How to change the browser on the Xiaomi smartphone: from removing Mi Browser to installing alternatives

The standard Mi Browser browser on Xiaomi smartphones is often a source of frustration: aggressive advertising, limited privacy settings and not always a user-friendly interface. Many want to replace it with Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or other alternatives, but face difficulties ranging from not having a “Delete” button to returning the browser after resetting. In this article, we will discuss all the ways to completely replace the browser with Xiaomi, including hidden MIUI settings, bypassing system restrictions and solving typical problems.

It's important to understand that Mi Browser is integrated into MIUI as a system application, so you can't just uninstall it. However, there are legal and illegal ways to deactivate or replace it. We'll look at both, from formal solutions (for users without root rights) to advanced methods for enthusiasts. You'll also learn how to permanently disable Mi Browser updates through ADB so that it doesn't come back after system updates.

Why do users want to remove Mi Browser?

The main complaints about the standard Xiaomi browser are related to its work in the background and intrusive advertising.

• 📢 Browser Advertising: Even when you turn off personalized ads in your settings MIUI Banners and pop-ups continue to appear.
• 🔍 Data collection: Mi Browser transfers data about visited sites to Xiaomi servers (confirmed by security studies, for example, from Forbes in 2020).
• 🚫 Limited settings: it is impossible to disable page preloading, change the default search engine (in some regions), or configure an ad blocker.
• 🔄 Automatic Recovery: After Updating MIUI The browser can return even if you delete it.

According to a survey of Xiaomi users (conducted by the XDA Developers community in 2023), 68% of respondents prefer to use Google Chrome or Firefox instead of the standard browser, while 42% complained about the inability to completely remove it without root rights.

Method 1: Disable Mi Browser without root (official method)

If you don’t have a superuser (root) right, you can disable the browser, but not delete it completely.This method works on all Xiaomi devices with MIUI 12 and later (including MIUI 14/15).

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search bar, type Browser (or "Browser" in Russian).
3. Select Mi Browser from the list.
4. Click Disable (if the button is inactive, click Stop first).
5. Confirm the action in the pop-up window.

Once disabled, the browser will disappear from the application menu and stop working in the background. However, it will remain in the system and can return after the MIUI update.

Turn off automatic update of Mi Browser in Google Play|

Install an alternative browser (Chrome/Firefox) by default|

Clear cache and Mi Browser data via settings |

Create a backup of settings (in case of resetting)-->

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro) POCO X3 Pro) after disabling Mi Browser, errors may occur when opening links from other applications, in which case install an alternative browser and assign it to the default application for link processing.

Method 2: Remove Mi Browser via ADB (without root)

A more radical method is to remove the browser through the ADB debugging bridge. This does not require root rights, but requires connecting the smartphone to the computer. The advantage of the method is that the browser will be deleted completely and will not return after the updates (if you do not reset the settings).

This will require:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB Tools.
• 📱 Included Debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times, then return to Settings → Additionally. → For developers).
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

Instructions:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC and open the command line (cmd on Windows or Terminal on macOS/Linux).
2. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices should appear the name of your device.
3. Run a command to remove Mi Browser: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.android.browser For some models (e.g. POCO) another command may be required: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.browser
4. Reboot your smartphone.

If the command doesn’t work, try first to disable the browser through the settings (as in Method 1), and then repeat the procedure. Also check if Mi Browser is blocked as a system application, in which case only root rights will help.

Method 3: Complete removal with root rights

If you have root access (e.g., through Magisk), you can delete the Mi Browser permanently, including all of its system files, a method suitable for experienced users, as improper actions can lead to system failure.

Removal will require:

• 📱 Installed by Magisk or other root rights manager.
• 🛠️ Root-enabled file manager (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
• 🔍 Knowledge of paths to system files MIUI.

Steps:

1. Open the root manager and go to /system/app/MiBrowser or /system/priv-app/MiBrowser (the path may vary depending on the model).
2. Delete the MiBrowser folder completely.
3. Also check the /system/app/QuickSearchBox folder – sometimes it stores related files.
4. Clear the cache to /data/data/com.android.browser.
5. Reset the device.

⚠️ Note: Deleting system files can lead to errors in the work MIUI, especially if the browser is linked to other services (e.g. Mi Account) before deleting, backup through TWRP Or OrangeFox. Also note that after the update, MIUI The browser can return - in this case, the procedure will have to be repeated.

How to assign another browser by default?

Even after removing or disabling the Mi Browser, the system can continue to open links in it. To avoid this, you need to assign an alternative browser to the default application.

Instructions:

1. Install your desired browser (such as Google Chrome or Firefox) from Google Play.
2. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
3. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select the Default Apps.
4. Find the Browser section and select the browser installed.
5. Also check the Open Links settings in each browser separately (in Chrome: Settings → Open Links → Open Supported Links).

If links still open in Mi Browser, try the following steps:

• 🔄 Clear the Mi Browser data and cache through settings.
• 📱 Install Default App Manager from Google Play – it allows you to manage your applications more flexibly by default.
• 🔧 In some firmware MIUI Helps reset application settings (Settings) → Annexes → Resetting application settings).

💡

If after changing the browser by default, links from Telegram or WhatsApp still open in Mi Browser, go to the settings of each messenger and manually select the browser to open links.

Problem Solving: Browser Returns After Update

One of the most common problems is that the Mi Browser comes back after the MIUI update, which is because the system restores remote system applications.

To completely block the recovery of the browser, you can use the Universal Android Debloater (UAD) tool. This PC application allows you to disable the system components of MIUI without root. You can download it on GitHub. Once you connect your smartphone through ADB, find the Mi Browser list and mark it for removal.

💡

To get rid of Mi Browser forever, combine methods: delete via ADB, block updates in Google Play, and use Debloater after each major MIUI update.

Best Mi Browser Alternatives for Xiaomi

If you want to change your browser, here TOP-5 Alternatives with the specifics of Xiaomi:

• 🌐 Google Chrome is the most popular option, but consumes a lot of RAM. supports syncing with a Google account and has a built-in translator.
• 🦊 Mozilla Firefox is the best choice for privacy. block trackers by default and supports extensions (e.g. uBlock Origin).
• 🛡️ Brave Browser – blocks ads and trackers at the browser level, speeds up page loading.
• ⚡ Microsoft Edge is lightweight and fast, with vertical tabs. It's optimized for the environment. MIUI.
• 🔒 DuckDuckGo Browser – Maximum anonymity, but limited functionality (no bookmark synchronization).

For devices with low RAM (like Redmi 9A or POCO C31), Firefox Focus or Bromite are recommended, which take up less resources and do not slow down the system. If you want to integrate with the Google ecosystem, choose Chrome or Edge.

Tip: After installing a new browser, move the bookmarks from Mi Browser.

1. Open the Mi Browser (if it still works).
2. Export bookmarks to the HTML file (Settings → Bookmarks → Export).
3. Import the file to a new browser (in Chrome: Settings → Bookmarks → Import).

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing the browser to Xiaomi