How to change your browser to Xiaomi Redmi 7: remove Mi Browser and install alternatives

The standard Mi Browser browser on Xiaomi Redmi 7 smartphones often causes users to displeasure due to aggressive advertising, limited features and low speed. Many device owners want to replace it with more popular alternatives - Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or Opera. However, the process of changing the browser to Redmi 7 has nuances: from the manufacturer’s limitations to the features of the interface. MIUI.

In this article, we will discuss all the ways to replace your browser: from simple installation of a new application to complete removal of Mi Browser (including hidden system files), you will learn how to configure the browser by default, bypass the limitations of Xiaomi, and which alternatives are better suited for Redmi 7, taking into account its technical characteristics, and we will also consider frequent errors and give recommendations for optimizing the new browser on a weak hardware by modern standards.

If you are tired of intrusive notifications in Mi Browser or want to use bookmark sync through your Google account, this guide will help make the transition as fast and secure as possible. MIUI The standard browser is protected from removal – but there are workarounds, which we will discuss below.

Why users want to change their browser to Redmi 7

The main reason for replacing the Mi Browser is its built-in advertising and redirecting traffic through Xiaomi servers. Even after disabling personalized advertising in the settings, banners and pop-ups continue to appear (~300-500 MB when used actively), which is critical for Redmi 7 his 2/3 GB RAM.

Other common complaints:

• 🔍 Low page loading speed compared to Chrome or Firefox.
• 📱 Lack of sync with Google or Mozilla accounts.
• 🛡️ Privacy issues: browser collects data about visited sites.
• 🔄 An uncomfortable interface with unnecessary tabs (for example, “News” or “Recommendations").

According to the survey, the owners of Redmi 7, more 60% Users delete Mi Browser in the first place 3 A month after buying the device, replacing it with Chrome (45%), Firefox (25%) Opera Mini (15%). However, many people face difficulties when trying to make a new browser the main one – especially on firmware. MIUI 10-12.

Preparing for a browser change: what you need to know

Before installing a new browser, check out a few key points:

1. Version. MIUI: on the Redmi 7 may be established MIUI 10-13. The newer the firmware, the harder it is to remove Mi Browser without root rights.
2. Free space: New browsers (e.g. Chrome) take up space ~100-150 MB, plus cash.
3. RAM: Redmi memory 7 has 2/3 GB RAM, so heavy browsers can slow down.

Also note that some Xiaomi system applications (such as “Security” or “Themes”) can automatically open links to Mi Browser even if you have installed a different browser by default.

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If you plan to use Firefox, turn on the “Easy Mode” option in its settings (Settings). → General. → Light mode. This will reduce RAM consumption by 30-40%.

How to install an alternative browser on Redmi 7

There are three main methods of installing a new browser:

1. Google Play is the easiest way to do this, but requires a Google account.
2. Through APK-File – suitable if you do not have access to the Play Market (e.g. in China).
3. Through third-party stores (such as APKMirror or Aptoide).

Let us consider each method in detail.

1.Installation via Google Play

This is the most reliable way, because the apps from the official store are tested for viruses.

1. Open Google Play (Icon) 🛍️ mainscreen).
2. In the search bar, type the browser name (e.g. Google Chrome).
3. Click "Install" and wait for the download to be completed.
4. After installation, open the browser and follow the setting instructions.

If Google Play is not on your Redmi 7 (like Chinese firmware), first install Google Services Framework via Settings. → Annexes → Application management → Install Google Packages.

Installation through APK-file

If you do not have access to the Play Market, download the.apk-browser file from the official website:

• 🌐 Chrome: https://www.google.com/chrome/
• 🦊 Firefox: https://www.mozilla.org/firefox/mobile/

Before installing.apk, enable the option "Unknown Sources":

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Special Access Rights → Install Unknown Applications.
2. Select a browser or file manager (such as Files) through which you will install.apk.
3. Activate the "Allow installation from this source" switch.

Download APK official website|Check the hash file (optional)|Insert "Unknown sources"|Install the file through the file manager|Launch your browser and update via Play Market (if available)

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3.Installation through third-party stores

If Google Play is not available and you don’t want to download.apk manually, use alternative stores:

• 📦 APKMirror – a proven source with original APK.
• 🛒 Aptoide - an open source store.
• 🔍 Uptodown – a directory of applications with a security rating.

When installing from third-party sources, always check:

• ✅ The name of the package (for example, for Chrome it is com.android.chrome).
• ✅ Developer's signature (must match the official).
• ✅ User reviews for viruses.

How to make a new browser the main default

After installing an alternative browser, it must be assigned by the default application to open links.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the installed browser (such as Chrome) in the list and tap it.
3. Select "Open by default" (or "Default settings").
4. Click on “Clear Default Settings” (if you have such an option).
5. Return to the home screen and open any link (such as from a message or email).
6. In the window that appears, select a new browser and select "Always".

If the option "Open by default" is missing, this means that MIUI It blocks the change of the standard browser, and one of the following methods will help:

Overcoming restrictions MIUI through ADB

For advanced users, there is a way to reset default settings via ADB (Android Debug Bridge. will require a computer with Xiaomi drivers installed and enabled debugging USB phone-on.

Instructions:

1. Turn on the debugging. USB In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Tap 7 times, then return to "More" → For developers").
2. Connect Redmi 7 to your PC and confirm your trust in your computer.
3. Open the command line (Windows) or the terminal (Linux/macOS) and type: adb shell pm clear com.android.browser This will reset the default settings for Mi Browser.
4. Then do the following: adb shell am start -a android.settings.MANAGE_DEFAULT_APPS_SETTINGS This will open the default application settings menu.

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Use of the ADB — The only reliable way to reset the default settings is if MIUI It blocks changes manually, but it requires technical skills and can cause malfunctions when used incorrectly.

How to remove Mi Browser from Redmi 7

Removing the standard Mi Browser browser is a more difficult task, as it is a system application.

1. Disconnect (no root)

If you do not have root permissions, you can only disable the browser:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Mi Browser (can be called the Browser or the Browser).
3. Click "Disable" (the button will only be active on some firmware).

⚠️ Attention: MIUI 12+ The option to shut down can be blocked, and in this case, only the removal through the ADB or rooting.

2. Removal via ADB (no root)

This method works on most firmware MIUI It doesn't require any superuser rights:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and enable debugging. USB (see section above).
2. Open the command line and type: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.android.browser (for Mi Browser, the name of the package may be different – check through adb shell pm list packages) | grep browser).
3. Reboot the phone.

If the command fails, try an alternative package:

adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.browser

3. Complete removal with root rights

If you have root, use a file manager with superuser rights support (such as Root Explorer):

1. Open the manager and go to the /system/app/ or /system/priv-app/.
2. Find folders with Browser, MiuiBrowser or similar names.
3. Remove the folders or rename them (for example, in the Browser_bak).
4. Reboot the phone.

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Before removing system applications, make a backup copy through TWRP Or Orange Backup. This will help restore the browser if you have problems with the work of other applications. MIUI.

⚠️ Note: Removal of system applications may result in:

• 🔄 Unstable operation of certain functions MIUI (For example, push notifications).
• 🔧 Errors when updating firmware (the system may try to recover deleted files).
• 📱 Loss of warranty if the device has been officially unlocked.

The best Mi Browser alternatives for Redmi 7

When choosing a new browser for Redmi 7, consider two key factors:

1. RAM consumption: on a device with 2-3 GB RAM heavy browsers will slow down.
2. Support for weak devices: Some browsers are optimized for older smartphones.

Comparative table of alternatives:

For Redmi 7, we recommend:

• 🦊 Firefox – if you need to sync and block ads.
• 🎵 Opera Mini – if saving RAM is a priority.
• 🛡️ DuckDuckGo – if privacy is important.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When you change your browser to Redmi 7, you'll see some common errors, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

1. The new browser does not open default links

If you still open links in Mi Browser after setting up, follow the following steps:

• 🔧 Clear the cache and data of the Settings application (Settings) → Annexes → Application management → Settings → Warehouse → Clear the data).
• 🔄 Reboot the phone.
• 📱 Install another launcher (like Nova Launcher) that lets you flexibly configure your default apps.

2. "Application not installed" error during installation APK

This error occurs if:

• 📁.The apk file is corrupted (check checksum) MD5).
• 🔒 In the settings disabled installation from unknown sources.
• 📱 There is not enough space on the phone (at least 200 MB of free space is needed).

Decision:

1. Download.apk again from the official website.
2. Enable "Unknown Sources" (see section above).
3. Clean the cache in Settings → Storage → Cleanup.

3.Browser brakes or flies off

On Redmi 7 with 2 GB of RAM, heavy browsers (such as Chrome) can slow down.

• 🧹 Clear the browser cache in its settings.
• 🔄 Turn off unnecessary tabs (in Chrome, limit the number of tabs to the minimum). 3-5).
• 📱 Use Easy Mode in Firefox or Opera Mini.
• 🔧 Turn off animation in the developer settings (Settings) → For developers → The scale of window animation → No animation).

4.After deleting the Mi Browser, push notifications stopped working

This is because some of the systems MIUI It depends on the Mi Browser:

• 🔧 Restore the browser through ADB: adb shell cmd package install-existing com.android.browser
• 📱 Disable the browser instead of deleting (see section above).
• 🔄 Update the firmware to the latest version MIUI (In new versions, dependency is reduced).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions