Where on Xiaomi are stored browser bookmarks: ways, export and recovery

Introduction: Why is it hard to find bookmarks on Xiaomi?

If you’ve ever tried to find a bookmarked file on a Xiaomi smartphone, you’ve probably encountered confusion: the standard Mi Browser stores data differently than Google Chrome, and the paths to files are hidden deep in system folders. Unlike desktop OSes, where bookmarks are publicly available (for example, as a percentage of AppleData% on Windows), on Android — and especially on MIUI firmware — everything is complicated by security policies and proprietary solutions Xiaomi.

Adding to the complexity, Xiaomi is actively modifying standard applications. For example, in Mi Browser bookmarks can be synchronized through Mi Account, but local copies of files are not always available without root rights. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to find, export and restore bookmarks – both in the standard browser and in Chrome, taking into account the features of MIUI 12/13/14.

1. Where bookmarks are stored in the standard Mi Browser browser

The Mi Browser (aka Mi Browser Pro or simply com.mi.globalbrowser) uses two types of bookmark storage:

• 📁 Local files are stored in a system folder that is restricted without root.
• ☁️ Cloud sync – through Mi Account (similar to Google Account for Xiaomi ecosystem).

Local bookmarks of Mi Browser are stored along the way:

/data/data/com.mi.globalbrowser/app_browsers/Default/bookmarks.db

This is a SQLite database file that contains not only bookmarks, but also a history of visits. Without the superuser rights (root), it is impossible to read it - even through the file manager it will appear as "empty" or inaccessible.

⚠️ Note: Attempting to copy bookmarks.db ADB without root, you will be mistaken for Permission denied. Use official export methods (see section 3).

If your Xiaomi has MIUI 14 or later, the path may be slightly different due to changes in folder structure, for example, on some models (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5), bookmarks are stored here:

/data/data/com.mi.globalbrowser/mini_app/browser/bookmarks.db

2. Ways to bookmark in Google Chrome on Xiaomi

Google Chrome on Android stores bookmarks differently than Mi Browser, the main difference is sync through Google Account, but local copies also exist.

/data/data/com.android.chrome/app_chrome/Default/Bookmarks

It is not a single file, but a folder with several files:

• 📄 Bookmarks - the main file with bookmarks (format) JSON).
• 📄 Bookmarks.bak – backup (created automatically).
• 📄 Bookmarks.journal – Change Log for Failure Recovery.

Like the Mi Browser, these files are blocked without root rights, but Chrome has built-in export tools:

1. Open Chrome. → press ⋮ (three-point) → Bookmarks → ⋮ (three dots next to the folder) → Bookmarking exports.
2. The file will be saved in.html format in the Download folder.

💡

If you reinstall your firmware frequently, enable bookmark sync in Chrome: Settings → Your profile → Sync → Bookmarks. This will save data even after you reset your phone.

3. How to export bookmarks without root rights

If you don't have root access, but you need to save bookmarks, use built-in browser features or third-party tools. Here are the working ways:

For Mi Browser:

1. Open the browser → press ⋮ → Bookmarks.
2. Press Control. → Export (if option is available).
3. The file will be saved in either.html or.db format (depending on the MIUI version).

For Google Chrome:

As mentioned above, use the built-in export. Alternatively, sync with Google Account:

• 🔄 Enable sync in Chrome settings.
• 🖥️ Bookmarks will automatically appear on the Chrome version for PC (available at WEB) chrome://bookmarks).

The universal method (for any browser):

Use backup applications, such as:

• 📱 Super Backup & Restore (saves bookmarks for Chrome and some other browsers).
• 📱 Swift Backup (requires root or ADB, It supports the Mi Browser).

Make a backup of important phone data

Check the space in memory (need ~10-50 MB)

Make sure your browser is updated to the latest version

Turn it off. VPN (It may interfere with synchronization)-->

4. Access to bookmarks via ADB (no root)

If you can't export through the browser interface, you can try to extract bookmarks through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which does not require root, but gives you limited access.

Instructions for Google Chrome:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and enable USB Debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times press to unlock Developer Mode, then Settings → Additional → Developers → Debugging by USB).
2. Open the command line on the PC and type:

adb pull /data/data/com.android.chrome/app_chrome/Default/Bookmarks

If the team makes a mistake, try:

adb backup -f chrome_bookmarks.ab com.android.chrome

This will create a backup that can be converted to a readable format using tools like Android Backup Extractor.

⚠️ Attention: ADB Backup does not always copy bookmarks completely - depends on the version MIUI. On some devices (Xiaomi 13, Redmi) K60) This method may not work due to Xiaomi’s limitations.

5. Restoration of bookmarks after resetting or firmware

If you reset your phone to factory settings or reflashed it, you can restore bookmarks in several ways:

If your bookmarks were lost due to a crash, try restoring them through Mi Cloud:

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Data Recovery.
2. Select a backup with the desired date.
3. Mark the browser data and click Restore.

6. Alternative methods: cloud services and third-party applications

If standard methods don’t work, consider alternatives:

• 🌐 Xmarks – service for synchronizing bookmarks between devices (supports Chrome, Firefox, Safari).
• 📁 Fenecon Android – application for backup browser data (requires root).
• 🔗 Raindrop.io – cloud-based bookmark storage service with extensions for Chrome and Firefox.

For Xiaomi users with MIUI 14 and later, it is useful to know that Xiaomi blocks some backup features for "uncertified" devices. If your phone is unlocked or has custom firmware, sync via Mi Cloud may not work.

1. Use a Google Account for Chrome.
2. Export bookmarks manually to.html format.
3. Store your copies on Google Drive or another cloud.

💡

On devices with an unlocked bootloader, sync via Mi Cloud can be disabled, in which case it is more reliable to use Google Account or third-party services.

7. Frequent problems and their solutions

When you bookmark on Xiaomi, users experience common mistakes, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

• 🚫 "No access to the bookmarks.db file" → Solution: Use ADB pull or get root rights.
• 🔄 "The bookmarks are not synchronized with the Mi Cloud" → Solution: Check your account settings (Settings) → Xiaomi account → Sync and restart your phone.
• 📱 "After the firmware was laid, the pads were gone" → Solution: Restore data from Mi Cloud or Google Drive backup.
• 🔍 "Bookmarks Exports Are Not Working in Mi Browser" → Solution: Update your browser to the latest version or use Chrome.

If you encounter an error called "Cannot open database" when you try to open bookmarks.db, it means that the file is corrupted.

1. Copy the file on the PC.
2. Open it in SQLite Browser.
3. Export the bookmarks table to CSV or SQL format.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions