How to update the browser on the Xiaomi phone: 5 proven ways

Why it’s important to update your browser on Xiaomi and what are the risks of ignoring it

The browser on Xiaomi’s smartphone is not just a web browsing app, but a critical security tool. The outdated version may contain vulnerabilities that hackers use to steal data, display malicious ads, or even remotely control a device. For example, in 2023, MIUI Browser version 12.5.8 discovered a flaw that allows you to intercept the history of visits through public Wi-Fi networks.

But it's not just security that's a problem, but modern websites are using technologies like WebAssembly or WebAssembly. AVIF-compressing images that just don't work in older browsers.Redmi Note users 12 POCO X5 Often, the pages are loaded into 2–3 Slowly due to lack of support HTTP/3 Chrome-in-the-box 105. And the owners of Black Shark. 5 complain about the inability to run cloud games through the browser due to the lack of WebGPU.

Another hidden risk is MIUI compatibility. After major system updates (e.g., switching from MIUI 13 to MIUI 14), the built-in browser may conflict with new permissions, leading to sudden closures or a browser stop error, which the manufacturer rarely warns about in advance.

How to check the current version of the browser on Xiaomi

Before you update, you need to understand which version of the browser is installed now, which will help you choose the right way to upgrade. On Xiaomi, checking depends on the type of browser:

• 🔍 MIUI Browser (built-in): Open your browser → tap three points down. → Settings → About the program. The version is in the line "Assembly number".
• 🌐 Google Chrome: Launch the app → three-point → Settings → About Chrome. Look for the line "The Chrome version".
• 🦊 Mozilla Firefox: Open the menu (three dots) → Settings → Scroll down to "O Firefox".

If you have a Redmi 10C or a Poco M4 Pro with custom firmware, the path may be different. For example, in some MIUI EU builds, the “About” item is hidden in Settings → Additional. Also note the date of the last update – if it is older than 3 months, your browser is definitely outdated.

On Black Shark devices with JOYUI instead of MIUI, the browser version is checked through Settings → Applications → Application Management → Browser → Version. Here you can see if your version supports 64-bit architecture (an important point for performance on Snapdragon 8 Gen 2).

Method 1: Update via Google Play Market (for Chrome, Firefox, etc.)

The easiest method is to use Google Play, which is suitable for all browsers except the built-in MIUI Browser.

1. Open the Google Play Store (the icon of the color triangle).
2. In the search bar, type the browser name (for example, “Google Chrome”).
3. If you have an "Update" button, press it. If you don't have one, your browser is already up to date.
4. For automatic updates: on the browser page tap on three points → “Enable auto-update”.

On Xiaomi with MIUI for Russia (without Google services), this method will not work. Instead of Play Market, use the Mi App Store, but updates appear with a delay of 1-2 weeks. Also note that on Android Go devices (for example, Redmi A1), some browsers may not be available for updating due to system limitations.

If you see an error when you update "Can't download", try:

• 🔄 Reboot the phone.
• 📶 Switch from mobile to Wi-Fi (or vice versa).
• 🗑️ Clear Play Market Cache in Settings → Annexes → Google Play Store → Memory. → Clear the cache.

Method 2: Update the built-in MIUI Browser through system settings

The built-in MIUI Browser browser is not updated through the Play Market, but with system updates to check for updates:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Slip three points up there. → "Update application packages".
3. If an update is available for the browser, the corresponding item will appear. Click "Download".

On Poco F3 and other MIUI devices for the global market, this item may be called "Update Embedded Apps." Importantly, browser system updates come less frequently than in the Play Market, about every 1-2 months. If you want the latest version that supports AVIF or WebTransport, this is not the right way to go.

After updating the browser through the system settings, you may need to reboot the device. On the Redmi K50 and other flagships, this process takes up to 5 minutes - do not interrupt it. If the browser becomes slower after the update, clear its cache in Settings → Applications → Browser → Memory → Clear the cache.

