How to install Yandex start page on Xiaomi phone: 3 proven methods

Are you tired of the standard download page in your Xiaomi browser and want to see Yandex search, news feed or quick access to services when you open the tab? This guide will help you set up the Yandex start page on any Redmi, POCO or Mi smartphone – regardless of the MIUI version (12 to 14) and device model. We will look at all the current ways, from manually configuring in Chrome and a standard browser to creating widgets for instant access.

It is important to understand that the process differs depending on the browser used. For example, in MIUI Browser (the built-in browser of Xiaomi), the algorithm is one, and in Google Chrome it is completely different. In addition, some users face a problem when after updating MIUI settings are reset, we will tell you how to avoid this and fix Yandex as a permanent home page.

If you’ve tried to change the start page before but you haven’t succeeded, don’t worry. 90% of the time, the problem is with the default browser or conflict with MIUI system settings. In this article, you’ll find a unique solution for Xiaomi devices with a pre-installed browser from Mi that isn’t even described in the official documentation.

Why is Yandex better than the standard Xiaomi page?

Before we proceed to the setup, let’s understand what advantages the use of Yandex gives instead of the standard MIUI Browser or Chrome page:

• 🔍 Adapted search: Yandex better understands queries in Russian, offers relevant tips and takes into account geolocation (for example, shows the nearest pharmacies or cinemas).
• 📰 Personalized feed: The homepage displays news about your interests, weather, currency rates and even transport schedules.
• ⚡ Quick access to services: One tap can open Yandex.Maps, Music, Market or Translator without additional search.
• 🛡️ Protection from fraudsters: the built-in Protector system in Yandex blocks phishing sites and warns about suspicious links.
• 🎨 Flexible look setting: You can choose a dark theme, change the background or remove unnecessary widgets.

For comparison, the standard MIUI Browser page only shows frequently visited sites and Google’s search bar (which doesn’t always work properly with Cyrillic), and Chrome defaults to an empty tab or Discover tape that often slows down on Redmi’s budget models.

However, there are nuances: For example, if you use Google services often (for example, Drive or Gmail), then switching to Yandex may require additional synchronization settings, and it is worth considering that some functions (for example, voice search) in Yandex work differently than in Google Assistant.

Method 1: Setting up Yandex as a Start Page in Google Chrome

If you prefer Google Chrome (which is pre-installed on most Xiaomi devices), the algorithm will be as follows. Note: newer versions of Chrome (starting with 110+) have changed the interface, so the instructions from the old manuals may not work.

Step 1: Open Google Chrome and tap the three dots in the top right corner (settings menu).

Step 2. Scroll down to Homepage. If this is not the case, upgrade your browser to the latest version via Google Play.

Step 3. Activate the switch Enable the home page and enter the address in the field below:

https://ya.ru

Or (if you want to see an extended version with widgets):

https://yandex.ru

Open Chrome and go to Settings

Find the "Home Page" section

Insert the "Home page" option

Enter the address ya.ru or yandex.ru

Save the changes and restart the browser-->

Step 4: Go back to the Chrome homepage and check the result. If the old page opens instead of Yandex, clear the browser cache in the settings (Settings → Privacy → Clear data).

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro) POCO X3 Pro after update MIUI 13→14 Chrome settings are reset. To avoid this, export your browser settings through your Google account before upgrading.

If you want Yandex to open not only on the home page, but also in a new tab, follow these steps:

1. In Chrome settings, find the New tab section.
2. Select the Customized page and specify the same address (ya.ru).
3. Restart the browser.

Method 2: Change the Start Page in MIUI Browser

The standard Xiaomi browser (MIUI Browser) is less flexible in settings, but still allows you to set Yandex as the main page. The main difficulty here is hidden settings that are not obvious to the user.

Step 1. Open MIUI Browser and tap the profile icon (or three bars) in the bottom menu. Select Settings.

Step 2. Go to the Home page. Here you will see three options:

• Quick Access Page (standard for MIUI)
• Empty page,
• Another URL.

Select the last item.

