How to remove Google from Xiaomi phone: disabling services and applications

Modern Xiaomi smartphones are based on the Android operating system, which is inextricably linked to the ecosystem of Google. When you first start the device, the system insists on logging in to your account, after which many pre-installed applications appear on the display: YouTube, Maps, Play Market and others. For many users, especially those who care about privacy or lack free space, this set of software becomes an extra ballast.

Deleting Google’s system components completely is a complex procedure that requires deep intervention in the operating system. The standard methods available in the settings menu are to disable some programs or remove updates, but the root files will remain in place, and this is done by the manufacturer to ensure the stability of the interface and synchronize contacts, but advanced users often look for ways to get rid of the surveillance of the Corporation.

In this article, we will discuss safe and radical methods of cleaning your smartphone from Google services. You will learn how to freeze applications without superuser rights, what risks a complete uninstallation carries and how to replace a familiar app store. Remember that any actions with system files require caution, since an error can lead to the inoperability of the device.

Why do users want to get rid of Google services?

The main reason for the move to remove Google is to increase digital privacy, as it collects vast amounts of data about location, search queries, browsing history, and even voice commands, and for users who don’t want to become a “product” for targeted advertising, removing trackers is becoming the number one priority.

The second important factor is optimizing device resources: Google services run in the background constantly, consuming battery power and occupying RAM. On low-end Xiaomi Redmi or Poco models with little RAM, this can lead to noticeable slowdowns in the interface, disabling heavy background processes allows you to free up resources for more important tasks.

⚠️ Warning: Complete removal of Google system components may disrupt banking apps, navigation devices and some games that require license verification through Play Services.

There is also a category of users who simply do not use the products of the American corporation, preferring alternative ecosystems, they do not need maps, mail or cloud storage from Google, so the presence of this software is perceived as digital garbage taking up space in storage.

Limitations of standard removal in MIUI

The MIUI interface installed on Xiaomi smartphones provides limited options for managing system applications. Unlike third-party launchers, the standard shell does not allow you to simply remove critical components. When you try to uninstall key services, the “Delete” button is either missing or becomes inactive.

Android’s system security policy blocks removal of applications that have been installed by the manufacturer in the factory, so that an inexperienced user does not accidentally remove the components needed to launch the phone, but for advanced users, these restrictions are a barrier that must be avoided by special methods.

It's important to understand the difference between "deleting" and "disabling." When you disable an application in settings, it stops running, updating and consuming resources, but its installation file stays in the system partition. It's a secure method that doesn't require root access rights and keeps the device guaranteed.

Disconnection method through system settings

The safest way to minimize Google’s impact on a smartphone is to force it to disable unnecessary components through a regular menu, which requires no connection to a computer and does not risk turning the phone into a brick. → Annexes → All applications.

In the list that opens, find the app you want to deaktivirovat'. Most often it's Google Play Store, Google Play Services, or Google (the main search app). Click on the program name to open the information page about it. Here you are interested in the "Disable" or "Stop" button.

Once you click the button, the system will issue a warning that other applications may stop working correctly. Confirm the action. Now the application will disappear from the installed list and stop consuming resources. However, it is worth remembering that after resetting the settings to factory state of the system will return to its original state.

Some system components may not have a shutdown button, and then the operating system labels them as critical, and you can't get around that limitation without software, and if the button is gray and you don't press it, then the manufacturer has hard-wired the dependency of that module into the shell.

Removal through ADB-team without Root rights

A more advanced and efficient cleaning method is the use of Android debugging bridge (ADB). This tool allows you to send commands to the system directly, bypassing the GUI, USB-The cable and the Xiaomi smartphone itself.

To activate the developer mode, go to Settings → About the phone and seven times quickly click on the version MIUI. After that, a new option will appear in the settings menu, "Extended settings" or "Additional", where you need to find "Developers". USB».

Connect your smartphone to your computer and open the command line or terminal in the folder with the ADB installed. Enter a command to check the connection:

adb devices

You'll see a debugging permission request on your phone screen, which you need to confirm, and you can delete packets, and you need to know the exact name of the packet you want to delete, like for YouTube, it's com.google.android.youtube.

⚠️ Note: Delete the com.google.android.gms (Play Services) package via ADB can cause complete failure of many applications and synchronization disruption.

The removal command is as follows:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.package_name

Replace. package_name Once the command is executed, the application will disappear from the system for the current user. /system, But it makes it invisible and unused, which is equivalent to removing it.

Table of Google System Packages

Below is a table with the main Google packages that are often subject to removal or disabling.Be careful when typing commands, as removing system components can have unpredictable consequences.

Using this table will help you identify exactly the components you want to remove. Always double-check the name of the packet before typing a command into the console. A single character error can lead to the wrong application being deleted or execution error.

Alternative app stores

After the Google Play Store is removed, the question becomes: where do you get apps? Fortunately, the Android ecosystem for alternatives. One of the most popular solutions is the F-Droid store, which specializes in free and open source software without trackers.

Another option is to use third-party directories, such as APKPure or Aptoide, which allow you to download installation files of popular applications that are usually available in the official store, but it is important to be careful and download software only from trusted sources.

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Use the Aurora Store as an anonymous Google Play client, which allows you to download apps from the official directory without logging into your Google account.

Xiaomi also has its own GetApps store (formerly the Mi Store) pre-installed on all devices, which contains a basic set of popular programs, although the range may be inferior to the global Play Market, a convenient alternative for installing instant messengers and social networks.

Possible problems and solutions

After aggressively cleaning Google services, you may encounter a number of problems, most often complaining that notifications from messengers or social networks stop coming, because push notifications in Android are often tied to Google Cloud Messaging services.

In some cases, there may be errors when running applications that require a license check, and highly secure banking and applications may not work on devices without Google certified services, and the only solution is to return remote components.

⚠️ Note: If the phone went into a cyclic restart (bootloop) after deleting system files, you will need to flash the device through the computer with a complete data cleanup.

To restore the application deleted through ADB, you can use the command:

adb shell cmd package install-existing com.google.android.package_name

This command will return the packet to the system if it has not been physically erased from the system partition, but if you have manually deleted files with root rights, only resetting to factory settings or flashing will help.

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Complete removal of Google is possible only with the risk of loss of functionality, so the optimal solution is to disable or freeze applications.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)