Method 3: Manual update through APK-File (for experienced users)

If the automatic methods do not work, you can install the latest version of the browser manually through the APK-This method is suitable for all browsers, including MIUI Browser, but it takes care. APK Only official sources are required:

• 🌍 APKMirror – a verified directory with signed files.
• 🔗 Official browser sites: Chrome: google.com/chrome Firefox: mozilla.org

Installation instructions:

1. Download. APK-The latest version file (for example, com.android.chrome_124.0.6367.91.apk).
2. Allow installation from unknown sources: Settings → Applications → Application Management → Browser (or File Manager) → Allow installation from this source.
3. Open the downloaded file through the File Manager and follow the instructions.

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Before installing an APK, check its hash (MD5/SHA-1) on the source site. This will protect against fake virus files. On Xiaomi, the hash can be checked through the File Manager+ app (built into MIUI).

Important: When you manually install MIUI Browser on devices with MIUI 14 and later, you may experience a signature conflict leading to the error "Application not installed", in which case you will first have to remove the built-in browser through ADB (requires an unlocked bootloader).

Method 4: Update via MIUI bootloader (for browser firmware)

If the built-in browser is outdated due to the older version of MIUI, the only reliable way is to update the firmware itself.

1. Download the latest stable firmware for your model from the official Xiaomi website.
2. Transfer the firmware file (for example, miui_BLOCKSHARKGlobal_V14.0.5.0.TLOMIXM_...) root-catalog of internal memory.
3. Go to Settings → About Phone → System Update → Three Dots → Select a firmware file.
4. Confirm the installation and wait for the restart (it will take 10-15 minutes).

On the Poco X3 Pro and other devices with unlocked bootloader, you can use MIUI bootloader, a utility for automatic download and installation of firmware, which allows you to choose a region (Global, EEA, Russia) and an update type (Recovery or Fastboot).

After updating the firmware browser will update automatically. However, on some devices (for example, Redmi 9A) you may need to reset the cache through Settings → Apps → Browser → Memory → Clear cache and data, otherwise new features (like Dark Mode 2.0) will not work.

Method 5: Use of alternative browsers (if update is not possible)

If you can’t update your current browser (e.g., on Redmi 5A with MIUI 9), consider alternatives. Modern lightweight browsers support even older devices:

• 🚀 Brave Browser – blocks ads, supports Tor mode and runs on Android 5.0+.
• ⚡ Kiwi Browser – based on Chromium, but optimized for weak smartphones (e.g. Redmi) 4X).
• 🛡️ DuckDuckGo Browser – Focus on Privacy, Weighs Just ~30MB.

Installation of an alternative browser:

1. Download APK from the official website (for example, brave.com).
2. Allow installation from unknown sources (as in Method 3).
3. Install your browser and make it the default app in Settings → Apps → Default Apps → Browser.

On Xiaomi with MIUI 12.5 and later, you can use the dual app feature (in Settings → Apps) to hold both the old and new browsers simultaneously.

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Alternative browsers are often updated more often than system browsers, for example, Brave releases security patches every 2 weeks, while MIUI Browser releases security patches every 1-2 months.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When updating your browser on Xiaomi, users often face typical problems. Here's how to solve them:

• 🔴 The “Not Enough Memory” Error: Free up 500+ MB through Settings → Memory. → Clean up. M3 64 GB of memory may require file transfer SD-map.
• 🔴 "Application not installed” (when manually installed APK): Remove the old version of the browser through Settings → Apps or use ADB: adb uninstall com.android.browser
• 🔴 Browser is dyed after the update: Clear cache and data in Settings → Annexes → browser → Memory. If it doesn't work, roll back to the previous version via APKMirror.

On devices with MIUI for China (e.g. Xiaomi 12S Ultra) it may be necessary to change region to access global updates. This is done via Settings → Additional → Region, but requires a reboot and may reset some settings.

If after the update the browser began to consume more battery, check Settings → Battery → Battery Use. On the Redmi Note 10 Pro with MIUI 13, a bug is known when Chrome 115+ keeps the processor 100% in the background.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions