Play Market on Xiaomi: What is the right name and what is different from Google Play

When it comes to Xiaomi smartphones, many users are faced with confusion about the names of app stores. What other Android devices call Google Play Market (or just Play Market), Xiaomi may have a completely different name — or even several names at once. This article will help you understand how the official analog of the Play Market on Xiaomi smartphones is called, how it differs from the usual Google Play, and what nuances it is important to know when installing applications.

Xiaomi is using its own ecosystem. MIUI, This includes the Mi App Store (or GetApps in newer versions), and most Xiaomi models also have Google Play pre-installed, but with some limitations:

• 🔍 Xiaomi App Store Names (including regional differences).
• 📱 Differences between Mi App Store, GetApps and Google Play.
• ⚙️ How to turn on/off each store.
• ⚠️ Risks when using third-party stores (including blocking your Mi Account when installing) APK unverified).

If you just bought a Xiaomi smartphone (like the Redmi Note 12 or the other one) POCO X5) You can’t find the Play Market, or if your device came from China without Google services, this article will help you understand the situation and set up everything correctly.

1.What is the official name of the Play Market on Xiaomi?

On Xiaomi smartphones there is no single name for the app store – it all depends on the region of the firmware and version. MIUI. Here are the main options:

• 🌍 Google Play is a familiar Play Market, which is installed on global and European versions of Xiaomi (for example, Redmi 10 Global or Xiaomi 13 Lite). EE). Most of the users call it the “Play Market".
• 🇨🇳 Mi App Store (or App Store) – Xiaomi’s branded store, which is pre-installed on all devices, including the Chinese version (China) ROM). In the new versions MIUI 14+ It's renamed GetApps.
• 📦 GetApps is an updated version of the Mi App Store that has appeared in the MIUI 12.5 and later. has a more modern interface and integration with Xiaomi Cloud.

It is important to understand that on the Chinese versions of Xiaomi (e.g. Xiaomi 14 Pro China), Google Play is not available by default due to restrictions of Chinese law.

If your Xiaomi smartphone comes from China, you won’t find Play Market on it, instead it will be GetApps with Chinese apps. To install Google Play, you will need additional customization.

2.How is GetApps (Mi App Store) different from Google Play?

While GetApps and Google Play perform the same function – app distribution – there are key differences between the two that affect the user experience.

• 🔒 Security: Google Play has stricter moderation of apps, while GetApps can be used to find suspicious software (especially in the Chinese version).
• 🌐 Regional restrictions: Many apps are only available in China on GetApps (e.g. WeChat, Alipay, Douyin, etc).
• 💰 Payments: Payments are made via Google Pay on Google Play, while payments are made via Mi Pay or local payment systems on GetApps (e.g. UnionPay in China).
• 📥 Download speed: GetApps often download apps faster in China, but may slow down in other regions.

One of the main drawbacks of GetApps is the lack of many popular Western apps, such as Gmail, Google Maps or Netflix. They can only be installed via Google Play or manually (via Google Play). APK).

⚠️ Note: Installing apps from GetApps on Chinese firmware may result in the blocking of Mi Account if the system considers the action suspicious (for example, when downloading). VPN modified APK).

On the other hand, GetApps has advantages:

• 🎁 Exclusive apps for Xiaomi (e.g. Mi Home for Smart Home or Mi Fit for fitness bracelets).
• 🔄 Automatic updates of Xiaomi services (in Google Play they can be updated with a delay).
• 📦 Local applications for China, India or Russia (for example, Mir Pay or SberBank Online in the Russian version).

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If you need Western applications (Gmail, YouTube, WhatsApp) – without Google Play is not enough. GetApps is suitable only for local services and branded software Xiaomi.

3.How do you know which store is installed on your Xiaomi?

To determine which app store is preinstalled on your Xiaomi smartphone, follow the following steps:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find it in the list: 🔍 Google Play Store (if you have one, you have a global/European firmware). 🔍 GetApps or Mi App Store (available on all firmware). 🔍 RuStore (only on Russian versions).

firmware

Settings

The phone.

MIUI version

CN

You can also try to open the app store from the main screen:

• 📱 If the icon of the white triangle on a colored background is Google Play.
• 📱 If the icon in orange with the Mi logo is GetApps.

If you didn’t find Google Play on the app list, but your Xiaomi smartphone is officially purchased (not a “gray” import), it may be blocked.

4. How to install Google Play on Chinese Xiaomi (without Google services)?

If your smartphone Xiaomi came from China ROM), It doesn't have Google Play or any of Google's other services, and there are two official ways to install them:

Method 1: Mi Unlock (unlock the bootloader)

This method is suitable for experienced users and requires:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Xiaomi website.
2. Installations of custom recaveri (TWRP) and Global firmware ROM.

⚠️ Risks: In case of incorrect actions, you can get a "brick" (defaulting device).

Method 2: Install Google Play via Xiaomi.eu (unofficial firmware)

A simpler, but informal way:

1. Download Xiaomi.eu ROM For example, the Redmi Note 12 China).
2. Installation via Fastboot or TWRP.
3. After the reboot, Google Play will appear automatically.

⚠️ Important: Unofficial firmware may contain bugs and not support OTA-update.

For most users, it is easier to buy a smartphone with global firmware, where Google Play is already pre-installed, but if you still want to take a chance, we recommend using the official method through Mi Unlock.

5. Can you only use GetApps without Google Play?

Technically, yes, but with serious limitations, this is what you're going to do if you don't google play:

• ❌ No access to most Western apps (WhatsApp, Instagram, Google Maps).
• ❌ Update issues – many apps (like Telegram) are only updated via Google Play.
• ❌ Limited Game Choice – GetApps doesn’t have most popular games (like Genshin Impact or the likes of the game). PUBG Mobile).
• ✅ Pros: Local Chinese apps are faster (if you’re in China), no Google ads, less battery consumption background.

If you live outside of China, it's very inconvenient to use GetApps only, but there are alternatives:

• 📌 APK-files – can be downloaded from trusted sources (for example, APKPure or APKMirror).
• 📌 RuStore – Russian analogue for users from Russia.
• 📌 Aurora Store is an open client for Google Play without Google services.

⚠️ Attention: Installation APK from unverified sources can lead to viruses or data theft.Always check the hash file before installing it.

6.How to disable GetApps if you don't need it?

If you prefer to use only Google Play and want to disable GetApps (for example, so that it does not consume battery in the background), do the following:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find GetApps (or Mi App Store) in the list.
3. Click Disable (if the button is inactive, click Stop first).
4. Confirm the action.

⚠️ Important: Complete removal of GetApps can lead to system errors, as it is integrated into the system. MIUI. Better just turn it off.

If you want to hide the icon from the main screen:

1. Press the GetApps icon.
2. Drag it up to the inscription Delete (this will not remove the application, but only remove the label).

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If Xiaomi’s branded apps (such as Mi Home) stopped updating after disabling GetApps, turn it back on and turn off auto updates in its settings.

7.Frequent Play Market and GetApps issues on Xiaomi

Xiaomi users often face the following problems:

If none of the solutions worked, try:

• 🔄 Reset network settings in Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings.
• 🔄 Clear Google Play data (carefully – this will remove all app updates!).
• 🔄 Update MIUI last-minute.

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If the problem only occurs with one store (e.g. Google Play works and GetApps doesn’t), it’s likely Xiaomi’s servers that are to blame, in which case waiting or changing the region will help.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Play Market on Xiaomi