Where to find Safari on Xiaomi phone: why it’s not there and what to use instead

You have bought a Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO And you're trying to find the Safari browser, but you're not succeeding? No wonder that this browser is the default browser only for Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac) and Android smartphones, including all Xiaomi models, are out of the box. However, this does not mean that you will not be able to use the Internet or install Safari manually.

In this article, we will discuss why Safari is not available on Xiaomi, which browsers are preinstalled instead, how to find and configure them, and whether it is possible to install Safari on Android legally. MIUI HyperOS and also give recommendations on the choice of alternatives for comfortable surfing.

Why is there no Safari on Xiaomi?

Safari is an exclusive browser from Apple that is designed specifically for the iOS, iPadOS and macOS ecosystem, and is closely integrated with Apple’s operating system and hardware, so:

• 🍎 Not ported to Android – Apple doesn’t release an official version of Safari for other platforms, including Xiaomi smartphones.
• 🔒 Closed source – unlike Chrome or Firefox, Safari source code is not published, making it impossible for third-party developers to adapt it.
• 📱 Browser competition – Google and Xiaomi are pushing their solutions: Google Chrome and Mi Browser, respectively.

Moreover, even if Safari existed for Android, it would hardly surpass the speed and functionality of native browsers optimized for Xiaomi hardware. For example, the Mi Browser uses the Blink engine (like Chrome), but has additional features for the ecosystem. MIUI, such as sync with Xiaomi account or built-in translator.

⚠️ Attention: You can find it online APK-Files called "Safari for Android" are either fake viruses or repackaged versions of other browsers (like Chrome with a modified interface) and are dangerous to install, stealing your data or infecting your phone with malware.

What browsers are in Xiaomi by default?

Depending on the smartphone model and firmware version (MIUI Xiaomi has one or more browsers pre-installed. Here's the full list:

On the Chinese versions of firmware (MIUI China can only be the default Mi Browser, and Google Chrome will have to install itself through Google Play or third-party sources (for example, APKMirror).

To check which browsers are installed on your Xiaomi:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search bar, type “browser” or “browser”.
3. Check out the list of applications found.

Where to look for a browser on Xiaomi: step-by-step instructions

If you can’t find a browser on your Xiaomi, follow this instruction, and it may be hidden in a folder or disabled.

Method 1: Search through the main menu

Swipe your finger up from the bottom of the screen to open the app menu. At the top of the screen, a search bar will appear — type:

• 🔍 «Browser (in Russian)
• 🔍 «Browser (in English)
• 🔍 «Mi Browser or "Chrome»

Method 2: Checking the Google folder

On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 12 or X-ray) POCO X5) Google Chrome icon hidden in folder with other Google services:

1. Find a folder on your desktop called Google (usually a white icon with colored dots).
2. Open it and check for Chrome.

Method 3: Recovering the Hidden Icon

If the browser is disabled or hidden:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Mi Browser or Chrome in the list.
3. Click on Show on the Home Screen (if the option is available).

Check the Google folder"|Use a menu search.|Enable the display of the icon in the application settings|Reboot the phone.-->

How to Install Safari on Xiaomi: Workarounds

As mentioned, there is no official version of Safari for Android, but there are a few legal ways to access Safari on a Xiaomi smartphone:

Method 1: Remote access via Mac

If you have a MacBook or iMac, you can:

1. Enable the “Mac Screen” function in iCloud settings.
2. Install a remote access application on Xiaomi (e.g. TeamViewer or AnyDesk).
3. Connect to a Mac and use Safari via a remote desktop.

The disadvantage of the method: requires a constant connection to the Mac and a stable Internet.

Method 2: Web version of Safari (iCloud)

Apple provides limited access to Safari via the iCloud web interface:

1. Open any browser on Xiaomi and go to iCloud.com.
2. Sign in with Apple. ID.
3. Select the Safari icon (if available in your area).

Limitations:

• ❌ No support for extensions.
• ❌ Not all websites are displayed correctly.
• ❌ It only works when you are actively connected to the Internet.

Method 3: Emulation of iOS (for experienced only)

In theory, you can install an iOS emulator (such as an iEMU or AltStore) and run Safari inside it.

⚠️ Note: iOS emulators on Android are extremely unstable, slow down and often contain malicious code. We do not recommend this method - the risk of infection of the phone with viruses is too high.

💡

If you want a browser with Readable View (like Safari), try Microsoft Edge – it has a similar “Immersive Reader” mode.

The Best Safari Alternatives for Xiaomi

If the goal is not Safari, but a convenient and fast browser, Xiaomi has a lot of alternatives, and we tested popular options and ranked them:

For most Xiaomi users, Google Chrome (if functionality is important) or Brave Browser (if privacy is important) are the best choice. If you want maximum integration with the Xiaomi ecosystem, stop at Mi Browser.

💡

On Xiaomi smartphones with HyperOS firmware for the European market, DuckDuckGo is installed by default - this is due to the requirements GDPR data protection.

How to transfer bookmarks from Safari to Xiaomi?

If you’ve switched from iPhone to Xiaomi and want to move bookmarks from Safari, do the following:

Method 1: Using iCloud (official method)

1. On iPhone, open Settings → [Your name] → iCloud and make sure the Safari option is enabled.
2. On your computer, go to iCloud.com, log in and export your bookmarks to the.html file.
3. Send the file to Xiaomi (e.g., via Telegram or Google Drive).
4. Import bookmarks in Chrome or Firefox on your smartphone.

Method 2: Google Chrome (if it was on an iPhone)

If you have Google Chrome installed on your iPhone:

1. Open Chrome on your iPhone and log in to your Google account.
2. Make sure that the bookmarks are synchronized (Settings) → Synchronization).
3. On Xiaomi, install Chrome and log in to the same account – bookmarks will pull up automatically.

Method 3: Using third-party services

Services like Xmarks or EverSync allow you to synchronize bookmarks between different browsers.

⚠️ Note: Some bookmark sync services require you to access your data. Before using, check the reviews and privacy policy of the service.

Frequent browser problems on Xiaomi and their solutions

Xiaomi users sometimes encounter browser errors, and consider the most common ways to fix them:

Problem 1: The browser is constantly shutting down

If Mi Browser or Chrome crashes when you open:

• 🔄 Clear the cache: Settings → Annexes → [Browser name] → Memory. → Clear the cache.
• 📥 Update your browser through Play Market.
• 🔧 Disable battery optimization for the browser: Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery → All applications → [browser] → No restrictions.

Problem 2: Some websites are not opened

If the sites are blocked or not loaded:

• 🌐 Check your internet connection (try switching from Wi-Fi to mobile data).
• 🔒 Turn it off. VPN or proxy if they are used.
• 🛡️ Check the settings. DNS: Try using 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare) or 8.8.8.8 (Google).

Problem 3: Browser is slowing or warming the phone

If Chrome or Mi Browser consumes too much resources,

• 🧹 Close unnecessary tabs (in Chrome, you can use a gesture down the tabbar to close them mass).
• 🔄 Turn off animation in the browser settings (if there is such an option).
• 📉 Try the lightweight version, like Chrome Lite or Firefox Focus.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions