How to completely remove Google from the phone Xiaomi Redmi: all the ways and consequences

Why Xiaomi Redmi Users Want to Get Rid of Google

Xiaomi Redmi smartphones are Android-based, which means that they come with Google’s pre-installed service package, from the Google Play Store to Google Play Services. However, many users are looking for ways to remove Google from their devices completely. The reasons are different: some are worried about data privacy, some don’t like background processes that consume battery power, and some just want to use alternative services (such as from Huawei or open solutions).

But there's a caveat: Android is tightly integrated with Google's ecosystem, and simply removing apps through the Settings menu → Apps won't work. Many system components can't be removed without root rights, and some services (like Google Play Services) are restored automatically after a reboot. In this article, we'll look at all the ways you can go from partial disabling to complete removal using custom firmware.

Before you start, consider that completely removing Google could render key phone features, including push notifications, geolocation, and sync, inoperable. If you use Gmail, YouTube, or Google Maps, they'll have to be replaced with analogues. Are you ready?

Method 1: Disable and remove standard Google apps without root

If you don’t need all of Google’s services, but only individual apps (like YouTube or Google Chrome), you can remove or disable them without getting root permissions.

Here's what we can do:

• 📱 Remove Unnecessary Apps: Go to Settings → Annexes → Manage apps, find the unnecessary (like Google Duo) and click Delete.
• ⚙️ Disable System Apps: For Google Play Books, Google Play Music and other system applications, only the option to Disable (Do Not Delete) is available!).
• 🔄 Stop background activity: In the same app menu, select Battery → Optimize and disable background work for unnecessary services.
• 🚫 Block notifications: In each app’s settings, you can turn off notifications so they don’t distract you.

However, this method has limitations:

⚠️ Note: System applications like Google Play Services or Google Services Framework cannot be removed or disabled without root permissions, and deactivation will cause phone malfunctions, including app authorization and geolocation issues.

Delete Google Chrome

Delete Google Duo

Remove Google Podcasts

Turn off Google Play Books

Turn off Google Play Music-->

Method 2: Delete Google with ADB (without root, but with limitations)

If you want to go further and remove even Google’s system apps but are not ready to get root rights, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to uninstall packages that are usually protected from removal.

Here's how to do it:

1. Turn on USB debugging: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI to activate Developer Mode. Go back to Settings → Additional → Developer. Activate USB Debugging.

Connect your phone to your PC:

• Install ADB and Fastboot Tools on your computer.
• Connect Redmi over USB and select File Transfer mode.
• Open the command prompt (or Terminal on Mac/Linux) and type:
• Remove Unneeded Packages: List of Google Packages You Can Remove (enter one at a time): adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.gm # Gmail adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.youtube # YouTube adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.apps.maps # Google Maps adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox #Google Search

However, there are important limitations:

• 🔴 Not all packets can be deleted: For example, com.google.android.gms (Google Play Services) will lead to critical crashes.
• 🔄 Updates MIUI Applications can be restored: After system updates, some packages will return.
• 📱 Some features will stop working: For example, push notifications in some applications.

💡

Before deleting packets via ADB, back up your data! Use the command adb backup -apk -shared -all -f backup.ab to save all apps and settings.

Method 3: Completely remove Google using custom firmware (requires unlocking the bootloader)

If you want to get rid of Google completely, including system services, the only reliable way is to install custom firmware without GApps (Google Apps).

1. Unlock the bootloader: Xiaomi lets you do this officially through the Mi Unlock Tool, but the process takes up to 7 days to wait.
2. Install custom recovery (TWRP): This will allow you to stitch through informal builds.
3. Swipe firmware without Google: For example, LineageOS or Pixel Experience have versions without GApps.

Popular firmware without Google for Xiaomi Redmi:

Advantages of this method:

• ✅ Google Removal: No Background Processes, No Telemetry.
• ✅ Improved performance: Without Google Play Services, your phone could run faster.
• ✅ System Control: You decide which services to install.

But there are also serious risks:

⚠️ Attention: 🔴 Loss of warranty: Unlocking the bootloader and firmware custom software cancel the warranty Xiaomi. 🔴 The risk of “brick”: The wrong firmware can turn your phone into a “brick". 🔴 Absence OTA-Updates: You will have to manually monitor firmware updates.

Method 4: Use of alternative services (replace Google)

If you delete Google, but you want to keep the phone functional, you have to look for alternatives.

However, not all apps will work without Google Play Services.

• 🚫 Banking apps: Many require Google SafetyNet and won't run on a phone without Google.
• 🚫 Online multiplayer games: For example, PUBG Call of Duty Mobile or Mobile may not work.
• 🚫 Some messengers: WhatsApp and Telegram work, but Google Messages does not.

Aurora Store (replacement of Play Store)

ProtonMail (replacement of Gmail)

OsmAnd (replacement of Google Maps)

NewPipe (replacement of YouTube)

MicroG (replacement of Google Play Services)-->

Method 5: Deactivate Google Account and Reset Your Phone

If you don’t want to remove apps, but want to untie your Google account from your phone, you can do the following:

1. Delete your Google account: Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google. Select your account and click Delete account.
2. Reset your phone to factory settings: This will delete all data, including residual Google files. Go to Settings → About Phone → Reset. Choose Erase all data.

Do not connect your Google account when you first set up:

• After reset, skip the step of adding a Google account.
• Use a local account or Xiaomi account.

This method does not delete Google system applications, but it stops them from working because they cannot sync without an account.

⚠️ Note: After a reset, some apps (such as the Google Play Store) may reappear if they were preinstalled in firmware. To avoid this, turn off automatic application recovery in Google settings before resetting. → Backup.

What to do if your phone is not stable after Google is deleted

If you have removed critical Google packages (like Google Play Services) or installed custom firmware without GApps, you may have problems:

• 🔴 Push notifications don’t work: Many apps (including instant messengers) use Google Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM).
• 🔴 Geolocation issues: Without Google Play Services GPS may not work properly.
• 🔴 Some apps don’t run: Especially banking apps and games.

Decisions:

• 🛠️ Install MicroG: This is an open replacement for Google Play Services, which supports basic features (push, geolocation.
• 🔄 Return to stock firmware: If the phone is no longer usable, scrolle through the original MIUI via Mi Flash Tool.
• 📱 Use alternative apps: For example, instead of Google Maps – OsmAnd, instead of Gmail – ProtonMail.

If you are experiencing a critical failure (the phone is not switched on or stuck on the logo), try:

1. Restore the Recovery Mode (Power + Volume Up)
2. Select Wipe Data/Factory Reset.
3. If it doesn’t work, flash your phone through Fastboot using the Mi Flash Tool.

💡

Deleting Google Play Services without replacing it with MicroG will render most apps that depend on Google inoperable. Always install an alternative in advance!

FAQ: Frequent questions about Google's removal from Xiaomi Redmi