How to change the standard Xiaomi browser: the complete guide

Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones come with pre-installed software that doesn’t always suit the end user. Often, device owners face intrusive notifications, advertising, or simply an unusual interface built-in browser Mi Browser. The desire to replace it with more familiar Chrome, Yandex or Firefox arises for many immediately after buying the gadget.

The process of replacing the main web surfing tool can seem complicated due to the features of the MIUI or HyperOS shell. The system often prevents the complete removal of system components, suggesting only that they be disabled. However, there are several proven ways to circumvent these restrictions and make the Internet as comfortable as possible.

In this article, we will discuss how to change the default app, disable unnecessary features and completely remove the standard browser from the device. You will learn to configure the system so that it works exactly as you want, without unnecessary visual noise and background processes.

Why do users want to replace the Mi Browser?

Xiaomi’s standard browser has a number of features that can annoy power users, most notably privacy policies and data collection, which are aggressive, and many prefer to use open source solutions or from companies whose security policies they understand best.

In addition, the built-in app is often overloaded with features that are rarely used in everyday life: News feed, built-in games and constant push notifications about "hot" news distract and consume traffic. For those who appreciate minimalism and speed, this becomes a critical factor.

• 🚀 Speed: Third-party browsers are often optimized better and run faster on older phone models.
• 🛡️ Security: Alternative solutions may offer more advanced ad blockers and trackers.
• 🎨 Interface: The usual design and the absence of unnecessary elements increase usability.

Another reason is synchronization, and if you're using a different brand's computer or tablet, you'll be more comfortable with the same engine and account on your phone, which allows you to instantly transfer passwords, history and open tabs between devices.

Setting up the browser by default in the system

The first and easiest step is to change the app that opens when you click on links in other programs. Android allows you to choose your preferred option, but in the MIUI shell, this item is sometimes hidden deeper than expected. You do not need root rights to perform this basic operation.

First, you need to install an alternative app from the Google Play store. After installing, go to your smartphone settings. Find the Apps section and select All Apps. Here you need to find the default control menu.

Depending on the firmware version, the path may vary. In newer versions of HyperOS, go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Three dots in the corner → Other settings → Default Apps → Browser. Choose the option you want from the list.

⚠️ Note: If you can't find the browser item in the list of available, it may be that the system considers the installed application incompatible or it is not correctly registered in the system.

Once you change the setting, all links from Telegram, Viber or social networks will open in the app you choose.This does not remove Mi Browser, but makes it optional for everyday tasks.

Methods of disabling system application

If a simple change isn’t enough, you can try to disable the standard app completely, which will hide its icon from the desktop and prevent it from running background processes, but Xiaomi often blocks the “Delete” or “Disable” button for its system components.

Try going to Settings → Applications → All apps, find the Mi Browser (or Browser) and click the button at the bottom of the screen. If the button is active and called "Disable", use it safely. This is the safest method that does not require a connection to a PC.

In cases where the button is inactive, device owners often turn to more sophisticated methods. ADB (Android Debug Bridge allows you to delete system packets without obtaining superuser rights. USB-cable.

Remember that disabling system components can affect the operation of widgets or search functions in the global line, if they are tied to the Mi Browser engine. Before radical actions, it is worth weighing the pros and cons.

Using ADB to remove system components

For those who are not afraid of the command line, the method is used ADB It allows you to force the removal of a packet even without the rights of a superuser, USB-cable and on-line debugging USB smartphone.

First, activate Developer Mode. To do this, seven times click on the build number in About Phone. Then in Advanced Settings → For developers, turn on Debugging on USB. Connect your phone to your PC and start the console.

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.browser

This command will remove the browser for the current user, effectively hiding it from the system. If you are using a global firmware version, the packet name may differ, for example, com.mi.global.browser. Be careful when entering commands so that you do not delete critical system files.

It's important to understand that when you reset your phone to factory settings, the app that you delete will come back, and it's not a physical deletion from the system partition, it's just a disabling for your user profile.

Alternative solutions and installations

Once you've got rid of the standard solution, it's a question of choosing a replacement, and the market offers a lot of options, each with its own strengths, and it depends on your priorities: speed, privacy, or ecosystem.

For users who value privacy, Brave or DuckDuckGo are a great choice. They block trackers and engine-level ads, which greatly speeds up page loading. For those who live in the Google ecosystem, Chrome is ideal with its synchronization.

• 🌐 Firefox: Extensions support and high degree of customization of the interface.
• ⚡ Opera Mini: Traffic saving mode ideal for slow mobile internet.
• 🔒 Tor Browser: Maximum anonymity, albeit at the expense of connection speeds.

Don’t ignore the less popular, but high-quality browsers like Via or XBrowser, which weigh only a couple of megabytes, have no unnecessary resolutions and work lightning fast even on low-end Redmi devices.

Possible problems and solutions

Unforeseen difficulties may arise in the replacement process, such as some applications that may ignore system settings and force you to open links in the built-in browser, which is common in Chinese versions of firmware or specific applications.

You can also have errors when you update your system, and after a major MIUI update, the default settings can go off, and you have to repeat the selection process again, and that's normal operating system behavior.

⚠️ Note: If after removing the system browser, the search in widgets or voice assistant stopped working, you will have to restore the package through the ADB or reset the settings.

Another problem is file residues, and even after deleting an application, cache and temporary files can remain in memory, and it is recommended to periodically clean the storage through built-in optimization tools.

💡

Use Files by Google to search for and delete residual files from remote applications, which will free up space and speed up the system.

Optimization of the new browser

Just installing a new browser is not enough. To get the most out of it, you have to configure it correctly. First of all, turn off notifications from news feeds if you don't need them. This will save battery life and nerves.

Set up sync immediately after the first launch, which will save all your passwords and history. In today's world, data security is more important than convenience, so the use of a master password is mandatory.

Remember to enable Data Saving or Leter mode if you have a limited data plan. Many modern browsers are able to compress traffic on their servers before transferring to your device.

💡

The new browser takes 5 minutes to set up properly, but provides comfort for the entire time you use your smartphone.

Update the app regularly. Developers are constantly closing security vulnerabilities and improving engine speed. Auto-update through Play Market will save you from having to manually follow versions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)