How to Clean Your Browser on Xiaomi Redmi Phone: From Cache to Malicious Extensions

Does your Xiaomi Redmi slow down when you open web pages? Does your browser spontaneously close or display ads? 90% of the time, it's cache, cookies or malicious scripts that accumulate over time. Cleaning up your browser on Xiaomi's Android smartphone is not only about freeing up memory, but also about protecting against data leaks, surveillance and fraudulent sites.

In this article, you will find step-by-step instructions for all popular browsers (Mi Browser, Google Chrome, Firefox, Opera), including hidden settings that the manufacturer does not advertise. We will also discuss how to remove malicious extensions that masquerade as legitimate plugins (relevant to MIUI firmware 14/15), and why the standard “clean data” in the application settings is often not enough.

Spoiler: If you use Mi Browser (a built-in Xiaomi browser), you will lose all saved passwords after cleaning, and you will have to restore them through Mi Account.

1.Why Xiaomi Redmi Browser Should Be Cleaned Regularly

Xiaomi’s MIUI-based smartphones have the peculiarity of aggressively cacheing browser data to speed up page loading, but over time, this leads to:

• 🐢 Slowdown: the browser begins to "hang" when scrolling pages or opening new tabs. 4–6 GB of RAM (Redmi Note) 10/11/12).
• 🔒 Privacy Leaks: Cookies store information about your logins, preferences and even bank cards (if you have used online payments).
• 📱 Phone overheating: Browser background processes can load the processor by 30-50%, resulting in a fast battery drain.
• 🚨 Advertising: Some sites install scripts that show pop-ups even when the browser is closed.

According to Kaspersky, in 2023, 1 in 5 Xiaomi smartphones in Russia were infected with adwar (advertising software) that penetrated through browsers, and 80% of users did not even suspect the infection, writing off the brakes on a “weak phone”.

2. How to clear cache and data in Mi Browser (built-in Xiaomi browser)

Mi Browser is the standard browser on all Redmi and POCO, and it has the most hidden data. Cleaning through the app menu removes only some of the garbage. To do this completely, follow the instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Mi Browser (can be called the Browser or the Browser)
3. Slap it on and select the Warehouse.
4. Click Clear Cache (this will delete temporary files), then Clear Data (this will reset all settings, including bookmarks and history).

Importantly, if you're syncing with Mi Account, you can restore your bookmarks. No, you'll have to re-enter your passwords. To avoid that, export your data before you clear it.

1. Open the Mi Browser, tap to the three dots in the upper right corner.
2. Select Bookmarks → Export (the file will be saved in.html format in the Download folder).

If your browser is still slowing down after cleaning, check it for viruses using Google Play Protect:

1. Open Google Play → Profile icon → Play Protect
2. Click Scan and wait for the results.

3. Google Chrome Cleanup on Xiaomi Redmi: Hidden Settings

Google Chrome is the most popular browser on Android, but cleaning it has nuances, such as simply deleting cache through the app’s settings doesn’t affect service data (Service Worker), which can weigh up to 500MB.

To clean up Chrome completely:

1. Open your browser, tip to three points → History → Clear the data.
2. Select the period For all time and tick the boxes: 📌 Viewing history 🍪 Cookies and website data 🗃️ Cached images and files 🔄 Autocomplete data (if saved passwords are not required)

Click Delete Data.

For deep cleaning (deletes all settings, including sync with your Google account):

1. Go to Phone Settings → Apps → Chrome → Storage.
2. Click Clear Data (not cache, data!).
3. Confirm the action. After that, the browser will return to the factory settings.

⚠️ Note: If you use Chrome to pay through Google Pay, you will have to re-link your bank cards after the data is completely cleared.

4. How to remove malicious extensions in the Xiaomi browser

Many Redmi users face a problem: after visiting dubious sites, undeleted banner ads or redirects to fraudulent pages appear in the browser, the reason for this is malicious extensions that are installed without your knowledge.

To find and remove them:

For Mi Browser:

1. Open the browser, type on three points → Settings → Additional → Extensions.
2. Check the list for suspicious plugins (e.g. SaveFrom.net helper, AdBlock Pro – they are often forged).
3. Remove unnecessary ones by clicking on the cart next to the name.

For Google Chrome:

1. Enter chrome://extensions in the address bar.
2. Disable any extensions you haven’t installed (especially those with Chinese or random names).
3. Remove them by clicking Delete.

If the extensions are not removed or reappear after the reboot, then the phone has an adware installed.

1. Install Malwarebytes from Google Play and scan the device.
2. Remove any threats you find.
3. Reset your browser settings to factory (in Chrome: Settings → Reset settings).

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If you delete the extensions, you still have ads, check your phone for apps with Overlay rights over other windows. Go to Settings → Special features → Overlay apps and disable anything suspicious.

5. Automatic Browser Cleanup: MIUI Settings You Didn't Know

MIUI has built-in tools for automatic garbage cleaning, but they are often disabled by default.

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Cleanup.
2. Activate the Auto Clean option and set up a schedule (recommended every day at 3:00).
3. Enable Deep Clean – this will remove the cache of system applications, including browsers.

For a more subtle setup:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Cleaning the cache by default.
2. Add Mi Browser and Chrome to the list (if you use it).
3. Set a cache limit (e.g. 500MB) when the limit is exceeded, the system will automatically clear the data.

⚠️ Note: Deep cleaning function in MIUI It can delete data not only from browsers, but also from other applications (such as WhatsApp or Telegram). Before using it, check which applications are being cleaned, in the Settings menu. → Battery and productivity → Exceptions.

6. How to clean your browser without losing data (for advanced users)

If you do not want to lose bookmarks, passwords or history, but need to make room, use selective cleaning.

For Google Chrome:

1. Open chrome://settings/siteData.
2. Here you will see a list of sites that store data on your device. Sort by size (type by Size).
3. Delete data from the most “heavy” sites (for example, VKontakte, YouTube, TikTok can take 100-300 MB each).

For Mi Browser:

1. Go to Settings → Privacy → Site Data Management.
2. Select sites manually and clear their data.

To clear only the cache without deleting the history and cookies, use ADB-Teams (computer required):

adb shell pm clear --user 0 com.android.chrome # Clean up Chrome


adb shell pm clear --user 0 com.mi.globalbrowser #Mi Browser cleanup

These commands will reset browser settings, but will save bookmarks and history (if they are synced with the account).

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If you often clean your browser manually, install SD Maid or Files by Google.They let you set up automatic cache cleaning on schedule without losing important data.

7 What to do if the browser still brakes after cleaning

If the cleaning didn’t help, the problem could be deeper:

• 🔋 Lack of RAM: Redmi with 3-4 GB of RAM can slow browsers due to background activity of other applications. Close all unnecessary programs through recent apps.
• 🛠️ Outdated version of the browser: update it through Google Play. in Mi Browser updates come through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 🦠 Viruses in the system: scan the phone Dr.Web or Kaspersky Mobile. APK-files from unverified sources.
• 📉 Overflowing phone memory: If less than 10% of the total is free, Android will slow down. Make room by deleting unnecessary files or transferring them to a memory card.

If nothing helps, try resetting your browser settings:

• In Chrome: Settings → Resetting settings.
• In Mi Browser: Remove the app and install it again from Google Play.

The last option is to reset your phone to factory settings (but this will delete all data, including photos and messages). Before doing so, back up through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning the browser on Xiaomi Redmi