How to Remove Google Apps from Xiaomi: Safe Techniques 2026

Google apps take up space in memory, consume battery power and collect data even on Xiaomi smartphones, where they can not be deleted in standard ways. If you want to free up the resources of the device, increase privacy or just get rid of unnecessary software, this guide will help you do it correctly, without the risk of “bricking” the phone.

Unlike most Android devices, MIUI firmware and Xiaomi’s new HyperOS integrate Google services at the system level, which means simply clicking “Delete” in the app menu won’t work. We’ll look at 5 working methods, from temporary shutdown to complete removal via ADB, taking into account the features of different firmware versions and models (from Redmi Note 10 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra).

Importantly, not all methods are equally secure, for example, removing system APKs without backing up can cause Google Play Services to crash, affecting other applications, so we'll start with the most gentle options and gradually move on to the radical ones.

1. disable Google apps without deletion

The easiest and safest way to do this is to deactivate unnecessary services, which will not free up memory, but will stop background activity and notifications, and works on all Xiaomi models, including POCO and Black Shark, regardless of the MIUI version.

How to do this:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management
• 🔍 In the search bar, type the name of the app (for example, Google Play Music or Duo)
• 🚫 Press "Disable" (if the button is inactive, first click "Stop")
• ⚠️ Confirm the action in the dialog window

What applications can be turned off without consequences:

⚠️ Note: Do not disable Google Play Services and Google Services Framework, as this will cause disruptions in other applications, including banking and instant messengers.

2. Removal of updates to system applications

Many Google apps are built into firmware, but they are installed separately through the Play Market, and you can remove them by returning them to the factory version, and this won't remove them completely, but it will reduce the space and reset the settings.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management
2. Select the app you want (like Google Chrome)
3. Click on three dots in the upper right corner → “Delete Updates”
4. Confirm the action.

After that:

• 📉 The app will return to the factory version (usually older than the previous version). 1-2 year-end)
• 🔄 Auto Update will be blocked until you manually allow it in the Play Market.
• 🛡️ Some features may not work as well (for example, there is no support for the older version of YouTube). 4K)

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To block an automatic update of a particular app, open its Play Market page, click on three points → “Cancel Update Subscription”.

3. Removal via ADB (for power users)

If you need to completely uninstall Google apps (like Gmail, YouTube, or Google Photos), you will need to connect to ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a method that works on all Xiaomi models, but requires unlocking the bootloader and enabling debugging over USB.

⚠️ Warning: Misuse of the right ADB This may cause data loss or phone failure. make a backup copy through Settings before starting → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

Step-by-step:

Install ADB-PC drivers|Enable debugging on USB developer-setting|Connect the phone to the PC by USB|Allow debugging on the phone (pop-up window)|Download the list of Google packages (see below)

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List of commands to remove popular applications:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.gm        # Gmail


adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.youtube    # YouTube




adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.apps.photos # Google Photo




adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.apps.maps # Google Maps




adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox #Google Search

To see the complete list of Google packages installed, follow the command:

adb shell pm list packages | grep 'google'

⚠️ Note: Deleting com.google.android.gms (Google Play Services) or com.google.android.gsf (Google Services Framework) will render all applications dependent on Google inoperable, including many games and banking services.

4. Removal via TWRP (for root users)

If your Xiaomi has custom recovery installed TWRP, You can remove the system system. APK-files directly through the file manager. This method is suitable for users with an unlocked bootloader and installed root access.

Instructions:

1. Load the phone to TWRP mode (clip Power + Volume up when turned on)
2. Select Advanced → File Manager
3. Go to /system/priv-app/ or /system/app/
4. Find folders with Google app names (e.g. PrebuiltGmsCore is Google Play Services)
5. Delete the entire folder or just APK-file inside it (extension.apk)
6. Reboot the phone.

List of folders that can be deleted without critical consequences:

• 📁 Velvet - Google Search
• 📁 GmsCore — Google Play Services (⚠️ Remove only if you do not use Google-dependent apps)
• 📁 GoogleTTS – Google Speech Synthesizer
• 📁 Google CalendarSyncAdapter – Calendar Synchronization

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TWRP removal is the most radical method, but also the most effective. Once cleaned, Google apps won’t recover from resets (unlike the ADB method).

5. Use of debloather (automated removal)

For users who don't want to manually type ADB commands, there are dedicated debloather utilities that automatically find and remove unnecessary system applications, including Google services.

• 🛠️ Universal Android Debloater (GUI for ADB, work Windows/Linux/Mac)
• 📱 Debloater (by XDA) — Android app with root access

Example of Universal Android Debloater:

1. Download the utility from GitHub
2. Connect your phone to USB with debugging enabled
3. Start the program and select Read device packages
4. In the list, find Google apps (they are tagged [GOOGLE])
5. Check the unneeded boxes and click Uninstall selected

Advantages of the debloater:

• ✅ Visual interface – no need to remember commands
• ✅ Ability to back up before deletion
• ✅ Support for batch removal

⚠️ Note: Some debloathers (especially mobile apps) require root rights, without which they can only disable applications, but not remove them completely.

6. Install custom firmware without Google (radical)

The most drastic way to get rid of Google services is to reflash the phone to custom firmware without GApps (Google Apps).

• 📱 LineageOS (officially supports many Xiaomi models)
• 🔄 ArrowOS (optimized for performance)
• 🛡️ GrapheneOS (maximum privacy, but limited device support)
• 🆕 HyperOS without GApps (modified builds from the community)

Installation process:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (requires waiting 7-168 hours for new Mi accounts)
2. Install TWRP or other custom recovery
3. Download firmware without GApps (e.g. LineageOS for microG)
4. Fly through recovery by running Wipe → Format Data (⚠️ It'll delete all the data!)

Pros and cons:

FAQ: Frequent questions about Google's removal from Xiaomi