Removing Google Play Market from Xiaomi Redmi phones is a challenge that users face for a variety of reasons, from wanting to free up space to having to get rid of automatically installed updates. However, standard removal through the app menu will not work here - Play Market is a system component of MIUI integrated at the firmware level. This means that simply clicking "Delete" in the app settings is either hidden or leads to only disabling updates, but not to the complete disappearance of the service.
In this article, we will discuss three working methods for removing Play Market from Xiaomi Redmi (including Note 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10/13C and others on MIUI 12-14): from temporary disconnection to complete removal via ADB or custom restoration. Particular attention will be paid to the consequences of deleting – without Play Market, Google services will cease to work, including Gmail, YouTube and Maps, if they were attached to an account.
Why you can’t just remove Play Market as a regular app
Unlike third-party software, Google Play Market on Xiaomi Redmi is a system application that is protected from accidental removal, designed for Android stability and compatibility with Google Mobile Services (GMS) services.
- 🔒 Protection MIUI: Xiaomi firmware blocks removal of critical components, including com.android.vending (Play Market Identifier).
- 🔄 Automatic Recovery: Even if you can uninstall the application through ADB, The system can return it after restarting or updating.
- 📦 Integration with GMS: The Play Market is closely linked to other Google services (e.g. Google Play Services), making it difficult to remove it in isolation.
In addition, some Redmi models (e.g. Redmi Note) 11 Pro+ 5G) Trying to remove the system application without unlocking the bootloader will lead to an error INSTALL_FAILED_INVALID_URI. This means that radical methods will require preliminary preparation of the device.
Method 1: Disable Play Market without removal (without root)
If your goal is simply to stop the Play Market and stop it from consuming resources, just disable the application through the MIUI settings. This method does not require superuser rights and reversible:
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- In the search box, type Play Market (or com.android.vending).
- Click on the application, then select Disable (password/pattern lock confirmation may be required).
- Confirm the action in the dialog window.
After the shutdown:
- 🛑 Play Market icon will disappear from the main screen and app menu.
- 🔄 Automatic application updates will stop.
- ⚠️ Google’s services (like Google Play Services) will continue to work and the app will remain in the device’s memory.
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If the “Disable” button is inactive, try removing the Play Market updates first: click Three Dots → Delete Updates in the app menu, then try again.
Method 2: Remove via ADB (without root, but with PC connection)
To completely remove Play Market, you will need an ADB (Android Debug Bridge) tool, which works on most Xiaomi Redmi models (including Redmi 9A, Note 10 Pro, Redmi 12), but requires USB debugging and a computer connection. Importantly, after removal via ADB, some functions that depend on Google (such as push notifications in Gmail) may stop working.
Enable Developer Mode (7 times press "Version" MIUI" phone-setting)
Activate debugging over USB in "Settings for developers"
Download and install ADB on PC (e.g. via [Platform Tools](https://developer.android.com/studio/releases/platform-tools))
Connect your phone to your PC via USB and confirm your trusted device
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When preparation is complete, execute the following commands in the PC terminal (command line):
adb devices(Confirms the connection of the device – the serial number of the phone should be displayed.)
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.vending(Remove Play Market for the current user without deleting data.)
If the command is successful, you'll see a message called Success. Once the phone is restarted, the app will disappear.
⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI (Especially on Redmi with global version, after the Play Market update, it can recover automatically. To avoid this, before deleting, disable the automatic firmware update in Settings. → The phone. → Updating the system.
Method 3: Complete removal through custom recovery (TWRP)
The most radical method is to remove the Play Market through Custom Recovery (TWRP), which is suitable for power users, as it requires:
- 🔓 Unlocked bootloader (bootloader).
- 📱 Established TWRP Recovery.
- 📂 Backup of the system (nandroid backup).
Instructions:
- Download TWRP for your Redmi model (e.g. Redmi Note 11 – spes, Redmi 10 – selene).
- Download your phone to Fastboot mode (hold Power + Vol Down when you turn on).
- Install TWRP via command: fastboot flash recovery twrp.img fastboot boot twrp.img
- In TWRP, go to Advanced → File Manager.
- Delete files: /system/priv-app/Phonesky/Phonesky.apk /system/priv-app/PrebuiltGmsCore/PrebuiltGmsCore.apk (optionally if you want to delete Google Play Services).
Wipe → Cache
| Deleting method | Need root? | Reversibility | Risks. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disconnection through settings | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes (can be turned back on) | Minimum (only discontinuation of updates) |
| Removal via ADB | ❌ No. | ⚠️ Partially (can be returned through the ADB) | Medium (possible problems with GMS) |
| Removal via TWRP | ✅ Yes (unlocked loader) | ❌ No (reflashing required) | High (risk of "brick" devices) |
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If you don’t plan on using alternative app stores (like Aurora Store or APKMirror), removing Play Market will make it impossible to install most popular apps, including banking apps and social media.
What to do if Play Market is back after deletion
On some MIUI firmware (especially global versions), the Play Market recovers from:
- 🔄 System updates (OTA).
- 🔧 Resetting settings to factory.
- 📱 Connecting a Google account.
To prevent recovery:
- Freeze the app via Titanium Backup (requires root).
- Turn off automatic firmware update in Settings → About Phone → System Update → Three Points → Update settings.
- Delete your Google account (unless you use other Google services): Settings → Accounts and syncs → Google → Delete your account
⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi Redmi models with pre-installed MIUI Global (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro) 4G) Deleting Play Market completely may result in the loss of functionality of some system applications, such as Mi Browser or Mi Video, if they depend on Google Mobile Services.
How to bring back the Play Market if you need it again
If you decide to return the Play Market after deleting, do so in one way:
- 📥 Manual Installation: Download the latest version of com.android.vending from APKMirror and install through the file manager. This may require permission to install from unknown sources (Settings) → Annexes → Special access → Installation of unknown applications).
- 🔧 Recovery through ADB: adb install com.android.vending.apk
- 🔄 Reset: Returns all system applications but deletes user data (Settings) → Additionally. → Recovery and discharge → Resetting settings).
If the Play Market refuses to install, check:
- 📌 Version compatibility APK firmware (MIUI 13/14 may require specific assembly).
- 🔒 Rights to install system applications (some firmware requires Magisk or LADB).