Modern smartphones like the Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro store huge amounts of user data, and the Yandex browser is no exception. Over time, an impressive list of visited pages accumulates, which can take up a significant place in the memory of the device or simply interfere with privacy. Owners of devices based on the MIUI shell often face the need to quickly and completely clean this digital trail.
The process of deleting data in Yandex Browser on Android has its own peculiarities, depending on the version of the operating system and the application itself. On Redmi 8 Pro, running Android 9 with the MIUI add-on, the procedure can be performed both through the built-in browser menu and through the system settings of the smartphone. Understanding the differences between these methods will allow you to control what data will be destroyed.
In this article, we will take a look at all the cleaning options available, with a focus on the nuances of the Android file system. You will learn how to remove not only the list of links, but also temporary files that can slow down the device. Proper cleaning is not only a matter of privacy, but also a way to optimize the performance of your gadget.
Clearing history through the Yandex Browser menu
The most obvious and quick way to remove the list of visited sites is to use the built-in functionality of the application itself, which does not require access to the system settings of the phone and allows you to flexibly manage the deleted data.
At the bottom of the screen, you'll see a menu bar where you have a button that shows three horizontal bars, and clicking on this one opens the main browser management menu, and you'll select History, which is usually marked by the clock ikon, and you'll see a complete list of all the sites you've visited before in chronological order.
To delete a particular page, just swipe to the left or click the cross next to the name. However, to completely clear all the data, you will need another action. At the top of the story screen, find the Clear History button (sometimes hidden in the additional tripod menu), after clicking, the system will suggest choosing the time range: for the last hour, today, yesterday or All the time.
⚠️ Note: Deleting your history through your browser menu does not always completely clear cached images and site files that may take up space in memory.
Once you have selected the All-Time period and confirmed the action, the visit list will be completely reset, which is irreversible within the application itself, and it will be impossible to restore deleted links by standard means. If you are synchronized with your Yandex ID account, the history will also be deleted on your other devices where the login is made.
Deep cleaning through Android system settings
A more radical and thorough method involves the use of system tools of the Android operating system. This method is especially effective if the application is not working correctly or if you need to ensure that all traces of activity, including cache and cookies, are removed. On Xiaomi smartphones, the path to these settings may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI.
You need to go to the main menu of smartphone settings by finding the gear icon. Next, you should scroll through the list to the "Applications" or "All Apps" section. In the installed programs list you will find "Yandex" (or "Yandex"). Click on the application name will open the "About the App" screen, where detailed information about the version and memory usage is available.
On the app information screen, look for the Memory or Storage section, which shows how much space the app data and cache occupy. To delete your search history and visits at the system level, click Clear (or Clear Data) and the system will alert you that all files and settings of the app will be deleted.
- 📱 Cache Clearing: Deletes temporary files, speeding up work, but does not touch your logins and passwords.
- 🗑️ Cleansing data: completely resets the application to the “as after installation” state, removing history, cookies, saved passwords and settings.
- 🔒 Delete cookies: erases the files that websites use to track your activity and login.
Using this method on Redmi 8 Pro ensures that even the data recovered from the backup will not return the deleted history, since the browser database files are physically erased.
Deletion of cache and cookies to improve privacy
Many users forget that their browsing history is just the tip of the iceberg: much more information about your preferences is stored in cookies and cache. Cookies allow websites to “recognize” you by storing login data, online shopping cart content and interface settings.
In Yandex Browser on Android, you can selectively delete this data without touching the history of visits itself, if necessary. To do this, the cleaning menu (available through the browser settings or system menu) you need to uncheck the “History” item and leave only “Cookies” and “Cash” marked. This is useful if you want to remain logged in to sites, but erase the traces of their operation in the memory of the phone.
The cache contains graphical elements of sites: logos, background images, scripts. Cleaning it can temporarily slow down the load of frequently visited pages, as the browser will have to download them again. However, on Redmi 8 Pro with its RAM capacity, this is almost invisible. Regular cleaning of the cache helps to free up precious gigabytes of internal memory.
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Periodic clearing of cookies once a month is a great habit to protect against intrusive advertising and to track activities on the network.
It is worth noting that after deleting cookies, you will have to re-enter passwords on all sites where you have been logged in, so before doing this, make sure you remember your login details or they are stored in the password manager.
Synchronize and remove data from the cloud
Xiaomi device owners often use the Yandex ecosystem, including device sync. If your Redmi 8 Pro is enabled to sync with your account, simply deleting your phone history can result in it being deleted on your computer and tablet, and vice versa: a story deleted on your PC may disappear on your smartphone.
To control this process, you need to go to the sync settings. Click on the profile avatar in your browser, then select Sync. Here you can see what data is being sent to the cloud. If you want to delete the history only on your phone, but save it in the cloud for other devices, you need to temporarily disable sync before clearing.
However, if your goal is complete digital hygiene, you should use the Yandex ID web interface to manage your history.By accessing passport.yandex.ru through any browser, you can go to the Security and Login section -> Login History.You can not only see where your acc-unt is open, but also manage your search and browsing history, if it is saved in profile.
| Type of data | Where it's stored | Impact on speed | Should I remove it? |
|---|---|---|---|
| History of visits | Locally and in the cloud. | Minimum | For privacy. |
| Cookies | Locally. | Average. | For safety. |
| Cash. | Locally. | High (when overflowing) | To make room |
| Passwords. | Locally and in the cloud. | Absent. | No (only on shift) |
What happens to the data after deletion?
Using Incognito Mode for Future Security
Once you have successfully cleared your history on your Redmi 8 Pro, it makes sense to think about preventing it from accumulating in the future. For this purpose, Yandex Browser, like any modern browser, has an Incognito mode, in which the browser does not save your browsing history, cookies, form data and search queries.
You can activate this mode via the menu (three bars) by selecting the appropriate tab "Incognito"; the visual interface will change: usually the background becomes dark, and the icon of the hat or mask is displayed in the corner. As long as at least one tab is open in this mode, the data is not recorded in the main user profile.
It's important to understand the limitations of this mode. It doesn't make you invisible to an ISP or a Wi-Fi network administrator. IP-Incognito only protects against the retention of traces on the Xiaomi device itself. If you handed over the phone to another person, it will not see which sites you visited in this mode.
- 🕵️ Local privacy: ideal if you give a phone to a friend or child.
- 🛒 Gift search: So that ad algorithms don’t ruin the surprise by showing gift ads on all websites.
- 🔐 Log in to other accounts: it is safe to log into email or social networks, without risking remaining logged in after closing the browser.
⚠️ Note: Incognito mode does not work browser extensions unless they have special permission, which may limit the functionality of some sites.
Automation of cleaning with MIUI system tools
The MIUI shell on the Redmi 8 Pro has powerful built-in optimization tools. The Security app allows you to clean up your trash, including your browser cache, automatically, eliminating the need to manually navigate every time.
Run the Security app and select Clean up. The system will analyze the device and suggest that you delete temporary files. If you click on the settings icon or detailed analysis, you can find Yandex Browser data there. However, standard cleaning often leaves your visit history intact, removing only the cache.
You can use the Advanced Cleanup feature in the same app to make a deeper setup, and be careful: picking the wrong ones can lead to the deletion of important data, such as game progress or saved dialogs in messengers. Always read carefully what exactly will be deleted.
☑️ Checklist for full cleaning
MIUI also has a "Second Space" or "Guest Mode" feature, and if you give your phone to other people often, creating a separate profile is the best way to isolate your personal history from other people's eyes without the need for constant manual cleaning.
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Using the built-in MIUI tools in conjunction with manual cleaning inside the browser gives the maximum effect on freeing up memory and protecting data.