ๐ฑ Apps dependent on Google Play Services (e.g. Google Maps, Uber, or banking apps with push notifications).
- ๐ Automatic updates of applications through the Play Store.
โ ๏ธ Note: Some Xiaomi models (such as Mi 11 Ultra or Xiaomi 13 Pro) have a complete removal GMS This can cause a loss of camera functionality (due to a Google Camera dependency). API). Before cleaning, check the compatibility of your model!
Method 1: Disabling Google Services without Deletion (for beginners)
If you donโt need to completely remove GMS, but stop them, use the built-in MIUI tools:
- Go to Settings โ Applications โ Application Management.
- In the search bar, type in Google Play Services and select the app.
- Click Disable (if the button is inactive, click Stop first).
- Repeat the steps for Google Play Store, Google Account Manager and Google Services Framework.
This method doesn't delete files, it only pauses them until they're restarted, and once they're rebooted, the services can be activated again, to avoid this:
- ๐ Install AppOps (requires) ADB) Block Auto-Run for Google Services.
- ๐ต Use Greenify (with root rights) to freeze background processes.
โ ๏ธ Attention: On Xiaomi with MIUI 14+ Disabling Google Play Services may cause errors in system notifications (for example, skipping push messages from instant messengers.
โ๏ธ Preparation for shutdown GMS
Method 2: Removal via ADB (without root)
A more radical way is to uninstall Google services via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which does not require root rights, but removes system applications irrevocably (it will require firmware re-flashing to restore).
What you need:
- ๐ฅ๏ธ Computer with installed ADB Tools.
- ๐ฑ Included Debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) โ The phone. โ Version. MIUI โ 7 times press to unlock the developer mode, then Settings โ Additionally. โ For developers โ Debugging by USB).
- ๐ USB-Type C Cable (original to avoid connection issues).
Step-by-step:
- Connect your smartphone to your PC and open the command line (Win + R โ cmd).
- Check the connection command: Adb devices should appear the name of your device.
- Run the command to delete Google Play Services: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.google.android.gms
- Remove the remaining components (one by one): adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.google.android.gsf adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.android.vending adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.google.android.gms.persistent
Google services will disappear from the system after the reboot. However, on some Xiaomi models (such as the POCO F5 or Redmi Note 12), this can lead to a reboot cycle - check compatibility in advance!
| The Google component | ADB Team Team | Effects of removal |
|---|---|---|
| Google Play Services | pm uninstall --user 0 com.google.android.gms | Loss of push notifications, errors in games |
| Google Services Framework | pm uninstall --user 0 com.google.android.gsf | Impossibility to log in to a Google account |
| Google Play Store | pm uninstall --user 0 com.android.vending | No automatic updates to applications |
| Google Account Manager | pm uninstall --user 0 com.google.android.gsf.login | Mistakes in Contact and Calendar Synchronization |
๐ก
Before deleting via ADB, take a screenshot of the list of installed Google packages with the adb shell pm list packages | grep google command to help restore them if necessary.
Method 3: Install custom firmware without GMS
The most reliable way to get rid of Google services is to reflash the device on custom firmware without GMS.
- ๐ฑ LineageOS (official builds without any official builds) GMS Or with an optional MicroG installation).
- ๐ Pixel Experience (no versions available) GMS).
- ๐ Havoc-OS or CrDroid (flexible component configuration).
- ๐จ๐ณ MIUI China ROM (Official firmware for China without Google services).
The firmware process includes:
- Unlock the bootloader (fastboot oem unlock).
- Installation of custom recavery (TWRP or OrangeFox).
- Formatting the system, data and vendor sections.
- Installation of ZIP-archive with firmware.
Advantages of the method:
- โ The complete absence of Google services out of the box".
- โ Option to choose alternatives (MicroG for push notifications).
- โ Updates via community (e.g. LineageOS Updates).
โ ๏ธ Note: On new Xiaomi models (e.g. Xiaomi) 14 or Redmi K70) Unlocking the bootloader can lead to loss of Widevine L1 (no HD into Netflix/Disney+). Check compatibility on the forum XDA Developers!
How to return Widevine L1 after firmware?
Method 4: Using MicroG as an Alternative to GMS
If you need push notifications and geolocation, but without full Google services, install MicroG, a lightweight open-source analogue of GMS.
- ๐ Geolocation via Mozilla Location Service or Dรฉjร Vu.
- ๐ Push notifications (compatible with Signal, Telegram, WhatsApp).
- ๐ Authorization in some applications (e.g. OSMAnd for navigation).
How to install MicroG:
- Download the latest version from the official website.
- Install. APK-Manual files (requires permission to install from unknown sources).
- Enable MicroG Settings and set up: ๐ Self-Check (Compatibility Checking). ๐ก UnifiedNlp (alternative to Google Location Services). ๐ Google Cloud Messaging (for push notifications).
MicroG's limitations:
- โ Does not work with Google Pay and some banking apps.
- โ No support for Google Play Games (games wonโt save progress in the cloud).
- โ Possible delays in push notifications (up to the next few days) 5-10 minute).
๐ก
MicroG is the best compromise for those who want to get rid of Google, but keep the basic functionality (notifications, geolocation).
Method 5: Manual removal via TWRP (for experienced)
If you already have customized recaps (TWRP) installed, you can manually delete Google service files from the /system partition, a method that is risky but gives you complete control.
Instructions:
- Download to TWRP (hold Power + Volume Up when enabled).
- Go to Advanced โ File Manager.
- Delete the folders: /system/priv-app/PrebuiltGmsCore/ /system/app/GmsCore/ /system/priv-app/GoogleServicesFramework/ /system/app/GoogleServicesFramework/
- Clean the cache (Wipe โ Dalvik / ART Cache).
- Reboot.
Warnings:
- ๐จ Deleting the wrong files can lead to bootloop (cyclical reboot).
- ๐ง On some firmware (for example, MIUI EU) Google services are integrated into system.img โ They cannot be removed without re-flashing.
How to restore the system after bootloop?
What to do after deleting Google services
After uninstallation of GMS, configure the device for comfortable operation:
- ๐ฅ Install an alternative app store: Aurora Store (anonymous access to the Play Store). F-Droid (open source). APKMirror (manual download). APK).
- ๐ Set up push notifications: MicroG is enough for Telegram and Signal. WhatsApp may need FcmProxy.
- OsmAnd (Offline maps based on OpenStreetMap)
- Magic Earth (similar to Google Maps with navigation)
- โ๏ธ Move your contacts and calendar to DAVxโต (Synchronization with Nextcloud or OwnCloud).
Problems you may face:
- ๐ต YouTube: Will not work in the background without Vanced or ReVanced.
- ๐ณ Banking applications: Can block the entrance due to the lack of Google SafetyNet.Solution - Magisk with Universal SafetyNet Fix module.
- ๐ฎ Games: Authorization through Google Play Games will become impossible (use Facebook or email account).