How to Remove Chrome from Xiaomi Phone: From Disconnection to Complete Deletion

Google Chrome is pre-installed on most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones as a system application, and many users want to uninstall it, whether it’s because of battery consumption, data collection, or simply because they prefer alternatives like Firefox or Brave. However, standard removal through the app menu is often not available: the Delete button is inactive or absent.

In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to get rid of Chrome on Xiaomi, from simple disabling to complete deletion of system files. It is important to understand that the depth of intervention depends on your goals: if you just want to hide the browser, you will have enough basic MIUI settings; if you want to free up space in memory or stop background processes, you will need the rights of a superuser (root) or ADB command.

We warn you beforehand that some methods can affect system stability, for example, forced removal of system APKs without a backup can cause Google Services to malfunction. So before any manipulation, back up the data and make sure you understand the risks.

1. Method: Disable Chrome through MIUI settings

The safest and easiest method is to disable the browser, not physically delete it, which will stop the background, hide the icon from the menu, but will not free up space in memory, suitable for most users who do not want to risk the stability of the system.

The instructions are relevant for MIUI 12/13/14 on all Xiaomi models, including Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Black Shark 5 and others.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search bar, type Chrome (or scroll through the list to the All Apps section).
3. Slip on Google Chrome, then select Disable.
4. Confirm the action in the dialog box by clicking Disable the application.

✅ Pros of the method:

• 🔒 Safe – does not require root rights or ADB.
• ⚡ Fast, it takes less than a minute.
• 🔄 Back to the browser – you can turn the browser back at any time.

❌ Cons:

• 📉 Does not free up space in memory (APK-file stays on the device).
• 🔄 Chrome Updates Will Still Be Downloaded Through Google Play.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI (Especially Chinese versions) the "Disable" option may not be available.

💡

If after turning off Chrome, its icon is still visible on the home screen, manually delete it - press your finger on the icon and drag it to the basket ("Delete").

2. Method: Removing Chrome Updates

If the browser was originally pre-installed as a system application, nolater has been updated through Google Play, you can return it to the factory version, which will reduce the space occupied and reset all settings.

How it works: System applications in MIUI are stored in /system and cannot be removed without root, but updates (installed in /data) are easy.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Google Chrome.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Remove Updates.
3. Confirm the action. The app will return to the factory version.
4. (Optional) Turn off Chrome Automatic Update in Google Play: Open Play Store → Click on Profile Avatar → App and Device Management. Find Chrome in the list and uncheck Auto Update.

📌 What does it mean:

• 📦 Frees him. ~50-150 MB (size depends on the number of updates).
• 🛡️ Resets all browser data (cookies, history, cache).
• 🔄 Allows you to use the factory version of Chrome without unnecessary features.

⚠️ Note: After resetting to the factory version of Chrome may not work as well - some sites will not display properly due to the outdated Chromium engine.If this is critical, it is better to completely remove the browser (see methods 3 and 4).

Make backup bookmarks (export to HTML)

Remember saved passwords (or transfer to another browser)

Check if Chrome is used as the default browser

Turn off sync with your Google account-->

3. Method: Remove Chrome through ADB (without root)

If disabling and resetting updates isn’t enough, you can force the user’s Chrome (but not the system!) to be removed using ADB (Android Debug Bridge) – a method that doesn’t require superuser rights, but requires the phone to be connected to a computer.

⚠️ Important: This method only removes the updated version of Chrome (from the section). /data), not systemic APK. That means that:

• The Chrome icon may remain on the menu (but the app won’t open).
• The system version of the browser will remain in memory, but will not be updated.
• Some features of Google Services (such as web browsing in other apps) may malfunction.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on USB debugging on your phone: Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and tap 7 times to activate Developer Mode. Return to Settings → Additional → For Developers and enable USB Debugging.

Connect your phone to your PC

Open the command line (Windows) or the terminal (macOS/Linux)

ADB

here

Follow the command to remove Chrome updates:

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

• The --user 0 flag means that the deletion is for the current user (does not affect system files).
• The -k flag saves the cache and app data (if you want to delete everything, remove it).
• Reboot the phone.

✅ The result:

• 🗑️ Chrome will disappear from the list of applications (or stop opening).
• 📱 Released. ~100-300 MB (depending on the number of updates).
• 🔄 When you try to open a link through Chrome, the system will suggest you to choose another browser.

⚠️ Note: If you see a Failure error after completing the command [DELETE_FAILED_INTERNAL_ERROR], So on your device, Chrome is protected by Google policies, and in this case, only getting root rights will help. 4).

4. Method: Completely remove Chrome with root rights

If you are willing to take drastic measures and have root access (for example, through Magisk), you can completely delete Chrome, including system files. This will free up the maximum amount of space and permanently eliminate the browser, but it requires caution: improper actions can lead to the failure of Google Play Services or other system failures.

