How to change the browser on the phone Xiaomi 8 Pro: from installation to default settings

Why to change the browser Xiaomi 8 Pro and what you need to know before you start

The standard Mi Browser browser on Xiaomi 8 Pro is often criticized for intrusive advertising, slow operation and limited features. Users complain of unreasonably high battery consumption, suspicious redirects to affiliate sites and lack of sync with other devices. But before you remove or disable the built-in application, it is worth considering a few nuances.

First, Mi Browser is deeply integrated into MIUI, which cannot be completely removed without root permissions. Second, some system functions (like quick search from the notification bar) are opened by default in it. Finally, alternative browsers can consume more RAM if they are not configured correctly. In this article, we will discuss how to correctly replace the browser without typical errors.

Important: on the Xiaomi 8 Pro with MIUI 12-14, the browser change algorithm differs from the newer versions. For example, MIUI 14 introduced a default browser change limit for some system links.

Preparation: Check the current version of MIUI and free space

Before installing a new browser, you need to make sure that your Xiaomi 8 Pro meets the minimum requirements. Open Settings → About the phone and check:

• 📱 Version. MIUI: must be at least 12.0.3 (for stable operation of alternative browsers). MIUI 11 or older – Update the system first.
• 📊 Free space: at least 1.5 GB on internal storage. Browsers like Chrome or Firefox take up to 200-300 MB, plus cache.
• 🔒 Permissions for installation: if you download APK Not from Google Play, turn on Settings → Annexes → Special access → Installation of unknown applications.

Pay special attention to the processor architecture. Xiaomi 8 Pro runs on Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (ARM64), so some browsers (like Kiwi Browser) may offer optimized builds.

Top.-5 Alternative browsers for Xiaomi 8 Pro: Comparison of speed and functionality

Your browser choice depends on your priorities: download speed, privacy, sync with other devices or block ads. We tested popular options on Xiaomi 8 Pro with MIUI 14 and compiled a rating:

🔹 Best choice for speed: Brave Browser or Kiwi Browser (based on Chromium with optimizations).

🔹 For privacy: Firefox with about:config settings (disable telemetry and webRTC).

🔹 For battery saving: Opera (lighter than the rest on the background).

💡

If you often open heavy sites (for example, online editors or games), in the browser settings, turn off "Traffic Savings" - it can break the layout of pages.

Step-by-step: how to install and configure a new browser

The process of replacing the browser with Xiaomi 8 Pro consists of three stages: installation, default setting and optimization.

1. Download. APK Or install from Google Play: 📥 If you use Google Play, just search for the browser and click "Install". 🔗 For APK: Download only from official websites (Mozilla, Brave) or verified sources (APKMirror).
2. Launch the browser and perform the initial setup: 🔑 Sign in to your account (Google, Firefox, Brave) to sync bookmarks. ⚙️ Disable unnecessary features: for example, in Chrome, this is Settings. → Synchronization → Auto-filling.
3. Make the browser standard: 📌 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management → browsers. 🔄 Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Reset application settings by default". 🖱️ When the next link is opened, the system will suggest choosing a browser - specify a new one and tick "Always".

Ride. APK official website|Checked the version. MIUI (12+)|Freed up 1.5 GB of memory|Disabled battery optimization for the browser|Synchronized bookmarks-->

⚠️ Attention: MIUI 14 Some system links (e.g., from Mi Account) will still open in Mi Browser. ADB root.

How to disable or remove Mi Browser (without root rights)

You can't completely remove Mi Browser without root, but you can turn it off and hide it from the menu.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Mi Browser in the list and select it.
3. Press "Disable" (the button will become active after pressing the three dots in the upper corner).
4. Confirm the action in the dialog window.

🔹 After the blackout:

• ✅ The icon will disappear from the app menu.
• ✅ Browser will stop updating through Google Play.
• ❌ Some system functions (such as Quick Search) may not work properly.

⚠️ Note: If the Mi Browser links from Mi Home or Mi Cloud stop opening after disabling, return it to the active state. ADB-handler:

adb shell pm clear com.android.browser

Solving common problems after replacing the browser

Even after installing the new browser correctly, Xiaomi 8 Pro users are faced with typical errors.

🔹 If the browser is not installed due to an error "Application not installed":

1. Check if the installation is enabled from unknown sources (Settings → Applications → Special Accesses).
2. Remove the previous version of the browser (if any).
3. Restart the phone and re-install.

💡

On the Xiaomi 8 Pro with MIUI 14, some browsers (like Firefox) may require additional permissions to work with files.

Optimizing the new browser: settings for speed and battery savings

To make the new browser work stably on the Xiaomi 8 Pro, you need to configure it to the hardware limitations of the device (4/6 GB of RAM, Snapdragon 845).

• 🚀 To speed up page loading: In Chrome: Settings → Confidentiality → Preloading pages → In Firefox: about:config → network.dns.disablePrefetch → false.
• 🔋 To save battery: Turn off background sync (in browser account settings). Set a dark theme (Settings) → Topics → Dark).
• 🛡️ For security: Brave activate Tor mode for anonymous surfing. Opera, turn on the built-in VPN (Settings → VPN → Turn on).

Critical for Xiaomi 8 Pro: if you have less than 4 GB of RAM, turn off the “Tabs in the Background” function in your browser (in Chrome this is Settings → System → Save background tabs).

FAQ: answers to frequent questions about changing the browser to Xiaomi 8 Pro