How to completely remove the application “Maps” on Xiaomi smartphones: from disconnection to uninstallation

Google Maps is pre-installed on most Xiaomi smartphones and often runs in the background, consuming battery power and traffic. Même, if you don’t use it, can automatically update via Google Play, taking up space in memory. In this article, we’ll look at all possible ways to uninstall system components (including methods for devices with an unlocked bootloader).

It’s important to understand that on MIUI (especially on models for European and global markets), Google Maps is often integrated into firmware as a system application.This means that standard removal via the Apps menu may not be available. We’ll look at workarounds including using ADB, MIUI Hidden Settings, and even manual removal via TWRP for advanced users.

If you are looking for a way to free up space or stop background activity, but are not ready for radical measures, the first sections describe safe methods (disable, remove updates).

1. Why can't the "Maps" be deleted in the standard way?

On Xiaomi smartphones (especially the Redmi, POCO and Mi ranges for the global market), Google Maps is often embedded in firmware as a system application. This is due to the requirements of Google Mobile Services (GMS): to certify Android devices, manufacturers must include a basic set of Google applications, including Maps, YouTube and Chrome.

What does that mean in practice?

• 🔹 There is no “Delete” button** in the app menu – only “Disable” or “Delete Updates».
• 🔹 The application is restored after resetting (Hard Reset).
• 🔹 It can be automatically updated through the Play Market even if you don’t use it.
• 🔹 Takes up a seat in the section /system, which is not available to the user without root rights.

The exceptions are devices for the Chinese market (without GMS) and some models with MIUI for Russia, where Maps can be installed as normal user applications. You can check this in the application settings: if there is a button "Delete" (not "Disable"), then the application is not system.

⚠️ Warning: Removing system applications can lead to unstable work MIUI, Especially if they are connected to Google Play services, and on some devices, this can cause errors when checking SafetyNet, which will block the operation of banking applications (Sberbank, Tinkoff) or games (Pokémon GO).

Method 1: Disabling the application (without deleting)

The safest method is to disable Maps so that they don't waste resources, but stay in the system, and this won't free up disk space, but will stop background activity and updates.

Instructions:

1. Select Google Maps (the icon with the Google Maps logo).

After the shutdown:

• 📵 The application will stop running and updating.
• 🔄 The icon will disappear from the menu, but the files will remain in memory.
• 🔄 Functions that depend on Maps (e.g. geolocation in other applications) may not work properly.

💡

If the “Disable” button is inactive, first remove all app updates (the “Delete Updates” button), then try again.

Method 2: Remove updates and return to the factory version

If Maps were updated through the Play Market, you can roll them back to the factory version, which will free up to 100-300 MB of space, which does not remove the application completely, but reduces its size and stops automatic updating.

How to do this:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Google Maps.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select “Delete Updates”.
3. Confirm the action.
4. (Optional) Open Play Market → Settings → Auto-Update Apps and select “Do not update automatically” for Google Maps.

What this method does:

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI 14/15 Maps can be updated again when you connect to the Internet. To avoid this, add the application to the Play Market Auto Update Blacklist or use it. ADB to completely disable updates (see Method) 4).

Method 3: Removal via ADB (without root rights)

If you’re ready for more radical measures but don’t want root rights, you can delete Maps via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a method that works on most Xiaomi devices with unlocked USB debugging.

What you need:

• 🖥️ A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB.
• 📱 Included Debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times, then return to Settings → Additionally. → For developers).
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect the smartphone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.


2. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB.




3. Enter a command to check the connection:




adb devices




(Serial number of the device must be displayed).




4. execute the command to delete the Cards:




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




5. Reboot the smartphone.

What's going to happen?

• ✅ The application will be removed for the current user (--user 0).
• ✅ Free up to 300-500 MB of space.
• ⚠️ After resetting the cards (hard reset) will return.
• ⚠️ Some functions (such as geolocation in the browser) may not work properly.

5. Method 4: Complete removal via TWRP (for advanced)

If your Xiaomi has custom TWRP Recovery installed, you can completely remove Maps, including their system files.This method is suitable for users with an unlocked bootloader and firmware experience.

Pre-launch warnings:

• 🔧 Requires an unlocked loader and installed TWRP.
• 📛 Backup is mandatory – an error can lead to bootloop ( looped boot).
• 🚫 On some firmware, removing system applications disrupts Google Play Services.

Instructions:

1. Boot to TWRP (hold Power + Volume up when turned on).
2. Go to Advanced → File Manager.
3. Open the /system/priv-app/ or /system/app/ folder.
4. Find the folders with the names: Maps PrebuiltGmsCore (if you want to remove other Google services)

Delete these folders (swipe for confirmation).

TWRP

Reboot → System

Once removed, Maps will disappear forever, even after resetting, but this may affect other Google services (such as login).

Make a backup through TWRP|Check the battery charge (>50%)|Download the original firmware in case of recovery|Disable the lockdown MI-account (if any)|Make sure that TWRP compatible with your model-->

Method 5: Using MIUI Hidden Settings (without root)

MIUI 12-15 firmware has a hidden menu for managing system applications, MIUI Hidden Settings, which allows you to disable or remove pre-installed programs without ADB.

How to open hidden settings:

1. Open the phone application (call).
2. Enter the code: ##4636###.
3. In the menu that appears, select MIUI Hidden Settings (if not, the code doesn’t work on your firmware).
4. Go to the "Application Management" section.
5. Search Google Maps and select “Delete” or “Disable”.

💡

Before installing alternative maps, check if they support offline mode for your region. For example, Yandex Maps allows you to download maps of Russia and the CIS, but not all countries in Europe.

8. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When you delete system applications, users often encounter problems, and here are the most common errors and solutions:

1. "Cannot delete the packet" error in ADB

Reason: The application is protected from removal on your firmware.

Solution: Use a command with a flag --user 0 (as in the mode 4) or get root rights.

2.Other applications have ceased to work after deletion

Reason: Some programs depend on Google Play Services that are linked to Maps.

Solution: Restore Maps via ADB (see spoiler in Method 4) or install MicroG (an alternative to Google Services).

3.The maps returned after the MIUI update

Reason: Firmware restored system applications.

Solution: Repeat deletion via ADB or TWRP, then disable automatic firmware updates.

4. geolocation does not work in the browser or messengers

Reason: Some services use Maps APIs to determine location.

Solution: Install an alternative geolocation application (e.g. UnifiedNlp for MicroG).

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI for the EU (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T Pro, Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G) Deleting Maps completely can cause Google Play Protect certification to fail, blocking access to banking apps and certain games. → Google → Play Protect Certification.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions