Browser on Xiaomi TV: What is the default, how to use and replace

Xiaomi TVs (Mi series) TV, Redmi TV, Xiaomi TV A and others) run on the Android operating system TV Unlike smartphones, where the choice of browsers is huge, TV platforms with pre-installed apps often ask what browser is already on the system, how to update it, and whether you can install an alternative like Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.

In this article, we will understand what browser is on Xiaomi TV "Out of the box, how to use it (including remote control), what are the limitations of the standard solution and how to install third-party browsers – even if they do not officially support Android TV. You will also find instructions for setting up security, speeding up page loading, and solving typical problems (for example, when the browser does not open sites or slows down).

What browser is preinstalled on Xiaomi TV

On all Xiaomi TVs (regardless of the year of release) the browser is installed by default TV Bro (formerly known as Mi Browser for) TV). This is a proprietary solution from Xiaomi, adapted for control from the remote control and a large interface for the TV screen. The application is based on the Chromium engine, but with reduced functions compared to desktop versions.

Key features TV Bro:

• 🔹 Support HTML5, JavaScript and most modern web standards (but not all – for example, some WebGL games may not work).
• 🔹 Built-in ad blocker (deactivated by default).
• 🔹 Sync with your Xiaomi account (if you are logged in).
• 🔹 Support for voice search via remote (on models with microphone).
• 🔹 Limited support for extensions (only those allowed by Xiaomi).

Important: the browser version depends on the firmware of the TV. TV 4S 2020 is worth it. TV Bro 1.5 and on Xiaomi TV Q2 2023 – 2.1 with improved video support 4K. You can check the version in the Settings menu. → About the program inside the browser itself.

Where to find a browser on Xiaomi TV And how to open it.

browser TV Bro is usually hidden in the app menu to find it:

1. Press the Home button on the remote.
2. Go to the Apps section (or Apps on English firmware).
3. Scroll down the list – the browser icon is called the browser or TV Bro.
4. If there is no icon, use the search (Lupa button on the remote) and enter Browser.

Some models (e.g. Redmi Smart) TV X: The browser can be hidden in the Tools folder. If you didn't find it at all, it's possible that the application was removed by the previous owner or disabled in the settings:

• 🔧 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔧 Find it on the list. TV Bro and click Enable (if the button is active).

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If the browser slows down on the first run, wait until the data indexing is completed (it can take up to 5 minutes).

How to use a browser on Xiaomi TV remote

Control of the browser from the remote control is not as convenient as from the mouse or touchpad, but it is easy to get used to.

• 🖱️ Courier: Use navigation buttons (↑↓←→) To move around the page. On new remotes (for example, from Xiaomi). TV Q2) There is a touchpad for more accurate control.
• 🔍 Increase: Hold on OK (central button to activate the magnifier - this way you can enlarge part of the page.
• ↩️ Back/Go: The Back (back) and Menu (menu) buttons work as browser arrows.
• 🎤 Voice search: on remotes with a microphone (Voice button) you can say a request instead of manually entering.

For convenience, we recommend connecting a wireless mouse or keyboard via Bluetooth or USB-This is especially true for models without a touchscreen (e.g. Mi). TV 4A). Most devices with profiles are supported HID (Logitech mice, Microsoft keyboards, etc.).

If the mouse is not identified, try:

• 🔌 Connect it through USB-Hub (some models require additional power).
• 🔄 Restart the TV (Settings) → On TV. → Reboot).
• 📋 Check Compatibility: Xiaomi Support Site Has a List of Certified Accessories.

Restrictions of the Standard Browser TV Bro

Despite the Chromium base, the browser TV Bro has a number of limitations that can interfere with comfortable surfing:

Critical Limitation: Browser TV Bro does not support WebRTC, which blocks many video services (such as Zoom or Google Meet), and if you need video chats, you will have to install an alternative browser or use specialized applications (such as Skype for Android). TV).

