Modern smartphones, including the popular Redmi 9 model, come with a pre-installed suite of software that can’t be easily erased by standard methods. Users often find Google Chrome taking up space, consuming resources in the background or simply disliked visually. Unfortunately, the standard Android operating system with a MIUI shell does not give a “Delete” button for system components, which this browser also includes.
There are several proven ways to get around this limitation, however: You can either turn the app off completely, keeping it out of sight and stopping all processes, or use more advanced tools for forced removal. In this article, we will go into detail on both options, focusing on data security and the stability of your Xiaomi device.
Before you take any drastic action, you need to understand the difference between deactivation and complete erasure. Shutdown is safe and reversible at any time, whereas deactivation requires the use of a computer and special commands. The method depends on your goals: whether you need to free up a couple of megabytes or you want to completely clear the system of Google products.
Why you can’t just delete your browser in the standard way
The Android operating system architecture is designed to label certain applications as system-based. This is done to provide basic functionality to the device. Google Chrome is often the default browser through which other apps open web pages. If you just delete an executable file, the system can start to issue errors when you try to click links from messengers or social networks.
Xiaomi’s MIUI shell further protects the system partition from user changes, preventing accidental removal of critical components that could lead to a “brick” – a state where the phone stops turning on.
⚠️ Warning: Forced removal of system components without backing up can cause the interface to function unstable.Make sure you have an alternative browser before removing the main browser.
Google Play services are also closely integrated with Chrome, and some account features, password synchronization, and history may depend on the presence of the browser’s underlying files, and complete deletion requires caution to avoid disrupting the dependency chain.
Disconnection method: a safe alternative to removal
The most reliable way to get rid of an intrusive application on Redmi 9 is to shut it down completely, in which case the code stays on the disk, but the system stops running, updating and showing it in the menu, in fact, the application turns into a “dead load” that does not consume RAM and does not consume battery power.
To do this, you don't need a computer or complex settings. You just go to the settings menu of your smartphone. You find the section that manages installed programs, and you select Google Chrome. In the window that opens, you will see a button that allows you to hide the application.
Once you click the "Disable" button, the system will alert you that the app will be removed from the list and will stop updating.This action is safe and reversible. If you need Chrome again in the future, you can activate it back in the same settings menu.
- 🔍 Open the settings on your Redmi 9.
- 📱 Go to the Appendix section → All applications.
- 🌐 Find it in the Chrome list and tap it.
- 🚫 Click the Disable or Turn Off button at the bottom of the screen.
It is important to note that once disabled, the browser icon will disappear from the desktop and menu, and all accumulated data, cache and cookies will be frozen, ideal for those who prefer to use Firefox, Opera or the built-in MIUI browser.
Preparing for complete removal through ADB
If you are determined to completely erase Google Chrome from the device’s memory, you will have to use debugging tools. ADB (Android Debug Bridge: This method requires a computer (Windows, macOS or Linux) and USB-Before the start of work, you need to prepare the smartphone Xiaomi Redmi 9.
The first step is to activate the hidden menu for developers, which is hidden by default so that inexperienced users don't accidentally change important settings in the system, and you have to click on the build number several times to unlock access to the advanced settings.
Settings → About phone → 7 times press on "Version MIUI"
When you see the "You're a developer," go back to the main settings menu. → For developers, you need to include two parameters here: Debugging by USB and, in some versions, MIUI, Debugging by USB (Security settings. The last item requires insertion SIM-maps and confirmations through SMS.
Why do you need USB debugging?
Debugging by USB It allows the computer to have full access to the file system and to manage applications on the smartphone, a powerful tool for developers that is also used to thoroughly clean the system of pre-installed debris. Without enabling this feature, the computer “sees” the phone only as a storage device or media source.> Also make sure that your computer has Xiaomi device drivers and Platform Tools. Without these components, there will be no communication between your PC and phone, and no commands will be executed. After connecting the smartphone to the computer and confirming the debugging request (a pop-up window will appear on the phone screen where you need to click “Allow”), you can proceed to the practical part. Open the command line or terminal in the folder with installed ADB. First, check the connection by entering the command adb devices. If a device with a serial number and device status appears on the list, then the connection is successfully established. Now you need to know the exact name of the package that is responsible for the browser. For Chrome, this is usually com.android.chrome. To remove the application, the uninstall command is used. It is important to understand that we do not physically delete files from the recovery partition, but delete the application for the current user (user 0). This makes the process safe, since the source package remains in the system partition and can be restored by resetting. The command Action Result adb shell pm list packages Recovery of the browser name adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.chrome Removal for the current user Browser disappears from the system adb shell cmd package install-existing com.android.chrome Recovery of the remote browser packet to the system Removal command delete by substituting the correct packet name. If everything goes well, the terminal will appear Success. On the screen of your Redmi 9 browser icon should disappear instantly. If you need to remove the browser from the browser standard Chrome Services, you will be careful to remove the other components from the browser, after you delete the browser, after you are removed from the browser, or the browser, the browser will be removed from Google Player's browser. The mobile browser market is huge, and for Xiaomi owners there are great options that can run even faster and more economical than heavyweight Chrome.Many users opt for browsers with built-in ad blocking, which greatly speeds up page loading and saves traffic. This is especially true for mid-range models like the Redmi 9, where CPU resources are not unlimited. 🦊 Mozilla Firefox is a great choice for those who value privacy and extension support. ⚡ Via Browser – an ultra-lightweight browser that takes up less than 2 MB of space, perfect for weak devices. 🛡️ Brave – a browser with aggressive built-in protection against trackers and advertising. 🌐 MIUI Browser is an integrated solution that is already optimized for your system. Remember to designate it as the default app after you install your new browser. To do this, go to the Settings. → Annexes → Settings (three points in the corner) → Select a new browser in the list so that links from other programs open in it. Possible problems and their solution In the process of manipulating system applications, unexpected situations may arise. For example, after deleting Chrome, some applications may stop opening links, giving an error "No application is found to perform the action." This is solved by installing and assigning a new browser by default, as described above. ADB It can be a failure error. [DELETE_FAILED_INTERNAL_ERROR]. This may mean that the application is actively used by the system or has device administrator rights. Check the security settings and revoke the browser administrator rights before deleting. ⚠️ Warning: If after removing system components, the phone starts to behave incorrectly (cyclic reboot, black screen), perform a full reset (Wipe Data) through the Recovery menu. It is also worth considering that after a complete reset (Hard Reset) all remote ADB You will have to repeat the deletion procedure again if you have not backed up your settings or use special scripts to automate. FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions: Can I Uninstall Google Chrome Without a Computer? Completely Uninstall the System App without using PCs and commands ADB It's impossible. Standard means. MIUI You can only turn off the browser, which hides it and stops the processes, but the file will remain in memory? If you used the ADB (uninstall --user 0) method, when you upgrade your firmware or reset to factory-based settings, Google Chrome will likely return to the system, since its installation package is stored in a secure partition. Is it safe to delete Chrome for banking applications? Yes, banking applications are not dependent on the Chrome browser. They use their own secure modules or WebView system. However, make sure that the Android System WebView component is updated and works correctly. How much space will be freed after removal? The installation package itself takes a little, about 50-100 MB, but the bulk will be freed by deleting the user data, which can be updated with a few colors.