Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi, POCO and Mi lines) come with a pre-installed browser — most commonly Mi Browser or Google Chrome, depending on the region and firmware version. However, over time, browsers become obsolete, security vulnerabilities appear, work speeds decrease, and new web technologies (such as WebGPU or AVIF) are no longer supported. Updating the browser to the latest version solves these problems, but on Xiaomi this process is nuanced due to the features of the MIUI firmware.
In this article, you will find the latest ways to update browsers on Xiaomi smartphones (including models from 2023-2026), whether you are using Mi Browser, Chrome, Firefox or alternative solutions. APK, We will also focus on common errors, such as when the browser is not updated due to restrictions. MIUI or lack of memory space.
Why it is important to update your browser to Xiaomi
The browser is not just a web browsing app, but a critical component of smartphone security and performance, and here are the key reasons why an update is imperative:
- 🛡️ Fixing vulnerabilities: Older browser versions often find critical bugs (e.g. vulnerabilities) CVE-2023-4863 Chrome, which allows hackers to steal data or install malware, updates close these gaps.
- ⚡ Speed Up: New versions optimized for modern processors (e.g. Snapdragon) 8 Gen 2/3 or Dimensity 9000+), which speeds up the loading of pages on 15–30%.
- 🌐 Support for new standards: Sans WebP 2.0, HTTP/3 or CSS Nesting: Many sites are displayed incorrectly or slowed down.
- 📱 Compatibility with MIUI: After major firmware updates (e.g., with MIUI 13 on MIUI 14) older browser versions may conflict with system libraries.
On Xiaomi, the problem is complicated by the fact that Mi Browser (the company’s branded browser) is not updated through Google Play, but along with the firmware.This means that even if you see an update notification in the store, it may not install due to the limitations of MIUI.
Method 1: Update via Google Play (for Chrome, Firefox, and others)
The easiest way to update your browser is to use Google Play, which is suitable for Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Brave and other third-party browsers.
⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (especially for the Chinese market) may not have Google Play or be blocked. In this case, go to method 3 (install via the Google Play system). APK).
Instructions for updating:
- Open the Google Play Store (the icon of the color triangle).
- In the search bar, type the browser name (for example, Google Chrome).
- If you have an update available, you'll see the Update button. Click on it.
- Wait for the download and installation to be completed. Don't interrupt the process.
If the Update button is inactive or missing, check:
- 🔄 Auto Update: Go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → Google Play Store → Auto-Update and select “Across any network».
- 📶 Internet connection: Updates weigh between 50 and 150MB. Use Wi-Fi if you have limited traffic.
- 📱 Regional restrictions: Some browsers (such as Yandex Browser) may not be available in your country. VPN.
☑️ Preparing for an update via Google Play
Method 2: Update Mi Browser (branded browser Xiaomi)
Mi Browser is a standard browser on Xiaomi smartphones that is integrated into MIUI firmware. Its update differs from other browsers because it is tied to system updates.
- 🔄 Update through MIUI: New Mi Browser versions come with weekly or monthly patches MIUI. To check for updates, go to Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
- 📦 Manual installation: If system update is not available, you can download the latest version of the Mi Browser as a APK from the official Xiaomi website (link in the next section).
- ⚠️ On some models (for example, Redmi Note 12 Pro)+ Mi Browser cannot be removed or replaced without root rights.
If you want to completely abandon Mi Browser in favor of Chrome or Firefox, follow the following steps:
- Install an alternative browser (see method 1).
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Mi Browser.
- Click Disable (this hides the browser from the menu, but does not remove it completely).
- Set up the new browser as the default app in Settings → Apps → Default Apps → Browser.
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If you see a notification that says "System application stopped" after you disable Mi Browser, ignore it, it's okay.
Method 3: Manual installation via APK (for all browsers)
If Google Play is not available or the browser is not updated through it, you can install the latest version manually by downloading the APK file. This method is suitable for all browsers, including Mi Browser, Chrome and Firefox. It is important to download APK only from trusted sources to avoid viruses.
