Xiaomi Browser: What is it, how does it work and how is it different from Google Chrome?

Owners of Xiaomi smartphones, tablets and TVs often come across a pre-installed app called Xiaomi Browser (or simply Mi Browser), which many users do not understand why they need it when they already have the usual Google Chrome or Safari. In fact, it is not just a double standard browser, but a full-fledged tool with unique features, optimized for the ecosystem. MIUI brand-name.

On the one hand, Xiaomi’s browser offers close integration with the company’s services: synchronizing bookmarks through Mi Account, accelerated loading of pages on weak devices, and even built-in tools to save traffic. On the other hand, it is often criticized for aggressive advertising, data collection and not always intuitive interface. So should you use this browser or should you delete it immediately? Let’s look at the details – from technical features to hidden settings, which are not written in the official instructions.

In this article you will find:

• 🔍 What is Xiaomi Browser and how did it appear in your device?
• ⚙️ Hidden features that are not in Chrome or Firefox
• 📱 Differences in versions for smartphones, tablets and TVs Mi TV
• 🚫 How to Disable Advertising and Protect Privacy
• 🗑️ Can you delete the browser without root rights and what it threatens?

1 What is Xiaomi Browser and Why You Need It

Xiaomi Browser (officially called Mi Browser or Xiaomi Browser) is a proprietary web browser developed by Xiaomi based on the open-source Chromium engine (the same as used in Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge). MIUI, including smartphones, tablets and Mi TVs TV.

The main goal of creating your own browser is to reduce dependence on Google services and offer users an alternative with improved integration into the Xiaomi ecosystem. For example, the browser automatically synchronizes bookmarks, history and tabs between devices through Mi Account, supports gestures. MIUI It is optimized for low-end chipsets (e.g., Redmi low-end models).

But there is a downside to this approach: the browser actively collects data on user activity (even in “incognito mode”), displays contextual advertising and sometimes redirects search queries through Xiaomi’s own servers, raising privacy questions, especially among European users.

⚠️ Note: In some regions (e.g. India), Mi Browser was seen collecting data on visited sites even without user consent, which led to a scandal in 2020, after which Xiaomi released an update with more transparent privacy settings. However, by default, many tracking options remain enabled.

2. The difference between Browser Xiaomi and Google Chrome and other browsers

At first glance, the Mi Browser is not much different from Chrome or Firefox: the same Chromium engine, support for extensions (albeit limited), synchronization between devices, but there are several key features that make it stand out from the competition.

One of the main advantages of the Mi Browser is optimization for weak devices. For example, on Redmi smartphones with 2-3 GB of RAM, the browser consumes 15-20% less memory than Chrome, thanks to an aggressive tab management policy, and it supports a “Traffic Saving” mode that compresses images and blocks background scripts, useful in slow Internet.

On the other hand, the Mi Browser has its drawbacks:

• 📛 Advertising in the interface (banners on the home page, pop-up notifications)
• 🔍 Redirect search through Xiaomi servers (even if Google is selected as the default search engine)
• 🛡️ Weak privacy protection (no full-fledged Incognito Mode without data collection)
• 🔄 Slowly load updates (new features appear later than Chrome)

3. Xiaomi browser versions: smartphones, tablets and Mi TV

Xiaomi has adapted its browser for different types of devices, and their capabilities are markedly different.

3.1 Mi Browser for smartphones and tablets (Android)

The most common version, which is installed on all smartphones and tablets with MIUI. She supports her:

• 📱 Navigation gestures (swipe down for updates, swipe left/right for tab switching)
• 🔒 Blocking Unwanted Sites (through Settings) → Confidentiality)
• 🌐 Page translation (built-in translator from Microsoft Bing)
• 📁 File Manager (fast access to downloads directly from the browser)

3.2 Mi Browser for Mi TV (Android TV)

The Xiaomi TV version has a simplified interface optimized for remote control. There is no support for extensions, but there are:

• 📺 Mode "For TV" (big buttons, adaptive layout)
• 🎮 Voice management (via Google Assistant or XiaoAI)
• 📼 Video support in the 4K (auto-switching)
• 🔌 Mi Home integration (you can manage smart devices directly from your browser)

But the Mi TV The browser is often slow due to weak hardware, such as Mi models. TV 4A With 1 GB of RAM, tabs hang when you open heavy sites (for example, YouTube or Twitch).

