How to permanently remove Google Lens from Xiaomi Redmi phone: from blackout to deep cleaning

Google Lens is pre-installed on most Xiaomi Redmi smartphones and often runs in the background, consuming battery power and taking up space in memory. Many users find that the application cannot be removed in standard ways - the Remove button in the settings is inactive, and disabling through the app menu temporarily solves the problem. In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods for completely removing Google Lens from Redmi Note 10/11/12 devices, POCO X3/X4/X5 and other models on MIUI 12-14, including root-free and using ADB.

It is important to understand: Google Lens is integrated into the system services of Google Play and MIUI Camera, so removing it may affect the performance of certain features (e.g. scanning) QR-We will describe in detail the consequences of each method and provide alternative solutions for those who want to retain some functionality but get rid of the background activity of the application.

Why can’t Google Lens be removed in the standard way?

Google Lens is a default system application (or bloatware) installed by smartphone manufacturers, and is built into com.google.ar.lens on Xiaomi devices and protected from removal for several reasons:

• 🔗 Integration with MIUI Camera: Scanning objects through the camera (AI Scene Detection uses API Google Lens.Deleting the app could lead to errors in the standard camera app.
• 📦 Part of the Google Play Services package: Some Lens components are stitched into Google Play Services, which is responsible for most of Google’s apps (Gmail, Maps, YouTube).
• 🛡️ Protection against system failure: Xiaomi blocks removal of critical applications to avoid malfunctions MIUI (Especially on devices for the Chinese market, where Google Services are installed separately).

Even if you disable Google Lens through settings (Settings → Apps → App Management → Google Lens → Disable), it will automatically turn on when you update Google Play Services or after you reboot your phone. Additional tools will be required to remove it permanently.

⚠️ Note: Some Redmi models (e.g. Redmi) 9A/9C or POCO M3) The Google Lens app may be part of the com.miui.gallery package, and if it is removed, it will render the standard gallery inoperable. MIUI In Settings → The phone.

Method 1: Disable Google Lens without Deletion (for beginners)

If you do not need to completely remove the application, but just stop its background work and remove it from the menu, follow the following steps:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Google Lens (or Google Lens) in the list and tap it.
3. Click Disable (if the button is inactive, select Stop first).
4. Confirm the action in the window that appears.
5. Return to the main app menu and remove the Google Lens shortcut from your desktop (click the icon → Delete).

This method does not physically remove the application, but prevents it from automatically running. However, after updating Google Play Services or resetting the settings, Google Lens can be activated again.

• 🔧 Turn off Auto Update for Google Lens in Play Store → My profile. → Application and device management → Google lens → ⋮ → Turn off auto-update.
• 📵 Limit background activity: in the application settings, select Battery → Background restriction.

Method 2: Removal via ADB (without root rights)

The ADB (Android Debug Bridge) tool allows you to uninstall system applications without obtaining root permissions. This method works on most Xiaomi Redmi devices with an unlocked bootloader. If you have never used ADB, follow the instructions Step-by-step:

Enable debugging on USB In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (tap 7 times)|Install drivers ADB on PC (download from Google website)|Download platform tools ADB (SDK Platform Tools)|Connect the phone to the PC by USB (Select the "File Transfer" mode")-->

After preparation, run commands in the terminal (or Command Prompt on Windows):

adb devices


adb shell




pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.ar.lens

If the team is successful, you'll see a message of success.

• 🔄 Reboot the phone.
• 🗑️ Check if the app has disappeared from the menu and list in Settings → Annexes.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI (especially global versions) the com.google.ar.lens package may be part of com.google.android.gms (Google Play Services), in which case the team will return the Failure error. [DELETE_FAILED_INTERNAL_ERROR]. The solution is to use the root method or roll back the version of Google Play Services to 21.24.13 (via APKMirror).

On devices with MIUI 13+ and above after removal through ADB The scanning function may be missing QR-To return it, install an alternative scanning application (e.g., an alternative scanning application, QR & Barcode Scanner by Gamma Play).

Method 3: Delete with root rights (for advanced users)

If your Xiaomi Redmi has Magisk or another root rights manager installed, you can delete Google Lens using a root-enabled file manager (such as Root Explorer or FX File Explorer).

1. Open the file manager and give it root access.
2. Go to /system/priv-app/GoogleLens or /system/app/GoogleLens (the path may vary depending on the version of MIUI).
3. Delete the GoogleLens folder or rename it to GoogleLens.bak (in case of recovery).
4. Also check the /data/app/com.google.ar.lens-* folder and delete its contents.
5. Reboot the phone.

After deletion, it is recommended to “freeze” the associated services via Magisk or Titanium Backup to prevent re-installation when you update Google Play Services.

su


pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.ar.lens




pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.ar.core

💡

If the function of Google Lens is stopped after removal AI Scene Detection in the camera, install the module MIUI Camera Patch via Magisk.It restores compatibility with alternative scanners QR-code.

Method 4: Use of third-party utilities (without root)

If ADB commands seem complicated, you can use specialized utilities to remove system applications.

• 📱 App Inspector (allows you to find hidden Google Lens packages and disable them).
• 🛠️ Debloater Tool (works through the ADB, but with a graphical interface).
• 🔍 Package Disabler Pro (paid but supported) MIUI It allows you to “freeze” applications without deleting them).

Examples of Debloater Tool:

1. Download the tool with XDA Developers.
2. Connect your phone to your PC in USB Debugging mode.
3. Launch Debloater and wait for the list of applications to load.
4. Find com.google.ar.lens and com.google.ar.core, tick them.
5. Press Uninstall Selected.

The advantage of this method is visual control over the packets being removed, but be careful: removing the wrong components can lead to a bootloop.

Method 5: Replacing Google Lens with Alternative

If you need an object scanning feature but don’t want to put up with Google Lens, consider alternative apps:

• 🔍 Samsung Bixby Vision – works without Google Services, supports text translation and image search.
• 📷 CamScanner scans documents and recognizes text (OCR) Better than Google Lens.
• 🌐 Yandex.Lens – Russian analogue with support for Cyrillic alphabet and local databases.
• 🤖 AI Lens (from) APUS) — Easy alternative with minimal battery consumption.

To replace Google Lens completely:

1. Remove the original application by one of the methods above.
2. Install an alternative from Play Store or APKMirror.
3. Set up a shortcut on your desktop: pinch the empty space → Widgets → App shortcut.
4. In the camera settings (Settings → Additional → QR scanner), select the new default app.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI for the Chinese market (China) ROM) Alternative scanners may not work due to Google Mobile Services (GMS). In this case, you will need to make a firmware Global. ROM installation GMS manually via XiaomiTool V2.

Restore Google Lens after Deletion

If you have problems after deleting (for example, the QR scan in the camera does not work or the error com.google.ar.core missing is issued), you can return Google Lens in the following ways:

• 🔄 Reinstallation through ADB: adb install com.google.ar.lens.apk (download APK With APKMirror, choose the version for arm64).
• 📦 Recovery through Magisk: If you were doing backup modules, restore folder /system/priv-app/GoogleLens.
• 🔧 Resetting settings: Last option - Settings → Additionally. → Recovery and discharge → Resetting settings (deletes all data!).

If Google Lens is not installed due to an error INSTALL_FAILED_UPDATE_INCOMPATIBLE, first perform:

adb shell pm clear com.google.ar.lens

💡

Before restoring Google Lens, check the version of Google Play Services in Settings → Apps → Google Play Services. If it is older than 22.18.14, manually update it otherwise Lens will not work.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Google Lens removal