Have you accidentally opened the Google Play Store on your Xiaomi and don't know how to close it? Or is the app stuck, unresponsive, and the Back button doesn't work? This is a situation that many owners of Redmi, POCO or Mi smartphones are familiar with — especially after upgrading to MIUI 14/15 or Android 14, where the Google service interface has changed. In this article, we'll look at all the possible ways to exit the application, including forced closure and disabling auto-start, so that it doesn't interfere with the phone's operation.
It's important to understand that the Google Play Store is a system application, and you can't just delete it without root rights. But you can force it to close, disable updates, or even hide it from the menu if you don't need it. We'll look at solutions for different scenarios, from basic closure to radical measures for power users.
If your Xiaomi is unstable after interacting with Google Play (for example, slows down or discharges quickly), at the end of this article you will find tips for diagnosing the problem.
1. Standard output: Back button and gestures
The easiest way to close the Google Play Store is to use standard navigation tools, and on Xiaomi smartphones, there are two ways to do this:
- 🔙 Back button (if navigation bar is enabled): press it once to return to the home screen or previous app. If the button doesn't respond, try pressing it twice, this will close the app completely.
- 👆 Swipe up gesture (if gesture navigation is enabled): swipe from the bottom edge of the screen upwards and hold for a second. the app closes and you return to the home screen.
If your gestures don't work, check your navigation settings in Settings → Display → Navigation Bar. You may have Full Screen Gestures enabled, where you swipe from the edge of the screen to exit.
⚠️ Note: On some models POCO (for example, POCO F5) Signature control may conflict with Google Play.If the app doesn't close, try switching to navigation buttons temporarily.
2. Forced closure through the app menu
If the Google Play Store is stuck and unresponsive, it can be forcibly stopped via Android settings.This method works on all Xiaomi smartphones, including the Redmi Note 12, Xiaomi 13 and other models with MIUI 14/15.
Instructions:
- Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
- Go to the Appendix section → Application management.
- In the search bar, enter the Google Play Store.
- Click on the app, then select Forced Stop.
- Confirm the action by pressing OK.
After that, the app will close and all background processes will stop.Please note that it may take a few seconds to initialize the next Google Play launch.
Check the navigation gestures
Reboot the phone
Forced to stop through settings
Clear the app's cache
Update Google Play to the latest version-->
3. Clearing the cache and data of Google Play
Sometimes the Google Play Store gets stuck with overcache or corrupted data, which can be manifested as endless downloads, errors when downloading apps, or the inability to close the window.
How to clear the cache:
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Find the Google Play Store and select it.
- Press Warehouse.
- Select Clear cache (this won’t delete your data, only temporary files).
If the problem persists, try to clear the app data (Clean Data) and then you will have to re-enter your Google account as all settings will reset.
| Action. | Effects of consequences | When to apply |
|---|---|---|
| Clearing the cache | Temporary files are deleted, settings are saved | When braking or loading errors |
| Clearing the data | All settings are reset, re-entry is required | If the application does not open or freezes |
| Forced stopping | All processes are closed, the cache is saved. | When you are stuck or unable to close |
4. Disable Autostart and Notifications
If the Google Play Store is constantly opening on its own or showing annoying notifications, it can be limited in the background.This will not remove the application, but will reduce its activity and battery consumption.
How to turn off autostart:
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Select the Google Play Store.
- Press Autostart and turn off the slider.
- Go back and select Notifications, then turn off all switches.
These actions will not affect the performance of other Google services, but will reduce the load on the system.If you use Xiaomi with limited memory (for example, Redmi 9A), this will help free up resources.
Once a week.
Only if necessary.
Automatically.
Never update.
I have closed Google Play and I am not using it.-->
5. Removal of Google Play Updates (for power users)
On some MIUI firmware, you can roll the Google Play Store back to the factory version, which sometimes solves work problems, a method that is suitable if you notice a crash after the last update of the application.
Instructions:
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Find the Google Play Store.
- Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Remove Updates.
- Confirm the action.
After that, the app will return to the version that was originally installed on your Xiaomi. Please note: Auto update may install the new version again, so it is recommended to disable it in the settings of Google Play (Settings → Auto Update apps).
⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi models (e.g, POCO X5 Pro) after rolling back the version may cause compatibility errors with other Google services, in which case only a complete reset or flashing will help.
6. Radical measures: turning off Google Play via ADB
If you are willing to go to extreme measures and have experience with ADB (Android Debug Bridge), you can completely disable the Google Play Store without root rights. This method is suitable for users who do not use Google services or prefer alternative app stores (for example, APKMirror or Aurora Store).
Instructions:
- Turn on Developer Mode on your phone: go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
- Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
- Connect your phone to your computer and open the command prompt (cmd on Windows or Terminal on macOS/Linux).
- Enter the command: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.vending
- Reboot the phone.
After that, the Google Play Store icon will disappear from the menu, and all attempts to open it will be blocked. To return the application, use the command:
adb shell pm enable com.android.vendingWhat happens if you turn off Google Play through ADB?
7. Google Play Alternatives on Xiaomi
If you decide to opt out of the Google Play Store, there are several alternative ways to install apps on Xiaomi:
- 📦 APK-Files: download applications from trusted sources (e.g. APKMirror) and install manually. Remember to enable Installation from unknown sources in your security settings.
- 🛒 Aurora Store: an open client for Google Play, which allows you to download apps anonymously, without linking to your account.
- 🔄 F-Droid: an open source app store. Suitable for free software installation.
- 📱 Mi App Store: Xiaomi's branded store, where there are many popular apps adapted for the use of the app MIUI.
Remember that installing apps from unverified sources can be dangerous.Always check the hash amounts of files and use an antivirus (e.g. Google Play Protect or Dr.Web).
💡
If you often install APK-files, create a folder on the home screen called Installer and put all the downloaded files there so you don't lose them among other downloads.
Frequent problems and their solutions
Even after the Google Play Store is closed, Xiaomi users may face side effects.
- 🔄 The app opens on its own: check your autorun settings (section 4) and turn off background activity. Also make sure there are no viruses on your phone (scan through Google Play Protect).
- 📱 The Back button does not work: restart your phone or check your gesture settings in Settings → Display. → Navigation panel.
- ⚡ Fast battery drain: If Google Play consumes a lot of power, clear its cache and turn off auto-update apps.
- 🚫 Google Play Services Stopped Error: This means system services are in conflict.Try to update Google Play Services through the Google Play Store or manually.
If none of these methods worked, the problem may be deeper, such as a corrupted firmware or conflict with other system applications, in which case a factory reset (remember to back up the data!) will help.
💡
Before resetting your settings, try updating MIUI to the latest version – often bugs with Google Play are fixed in new builds.