If you own a Xiaomi smartphone, you probably noticed a pre-installed browser with the MI Browser logo. Many users wonder what kind of application it is, why it is needed and can you get rid of it? In this article, we will analyze in detail how MI Browser differs from other browsers, what functions it has, and also talk about its advantages and disadvantages.
It's worth noting that MI Browser isn't just another Google Chrome clone or Mozilla Firefox, it's a Xiaomi-branded browser that's integrated into the MIUI ecosystem and offers unique experiences for the owners of the brand's devices, but not everyone likes it, especially because of the advertising and limited settings. Let's see if it's worth using or if it's better to switch to alternatives right away.
What is MI Browser and who designed it?
MI Browser (or Mi Browser) is a web browser developed by Xiaomi specifically for its smartphones and tablets running MIUI. It is pre-installed on most of the brand’s devices and is positioned as fast, lightweight and optimized for working with mobile pages.
The first version of the browser appeared in 2014, but it began to develop actively with the release of MIUI 8. Today, MI Browser is available not only on Xiaomi smartphones, but also in Google Play for other Android devices.
MI Browser is built on the Chromium open engine, like many other popular browsers (Chrome, Edge, Opera), which means that it supports modern web standards, but it has its own unique features that competitors do not have.
- 📱 Developed by Xiaomi Inc. (China)
- 🔧 Engine: Chromium (like Google Chrome)
- 📅 First release: 2014 (active development with the MIUI 8)
- 🌍 Availability: Pre-installed on Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO, It is also available on Google Play.
Main features and capabilities of MI Browser
MI Browser offers a standard set of mobile browser features, but with a few unique additions.
One of the main features is the Read mode, which removes all ads and unnecessary elements from the page, leaving only text and main images, which is especially convenient for reading long articles or news, and the browser supports night mode, which automatically adjusts the color temperature of the screen for the time of day.
Another useful feature is quick access to frequently visited sites directly from the home page, which also displays news feeds that can be customized to your interests, but it is worth considering that some content can be localized to the Chinese market if you do not change the region in the settings.
- 📖 Reading Mode – removes ads and leaves only text
- 🌙 Night mode - reduces the load on the eyes in the evening
- ⚡ Turbo mode – speeds up the loading of pages on the slow Internet
- 🔒 Built-in ad blocker (not working on all websites)
- 📱 Sync with Mi Account – saves bookmarks and history
- 🌐 Built-in translator (supports multiple languages)
Pros and cons of MI Browser: is it worth using it?
Like any application, MI Browser has its strengths and weaknesses, so let’s look at the main advantages that may convince you to stay on this browser, as well as the disadvantages that many users prefer alternatives.
Among the main advantages is MIUI optimization. The browser fits perfectly into the Xiaomi ecosystem, supports gestures and quick commands, and consumes less power compared to Chrome or Firefox.In addition, it offers built-in ad blocking, which can be useful on some sites.
But there are also significant drawbacks, such as intrusive ads in the browser itself (especially in the Chinese version), and limited privacy settings, and many users also complain that the browser sometimes hangs when opening heavy pages or large numbers of tabs.
| Pluses ✅ | Cons ❌ |
|---|---|
| Optimized for MIUI and gestures | Advertising in the browser itself (in some regions) |
| Low energy consumption | Limited privacy settings |
| Built-in ad blocker | Sometimes it hangs on heavy websites. |
| Quick access to frequently visited sites | Not all extensions from the Chrome Web Store are supported |
| Synchronization with the Mi Account | Localization of some functions for the Chinese market |
⚠️ Note: In the Chinese version MI Browser may collect more user data than global data. If privacy is important to you, check your settings or consider alternative browsers.
How to set up MI Browser for yourself: step-by-step instructions
If you choose to stay on MI Browser, you can flexibly customize it to suit your needs, and consider the main parameters that you should change for a more comfortable work.
The first thing you should do is turn off unnecessary notifications and news feeds, go to Settings → Notifications and deactivate options you don’t need, and you can also set up the homepage by removing unnecessary widgets or adding frequently visited sites.
To speed up your browser, turn on the turbo mode in your settings. It compresses traffic and speeds up page loading, which is especially useful when you are slow to use the Internet. If you are annoyed by advertising, check the settings of the blocker in the Privacy section.
Turn off the news feed on the main|Turn on turbo mode|Set up an ad blocker|Disable unnecessary notifications|Synchronize bookmarks with your Mi Account-->
If you use a translator often, add the languages you need to Settings → Additional → Translator. You can also activate the default reading mode for all articles to automatically remove unnecessary elements from pages.
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If MI Browser started to slow down, try clearing the cache in Android settings: Settings → Applications → MI Browser → Memory → Clear the cache.
How to remove or disable MI Browser on Xiaomi
Many users want to get rid of MI Browser, especially if they prefer Chrome, Firefox or another browser, but you can't completely remove it, because it's a system application, but there are several ways to disable it or hide it.
The easiest method is to disable via Android settings. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → MI Browser and click Disable. After that, the browser will disappear from the menu, but will remain in the system.
If you want to remove updates (to return the factory version), do so in the same menu by clicking Remove Updates. This can help if the browser has become worse after the update. Root rights are required to completely remove, but this is not recommended, as it can disrupt the stability of the system.
⚠️ Warning: Disabling system applications may cause malfunctions MIUI. If after the shutdown MI Browser has errors, return it to the settings.
If you just don’t like MI Browser, but don’t want to disable it, you can make a different browser by default. To do this, open your Android settings, find the default App section, and select the browser you want to open links.
MI Browser vs Google Chrome vs Firefox: browser comparison
To see if MI Browser is worth using, compare it to the two most popular alternatives: Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. Each has its own strengths, and the choice depends on your priorities.
Google Chrome is the most common browser with a huge number of extensions and excellent synchronization between devices. However, it consumes more memory and power than MI Browser. Firefox, in turn, is famous for its high level of privacy and flexible settings, but can run slower on weak smartphones.
MI Browser is a winner in MIUI optimization and low power consumption, but it's a loser in functionality and the extension ecosystem. If you care about speed and device integration, it might be a good choice. If you want extensions and cross-platform, you better look at Chrome or Firefox.
| Criteria | MI Browser | Google Chrome | Mozilla Firefox |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed of operation | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ | ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ |
| Energy consumption | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐☆☆☆ | ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ |
| Confidentiality | ⭐⭐☆☆☆ | ⭐⭐☆☆☆ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Expansion | ⭐☆☆☆☆ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ |
| Integration with MIUI | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐☆☆☆☆ | ⭐☆☆☆☆ |
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If you want privacy and extensions, go to Firefox. If you want speed and integration with Xiaomi, stay with MI Browser.
Security and privacy in MI Browser: What you need to know
One of the main concerns users have is the security of data in MI Browser, which, like many Chinese apps, collects certain user information, but there are ways to minimize the risks.
By default, the browser can send data about visited sites, search queries and even location. To turn this off, go to Settings → Privacy and deactivate the Send Statistics and Personalized Recommendations options. It is also recommended to disable synchronization with your Mi Account if you do not use other Xiaomi services.
Another important thing is blocking malicious sites, because MI Browser has built-in protection, but it doesn't always work on unknown threats, and for greater security, you can install additional software, like Malwarebytes or Bitdefender.
⚠️ Note: In the Chinese version MI Browser (e.g., on domestic devices) may not be able to disable data collection, in which case it is better to use alternative browsers.
Important: If you use MI Browser on a global firmware device (e.g. Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Global), most data collection features can be manually disabled. However, on Chinese firmware (China ROM), these settings may be limited.