How to set up a browser on a Xiaomi phone: a complete guide with pictures

The browser on Xiaomi’s smartphone is not just a tool for surfing the Internet, but a whole center for managing web content, security and personalization. Many users do not even realize that the standard browser is a very popular browser. MIUI You can customize it to your needs: speed up the loading of pages, block annoying advertising, synchronize bookmarks with other devices or completely replace it with an alternative version like Google Chrome or Firefox. At the same time, each browser on Xiaomi has its own nuances of settings - from managing cookies to enabling dark mode for comfortable reading at night.

In this article, we will analyze all possible scenarios: from the basic configuration of the built-in browser to the installation and optimization of third-party solutions. You'll learn how to clear the cache without losing data, why some sites open up crookedly, and how to set up your browser so that it consumes less traffic and battery, and also reveal the secrets of hidden functions. MIUI Browser that is not even written in official guides.

It doesn’t matter if you’re using a Redmi Note. 12, POCO X5 or flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra – instructions are suitable for all devices based on MIUI 14/15 (including the shells POCO If you have an older version of the firmware, some menu items may be slightly different, but the general logic will remain the same.

1. Browser selection: built-in MIUI vs. third-party options

The first question that arises before the user is: which browser to use? Xiaomi defaults MIUI Browser (formerly called Mi Browser), but it can be easily replaced with an alternative from Google Play.Let's compare the pros and cons of each option:

Built-in browser MIUI It is closely integrated with the system: it supports fast access via the search bar on the home screen, has a minimalist design and is optimized for working with Xiaomi services (for example, Mi Account:

• 🔹 Battery savings – consumes less resources than Chrome or Firefox.
• 🔹 Built-in ad blocker (works without additional extensions).
• 🔹 Sync with Mi Cloud – bookmarks and history are automatically saved in your Xiaomi account.
• 🔹 Reading mode with adaptive backlight for comfortable text viewing.

But MIUI Browser has its drawbacks, for example, it doesn’t support extensions (unlike Chrome or Firefox), and its engine sometimes clumsy displays complex web applications. If you want maximum site compatibility or advanced features (like page translator), it’s best to install a third-party browser.

Among the alternatives, the leading ones are:

• 🌐 Google Chrome is the most versatile option with support for extensions and sync through your Google account.
• 🦊 Mozilla Firefox – Privacy Priority, Default Tracker Blocking.
• 🅾️ Opera - built-in VPN and turbo mode to save traffic.
• 🔍 Brave – blocks ads at the browser level, supports cryptocurrencies.

⚠️ Note: When installing a third-party browser MIUI may continue to open links in the built-in browser. To fix this, go to Settings → Annexes → Default applications → Browser and select the desired option.

2. Basic setting of the built-in browser MIUI

If you're staying on a standard browser, the first thing you need to do is customize it to suit your needs. Open up. MIUI Browser and tap on the icon «⋮» (three dots) in the bottom right corner, then select Settings. Let's look at the key parameters:

1.The main page and search engine

By default, the browser opens the Xiaomi Start Page with news and quick links to change it:

• 📌 Go to Settings. → Main page.
• 📌 Select Empty Page, Quick Access or enter Custom URL (For example, google.com).
• 📌 In the search engine section, you can change Yandex to Google, Bing or DuckDuckGo.

2. Ad blocking and privacy protection

MIUI Browser has an ad blocker built in, but it doesn't work perfectly:

• 🛡️ Turn on the settings. → Confidentiality → Blocking pop-up windows.
• 🛡️ Activate Phishing Protection (prevents the opening of fraudulent sites).
• 🛡️ In the Delete Data section, set up autoclean the cache when you exit.

3. Saving traffic and battery

For users with limited internet:

• 📉 Turn on the settings. → Saving traffic → Data compression (reduces the size of loaded pages).
• 📉 Activate Night Mode to Reduce Eye and Battery Load.
• 📉 Disable Autoplay Videos in the Site Content section.

Enable data compression|Set up autocleaning the cache|Change the search engine to Google|Turn off autoplay video|Activate night mode-->

3.Install and configure Google Chrome on Xiaomi

If you prefer Google Chrome, you can install it from Google Play (unless it's pre-installed).

1. Synchronization with Google account

To ensure that bookmarks, history and passwords are automatically synchronized between devices:

• 🔗 Open Chrome, tap the avatar in the upper right corner.
• 🔗 Select Log in Chrome and log in through your Google account.
• 🔗 Enable synchronization for all the necessary data (bookmarks, passwords, history).

2. Optimization of productivity

Chrome is known for its high RAM consumption, to reduce the load:

• ⚡ Turn on the settings. → Lite mode (simplified version of pages to save traffic).
• ⚡ Turn off page preloading in Settings → Privacy (reduces background data consumption).
• ⚡ In the System Settings section, disable Site Notifications.

3. Security and confidentiality

Chrome collects a lot of data about the user, to limit this:

• 🔒 Turn off Settings. → Synchronization and Google Services → Auto-filling forms.
• 🔒 In the Privacy section, disable Submitting Use Statistics.
• 🔒 Use Incognito Mode (hat and eyeglass icon) for private surfing.

⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi for the Chinese market), Google Chrome may not work as it does due to the lack of Google Play services.

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If Chrome is slowing down, try clearing its cache in Settings → Annexes → Chrome → Memory. → Clear the cache. It won't delete bookmarks or passwords, but it will speed up the browser.

