Xiaomi smartphone owners often face a problem: even after completely resetting or buying a new device, the system persistently restores Google apps — Play Store, YouTube, Gmail and others. These services not only take up space in memory, but also constantly work in the background, consuming battery power and traffic. Worse, some of them (such as Google Play Services) can not be removed by standard means — the “Delete” button is simply not on the menu.
In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to get rid of unnecessary Google applications on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO – from simple disabling to complete removal via ADB and unlock the bootloader. Particular attention will be paid to methods that work on MIUI 14/15 without loss of warranty and do not require superuser rights.
Why do Google apps return after being deleted?
The reason is because of Google Mobile Services (GMS) and Xiaomi’s policy, and even if you manually uninstall an app, the system can restore it through:
- 🔄 Automatic update via Play Store (if disabled – through system services).
- 📱 Reset to factory settings — MIUI Restores the “standard” set of applications.
- 🔧 Update of firmware - new versions MIUI Often “snatch” missing components GMS.
- 📲 Sync with Google account – some apps are linked to a profile and installed automatically.
Moreover, on devices with Global ROM (official firmware for the international market), some of the Google applications are built into the system partition and physically removed only through fastboot or firmware modifications, such as Google Play Services, Google Services Framework and Google Play Store.
⚠️ Note: Deleting Google system applications may cause some features to function unstable, such as: 🚫 Misconceptions of Contact and Calendar Synchronization. 🚫 Problems with push notifications (including WhatsApp, Telegram). 🚫 Unable to use banking applications (due to Google SafetyNet's lack of availability).
Method 1: Disabling applications (without deleting)
If you just need to hide unnecessary apps and prevent them from working in the background, but not remove them completely – use the built-in MIUI tools.
How to disable the Google app:
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Slip on the three points in the upper right corner and select Show System Processes.
- Find the app you want (like Google Play Music) and open your card.
- Click Disable (if the button is inactive – the application is protected by the system).
- Confirm the action in the dialog window.
Application disabled:
- ✅ Disappears from menu and search.
- ✅ Stop using battery and traffic.
- ✅ No updates will be received.
- ❌ But it will remain in the memory of the device (taken). ~50-300 MB depending on the application).
Check dependent services (for example, disabling Play Services will disrupt many applications)
Backup of important data (contacts, passwords)
Make sure that the application is not used by banking services (SberPay, Tinkoff)
Write down the name of the app in case you need to turn it back on-->
Some apps (like Google Play Services) cannot be disabled in the standard way, in which case, limiting background activity will help:
- Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Management.
- Select App Selection and find the right one (like Google).
- Set a limit to limit background activity.
Method 2: Removal via ADB (without root)
If you don’t have enough shutdowns and superuser rights, use the Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which allows you to completely remove most of Google’s apps, except for critical ones (like the Google Services Framework).
Advantages of the method:
- 🔧 Does not require unlocking the loader.
- 📱 It works on any version. MIUI (including 14/15).
- 🔄 Reverse (you can restore the application through the same application) ADB).
What you need:
- 💻 Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS.
- 📱 Cable USB (preferably original).
- 🔧 Google Platform Tools (download from official website).
Step-by-step:
- Turn on USB debugging: Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version. Tap version 7 times until the notification “You’re a developer” appears. Return to Settings → Additional → For Developers. Activate USB debugging and confirm permission.
- Connect your phone to your PC and select File Transfer Mode (not Charge).
- Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (Linux/macOS) in the folder with Platform Tools.
- Check the connection command: Adb devices should appear the name of your device with the status of device.
- Remove the unnecessary application by command: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 name.package For example, to delete YouTube: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.youtube
List of packages of popular Google applications:
| Annex | Packet name | Can I remove it? |
|---|---|---|
| Google Play Store | com.android.vending | ❌ No (critically for the system) |
| YouTube | com.google.android.youtube | ✅ Yes. |
| Google Chrome | com.android.chrome | ✅ Yes. |
| Gmail | com.google.android.gm | ✅ Yes. |
| Google Maps | com.google.android.apps.maps | ✅ Yes. |
adb shell pm list packages | grep 'google'
This will display a list of all Google packages on your device.-->
⚠️ Note: Deleting Google Play Services (com.google.android.gms) or Google Services Framework (com.google.android.gsf) will render most applications, including banking, games and instant messengers, inoperable, and can only be disabled, but not removed.