Step-by-step:
- Download APK: For Google Chrome: official site is google.com/chrome (select Android version). For Mi Browser: Xiaomi Community forum (c.mi.com) or apk.mi.com. For Firefox: official site is mozilla.org.
- Allow installation from unknown sources: Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Browser (or File Manager) → Install unknown applications. Activate the Allow from this source switch.
- Install APK: Open the downloaded file through File Manager or browser. Confirm installation by clicking "Install".
Important: If the installation error "Application not installed", delete the old version of the browser (if it is not a system application) or check the integrity of the downloaded APK (damaged files are not installed).
| browser | APK official source | Minimum version of Android | File size (approximately) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Chrome | google.com/chrome | Android 5.0+ | 120–150 MB |
| Mi Browser | apk.mi.com | Android 8.0+ | 30-50 MB |
| Firefox | mozilla.org | Android 5.0+ | 80-100 MB |
| Brave | brave.com | Android 6.0+ | 90–110 MB |
What to do if the APK is not installed?
Method 4: Update via MIUI Updater (for system browsers)
If you are using Mi Browser or another system browser that is not updated through Google Play, the only official way to get the latest version is to update MIUI firmware.
- Open Settings → About the phone → System update.
- Click on "Check Updates." If a new version of MIUI is available, download it.
- After installing the update, check the browser version in Settings → Applications → Mi Browser → Version.
If there are no updates, but you know that for your model (Redmi Note 13 Pro, Xiaomi 14, etc.) a new firmware has been released, you can try:
- 🔄 Manual Firmware Download: Download the latest version MIUI From the official website of Xiaomi Firmware and install it through System Update → Three points. → Select a firmware file.
- 📡 Switch to another branch MIUI: For example, with Stable on Beta (but this can lead to bugs!).
⚠️ Note: The firmware update resets some settings (such as application permissions or background processes). After the update, check your browser's performance in Settings → Permits → Autostart and turn it on if it is turned off.
Problem Solving: The browser is not updated or is unstable
Sometimes, even after the latest version is installed, the browser may slow down, crash or not open some sites, and here are the typical problems and solutions:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The browser is not updated through Google Play | MIUI restrictions or regional blockages | Use a VPN or install an APK manually (see Method 3) |
| Pages load slowly | Browser cache is full or traffic saving mode is enabled | Clear the cache in Settings → Applications → Browser → Memory → Clear the cache |
| The browser flies off when it opens | Conflict with MIUI or damaged application data | Remove browser updates and reinstall it |
| Some websites (such as banks) are not opened. | Outdated Security Protocol (TLS 1.0/1.1) | Update your browser or use Chrome/Firefox with TLS 1.3 support |
If the problem persists, try resetting your browser settings:
- Go to Settings → Applications → [Your browser] → Memory.
- Click on Clear Data (this will remove bookmarks and history!).
- Reboot your smartphone.
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If your browser is using more battery after the update, check background activity in Settings → Battery → Battery Use. Turn off autosynchronization of bookmarks and notifications from sites.
Alternative browsers for Xiaomi: what to choose instead of Mi Browser
If you don’t like Mi Browser or Chrome, consider alternative browsers optimized for Xiaomi:
- 🦊 Firefox Focus: Lightweight browser with tracker lock and history automatically deleted. perfect for privacy.
- 🛡️ Brave: Blocks ads at the browser level and supports torrents through IPFS.
- 🌐 Kiwi Browser: Chrome-based, but with extension support (like on PC.
- ⚡ Via Browser: Weighs less than 5MB, has built-in VPN and traffic savings.
To install any of these browsers, use Google Play or download APK from official sites. Before installing, check compatibility with your version of MIUI (for example, Firefox Focus requires Android 8.0+).
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For Xiaomi models with low RAM (2-3 GB), it is recommended to use Firefox Lite or Via Browser – they consume 30-40% less memory than Chrome.