How to Remove Google Apps from Xiaomi Phone: 5 Ways to Remove Google Apps

Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the challenge of Google’s built-in apps, which take up memory, consume battery power and collect data — even if you don’t use them. MIUI and the new HyperOS are installed with pre-integrated services: Google Play Store, YouTube, Gmail, Chrome and dozens of background processes. They can’t be removed by standard means, but there are workarounds.

In this article, 5 working removal methods (from simple shutdown to complete erasure via ADB) are relevant for the Redmi Note 12/13, POCO X5/F5, Xiaomi 13/14 and others on MIUI 14/15 or HyperOS. We will also analyze the risks of each method and give recommendations for system recovery if something goes wrong.

⚠️ Important: Deleting system applications could disrupt Google Mobile Services (GMS), This will lead to errors in the Play Store, problems with push notifications and the inability to use certain features (for example, Google Pay or YouTube Premium.

1. Method: Disabling Google apps without root rights

The safest method is to deactivate unnecessary services through Xiaomi’s settings, which will not delete application files, but will stop them from working and hide them from the menu, suitable for most users who want to save battery power without risking the system.

How to do this:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Show All Apps.
3. In the search bar, type the name of the app (e.g. Google Play Music or Duo).
4. Click on the application → Disable → Confirm the action.

⚠️ Note: Some applications (such as Google Play Services or Google Services Framework) cannot be turned off, which will cause other programs to crash. MIUI Disabled applications can be activated again.

📱 Google Play Books

🎵 Google Play Music

📺 Google TV

💬 Google Duo

🌐 Chrome (if you use a different browser)

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Xiaomi hides some of the system applications from the user. To see them all, click on the App Management menu at three points → Show system processes. Here you will find Google Account Manager, Google One Time Init and other background services that can be disabled without serious consequences.

2. Method: Removal of updates and reset to factory version

Many Google apps are initially installed in the minimum version, but nolater is updated through the Play Store, taking up more space, you can roll them back to the factory state - this will free up to 1-2 GB of memory.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (e.g. Google Play Store).
3. Click on the three dots in the top corner → Remove updates.
4. Confirm the action. The app will go back to the version that was used when you bought the phone.

🔹 Effect: After the Google Play rollback, the Store can stop updating other apps, and YouTube can work in a reduced mode.

This doesn’t remove apps completely, but it reduces their weight and limits background activity, such as Google Play Services, which will stop using the battery so aggressively after the update rolls back.

Method 3: Removal via ADB (without root)

For those who are willing to go further, there is an Android Debug Bridge (ADB) debugging tool that allows you to completely erase system applications without superuser rights, but requires you to connect your phone to your computer.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS.
• 📱 Cable USB (preferably original......>
• 🔧 Installed drivers Xiaomi and ADB (You can download from the official Android website).
• ⚙️ Included debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → Press 7 times, then return to Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect the phone to your computer and confirm the debugging permission.
2. Open the command prompt (cmd on Windows or Terminal on macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB.
3. Enter the command: Adb devices Make sure your phone appears in the list.
4. Get a list of all packages: adb shell pm list packages | grep 'google' (on Windows, use findstr instead of grep).
5. Remove the unnecessary application by command: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.apps.magazines (replace com.google.android.apps.magazines with the name of the package from the list).

⚠️ Note: Deleting some packages (e.g., com.google.android.gms — Google Play Services) will cause a system failure:

💡

Before deleting, back up the list of installed packages with the command adb shell pm list packages > packages.txt. This will help restore applications if something goes wrong.

4. Method: Complete removal with Magisk (root required)

If you're ready to get root rights, Magisk can remove any system applications, including critical Google services, which is suitable for power users, as it requires unlocking the bootloader and installing a custom recavator.

What needs to be done:

1. Unlock the bootloader on Xiaomi through the official Mi Unlock tool (instructions on the Xiaomi website).
2. Install custom Recovery (TWRP or OrangeFox).
3. Sweep Magisk through the Recovery.
4. Install the App Systemizer or Universal Debloater module from the Magisk repository.
5. In the module settings, tick Google apps for removal and restart the phone.

⚠️ Note: Google Play Services will no longer work:

• 🔄 Automatic synchronization of Google account.
• 📱 Push notifications in some applications (Viber, Telegram, etc.).
• 💳 Google Pay and other payment services.
• 🎮 Part of the Play Store (required by Google Play Games).

💡

If your phone stops working properly after you delete Google services, restore them via Magisk or reflash the system through the Mi Flash Tool.

5. Method: Install custom firmware without GApps

The radical but most effective method is to install firmware without Google services (GApps-free), suitable for Xiaomi models that support custom builds, such as:

• LineageOS (without GApps).
• Pixel Experience (there are versions without Google).
• Havoc-OS or ArrowOS with the option to disable GApps.

How it works:

1. Unlock the bootloader (as in the way with Magisk).
2. Download the firmware without GApps from the XDA Developers or 4PDA forum.
3. You can run it through TWRP or OrangeFox.
4. If necessary, install alternative services (e.g., microG for push notifications).

🔹 Pluses:

• 🚀 Maximum performance (no Google background processes).
• 🔒 Increased privacy.
• 📱 Opportunity to use alternative stores (Aurora Store, F-Droid).

⚠️ Cons:

• ⚠️ Lack of official support (possible bugs).
• 🔄 Manual firmware update.
• 💳 Some banking apps are not working (due to Google SafetyNet's lack of service).

What if your phone stopped working after Google was deleted?

If you have removed critical services and encountered errors, there are several ways to bring your phone back to life:

1. Recovery through ADB:

Connect the phone to your computer and install the remote packets back with the command:

adb shell cmd package install-existing com.google.android.gms

(Replace com.google.android.gms with the package you want).

Reset to factory settings:

Go to Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset. This will bring back all standard apps, but delete your data.

3. flashing through the Mi Flash Tool:

Download the official firmware for your model from the Xiaomi website and thread it through the Mi Flash Tool in Clean All mode. This will completely restore the system.

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing Google apps on Xiaomi