How to Remove the Default Browser on Xiaomi Redmi: The Complete Guide

Xiaomi Redmi smartphones use the Mi Browser browser by default, which is not always good for users. It can slow down, show intrusive advertising or just dislike the interface. Fortunately, the MIUI system can be configured so that Google Chrome, Firefox, Opera or any other browser opens as the main browser.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways, from standard settings to hidden MIUI features, that will help you completely disable Mi Browser as the default browser, even if the system persists in returning it back. Importantly, some methods require superuser rights (root), but most work without them.

Why Xiaomi is imposing Mi Browser and can it be removed?

The Mi Browser is built into the system-level MIUI firmware, which means you can't just delete it, it'll be bug-producing, but there are a few reasons why users want to get rid of it:

• 📵 Intrusive advertising – even in the browser settings, it is not always possible to turn it off completely.
• 🐢 Low speed compared to Chrome or Firefox.
• 🔒 Data collection – Mi Browser transfers information about visited sites to Xiaomi servers (you can disable in the privacy settings).
• 🚫 Automatic link opening – even if you have installed a different browser, the system can ignore it.

You can’t completely remove Mi Browser without root rights, but you can disable it, hide it, or replace it with another default browser.

⚠️ Attention: If you are using MIUI 12.5 and below, some methods may not work due to firmware limitations.

Method 1: Change the default browser through Android settings

The easiest method is to assign another browser to the main one through the standard Android menu.This works on all Xiaomi Redmi smartphones, including the Note 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10/13C and others.

Instructions:

1. Install an alternative browser (like Google Chrome) from the Play Market.
2. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
3. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select the Default Apps.
4. Slip on Browser.
5. In the list, select the browser you want (e.g. Chrome).

If the links still open in Mi Browser, then move on to the next method – the problem in the MIUI settings.

Install an alternative browser (Chrome, Firefox, Opera)

Update MIUI to the latest version

Make a backup of important bookmarks from Mi Browser

Check the space available on the phone (you need to). ~100MB)-->

Method 2: Disable Mi Browser through application settings

If the system ignores the browser you choose, you can try disabling Mi Browser through the application menu.This will not remove it completely, but will prevent automatic link opening.

How to do this:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Browser (or Mi Browser) in the list and tap it.
3. Click Disable (if the button is inactive, skip this step).
4. Return to the default Apps and select the browser again.

On some MIUI firmware, the Disable button may be blocked, in which case the following method will help.

⚠️ Warning: Disabling system applications may cause malfunctions MIUI. If you stop opening links after disabling Mi Browser, turn it back on and use method 3 or 4.

Mi Browser (staying on it)

Google Chrome

Mozilla Firefox

Opera or Opera Mini

Another (I will write in the comments)-->

Method 3: Reset application settings (if the browser does not change)

Sometimes MIUI forgets the browser it chose because of a cache failure, and then it helps to reset the app settings, which will return all permissions to factory permissions, but will not delete your data.

Step-by-step:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the top right corner and select Reset App Settings.
3. Confirm the action.
4. After the reboot, reassign the desired browser by default (method 1).

This method also helps if the browser resets to Mi Browser after the MIUI update. If that doesn't work, move on to more radical ways.

💡

Before resetting your application settings, record or photograph permissions for important programs (such as instant messengers or banking applications) to quickly restore them after resetting.

Method 4: Using ADB to Force Browser Change

If the standard methods don’t work, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a tool for debugging Android, which will allow you to manually assign another browser to the system.

What you need:

• 💻 A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times to tap the version number → return to → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 USB-plug-in.

Instructions:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command line (cmd on Windows).
2. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices should appear the name of your device.
3. Run the command to change the browser (replace com.android.chrome with your browser package): adb shell cmd package set-home-activity com.android.chrome
4. Reboot the phone.

List of packages of popular browsers:

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB If you're not sure about the teams, you should skip this method or ask for help from a specialist.

Method 5: Remove Mi Browser with root rights

If you have root access, you can completely remove the Mi Browser from the system. It's a radical method, but it's guaranteed to solve the problem.

What needs to be done:

1. Get root rights (for example, through Magisk).
2. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or FX File Explorer).
3. Go to /system/app/MiBrowser or /system/priv-app/MiBrowser.
4. Delete the MiBrowser folder or rename it (for example, in the MiBrowser_bak).
5. Reboot the phone.

After that, Mi Browser will disappear from the system, and you can assign any other browser to default without conflicts.

💡

Removing root-righted system applications can lead to unstable MIUI operation. Before deleting, back up your firmware through TWRP!

What do you do if nothing helps?

If none of these methods worked, the problem may be:

• 🔄 Customized firmware - some builds MIUI block the browser change.
• 📱 Regional restrictions – Chinese versions of Redmi (with firmware for the Chinese market) may not have the option to change the browser.
• 🔧 Launcher Failure – Try to change launcher to Nova Launcher or Hyperion.

In such cases, there are two options:

1. Reflash your phone to the European or global version of MIUI.
2. Use workarounds – for example, open links through a domain name → Copy → Insert in Chrome.

If you decide to flash it, be sure to back up the data and follow the official instructions from Xiaomi.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing the browser to Xiaomi Redmi