Step 3: In the input field, specify:

https://yandex.ru/?from=miui

This address is optimized specifically for Xiaomi devices and loads faster than the standard ya.ru.

Step 4: Save the changes and restart the browser. If Yandex does not open, check if the built-in AdBlock blocks it in MIUI Browser (disable it in the browser settings).

💡

If Yandex opens after setting up, but the search works through Google, check the search engine settings in the browser. In MIUI Browser, this is done in the Search Engine → Yandex section.

Method 3: Creating Yandex widgets on the home screen

If you are uncomfortable opening your browser every time, you can add Yandex widgets directly to the main screen of Xiaomi. This will allow you to access search, weather and news in one tap, without running the browser.

Step 1. Hold your finger to the free space on the home screen, then select Widgets.

Step 2. Scroll through the list to Yandex (if there are no widgets, install the Yandex app from Google Play).

• 🔎 Search Yandex (line for quick search),
• 🌤️ Weather (current temperature and forecast),
• 📰 News Feed (adaptive block with the latest events),
• 🚗 Yandex.Maps (fast access to the navigator).

Step 3: Drag the widget to the home screen. For the search bar, we recommend using a 4×1 size, and for the weather, 2×2.

Step 4: Configure the widget for yourself:

• For the search bar, you can turn on voice input (long press on the microphone icon).
• In the weather widget, tap the temperature to open the extended forecast.
• In the news feed, keep your finger on an unnecessary topic to hide it.

Note: Yandex widgets can conflict with MIUI system widgets (for example, with the weather from Xiaomi). If after adding widgets, the phone began to slow down, try to reduce their number or turn off animations in the developer settings (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version → 5 times tap on the version).

Additional settings for convenience

To use Yandex on Xiaomi was as comfortable as possible, we recommend to perform several additional settings:

1. Sync with your Yandex account: Register or log in to your Yandex account via your browser. This will synchronize bookmarks, history and settings between devices. Go to yandex.ru, tap the avatar in the upper right corner and select Login.
2. Search engine settings by default: In MIUI Browser, go to Settings → Search engine and select Yandex. In Chrome, this is done via Settings → Search engine → Yandex.
3. Disable notifications from MIUI Browser: The standard Xiaomi browser often sends notifications about “popular news.” To turn them off, go to Settings → Notifications → MIUI Browser and deactivate all switches.
4. Traffic optimization: If you have limited Internet, turn on Traffic Saving mode in Yandex settings. Open yandex.ru, tap three bars in the upper left corner and select Settings → Traffic Savings.

It’s also useful to know that Yandex offers a special Yandex.Browser application with advanced features (such as Turbo mode for slow networks).However, on Xiaomi, it can conflict with system services, so check compatibility with your model before installing.

💡

For maximum speed of Yandex on Xiaomi, use the DNS from Yandex: 77.88.8 and 77.88.8.1. This will reduce delays when loading pages by 20-30%.

Solving common problems

Even after setting up correctly, Xiaomi users sometimes face difficulties. Let’s look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

Problem 1: Yandex opens, but search works through Google

This happens if the default search engine in the browser is not changed.

• In Chrome: Settings → Search engine → Yandex.
• In MIUI Browser: Settings → Search engine → Yandex.

Problem 2: After the phone is restarted, the settings are reset

This is due to the memory optimization function in MIUI, which clears the cache of system applications.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find MIUI Browser or Chrome and turn off the Cache Clear option when you lock.
3. Add your browser to Secure Applications (in the same menu).

Problem 3: Yandex slows down or does not load

The reasons may be different:

• 🌐 Poor Internet connection: Check speed with Speedtest.
• 🔒 Lockdown VPN or firewall: Turn off Private DNS network-setting.
• 🗑️ Cache overflow: Clear browser data in Settings → Annexes.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI (For example, the global versions for POCO) Yandex can be blocked as an “unsafe site” in which case add yandex.ru to the whitelist in the security settings (Settings) → PapaSSWORD & SECURITY → Privacy → Safe browsing).

FAQ: Frequent questions about setting up Yandex on Xiaomi