Mi Browser Pro (Chinese version)

In China, Xiaomi distributes an expanded version of the browser - Mi Browser Pro. It includes:

• 💰 Built-in payment services (Alipay, WeChat Pay)
• 📊 Traffic analytics (detailed statistics of Internet usage)
• 🎵 Built-in music player (for streaming from Chinese platforms)
• 🛒 Integration with Mi Mall (fast access to the Xiaomi store)

This version is not available outside of China, but it can be installed manually through the APK-But we don't recommend that, because the Chinese version collects even more data and contains ads in Chinese.

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If you're on your Mi. TV The browser is too slow, try installing an alternative via Google Play (e.g., Google Play, TV Bro or Puffin. TV). To do this, turn on the developer mode in the settings of the TV: Settings → On TV. → Press 7 times on "Version" MIUI".

4. How to set up Xiaomi Browser: Hidden Features and Optimization

Many users do not realize that Mi Browser has useful features that are not enabled by default.

4.1. Disabling advertising and data collection

To reduce the amount of advertising and improve privacy:

1. Open Settings → Additional → Privacy.
2. Turn off the options: 🔍 "Personalized recommendations (collection of data about visited sites) 📊 "Send error reports (sending logs to Xiaomi) 📢 "Show notifications” (pop-up banners)

Settings → Main page

"News Tape"

“Recommended sites”

Unfortunately, you can't completely remove ads without root rights, because they're embedded in the browser code, but these settings reduce the amount of ads you have.

Acceleration of work on weak devices

If the browser is slowing down on a budget smartphone (for example, Redmi). 9A POCO C31), try:

• 🚀 Include "Data Saving Mode" in Settings → Additionally. → Saving traffic.
• 🗑️ Clean the cache regularly: Settings → Clear the data → Cash.
• 🔄 Turn off "Page Preload" in Settings → Additionally. → Productivity.
• 📱 Use Light Mode (available on devices with less than 3GB of RAM).

Disable page preloading|

Insert data savings mode|

Clean the cache manually|

Turn off the news feed on the main|

Use the "Light Mode" (if available)-->

Synchronization with other devices

One of the Mi Browser features is synchronization between Xiaomi devices via Mi Account, to configure it:

1. Go to Settings. → Mi Account and log in.
2. Turn on the options: 🔗 "Synchronization of bookmarks" 📑 "Synchronization of history" 🖥️ "Synchronization of open tabs"

On the second device, repeat the same steps – the data is synchronized automatically.

This feature works even between a smartphone and a Mi TV. TV. For example, you can open a website on your phone and then continue reading on the big screen.

💡

Syncing via Mi Account only works between Xiaomi devices.If you use a smartphone from another brand (such as Samsung), this feature will not be available.

5. How to remove or disable Xiaomi Browser

Many people want to get rid of Mi Browser, especially if they're using Chrome or Firefox, but you can't completely remove it without root rights -- it's a system app. But there are a few workarounds.

Disconnection (without deletion)

To hide the browser from the menu and stop it from working:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Browser (or Mi Browser) in the list.
3. Click "Disable" (the button will only be active if the browser is not used as the main one).
4. Confirm the action – the application will disappear from the menu and stop updating.

⚠️ Note: If Mi Browser is installed as the default browser to open links, the "Disable" button will be inactive. First, assign the other browser to the primary in Settings → Annexes → Default applications → browser.

5.2. Removal through ADB (rootless)

For experienced users, there is a way to delete the browser without obtaining root rights - through ADB (Android Debug Bridge. Instructions:

1. Enable Developer Mode on Smartphone: Settings → The phone. → Press 7 times on "Version" MIUI".
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable “Debugging by USB”.
3. Connect your phone to your PC, open the command line and type: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.android.browser For Mi Browser Pro, use the command: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.mi.globalbrowser
4. Restart the device – the browser will be removed for the current user.

This method does not require root, but the browser will return after resetting or updating. MIUI.

5.3. Replacement with another browser by default

If you do not want to delete Mi Browser, but do not plan to use it, assign another browser to the main one:

1. Install an alternative (such as Chrome or Firefox) from Google Play.
2. Go to Settings → Applications → Default Applications → Browser.
3. Select the browser you want from the list.

7. Xiaomi Browser Alternatives: Which Browser to Choose

If you decide to drop the Mi Browser, consider alternatives optimized for Xiaomi devices:

For Mi TVs, TV The best choice is TV Bro or Puffin. TV — They are better adapted for remote control and support video in high resolution. On smartphones with low RAM (2-3 GB), we recommend Kiwi Browser or Firefox Lite.

8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)