How to change the search engine on Android-smartphones Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

Why Xiaomi Users Want to Change Search Engines and How to Do It Right

By default, Xiaomi smartphones use the search engine Bing or Google depending on the region and version of the MIUI firmware. However, many owners of devices – from the budget Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra – face the inconvenience of slow results, intrusive advertising or simply prefer alternative services like Yandex, DuckDuckGo or Ecosia.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to change the search engine to Xiaomi, including browser settings, changing the launcher settings and even hidden MIUI options that are not written about in the official documentation. Importantly, the procedure is different for different versions of the shell (from MIUI 12 to MIUI 15) and may require additional actions on devices with Chinese firmware.

Before you start, check the version of your firmware in the Settings menu → About Phone → MIUI version. This will help you avoid errors when choosing a method.

Method 1: Change the search engine in the Mi Browser browser

The easiest method is to change the search engine directly in the standard Mi Browser browser, which is pre-installed on all Xiaomi devices, which is suitable for most models, including the POCO X5, Redmi 13C and Xiaomi 13T Pro.

Open the Mi Browser and follow the following steps:

• 🔍 Slip on the search bar at the top of the screen.
• ⚙️ Click on the gear icon (settings) to the right of the line.
• 🌐 Select the "Search Engine" option).
• 📋 In the list of available options, select the desired service (for example, Google, Yandex or Bing).

If your search engine is not listed, you can add it manually:

1. Select the "Other" option.
2. Enter the search engine URL in https://yandex.ru/search/?text=%s (for Yandex) or https://duckduckgo.com/?q=%s (for DuckDuckGo).
3. Save the changes.

Check the browser version in Google Play

Clear the browser cache in the settings

Make sure the device is connected to the internet.

Remember the current search engine in case of rollbacks-->

On Chinese ROM devices, the search engine list may be limited due to regional restrictions, requiring a change of region in your Mi Account settings or an alternative browser.

Method 2: Set up search in Google App (for global firmware)

If you use the Google App (the “Google” app) as your primary search tool, you can change the search engine in its settings.This method works on all Xiaomi smartphones with Global ROM, including the POCO F5 and Xiaomi 12 Lite.

Instructions:

1. Open the Google app (the icon with the letter “G” on the home screen).
2. Slip on the profile icon in the upper right corner.
3. Select “Settings” → “General”
4. Find the search engine and select the desired option.

⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI (for example, MIUI 14 for Redmi Note 11) Google app can be replaced with Mi Search. in this case, use Method 3 or install Google App manually from Google Play.

Method 3: Replace the search widget on the home screen

Many Xiaomi users don’t even realize that the search bar on the home screen (widget) is a separate element that can be customized or replaced. by default, it is a Mi Search widget or Google Search, but it is easy to change.

How to do this:

• 📱 Long tap on the empty seat of the main screen → «Widgets (Widgets).
• 🔎 Find the Search widget from the right manufacturer (e.g. Yandex or DuckDuckGo).
• 📲 Drag it to the main screen.
• 🗑️ Remove the old search widget (if you no longer need it).

If the widget is not listed, install the appropriate app from Google Play:

• 📱 Yandex with widget: Yandex Search
• 🦆 DuckDuckGo: DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser
• 🌍 Ecosia: Ecosia Browser

Google

Yandex

DuckDuckGo

Bing

Other-->

⚠️ Attention: On devices with China ROM (For example, Xiaomi 13 Pro for the Chinese market, third-party search engine widgets may not be installed due to firmware limitations).

Method 4: Use of alternative browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge)

If you don’t like the Mi Browser, the most reliable way to change your search engine is to install a different browser, which is true for all Xiaomi models, including the POCO M6 Pro and Xiaomi Civi 3.

Let’s take a look at the Google Chrome example:

1. Install Chrome from Google Play (if not already installed).
2. Open your browser and tap three dots in the upper right corner.
3. Select “Settings” → “Search engine”.
4. Specify your preferred search engine (available by Google, Yandex, Bing, DuckDuckGo and others).

For Mozilla Firefox:

1. Open Firefox and go to settings (three dots → “Settings”).
2. Select "Search" (Search) → «Default Search Engine (Default Search Engine).
3. Add the desired search engine through the item “Add search engine”.

💡

If you want maximum privacy, use Brave browser with built-in tracker lock and default search engine selection.

The advantage of this method is that you are not dependent on MIUI restrictions and can use any search engine, including niche ones (like Startpage or Qwant).However, note that some browsers (like Chrome) will still sync your search history with your Google account unless you manually disable this feature.

Method 5: Install a third-party launcher (for full control)

If you need to not only change the search engine, but also completely redesign the smartphone interface, the best solution is to install an alternative launcher.This software replaces the standard MIUI interface, allowing you to customize search, icons, gestures and even animations.

The best launchers for Xiaomi with support for changing the search engine:

• 📱 Nova Launcher - flexible configuration, support for widgets of any search engines.
• 🎨 Lawnchair Launcher is an open source lightweight launcher, integration with Google Discover.
• 🔍 Microsoft Launcher is built-in support for Bing, but you can replace it with any other search engine.

Instructions for setting up (for example, Nova Launcher):

1. Install Nova Launcher and make it the default launcher (the system will prompt you to do so when you first start).
2. Long press on the main screen → “Settings”.
3. Go to Search Bar → Search engine by default (Default search provider).
4. Choose the search engine you want or add it manually through the URL.

⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi devices (e.g. Redmi) A2 With lightweight firmware, third-party launchers may not work smoothly due to memory limitations.

Problem Solving: What to Do When the Search Engine Doesn't Change

Sometimes, even after all the manipulations, the search engine stays the same, and this may be due to:

• 🔄 Cache of the browser or application (solution: clear the cache in Settings) → Annexes → [Browser name] → Memory. → Clear the cache).
• 📱 Regional firmware restrictions (solution: change region in your Mi Account or click Global) ROM).
• 🔒 Device Administrator Policies (solution: check for corporate profiles in Settings) → Accounts).
• 🛠️ Errors in launcher settings (solution: reset the launcher settings to standard).

If the problem persists, try the following steps:

1. Reset the device.
2. Update your browser or launcher to the latest version.
3. Check for MIUI updates in Settings → About Phone → System Update.
4. If nothing helps, install an alternative browser (like Firefox Focus) and use it as your primary browser.

💡

On China ROM devices, it may require unlocking the bootloader and installing custom firmware (e.g. xiaomi.eu) to completely change the search engine.This process is complex and risky - it voids the warranty and can lead to a device "brick."

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions