How to Remove Google Chrome from Xiaomi Redmi 9: 5 Ways to Work

Google Chrome is pre-installed on most Xiaomi Redmi 9 smartphones as part of the Google Mobile Services (GMS) suite. However, many users prefer alternative browsers - MIUI Browser, Firefox or Brave - because of less memory consumption or better privacy.The problem is that standard deletion through the app menu often doesn't work: the Remove button is inactive, and after uninstalling updates, the browser returns after rebooting.

In this article, you will find 5 proven ways to get rid of Chrome on Redmi 9 – from simple disabling to complete deletion of system files (including methods for root-enabled devices). We will also discuss how to disable automatic browser recovery via Google Play, and provide a table comparing methods by complexity and effectiveness. If you are tired of unnecessary software taking up space in memory, read on.

Why can’t Chrome be removed in the standard way?

On Xiaomi Redmi 9 (as on other MIUI smartphones), Google Chrome is a system application, meaning it is integrated into firmware and is uninstallable. Here are the key reasons:

• 🔗 Google License Agreement: Xiaomi must include a basic set of apps GMS (including Chrome, YouTube, Play Market for device certification.
• 📦 System Dependencies: Some Functions MIUI (For example, the web preview in the Share menu uses Chrome components.
• 🔄 Automatic Recovery: Google Play can re-install remote system applications when checking integrity.

Even if you delete Chrome updates through Settings → Apps, the device will still have a factory version of the browser (usually outdated), which cannot be uninstalled without additional actions.

Method 1: Turn off Chrome without deleting (for beginners)

If you do not need to completely erase the browser, but just hide it from the menu and stop background processes, use the built-in MIUI tools:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Google Chrome in the list and tap it.
3. Click “Disable” (the button will become active if the browser has not been updated).
4. Confirm the action in the dialog window.

After the shutdown:

• 📱 Chrome icon will disappear from the app menu.
• ⚙️ Background processes of the browser will be stopped (saves up to 100-150 MB of RAM).
• 🔄 When the device is restarted, the browser will not recover (unlike removing updates).

⚠️ Note: Chrome disabled can automatically turn on after updating Google Play Services. To avoid this, block browser updates in the Play Market → Chrome → Three points. → Remove updates → Turn off auto-update.

Method 2: Remove updates and block them via ADB

This method is suitable for users who are ready to use the Android debugging bridge (ADB).It allows you to completely delete user data and Chrome updates, returning the browser to the factory version, and then block its recovery.

You'll need:

• 💻 Computer with installed ADB Tools.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB Redmi 9 (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Tap 7 times, then go back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

Steps:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC and confirm the debugging permission on your phone screen.
2. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the adb folder.
3. Follow the commands in turn: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.chrome
4. Reset the device.

If the team fails (failure error) [DELETE_FAILED_INTERNAL_ERROR]), Try an alternative option:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.chrome

⚠️ Attention: After use ADB Some system functions (e.g., opening links from other applications) may be redirected to MIUI Browser.To fix this, install an alternative browser and assign it to the default app in the settings.

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If ADB doesn’t recognize the device, try reinstalling Xiaomi drivers or using the adb kill-server command and then adb start-server in the terminal.

Method 3: Completely remove Chrome with root rights

If your Redmi 9 has an unlocked bootloader and root rights (like through Magisk), you can physically delete Chrome system files.This method is the most radical and irreversible, but guarantees 100% results.

Instructions:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to /system/priv-app/PrebuiltGmsCore//system/app/Chrome/ (paths may vary depending on the version of MIUI).
3. Remove the Chrome and WebViewGoogle folders (if any).
4. Clear the cache and data to /data/app/com.android.chrome*.
5. Reset the device.

After removal:

• ✅ Chrome will disappear from the system forever.
• ⚠️ Some apps (such as Gmail) may not work properly because they use Chrome components to display web content.
• 🔧 To restore the browser, you will need to reflash the device.

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Use root-rights only if you are confident in your actions. Incorrect deletion of system files can lead to bootloop (a looped device reboot).

Method 4: Replacing Chrome with MIUI Browser by default

If your goal is not to delete Chrome, but to simply stop using it, assign another browser to the default app. This will prevent automatic link opening in Chrome.

How to do this:

1. Install an alternative browser (such as MIUI Browser or Firefox).
2. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management → Chrome.
3. Click “Open by default” → “Clear default settings.”
4. Open any link (such as Telegram or WhatsApp) and select a new browser in the dialog box.
5. Check the "Always" box.

In addition:

• 🔗 Turn off Chrome in Google account settings (Settings) → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization – uncheck the box with “Chrome»).
• 📵 Disable the browser from accessing the Internet in Settings → Mobile network → Using traffic.

Method 5: Use of third-party utilities (without root)

If manual methods seem complicated, use specialized utilities to remove system applications. One of the most popular solutions is App Inspector (available on the Play Market).

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install App Inspector or System App Remover.
2. Give the application ADB rights (follow the instructions in the utility).
3. Find Google Chrome in the list of system applications.
4. Select the option “Uninstall for user” (Uninstall for user).
5. Confirm the action and restart the device.

Advantages of the method:

• 🛠️ No manual input required. ADB-team.
• 🔍 Allows you to remove other unnecessary system applications (e.g. Google Duo or YouTube Music).
• 🔄 Supports Recovery of Remote Applications.

⚠️ Note: Some utilities (e.g. Debloater) require a PC connection and may contain ads.Before using, check the reviews in the Play Market and the permissions the app requests.

What if Chrome is back after deleting?

If Chrome has recovered from a reboot or update to Google Play Services, follow these steps:

1. Turn off auto-update: Open Play Market → Find Chrome → click on three dots → Disable Auto-Update.
2. Freeze the app: Use utilities like Titanium Backup (requires root) or App Quarantine to block Chrome.

Remove the Google Play Services cache

• Go to Settings → Applications → Google Play Services → Storage → Clear cache.

If the problem recurs, it could be Google’s policy to force system applications to be restored on certified devices, in which case the only radical way is to install custom firmware (like LineageOS), but this would require unlocking the bootloader and losing warranty.

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing Chrome with Xiaomi Redmi 9