Method 3: Unlock the bootloader and remove via TWRP
If you are willing to sacrifice the warranty and want to completely clear the device from Google – you will have to unlock the bootloader and install custom TWRP recovery. This method is suitable for experienced users and allows you to:
- 🧹 Remove all Google system applications, including Play Services.
- 📱 Install firmware without GMS (LineageOS for MicroG).
- 🔧 Get updates without having to install Google services.
Cons of the method:
- ❌ Resetting all data (including internal memory).
- ❌ Loss of warranty (if the device is under warranty).
- ❌ Risk of “bricking” when errors in the process.
Step-by-step:
- Unlock the bootloader: Sign up on Xiaomi's official website and get permission to unlock (may take up to 72 hours). Download Mi Unlock Tool. Put your phone in Fastboot mode (turn it off, then press Volume Down + Power). Connect to your PC and follow the instructions in Mi Unlock Tool.
- Install TWRP: Download the current version of TWRP for your model from the official website. Sweep recovery through fastboot command: fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.7.0-0-raphael.img (replace raphael with your model code).
- Remove apps via TWRP: Boot to TWRP (click Volume Up + Power When Enabled). Go to Advanced → File Manager. Delete application folders to /system/priv-app/ and /system/app/ (e.g. PrebuiltGmsCore).
What if Google Play Services stops working after it is deleted?
Method 4: Install firmware without GMS (China ROM or cast)
The most radical way to get rid of Google is to install firmware that doesn't have a GMS in it at the beginning.
- 🇨🇳 Official China ROM (Google without Google services, but with Chinese apps).
- 📱 Base-based castor firmware AOSP (LineageOS, Pixel Experience without any GMS).
- 🔧 MicroG firmware (e.g. LineageOS for microG) where Google services are replaced by open-source counterparts.
How to search Xiaomi for China ROM:
- Download the latest version of China ROM for your model.
- Unlock the bootloader (see Method 3).
- Fastboot: fastboot flash all name file.zip
- After restarting, reset the settings (Wipe Data in TWRP).
What will change after the transition to China ROM:
| Pluses | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ No Google Services and associated Lags. | ❌ No Google Play (you will need to install it) APK manually). |
| ✅ More free RAM memory. | ❌ Chinese apps (Mi App Store, Mi Video, etc.). |
| ✅ Faster Update (China) ROM Global is coming out earlier). | ❌ No Russian language in some system applications. |
💡
Installing China ROM does not require root, but completely erases data and can lead to problems with banking applications (due to the lack of Google SafetyNet).
Method 5: Hiding icons and blocking updates
If you just need to hide Google apps from the home screen and prevent them from updating, use the built-in MIUI tools and third-party utilities.
How to hide icons:
- Open the Settings. → Desktop.
- Choose Hide apps and mark unnecessary ones (e.g. Google, Duo).
- Confirm the action – the icons will disappear from the menu.
How to block updates:
- Open Play Store → Profile → Settings → Auto-Update applications.
- Choose Not to Update Automatically.
- For individual applications: Find the app in the Play Store. Slip on three points → Remove from auto-update.
Third-party utilities for application management:
- 🔧 App Quarantine – allows you to “isolate” applications without removing them.
- 🔧 Package Disabler – disables system applications (requires) ADB).
- 🔧 Island (Sandbox) – creates an isolated environment for unnecessary applications.
How to prevent the recovery of remote applications?
Even after Google has removed apps, they can return after a MIUI update or reset.
- Turn off automatic sync with Google: Go to Settings → Accounts → Google. Turn off sync for unnecessary services.
- Block application installation via ADB: adb shell pm hide com.google.android.gsf This command hides the Google Services Framework, which is responsible for app recovery.
- Use Magisk modules (if you have root): 🔧 Universal GMS Doze – restricts the activity of Google services. 🔧 DisableFlagSecure – Blocks Secure System Processes.
- Opt out of updates via OTA: Remove the Updater app (com.android.updater) via ADB. Or disable it in Settings → Apps.
If you use custom firmware, check its settings for forced installation of GMS. For example, in LineageOS you can turn off the option Include GApps when building firmware.