There was a time when Android OEMs used to include their stock apps in the phones but this trend has almost disappeared in the last few years. Smartphone brands have eventually started replacing their default dialer, messaging, and other apps with the Google apps. Unfortunately, Xiaomi is not untouched by it. The Chinese tech giant had to replace some of the MIUI Phone apps with their Google counterparts
Back in 2020, Xiaomi announced that all its smartphones that launch internationally will be shipped with Google’s Phone and Messages apps. As a result, if you have a Xiaomi smartphone running a Global or EEA ROM, you can no longer have MIUI Dialer and Messaging installed. But why did the Chinese OEM take this decision?
Xiaomi has replaced its MIUI phone apps with Google apps due to privacy laws and restrictions around the globe. The company has acknowledged it in a statement posted on the community forum. “All devices that got/will get launched globally after Mi 9T Pro (including itself as well), were/will be pushed out with Google Phone, Messages and no longer deliver pre-installed MIUI Dialer, Messaging. It is due to privacy laws and restrictions around the globe – these devices are now making use of GMS or Google Mobile Services,” read the official statement by Xiaomi.
Xiaomi’s MIUI is among the popular Androidx skins out there. It is liked by users because of its rich features, customizations, and minimal design. MIUI comes with many system apps like Dialer, Messaging, Mi File Manager, Mi Calculator, Recorder, Mi Share, Mi Music, Mi Video, and many other apps. While most of these apps are still there, some of the most popular ones have been replaced.
However, if you don’t like the default Google apps and want the OG MIUI apps back, you can do so by flashing ROMs from the regions where these apps are still available, for example, Indonesia. I won’t get into much detail on how to do it, you check our article on How to Unlock Xiaomi Bootloader and Install Custom ROM?
