How to Remove Play Market from Xiaomi Phone: Safe and Radical Techniques

Why users want to get rid of Google Play on Xiaomi and when it’s justified

Xiaomi MIUI-based smartphones often come pre-installed with the Google Play Market — even in models for the Chinese market, where it is not initially available. Reasons to want to remove the service range from a banal desire to make room to serious privacy concerns. For example, on devices with MIUI Global Edition, Google services can consume up to 15% of battery power in the background, according to tests by XDA Developers Lab (2023).

However, before you start deleting, it is important to understand clearly: Play Market is integrated into the system processes of Android. its forced removal without preparation can lead to failures in the work of Google Play Services, which are responsible for push notifications, geolocation and synchronization of accounts. In some cases, it is enough just to disable auto-update or freeze the application through Settings → Apps.

This article will suit owners of Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4/X5, Mi 11/12/13 and other models on MIUI 12-15. If your device is running HyperOS (2026), some methods may not work, we will warn about this separately.

Method 1: Turn off the Play Market without removing (the safest way)

If the goal is simply to stop the background activity of the service, it is enough to deactivate it through system settings.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search box, type Play Market (or com.android.vending).
3. Click on the application → Disable.
4. Confirm the action by clicking Disable the application.

✅ Pros: does not disrupt the system, you can return in one touch.

❌ Cons: the icon will remain on the menu, and Google Play Services will continue to work.

💡

To hide the icon of the disabled Play Market, use launchers like Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher – they allow you to hide system applications from the general list.

Method 2: Remove via ADB (without root, but with a PC connection)

This method will require a computer with ADB drivers installed and USB debugging enabled on the phone. Attention: this method only works on devices with a bootloader unlocked.

Enable Developer Mode (7 times click on the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone)

Activate USB Debugging in Settings → Additional → For Developers

Install ADB Tools on PC

Connect your phone to your PC and confirm your trust in the device-->

Next, run in the command line (cmd or terminal):

adb devices

(Your device should be displayed) Then type in:

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

If the command is successful, Play Market will disappear from the system only for the current user (multiplayer mode will not affect).

adb shell cmd package install-existing com.android.vending

Method 3: Removal with root rights (for power users)

If your Xiaomi has Magisk or another root rights manager installed, you can remove Play Market permanently.Warning: this may disrupt Google Mobile Services (GMS), which will lead to problems with:

• 📍 Geolocation in maps (Google Maps, Yandex.Navigator)
• 🔔 Push notifications in messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram)
• 🔄 Synchronization of contacts and calendar

Instructions:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to /system/priv-app/PrebuiltGmsCore or /system/app/.
3. Find files with names: Phonesky.apk (Play Market app itself) GmsCore.apk (Google services)

.bak

Phonesky.apk.bak

Reset the device.

💡

After removal GMS Many applications will stop updating through F-Droid or APK-The alternative is to use MicroG (a lightweight replacement for Google Services), but setting it up requires a separate article.

Method 4: Reset to factory settings (radical method)

If Play Market came up after a firmware update or was manually installed, you can try to get rid of it through hard reset, but this method will only work if:

• 📱 The device was originally sold without Google services (Chinese version).
• 🔄 The firmware is not modified (it is official). MIUI or hyperos).

How to perform the reset:

1. Create a backup of data through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Choose to erase all data and confirm.

⚠️ Attention: On models POCO F5 and newer (2023)+) The reset could bring back global firmware even if Chinese firmware was installed earlier, due to Xiaomi's policy of unification of software.

Method 5: Flashing to Chinese MIUI (for advanced)

The most reliable way to get rid of Google Play Market is to install the official Chinese firmware (China ROM), which does not contain Google services, but has restrictions:

• 🌐 No Google Play Services (problems with many apps).
• 📵 There is no support for some LTE-ranges (relevant to Europe).
• 🔐 You cannot use Google Pay and similar services.

Step-by-step:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (requires a wait of 7-15 days).
2. Download China ROM for your model from MIUI Download.
3. Fastboot or Recovery (instructions are available on 4PDA or XDA).

Yes, through ADB.

Yeah, I did it on Chinese MIUI.

I tried it, but I came back.

No, I'm afraid of the consequences.

I'm planning on trying.-->

How to replace Play Market with Xiaomi: Alternative stores

If you successfully removed Google Play, you'll need alternative sources of apps.

⚠️ Attention: Installation APK Always check the hash amounts of files (for example, via VirusTotal) and use a sandbox (the Shelter or Island app) to test new programs.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When removing Play Market, users often face typical problems:

⚠️ Note: If YouTube, Gmail or Chrome are no longer working after deletion, this means that you have removed not only Market, but also Google Play Services. GMS.

• 🔄 "The application is not removed through ADB" → Check if the bootloader is unlocked (POCO F4 GT, Redmi K50) Additional command is required: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.google.android.gms
• 📱 "The phone stopped turning on after removal" → This means that critical system files have been deleted, and the solution is to flash the device through Fastboot. 4PDA).
• 🔒 "I can't unlock the bootloader" → Xiaomi blocks unlocking for devices under 3 months.Wait or use informal methods (at your own risk).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions