How to set up a browser on a Xiaomi Smart TV TV: guide

Xiaomi Smart TVs TV Android operating system TV Google TV They offer a lot of opportunities to surf the Internet directly from the big screen, but a standard browser (if preinstalled) often runs slowly, does not support modern web standards or is not in firmware at all. In this article, we will understand how to properly configure the browser on Xiaomi Mi TV, Redmi Smart TV or other brand models, from the installation of alternative solutions to the optimization of speed and safety.

It's important to understand that the functionality of a browser on a TV is limited compared to a PC or a smartphone. There's no extension support, and it's managed with a remote control or voice. However, with the right settings, you can comfortably browse the web, watch online cinemas without apps, or even work with cloud services. We'll look at all the steps from choosing a browser to solving typical problems with loading pages or playing videos.

Which browser is better to install Xiaomi Smart TV

The standard browser in Xiaomi firmware (if any) is usually a simplified version of Android WebView or Google Chrome with a stripped down functionality. For full operation, it is recommended to install one of the alternative browsers adapted for Android. TV:

  • ๐Ÿ”น TV Bro is optimized for remote control, supports gestures and voice search, has a built-in ad blocker and mode "Theater" for comfortable video viewing.
  • ๐Ÿ”น Puffin TV โ€” Using cloud servers to render pages, which speeds up work on weak Xiaomi models (for example, Mi). TV 4A). Supports Flash Player for Old Websites.
  • ๐Ÿ”น Firefox for Android TV โ€” Full version with bookmark sync through Mozilla account. Works well with modern web applications.
  • ๐Ÿ”น Kiwi Browser โ€“ a lightweight browser based on Chromium with support for extensions (installed manually via the browser). ADB). Suitable for advanced users.

For most users, the best choice is TV Bro or Puffin. TV. The first offers better integration with Android TV, The second is high speed, even on budget models, except for Xiaomi PatchWall TVs (like models for India) that may require manual installation. APK through USB.

Before installing the browser, check the Android version. TV On your device. To do this, go to Settings. โ†’ On TV. โ†’ Software version: If the version is lower than Android 9, some browsers (such as Firefox) may not be supported.

๐Ÿ“Š What browser is used on Xiaomi Smart? TV?
Standard (built-in)
TV Bro
Puffin TV
Firefox
Other

Installation of the browser through Google Play or APK

The easiest way to install a browser is through the Google Play Store, but not all browsers are available in the Android store. TV. Here's the step-by-step instruction:

  1. Open the Google Play Store on your TV (the icon in the app menu).
  2. In the search bar, enter the browser name (for example, TV Bro Browser).
  3. Select the application from the results and click Install.
  4. After installation, launch the browser from the application menu or through voice search (button with microphone on the remote).

If the desired browser is not in the Play Market, it can be installed manually through the APK-- For that, file:

  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Download. APK-browser file (for example, from the APKMirror site) USB-accumulator.
  • ๐Ÿ”Œ Connect the flash drive to the TV and open the File Manager (or ES The conductor, if installed).
  • ๐Ÿ“‚ Find it. APK-If you have a warning about unknown sources, go to Settings. โ†’ Security โ†’ Unknown sources and allow installation.

โ˜‘๏ธ Preparation for the installation of the browser

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On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Mi) TV Q1 or Redmi Smart TV X) it may be necessary to activate the developer mode for installation APK. For that:

  1. Go to Settings. โ†’ On TV.
  2. Find the Assembly Number and click on it 7 times in a row.
  3. Go back to Settings โ†’ For developers and enable USB debugging.

โš ๏ธ Attention: Installation APK from unverified sources can cause the TV to be infected with malware. Use only official sites (APKMirror, Aptoide) TV) and check the hash sums of the files.

Setting up the browser for comfortable use

After installation, the browser requires additional settings for convenient work from the remote control. The main parameters that should be configured:

ParameterRecommended valueWhy?
Default scale125โ€“150%Increases text for better readability from the sofa
Search engineGoogle or DuckDuckGoDuckDuckGo does not collect data about requests
Blocking pop-up windowsTurn onPrevents the opening of full screen advertising
Saving passwordsShut down.On TV, there is a high probability of data leakage
For TV mode.Turn onAdapts the interface to control the remote

To change these settings in TV Bro:

  1. Open the browser and press the button. โš™๏ธ Settings (or holding the button) OK remote).
  2. Select General Settings โ†’ Page size and set the value to 125%.
  3. In the Search section, select your preferred search engine.
  4. In Privacy, turn off Save Passwords and enable Ad Blocking.

