Where to find a standard browser on Xiaomi: how to find a standard and install an alternative

Have you bought a new Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphone but can't find a browser? Or the standard MIUI browser doesn't suit you and you want to install Google Chrome, Firefox or another alternative? This problem is familiar to many users, especially after resetting or buying a device in China, where Google's preinstalled services are often absent.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can go from finding the built-in Mi Browser browser to installing popular alternatives through Google Play or manually, and why the browser might disappear after the MIUI update and how to get it back, and the instructions are relevant for all Xiaomi models, including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11 and others.

Where is the standard browser on Xiaomi?

Xiaomi's default smartphone browser is the Mi Browser (or Browser in Russian), but its icon is not always visible on the home screen.

• 🔍 On the home screen: swipe up to open the app menu and find the icon with the Mi Browser logo (blue globe with the white letter "Mrowser»).
• 📁 In the Tools folder: sometimes the browser is hidden in a folder with other system utilities (for example, Calendar, Notes, Calculator).
• 🔎 Through Search: Swipe down the home screen and type in the search bar “Browser” or “Mi Browser».

If the browser is not on the menu, it may have been disabled or deleted to return it:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Type “Browser” or “Mi Browser” into your search.
3. Click on the app and select Enable (if disabled) or Install (if removed).

💡

If your browser is not in the list of applications, try resetting MIUI to factory settings (but don’t forget to back up the data!).

Why did the browser disappear after the MIUI update?

One of the common reasons for the disappearance of the browser is the update of the MIUI firmware. In new versions of the shell (for example, MIUI 14 or HyperOS), Xiaomi can:

• 🔄 Replace Mi Browser with another pre-installed browser (e.g. Mint Browser for Chinese versions).
• 🗑️ Remove the browser as an “unnecessary” application (especially on memory-limited devices).
• 🔒 Hide the icon from the app menu (often after resetting settings).

The browser may also disappear if:

• 📦 You have installed custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience) where Mi Browser is not preinstalled.
• 🇨🇳 Your device is the Chinese version (without Google services), and the browser has been replaced with a local counterpart.
• 🧹 You manually removed the browser through ADB root-access.

How to install Google Chrome on Xiaomi?

If you don't like the standard browser, the best alternative is Google Chrome, which can be installed in several ways:

Method 1: Google Play (for global versions)

1. Open the Google Play Store.
2. Type in “Google Chrome” search.
3. Click Install and wait for the download to be completed.

Method 2: Through APK-File (for Chinese versions without Google)

If your Xiaomi doesn’t have Google services, download it. APK-Chrome file from the official website:

1. Go to the Chrome download page through any browser available.
2. Download the Chrome.apk file for Android.
3. Open the file and allow installation from unknown sources in Settings → Applications → Special Access → Install unknown applications.

Method 3: Through the Mi App Store (for Chinese firmware)

On devices without Google Play, you can install Chrome through the Xiaomi store:

1. Open the Mi App Store (yellow package icon).
2. In the search, type “Google Chrome” or “in Chinese”.
3. Install the app and update it via APKMirror if required.

Alternative browsers for Xiaomi: which one to choose?

If Mi Browser or Chrome doesn’t suit you, consider other popular browsers, and below is a comparison of key parameters:

For most Xiaomi users, the best options are:

• 🚀 For speed: Microsoft Edge or Chrome.
• 🔒 For privacy: Firefox or Brave.
• 🌍 To save traffic: Opera (built-in) VPN page-compression).

💡

If you need to sync with other devices, choose a browser with an account (Chrome, Firefox, Edge).

How to make a browser by default on Xiaomi?

Once you install a new browser, you need to make it the default application so that the links open automatically.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select the Default Apps.
3. Slip on the browser and select the desired application (for example, Chrome).

If this method does not work (e.g., on MIUI 14), try an alternative method:

1. Open any browser and click on a link (e.g. google.com).
2. Android will suggest you select a browser to open links. Check "Always" and select the desired application.

💡

On some Xiaomi firmware, the default application reset occurs after the update. To avoid this, turn off the automatic MIUI update in the settings.

What to do if the browser does not open the site?

If the installed browser does not load the pages, the problem may be:

• 🌐 No Internet: Check your Wi-Fi or mobile connection.
• 🔒 Blocking DNS: Some operators or providers restrict access to the Sites.
• 🛠️ Incorrect browser settings: reset to factory settings in the app menu.
• 📡 VPN Or proxy: turn it off. VPN-applications (e.g. Turbo) VPN or 1.1.1.1).

For diagnosis:

1. Try opening a site in another browser (e.g., Mi Browser if Chrome doesn’t work).
2. Check if the site opens on another device on the same network.
3. Change. DNS-server in Wi-Fi settings at 8.8.8.8 (Google) or 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare).

⚠️ Note: If the browser is making an error «ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED», problem DNS. Try changing it in the router settings or on the smartphone itself.

How to remove unnecessary browsers with Xiaomi?

If your Xiaomi has a few browsers (e.g. Mi Browser, Mint Browser, UC Browser), you can delete them or disable them.

• 🗑️ Pre-installed browsers (such as Mi Browser) cannot be removed completely without root rights, but they can be disabled:
• 📱 Manually installed browsers (e.g. Chrome, Firefox) are removed in the standard way through the application menu.
• 🔧 Chinese browsers (e.g. Mint Browser, UC Browser may require additional action as they are often protected from removal.

To completely remove system browsers, you will need:

1. Get root access (for example, through Magisk).
2. Use Titanium Backup or SD Maid to uninstall.
3. Or manually remove APK via ADB: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.android.browser

⚠️ Warning: Removing system applications can lead to unstable work MIUI. Before that, make a backup copy through Settings. → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

FAQ: Frequent questions about browsers on Xiaomi