How to remove Google Chrome on Xiaomi phone

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face intrusive pre-installed applications, among which the Google Chrome browser occupies a leading position. Despite being a powerful tool, it can consume significant RAM resources, interfere with the work of alternative browsers or simply annoy with its constant presence in system folders. Standard methods through the settings menu completely remove the system application, since Android blocks such actions to protect the integrity of the MIUI or HyperOS operating system.

However, there are proven ways to circumvent these limitations using debugging tools or special access rights. Complete removal requires care, as incorrect actions can lead to unstable interface operation. In this article, we will look at safe methods of uninstallation, ranging from simple disabling functions to deep cleaning of the system through the computer.

Before you start taking drastic measures, it is important to understand the difference between removing updates and completely erasing the package. If you just want to make room, often enough to clear the cache, but if the goal is to permanently get rid of the browser, deeper interventions will be required. User data can be lost, so synchronizing bookmarks in advance will not be superfluous.

Many users mistakenly believe that removing the system browser will hurt other applications that use web widgets. In practice, modern versions of Android are flexible enough to redirect requests to any browser you install, whether it is Firefox, Opera or Yandex.

Why you should consider removing Chrome from Xiaomi

The main reason why Xiaomi users are looking to remove Google Chrome lies in the optimization of the device. The browser from Google is known for its “appetite” to RAM, which on budget models with 4 GB of RAM or less can cause noticeable slowdowns in the interface.

In addition, MIUI already has its own browser, which, although it has its own features, is often better integrated into the system. Having two active browsers creates confusion: links from messengers can open in the wrong application that you use by default, this is especially true for those who are used to specific features of alternative solutions, such as built-in ad blockers or night mode.

⚠️ Note: Before removing system components, make sure you have an alternative browser installed, otherwise links from some applications may stop opening correctly.

Another aspect is privacy: Some users prefer to minimize the number of Google services on their device using alternative page rendering engines. Deleting Chrome is the first step to de-Googling a smartphone, allowing you to control what data is collected and transmitted in the background, which is especially important for devices that are used in a corporate environment or contain sensitive information.

Preparation of the smartphone for the removal procedure

The process of removing system applications is slow and requires pre-prepared device. The first step is to activate the developer mode, which is hidden by default in Xiaomi security settings. Without this step, the computer will not be able to obtain the necessary rights to manage application packages through the debugging bridge.

You'll need a USB cable, a serviceable port on your computer, and preferably the original wire that comes with your smartphone. Cheap "charging-only" cables don't transmit data, making it impossible to connect to a PC. It's also worth charging the device to at least 50% so that a sudden power outage doesn't interrupt the critical process of system modification.

Remember to back up important data, although direct deletion of the browser usually does not affect personal photos or contacts. However, if you decide to use more radical methods with super-user rights, the risk of data loss increases.

Disconnection method through standard settings

The safest, though not the most radical, way is to disable the app, in which case the browser file remains in the phone’s memory, but it stops running, updating and consuming CPU resources. To do this, go to the Settings menu, select the App section, and find All Apps in the list.

Search the alphabetical list of Chrome and click on it. In the menu that opens, you will have a button to turn off or off. The system will warn you that the application will stop working and disappear from the menu. Confirm the action. After that, the browser icon will disappear from the desktop and its processes will be frozen by the Android system.

This is ideal for those who are afraid of disrupting the system. If you need Chrome again after a while, you can always turn it back on through the same settings menu. However, it is worth remembering that the space occupied by the system file itself (about 200-300 MB) will not be released, only user data and cache will be deleted.

Complete removal via ADB and computer

To completely remove the Google Chrome system application from a Xiaomi device, you will need to use the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) tool, which is the official tool from Google, allowing you to control the device from a computer. First, you need to download the Platform-tools package from the official developer site and unpack it to the C disk for convenience.

Once you connect your phone to your PC in USB debugging mode, open the command line in the ADB tool folder. Enter the adb device command and confirm the debugging permission on your smartphone screen. If a device with device status appears on the list, the connection is successful. You can now proceed to uninstall the package.

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

Executing this command will instantly delete the browser for the current user (user 0). Only the factory version will remain in the system, which does not occupy space in the user section and does not update. To return the browser, you just need to execute the command adb shell cmd package install-existing com.android.chrome. This method is considered the “gold standard” for cleaning Xiaomi from excess software.

Use of specialized uninstallation applications

If you don't want to mess with the command line, there are applications that automate the process of working with ADB. One of the most popular and secure solutions is Universal Android Debloater or its mobile counterparts, such as System App Remover (requires root) or ADB AppControl (works through a PC), these programs have a graphical interface where system applications are marked with appropriate tags.

When using such utilities on Xiaomi, it is important to be careful with the labeling of applications. Some programs may mark important system components as “safe to remove”, which in the case of MIUI can lead to a cyclic reboot.Always check the name of the package: Chrome has an identifier com.android.chrome, and deleting other packages with a similar name can be dangerous.

⚠️ Note: Root-enabled uninstaller applications can remove critical system components, resulting in loss of warranty and possible software failure. Use them only if you know exactly what you are doing.

The advantage of specialized software is that it can create restore points, and before removing it, it will offer to back up the list of installed packages, and if you have problems, you can roll back all the changes in one click, which is especially useful for beginners who are first encountering an Android modification.

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Use the ADB AppControl app on your PC – it will automatically determine your Xiaomi model and tell you which system apps can be removed without risking your phone’s performance.

Possible problems and solutions

Unforeseen situations may occur during the deletion process. For example, after following the ADB command, the phone may start to behave strangely: stop opening links from WhatsApp or Telegram. This is solved by installing the new browser by default. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Three dots in the corner → Other settings → Applications by default and select your new browser.

Sometimes MIUI can aggressively restore remote applications after updating firmware or resetting settings, in which case the deletion procedure through ADB will have to be repeated, and a scenario where syncing of Google account in other services stops working after Chrome is deleted, in which case cleaning the data of Google Play Services will help.

If you accidentally delete your browser or the system starts to work unstable, don't panic. The easiest way to get it back to the factory settings is to reset it to the factory settings, but it will delete all your data. A more gentle method is to reconnect to the ADB and install the package, as described in the command line section, and the system will pull the necessary version from the hidden partition itself.

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Deleting Google Chrome via ADB is a safe and reversible procedure that frees up system resources without losing warranty and risk of smartphone breakdown.