For Puffin. TV You can also use the additional settings in Cloud Settings, and you can enable Virtual Trackpad, which is a virtual touchpad for more precise cursor control, and it's useful for web forms or games.

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If the browser is slowing down when scrolling pages, try turning off animations in the accessibility settings (Settings) โ†’ Special facilities โ†’ Delete animations).

Speed optimization and loading problem solving

Browsers on Xiaomi Smart TV They're often suffering from low speeds because of the limited resources of the device:

  • ๐Ÿš€ Cache Clearing: Clean your browser cache regularly in Settings โ†’ Annexes โ†’ [Browser name] โ†’ Memory. โ†’ Clear the cache. TV Bro, this can be done directly in the browser menu.
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Update firmware: An outdated version of Android TV It can cause lags. Check for updates to Settings. โ†’ On TV. โ†’ Updating the system.
  • ๐Ÿ“ถ Cable connection: 5GHz Wi-Fi or Ethernet cable will provide a more stable connection than 2.4GHz.
  • ๐Ÿ—‘๏ธ Closing Background Apps: Close Unnecessary Apps through Settings โ†’ Annexes โ†’ Launched.

If pages donโ€™t load or the video slows down, check the following points:

โš ๏ธ Note: On Xiaomi TVs with an Amlogic processor S905 (Mi model TV 4S, Redmi Smart TV X50) The video may not be played in the resolution above 1080p Try to reduce the quality of the stream manually (for example, on YouTube select the following: 720p).

To diagnose loading problems with pages:

  1. Open the website fast.com in your browser and check the Internet speed.
  2. If the speed is below 10 Mbps, restart the router or check the settings. DNS (1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8 is recommended).
  3. In the browser settings, disable Traffic Savings (if any) โ€“ it can block the download of scripts.
How to change DNS Xiaomi Smart TV
Go to Settings. โ†’ Network โ†’ Network setup โ†’ Additionally. โ†’ Settings DNS. Enter 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare) or 8.8.8.8 (Google) and save the changes.

Configure browser management from the remote DU

Managing a browser from a standard Xiaomi remote is not always convenient. Here is how to adapt the interface for a comfortable experience:

  • ๐ŸŽฎ Virtual mouse: B TV Bro or Puffin. TV Turn on Mouse Mode (in control settings) The cursor will move with the arrows of the remote, and the button will move. OK โ€” click.
  • ๐Ÿ” Voice search: Press the microphone button on the remote and make a request (e.g., "Open YouTube"). Works only with browsers that support Google Assistant.
  • โŒจ๏ธ Screen keyboard: Use the built-in Android keyboard to enter text TV (is automatically called upon by clicking on the input field).
  • ๐Ÿ–ฑ๏ธ Mouse connection: To the port USB TV can be connected wireless mouse for precise control.

If the remote does not respond to clicks in the browser, try the following steps:

  1. Restart the TV (hold the power button on the remote for 5 seconds).
  2. Update the remote firmware through Settings โ†’ DU remote โ†’ Update.
  3. In the browser settings, turn on the mode TV Optimization (optimization for TV).

For Xiaomi models with support HDMI-CEC (Like Mi. TV Q2) You can control your browser from a console or a sound bar. HDMI-CEC In Settings โ†’ Devices and accessories โ†’ HDMI-CEC.

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For easy browser management, use a combination of a virtual mouse (remote arrow) and voice search, which will speed up navigation on pages 2-3 times.

Security and privacy when surfing

The browser on the TV is often targeted by advertising viruses or phishing attacks, to protect your data:

  • ๐Ÿ”’ Use it. VPN: Install ProtonVPN or Windscribe from Google Play to encrypt traffic, especially when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks.
  • ๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ Adblocker: B TV Bro Enable the built-in blocker in Settings โ†’ Confidentiality โ†’ Blocking ads.
  • ๐Ÿšซ Turn off autocomplete: In the browser settings, turn off saving passwords and these forms.
  • ๐Ÿงน Regular Cleaning: Delete history and cookies after each session (Settings) โ†’ Confidentiality โ†’ Clear the data).