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If you need modern web technologies (WebRTC, WebAssembly), the standard Xiaomi browser TV Not suitable – you need to install Chrome or Firefox.

How to install another browser on Xiaomi TV

Officially Google Play for Android TV Only two full-fledged browsers are available: Google Chrome and Firefox, but they can be installed in other ways:

Method 1: Installation via Google Play

If your TV supports Google Play Store (most 2020 and newer models):

1. Open Google Play on your TV.
2. In the search, type Chrome or Firefox.
3. Click Install and wait for the download to be completed.

On models without Google Play (for example, Xiaomi Mi) TV 4S For the Chinese market, we will have to use a workaround.

Method 2: Installation via APK

This will require:

• 📁 File. APK browser (download from an official website or a trusted source, for example, APKMirror).
• 💾 USB-drive or access to cloud storage (e.g. Google Drive).
• 🔧 Permission to install from unknown sources (Settings) → Security → Unknown sources).

Instructions:

Download APK browser (e.g. Chrome for Android) TV)|Connect USB-TV-storage|Open a file manager (e.g., File Commander)|Find and launch APK-file|Confirm installation and wait for completion-->

⚠️ Note: Not all versions of Chrome or Firefox are optimized for Android TV. We recommend downloading special assemblies for TV, for example:

• 🌐 Chrome for Android TV (Official version from Google).
• 🦊 Firefox Focus (lightweight version with ad blocking).
• 🛡️ Brave Browser (with support for torrent client and cryptocurrency wallets).

Method 3: Use of alternative launchers

If the standard PatchWall launcher does not allow you to install a browser, try changing the shell to ATV Launcher or Sideload Launcher. These applications give access to all installed APK, including those hidden by the system.

You can install an alternative launcher in the same way as the browser - through APK. After installation:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Launcher by default.
2. Select the installed launcher (such as ATV Launcher).
3. Reboot the TV.

Setting up the browser for optimal operation

To browser on Xiaomi TV worked quickly and without failure, we recommend the following settings:

1. Clearing the cache and data

Over time, the browser accumulates temporary files that can slow it down to clear the cache:

1. Go to Settings. → Annexes → TV Bro (or other browser).
2. Select Warehouse. → Clear the cache.
3. If necessary, click Clear Data (this will remove bookmarks and history!).

Initiation of hardware acceleration

This option allows you to use the TV's GPU to render pages, which is especially useful for watching high-resolution video.

1. Open the browser and go to Settings → Additionally.
2. Find the Hardware Acceleration option and activate it.
3. Restart the browser.

3. Change of User-Agent

Some sites (e.g. YouTube or Twitch) may block access from a TV, defining it as an unupported device, to trick the system:

1. In Chrome browser, type in the address bar chrome://flags.
2. Find the User Agent flag and select Desktop or Mobile.
3. Reboot your browser.

V TV Bro change User-Agent only through the Engineering menu (not recommended for beginners).

4. Set up an ad blocker

Built-in blocker in TV Bro is weak, so it is better to use third-party solutions:

• 🛡️ Install Brave browser – it blocks ads by default.
• 🔧 Chrome can be added extensions through chrome://extensions, But most of them are not optimized for TV.
• 🌐 Use it. DNS-filtering (e.g., 1.1.1.1 from Cloudflare) in the settings of the TV network.

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For maximum performance, turn off autoplay video in the browser settings (Settings) → Confidentiality → Auto-reproduction).

Solving browser problems on Xiaomi TV

If the browser does not open sites, slows down or gives errors, try the following solutions:

⚠️ Note: if after updating the firmware browser stopped working, try resetting its settings to factory (Settings) → Annexes → TV Bro → This often helps in conflicts with the new OS version.

If the problem is not solved, check:

• 📶 Internet connection quality (connect the TV via Ethernet cable if possible).
• 🔄 Availability of updates for the browser and TV firmware.
• 🛠️ The operation of the servers of the site (for example, through the service Down For Everyone).

FAQ: Frequent questions about the browser on Xiaomi TV