How to permanently remove Play Market from Xiaomi Redmi: safe and radical methods

Why users want to get rid of Google Play on Xiaomi

Xiaomi Redmi smartphones come preinstalled with Google Play Market - the main Android app store.However, many owners are keen to remove it for several reasons, from wanting to save battery power to privacy concerns. 15-20% background activity of the processor, and their tracking of geolocation and data raises questions even among experienced users.

Another common situation is corporate phones, where employers prohibit the use of personal Google accounts, or when the device is used by children and parents want to restrict access to unsupervised downloads, but here comes the key question: Can you delete Play Market without any system consequences? MIUI and the method chosen.

It is important to understand: the complete removal of Google Play from Xiaomi Redmi on the official firmware MIUI Global will result in the loss of functionality of all Google services (Gmail, YouTube, Maps) and the inability to update many applications. The alternative is to turn off services or install custom firmware.

Method 1: Disable Play Market through Settings (without deleting)

If your goal is simply to hide the store and stop it from running in the background, you just need to turn off the app in the settings.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the list, find the Google Play Store (could be called the Google Play Services).
3. Click Disable (if the button is inactive, click Stop first).
4. Confirm the action in the dialog window.

After the shutdown:

• 🔄 Play Market icon will disappear from desktop (but will remain on the list of all apps).
• 📵 Background synchronization and update verification will stop.
• ⚠️ Some applications (such as banking) may stop working properly.

💡

To return Play Market, re-enter its settings and click "Enable". All data (accounts, download history) will be saved.

This method is suitable for the Redmi Note. 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10 and other models MIUI 12-14. But it doesn't delete the app itself, it just suspends it. It will require more radical action to completely remove it.

Method 2: Removing updates and resetting to factory version

Play Market on Xiaomi Redmi consists of two parts: system APK (I've got it sewn into the firmware, and updates that are installed on top:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Google Play Store.
2. Click on the three dots in the top corner → Remove updates.
3. Confirm the action.
4. Reboot the phone.

After that:

• 📦 The Play Market version will roll back to the factory version (usually 5.0-8.0, depending on the model).
• 🔒 Automatic updates will be disabled, but system APK remain.
• ⚠️ Some apps (like Google Pay) may require a current version of the Play Market.

Backup of important data

Remember the current version of the Play Market

Disable automatic app updates in Google settings

Check the operation of key applications after rollback-->

On Redmi with MIUI for Russia (EEA) This method works stably, but on Chinese versions of firmware (China) ROM) You may need to adjust your region further, and it is also worth considering that some banking applications (e.g. Sberbank or Tinkoff) check the Play Market version when you log in.

Method 3: Removal through ADB (rootless, but with risks)

For users who are ready for deeper manipulations, deletion via Android Debug Bridge is suitable (ADB). This method does not require root rights, but requires a PC connection and command line knowledge.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on Developer Mode on your phone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times).
2. Activate USB Debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Connect Redmi to your PC and install drivers ADB (You can download from the official Android website).
4. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type:

adb devices


adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.vending

What do the team flags mean:

• -k — Store cache and application data (for possible recovery).
• --user 0 — Deletes only for the current user (does not affect system files).

⚠️ Note: Some Redmi models (e.g. Redmi Note 8 Pro or Redmi) K40) This method can cause a Google account sync error, which requires resetting or re-authorization.

Method 4: Complete removal through custom Recovery (TWRP)

To remove the Play Market and all Google services, you will need to:

1. Unlock the bootloader on Xiaomi Redmi.
2. Install custom Recovery (e.g. TWRP).
3. Remove the system APK-manually.

⚠️ Warning: This method will result in a loss of warranty and may render the phone inoperable, and is only suitable for experienced users who are ready for the possible "brike" of the device:

• 🔋 Charge your phone to 80% or more.
• 📱 Make a full backup through TWRP Xiaomi Cloud.
• 🔧 Install Fastboot drivers and ADB.