Xiaomi's PatchWall TVs can, by default, enable viewing data collection to turn it off:

  1. Go to Settings โ†’ Accounts and Security โ†’ Privacy.
  2. Disable Personalized Advertising and Send Diagnostic Data.
  3. In the browser, turn off geolocation in Settings โ†’ Permits โ†’ Location.

โš ๏ธ Note: Do not enter bank card details or passwords from important services through a browser on your TV. HTTPS There is a risk of data interception through vulnerabilities in Android firmware TV.

To check the security of the connection, open browserleaks.com in your browser. Here you can see what data your browser is โ€œleaking (IP-Address, User-Agent, WebRTC leaks, etc.).

Alternative ways to get online on Xiaomi Smart TV

If your browser is unstable, consider alternative options for accessing Internet content:

  • ๐Ÿ“บ Wrap-Apps: Many services (YouTube, Twitch, IVI) have official applications for Android TV, Which are faster than the browser.
  • ๐ŸŽฎ Gaming consoles: Connect Xiaomi Mi Box or NVIDIA Shield to HDMI-Port โ€“ they offer a more powerful browser and support for extensions.
  • ๐Ÿ–ฅ๏ธ Transmit from PC: Use programs like ApowerMirror or TeamViewer to stream your computer screen to your TV.
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Miracast/Wi-Fi Direct: Connect your smartphone to your TV through Settings โ†’ Connections โ†’ Wireless display and use mobile browser.

For a viewing. IPTV Local video files are more convenient to use specialized players:

The challengeRecommended annexAdvantages
Viewing IPTVTiviMate or Smart IPTVSupport for playlists, EPG, broadcast
Local videoVLC or MX PlayerReproduction of any formats without conversion
TorrentsFlud or LibreTorrentDownload files directly to the TV

If you want access to corporate resources or a remote desktop, install Microsoft Remote Desktop or Chrome Remote Desktop from Google Play, which allows you to control your PC directly from your TV.

FAQ: Frequent questions about setting up a browser on Xiaomi Smart TV

๐Ÿ” Why is the browser on Xiaomi TV Not opening some websites?
This may be due to: An outdated version of Android System WebView (update it to Google Play), blocking from the site (some resources do not support Android). TV). No support for JavaScript or WebGL (check your browser settings). Try opening the site in another browser (such as Firefox) or through Desktop Mode (if any in the settings).
๐ŸŽฌ How to watch video in the browser without brakes?
For smooth playback: Reduce video quality to 720p (On YouTube, click on the gear in the player. Enable Hardware Acceleration in your browser settings (if available). Use Puffin browser. TV โ€” It renders the video on the server and streams the finished stream. TV 4A, Redmi Smart TV A-series: Avoid sites with heavy animations (e.g. modern online games).
๐Ÿ”’ Can I install browser extensions on Xiaomi? TV?
There is no direct installation of extensions (as in Chrome on PC), but there are workarounds: For Kiwi Browser: connect your TV to your PC ADB and install extensions manually through the command: adb install extension.apk For Firefox: some add-ons (e.g. uBlock Origin) can be installed through the official directory if the browser version supports them. Most extensions are not optimized for remote control, so using them can be inconvenient.
๐Ÿ“ฑ How to manage a browser on Xiaomi TV smartphone?
There are several ways: Mi Remote app: Download the official Xiaomi app TV Remote for Android/iOS And connect to the TV via Wi-Fi, which has a virtual keyboard and touchpad. Unified Remote: Install Unified Remote on your smartphone and server part on your TV (requires). ADB). This will allow you to use your phone as a mouse and keyboard. Google Assistant: If your TV supports Google Cast, you can voice commands like "Open YouTube in your browser." HDMI-CEC (Like Mi. TV Q1E) You can use the remote from the Xiaomi smartphone (if it supports the IR port).
๐Ÿ”„ How to reset browser settings to factory?
Reset methods depend on the browser: TV Bro/Puffin TV: Go to Settings. โ†’ Additionally. โ†’ Resetting settings. Firefox/Chrome: Remove application data in Settings โ†’ Annexes โ†’ [Browser name] โ†’ Memory. โ†’ Clear the data. Standard browser: Reset is possible only through a complete reset of the TV (Settings) โ†’ System system โ†’ Reset to factory. After reset, you'll have to reconfigure the search engine, scale and other parameters.