Xiaomi smartphone owners often face intrusive pre-installed software, especially if the device is purchased in a global firmware version. MIUI or the new HyperOS system is deeply integrated with the Google ecosystem, making standard removal of applications impossible through the usual settings interface. Users who value the purity of the system, privacy or just want to free up space are forced to look for workarounds that do not require root rights.
There are several effective ways to do this, ranging from using standard debugging tools to using specialized scripts. It is important to understand that completely removing Google Play Services can lead to unstable performance of some features, so the process should be approached carefully. In this article, we will discuss secure methods of deactivation and removal of system packages that do not require device flashing or warranty breaches.
The main tool we're going to need is the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) protocol, which allows you to send commands directly to the operating system without going through the GUI, and it gives you access to hidden package management functions that are normally reserved for system processes, and it's considered the most secure of advanced techniques, because it doesn't change the system partition /system, it's just the application scram for the current user.
⚠️ Warning: Before you start any manipulation of system components, make sure you have a backup of important data. Mistakeful deletion of critical system libraries can cause a cyclical device reboot.
Preparing a smartphone and computer to work with ADB
The first step is to activate the hidden developer menu on your Xiaomi device.Without this step, the computer will not be able to establish a connection to the smartphone to transmit commands.The process is simple but requires care, as some menu items may be hidden or named differently in different versions of MIUI.
You need to go to the Settings section. → About the phone and seven times quickly click on the version MIUI Or HyperOS. Once you have a "You're a developer," you should go back to the main settings menu, select "More" and find "Developers" and activate the "Debug by" switch. USB».
In parallel with the setting up of the phone, you need to prepare a workstation. On a computer (Windows, macOS or Linux) you should download and install the minimum set of Platform Tools from the official Android developer site, which will ensure the availability of current drivers and executable adb files.
- 📱 Connect your smartphone to your PC through quality USB-cable, preferably original, to avoid data transmission problems.
- 💻 Download the Platform Tools archive and unpack it into the root folder of the drive for easy access to the command line.
- 🔓 When you first connect on the phone screen will be a request for debugging permission - be sure to tick "Always allow».
☑️ Checking readiness for removal
Once connected, check the status of the device by typing the command line adb devices. If the list shows the serial number of your device-status gadget, then the connection is successfully established and you can proceed to the next step. If you are unauthorized, check the screen of the smartphone and confirm access.
Analysis of system packages and search for component names
Before you start deleting, you need to identify the names of the packages you plan to remove. Google system applications have specific names that differ from the names of shortcuts on the desktop. For example, YouTube can hide under the name com.google.android.youtube, and map services - com.google.android.apps.maps.
To get a complete list of installed packages, use the command adb shell pm list packages. However, the output will be huge, so it is better to filter the results by adding the keyword "google". The command adb shell pm list packages | grep google (for Linux/Mac) or adb shell pm list packages | findstr google (for Windows) will show only the desired lines.
List of safe packet removal
It is important to distinguish between user applications and system components. Deleting Google Play Services (com.google.android.gms) will cause most applications that depend on your Google account to fail, including banking programs and navigation. Be extremely careful with packages containing the framework or services name.
| Title of the annex | Packet name | Risk of removal | Dependencies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Play Store | com.android.vending | High-pitched | Google Play Services |
| YouTube | com.google.android.youtube | Low. | Google Play Services |
| Google Maps | com.google.android.apps.maps | Low. | Geolocation |
| Google Drive | com.google.android.apps.docs | Medium. | Google accounts |
| Chrome | com.android.chrome | Low. | No. |
It is recommended to make a list of the names of packets you want to delete in advance and save them in a text file, which will speed up the process and minimize the risk of typing an error command in the terminal.
Removing applications via ADB command line
The most reliable method of removal is using the pm uninstall command with a flag. --user 0. This approach does not physically erase the application files from the system partition, but only deletes them for the main user (device owner.
Executing the command requires precise syntax. Enter in the terminal: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 packet name. The -k flag saves the cache and application data in case you want to restore it later, although this is not always applicable when user data is completely deleted, but is useful for system components.
⚠️ Note: Do not delete com.google.android.gsf (Google Services Framework) if you plan to use Google services again in the future.This can cause synchronization errors and inability to log in without a full reset.
If the command is successful, the terminal will give you a message of success. [DELETE_FAILED_INTERNAL_ERROR] or similar, which means that the application is protected from removal or is critical for the current session, in which case, try first to disable the application via adb shell pm disable-user. --user 0 packet.
💡
Use helper scripts like Universal Android Debloater, which have a GUI and secure packet removal base, which reduces the risk of human error when you enter commands manually.
To restore the application deleted in this way, it is enough to execute the command adb shell cmd package install-existing the name of the package. This will return the component to the post-reset state, which is a huge advantage of the method before flashing or using root rights with complete erasure of partitions.
Alternative methods: Hidden menus and freezing
Not all users are ready to work with the command line. For these cases, there are methods of “freezing” applications. The essence of the method is that the application is forcibly stopped, and it is forbidden to start even by background processes. This can be done through the Settings menu → Applications → All applications by selecting the desired service and clicking “Disable”.
But the standard menu doesn't always allow you to turn off key Google services, and it's where special uninstallation apps that work through ADB but have a user-friendly interface come in, like NoBloat or the Universal Android Debloater mentioned earlier, and they scan the device and color the packages depending on the risk of deleting them.
Another option is to use Xiaomi's hidden test menu, where you enter ##64663## or #4636## in the dialer, you can get into the engineering menu, and although there's no direct "delete Google" button, you can find settings that limit background activity or synchronization, which indirectly solves the problem of intrusion.
- 🛑 Freezing method is safer than complete deletion, as it does not violate the integrity of the file system.
- 🔄 When you update the firmware, the “frozen” applications can be automatically unlocked, requiring a repeat procedure.
- 🔋 Disabling Google’s background processes significantly extends the battery life of Redmi budget models.
It is worth noting that some versions of HyperOS have enhanced protection against modification of the application list, in which cases even ADB commands can be blocked unless a special mode is enabled “Safe debugging over USB”, which requires the binding of a Xiaomi developer account.
Possible problems and ways to solve them
In the process of deleting, there may be situations where the system behaves unpredictably, for example, after deleting Google Play Services, push notifications even from independent applications using Firebase cease to come, which is normal behavior, since the communication channel with Google servers is blocked.
If you encounter a "boot" after removing the system component, don't panic. Since we haven't deleted files physically, but only for user 0, resetting to factory settings (Wipe Data via Recovery) will bring it back to normal.
A common problem is the “App not installed” error when trying to install alternative app stores after removing the standard one. APK-file via the adb install command name.apk.
⚠️ Note: Removal of the com.miui.securitycenter system component along with Google services may result in a complete security failure and the inability to install any applications from unknown sources.
It’s also worth considering that some Xiaomi apps (like Themes or Mi Videos) may not work properly without Google’s libraries, so you’ll either have to put up with bugs or look for modified versions of those apps without dependencies.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can Google Play Services be removed without consequences?
Will the removal reset after the firmware update?
Do I need to unlock the bootloader to remove it?
Is it safe to use Universal Android Debloater?
How to return the remote application back?
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Removing the --user 0-flag via ADB is a reversible and safe method that does not require root rights and unlocking the bootloader, making it the best choice for most users.
To sum up, cleaning up Xiaomi’s smartphone from Google’s pre-installed garbage is a solvable and relatively safe task when following instructions. Using debugging tools allows you to flexibly manage the composition of the system, turning a standard gadget into a personalized tool free of excess software.