Step-by-step:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Xiaomi tool (requires a Mi Account and wait 7-30 days).
2. Install TWRP for your model (you can download it on twrp.me).
3. Boot in. TWRP (Shutdown → Hold the Power. + Vol+).
4. Go to Advanced → File Manager.
5. Delete the files: /system/priv-app/PrebuiltGmsCore/ /system/priv-app/Phonesky/ (That's what the Play Market is) /system/app/GmsCore/
6. Wipe the cache (Wipe) → Dalvik/ART Cache).
7. Reboot the phone.

Yes, TWRP|Yes, the Other (OrangeFox, PitchBlack)|No, but I want to try.|No, and no planning.|I don't know what it is.-->

After removal:

• 🚫 Access to all Google services (including YouTube, Gmail, Maps) will disappear).
• 🔄 Some apps (such as WhatsApp or Telegram) will only be updated via the service. APK.
• ⚠️ Possible push notification problems (requires an alternative service, such as MicroG).

For Redmi models on MediaTek processors (e.g. Redmi Note 11 or Redmi) 10C) before removal, it is recommended to disable AVB 2.0 (Android Verified Boot) or the phone may not boot.

Method 5: Switching to custom firmware without GApps

The most radical, but also the cleanest way is to install firmware without Google services (for example, LineageOS or Pixel Experience without GApps).

• 🧹 Get rid of all Google traces.
• 🔒 Enhance privacy (no geolocation tracking).
• ⚡ Increase battery life (by 10-15% due to lack of background processes).

Algorithm of action:

1. Unlock the bootloader (as in Method 4).
2. Download firmware without GApps for your model (for example, with LineageOS or XDA Developers).
3. Set it through TWRP (See the instructions for your firmware).
4. If necessary, add MicroG to work with push notifications.

Popular firmware for Xiaomi Redmi:

⚠️ Note: Redmi with Qualcomm Snapdragon processors (e.g. Redmi) K50 or POCO F4) Before the firmware, you need to disable forceencrypt and fde in the fstab file, otherwise the data on the internal drive will be encrypted and inaccessible.

💡

Installing custom firmware is the only way to completely remove Google services without system consequences, but it requires technical skills and can be insecure.

How to replace the Play Market with Xiaomi Redmi

Once Google Play is removed, you will need an alternative source of apps. Here are the proven options:

• 📦 Aurora Store is an open client for downloading apps from Google Play without an account, supports anonymous downloads and updates.
• 🌍 F-Droid is an open source store (free apps only, but secure and without trackers).
• 📱 APKMirror - Manual download APK-files from a verified source (suitable for popular applications like Telegram or VLC).
• 🔄 AppGallery (from Huawei) – an alternative with a wide catalog, but requires registration.

For installation APK-manually:

1. Download the file to your phone (for example, with APKMirror).
2. Allow installation from unknown sources: Settings → Applications → Special Permissions → Installation of unknown applications.
3. Run the downloaded APK and follow the instructions.

Important: When manually installed, disable automatic updates in the app’s settings, otherwise it may try to update through the Play Market (if it was simply disabled rather than removed).

For banking applications (Sberbank, VTB, Tinkoff) may require magistracy device (link to the account through the SMS). Some banks block access from firmware without Google services - in this case, the installation of MicroG (lightweight replacement) will help. GMS).

Possible problems and how to solve them

Removing Play Market can have unexpected consequences, including errors and ways to fix them:

If Xiaomi’s system apps (such as Mi Video or Mi Music) have stopped working after the Play Market is removed, try:

1. Clear the application cache in Settings → Applications.
2. Install the latest version of MIUI through Settings → System Update.
3. Recover deleted files through backup TWRP (if it was made).

On Redmi models with HyperOS (new firmware from Xiaomi), deleting Google services can lead to loss of functionality of widgets (such as weather or calendar), in which case installing an alternative launcher (such as Nova Launcher) will help.

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing Play Market with Xiaomi Redmi