4. Solving browser problems on Xiaomi

Even after setting up the browser correctly, Xiaomi can malfunction. Consider typical problems and solutions:

1. Pages open curved or do not load

If the sites are displayed incorrectly (downed layout, no elements):

• 🔄 Update your browser to the latest version in Google Play or App Store.
• 🔄 Clear the cache and cookies: browser settings → Confidentiality → Clear the data.
• 🔄 Try to disable Traffic Savings – sometimes it breaks the display of sites.
• 🔄 If the problem is only MIUI Browser, install Chrome or Firefox.

2.The browser is severely slowing down or flying out

The reasons can be different – from a lack of RAM to conflict with other applications:

• 🐢 Close all background applications (use recent apps) → Close it all down).
• 🐢 Turn off animation in MIUI: Settings → Special facilities → Remove animations.
• 🐢 If the browser crashes when you open a certain site, try disabling JavaScript in the site settings.
• 🐢 For Chrome: Turn off Settings → Convenience → Preloading pages.

3. Passwords or bookmarks are not retained

If the browser does not remember the data:

• 🔑 Make sure that sync with your account (Google or Mi Account) is enabled).
• 🔑 Check if Incognito mode is enabled (the data is not stored in it).
• 🔑 For MIUI Browser: Go to Settings → Confidentiality → Save passwords and enable the option.
• 🔑 If bookmarks are missing after the update, try to restore them through Mi Cloud (for the built-in browser).

5. Hidden functions MIUI Browser that few people know about

MIUI Browser has a few "secret" features that aren't obvious at first glance:

1. Reading mode with adaptive illumination

If you need to read long articles without distracting elements:

• 📖 Open the article and tap the icon «📖» address-bar.
• 📖 Adjust the font size, background color and brightness of the backlight.
• 📖 Turn on Night Mode for comfortable reading in the dark.

Quick translation of pages

The built-in translator works without installing additional applications:

• 🌍 Open the page in a foreign language.
• 🌍 Slap the icon «🌐» in the address bar and select the language to translate.
• 🌍 For permanent translation, turn on Settings → Additionally. → Autotranslation.

3.Gestural control

V MIUI Browser supports gestures for fast navigation:

• ↩️ Swipe right - back up.
• ↪️ Swipe left, forward.
• ↓ Swipe down - update the page.
• 🏠 Double tap on the address bar - quick transition to the main.

4. Hidden mode for private viewing

Unlike Incognito in Chrome, in the MIUI Browser has a completely isolated mode:

• 🕵️ Open the menu. ⋮ → Secret regime.
• 🕵️ Set a password or pattern lock to access.
• 🕵️ This mode does not save history, cookies or cache.

💡

Secret regime in MIUI Browser is more reliable than Incognito in Chrome, as it requires additional authentication and completely isolates the session.

6. Browser optimization to save battery and traffic

The browser is one of the most voracious apps on the smartphone, and to reduce its impact on autonomy and Internet consumption, follow these tips:

1. Restriction of background activity

Even when the browser is closed, it can consume resources:

• 🔋 Go to your phone settings → Annexes → browser → Battery.
• 🔋 Select to Limit Background Activity.
• 🔋 Turn off Auto Update for tabs.

2.Use of Lite Mode (for Chrome)

Google Chrome has a Lite mode feature that reduces page size:

• 📶 Open the Settings. → Lite mode.
• 📶 Enable the option to Always use Lite Pages.
• 📶 This will reduce traffic consumption by 60% and speed up loading.

3. Set up autocleaning cache

The browser cache grows over time and slows down:

• 🧹 V MIUI Browser: Settings → Confidentiality → Auto-cleaning → On leaving.
• 🧹 In Chrome: Use the Click & Clear extension to clean up automatically.

4. Disabling unnecessary notifications

Many sites request permission to send notifications, which drains the battery:

• 🔔 V MIUI Browser: Settings → Site notifications → Lock everything down.
• 🔔 In Chrome: Settings → Site settings → Notifications → Lock down.

7. Synchronization of bookmarks and data between devices

If you use multiple devices (such as a Xiaomi smartphone and laptop), setting up sync will save time.

1. Synchronization in MIUI Browser

The built-in browser is synchronized via Mi Account:

• ☁️ Open the Settings. → Xiaomi account and log in.
• ☁️ Enable Bookmark Synchronization and History Synchronization.
• ☁️ On another device with MIUI Sign in to the same account – the data will automatically be logged in.

2. Synchronization in Google Chrome

For Chrome, you use a Google account:

• ☁️ Open Chrome, tap the avatar. → Log in Chrome.
• ☁️ Select data for synchronization (bookmarks, passwords, history).
• ☁️ On a PC or other phone, log in to the same account – the data is synchronized in real time.

3. Cross-browser synchronization

If you use different browsers on different devices (for example, MIUI Browser on your phone and Firefox on your PC, use services like:

• ☁️ Raindrop.io – saves bookmarks in the cloud with tags and folders.
• ☁️ Floccus syncs bookmarks between Chrome, Firefox and Edge.
• ☁️ xBrowserSync – an open service for synchronization without binding to an account.

⚠️ Note: When synced through Mi Account, bookmarks will only be available on Xiaomi devices. For cross-platform access, use Google Chrome or third-party services.

FAQ: Frequent questions about setting up a browser on Xiaomi