How to Uninstall Google Chrome with Xiaomi Redmi 7: 5 Verified Ways

Google Chrome is preinstalled on most Xiaomi smartphones, including Redmi 7, and often works as a system app. This means that simply clicking “Delete” in the app menu may not work — instead, the system will only suggest “Disable” or “Delete Updates.” But what if the browser takes up space, slows down the device, or you just don’t need duplicate functionality?

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible ways to remove Chrome from Redmi 7, from standard methods through the settings of pre-advanced solutions using ADB and manual file deletion. We’ll focus on the nuances of MIUI firmware (including versions 12, 13 and 14), where the process may differ from “pure” Android.

Before you start, consider: removing system applications can affect the stability of the smartphone. If you are not sure about your actions, use alternative methods (disabling or hiding the icon).

Why Google Chrome can’t be removed in the standard way

On Redmi 7, Chrome is included in Google Mobile Services (GMS), a set of services that many apps (including Play Market) won’t work without, which is why it protects it from being completely deleted:

• 🔹 System Status: Chrome Integrated into Firmware MIUI It's a part of the shell, and its files are stored in a partition. /system/priv-app/, Protected from change without root rights.
• 🔄 Automatic Recovery: Even if removed APK-manual file, after restarting or updating the system, the browser can return.
• 📦 Dependencies: Some functions MIUI (For example, sync with a Google account using Chrome components.

There are workarounds, however, for example, Redmi 7 with MIUI 12 and later can disable browser updates, which reduces its weight from ~200 MB to ~50 MB. And if you have root access, you can completely delete it without consequences.

⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI Google Play Protection (scanning apps for viruses) may stop working after Chrome is deleted. Before you take action, check if this feature is critical for you.

Method 1: Disable Chrome through Android Settings

The safest method is not to delete the browser, but to disable it and hide the icon. This will not free up space on the disk, but will prevent background activity and updates:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search bar, type “Chrome” and select the app.
3. Click “Disable” (if the button is inactive, first click “Delete Updates”).
4. Confirm the action in the dialog window.

Once disabled, the Chrome icon will disappear from the menu, and the com.android.chrome process will no longer consume resources, but the browser files will remain on the system, to hide them from the list of applications:

• 📌 Use a launcher with support for hiding icons (for example, Nova Launcher).
• 🔍 B Settings → Apps turn on the “Show System” filter and manually hide Chrome.

Method 2: Remove updates and reset to factory version

If Chrome has been updated through the Play Market, you can roll it back to a smaller version that takes up less space.

1. Go to Settings → Apps → Google Chrome.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select “Delete Updates”.
3. Confirm action. The browser version will reset to the factory (usually Chrome 7x-8x, depending on the version of MIUI).

To prevent automatic updates in the future:

• 🛑 Open Play Market, search for Chrome and click on three dots → «Cancel the update».
• 🔧 In Play Market Settings, turn off auto-update for Chrome: Settings → Auto-update of applications → Do not update Chrome.

⚠️ Attention: Redmi 7s MIUI 13+ After removing updates, Chrome may stop opening links from other apps (such as Telegram).In this case, install an alternative browser (such as Firefox) and assign it to the default browser.

Method 3: Removal via ADB (without root rights)

If you don’t have enough shutdowns, you can delete Chrome via Android Debug Bridge (ADB) — This is a tool for debugging Android devices, which doesn't require root rights, but it requires a computer and a computer. USB-cable.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on USB debugging: Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and press 7 times to activate Developer Mode. Return to Settings → Additional → For Developers and turn on “Debugging by USB”.

Connect your smartphone to your PC

Download ADB

Platform Tools

Open the command line.

adb devices

(Your device should be displayed)

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

Once the command is executed, Chrome will be removed for the current user (not systemically), and to return it, you just need to update it through the Play Market or execute the command:

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

Method 4: Complete removal with root rights

If you have root access (for example, through Magisk), you can delete Chrome permanently, including system files.

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or FX File Explorer).
2. Go to /system/priv-app/Chrome/ (the path may vary depending on the version of MIUI).
3. Delete files: Chrome.apk is the main file of the application. Chrome.odex (if any) is optimized code. Lib folder (contains libraries).

Reset the device.

To prevent Chrome from recovering from the MIUI update:

• 🔧 Remove the package from the list of system applications using Titanium Backup or similar tool.
• 📝 Edit the file. /system/etc/permissions/privapp-permissions-miui.xml, Delete Chrome-related lines (requires knowledge) XML).

⚠️ Note: Deleting system files can lead to bootloop (locked boot) or work errors MIUI. Before the action, make a backup copy through TWRP or other custom recovery.

💡

If after deleting Chrome, links from apps stopped opening, assign the browser by default manually: Settings → Applications → By default → Browser

Method 5: Block Chrome through Hosts (for experienced)

If deletion is not possible but you want to block Chrome’s access to the internet (for example, to save traffic), you can edit the hosts file.

Instructions:

1. Get root access or use ADB (adb pull /system/etc/hosts command for backup).
2. Open /system/etc/hosts in a text editor (e.g., via Root Explorer).
3. Add the lines: 127.0.0.1 www.google.com.chrome 127.0.0.1 clients4.google.com
4. Save the file and restart the device.

Chrome will no longer be able to connect to Google’s servers, but will remain on the system, a method that is useful if you want to limit your browser’s background activity without deleting it.

What to do if Chrome is back after resetting your settings

Many Redmi 7 users are faced with Chrome re-entering the system after a hard reset, which is because MIUI restores system applications from a backup in the /data partition.

How to prevent recovery:

• 🔄 Before reset, execute the command ADB: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.chrome (this will delete the browser for the current user even after the reset).
• 📱 Use custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience) where Chrome is not a system application.
• 🛡️ Install the Magisk Universal module GMS Doze, which blocks background activity of Google services, including Chrome.

💡

The only reliable way to get rid of Chrome on Redmi 7 is to install custom firmware without GMS or use Magisk to deeply modify the system.

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing Chrome from Xiaomi