What you need to know before removing:

• 🔧 Backup is mandatory! Use TWRP Swift Backup for Backup Partition /system.
• 🔄 Some apps (such as Gmail or YouTube) may use Chrome components to display web content.
• 📱 On Chinese firmware. MIUI (Chrome can be integrated into system services – its removal will lead to the collapse of the system.

Instructions for root devices:

1. Install a file manager with root access (such as Root Explorer or Mixplorer).
2. Go to /system/priv-app/PrebuiltGmsCore/ or /system/app/Chrome/ (exact location depends on the MIUI version and phone model).
3. Delete or rename the following files: Chrome.apk (basic APK-Chrome.odex (if any) Lib folder inside Chrome directory (if present).

Clear the cache and data

Settings → Applications → Google Chrome → Storage

Reboot the phone.

🔍 How to Check if Chrome is Deleted:

• Open the root terminal (e.g., via Termux with su) and execute: pm list packages | grep chrome If the output is empty, the browser is remote.
• Try to open the link – the system should offer a different browser.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI (for example, MIUI EU Chrome can be linked to Google Play Services, and deleting it will cause errors when updating apps or running Google Pay (ADB) shut down.

💡

Removing Chrome with root rights completely frees up to 500MB of space, but can disrupt other Google services. Always test the system after manipulation!

5. Chrome Alternatives for Xiaomi: Which browser to choose

If you removed Chrome, it makes sense to install a replacement. Here are the best browsers for Xiaomi, taking into account the features of MIUI:

💡 Recommendations for selection:

• 🛡️ If your goal is privacy, choose Brave or DuckDuckGo.
• ⚡ For maximum speed on weak devices (e.g. Redmi) 9A) Mi Browser or Firefox Lite is perfect.
• 🔧 If you need extensions like uBlock Origin, go with Firefox or Kiwi.

⚠️ Important: After installing an alternative browser, remember to make it the default browser:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select a new browser → Open by default → Add.
3. Make sure that all types of links (http, https) are linked to the new browser.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When you delete Chrome on Xiaomi, users encounter common errors, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

🔹 Problem 1: Chrome is coming back after the update MIUI

• Reason: System Update restores deleted APKs.
• Solution: Turn off automatic MIUI update in Settings → About Phone → System Update → Three Points → Settings → Auto-download Updates. Use ADB to lock Chrome: adb shell pm hide com.android.chrome

🔹 Problem 2: Some apps don’t work after removing Chrome

• Reason: Some programs (like Google Pay or Gmail) use Chrome components to display web content.
• Solution: Install WebView from Google (if you deleted system Chrome): adb shell cmd package install-existing com.google.android.webview Use an alternative browser with WebView support (e.g. Bromite).

🔹 Problem 3: Android Process Acore has stopped after Chrome was deleted

• The reason: Chrome is integrated into MIUI system services (especially on Chinese firmware).
• Solution: Restore Chrome from the backup (if any). Reset settings through Settings → Additional → Reset (does not delete data, but restores system applications). Refuse your phone via Fastboot (extremely).

🔹 Problem 4: Cannot connect to the ADB (not detected)

• Reasons: No drivers for Xiaomi on PC. Antivirus blocking (e.g. Avast or Windows Defender) Wrong USB-cable (original or data support required).
• Solution: Download Mi USB Driver for your model. Disable the antivirus while working with ADB. Try another cable or port. USB 2.0 (on some PCs) USB 3.0 is incompatible with ADB). 💡If you notice that the battery is draining faster after deleting Chrome, check the background activity of the alternative browser in Settings. → Battery → Battery usage: Some browsers (like Firefox) consume more power than Chrome. 7 How to get Chrome back (if something goes wrong) If you have phone problems after deleting your browser or have changed your mind, there are several ways to get Chrome back: 🔄 Method 1: Restore through Google Play Open Google Play Store. Find Google Chrome and click Install. If the Install button is inactive, Chrome is still present as a disabled application. Enable it through Settings → Annexes → Google Chrome → Turn on. 🔄 Method 2: Recovery through ADB (If you have removed updates) Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell cmd package install-existing com.android.chrome Reboot the device. 🔄 Method 3: Recovery from backup (if there is root) If you have been backup through TWRP Titanium Backup, restore files: /system/priv-app/PrebuiltGmsCore/Chrome.apk /data/app/com.android.chrome-1/ (if you delete user data, correct access rights: chmod 644 /system/priv-app/PrebuiltGmsCore/Chrome.apk Reboot the phone. 🔄 Method 4: Resetting settings (last resort) Go to Settings → Additionally. → Settings reset. Select Reset application settings (does not delete data, but restores system applications). If that doesn't work, complete reset (deletes all data!). ⚠️ Note: If Chrome was removed through root and its recovery is not helping, it may be damaged system libraries, in which case only the help of flashing the phone via Fastboot or Fastboot. TWRP. FAQ: Frequent questions about removing Chrome on Xiaomi ❓ Can I delete Chrome without a computer? Yes, but with limitations: Without root, you can only disable Chrome or remove its updates (see methods 1 and 2). With root, you can use a file manager (such as Mixplorer) to delete it. APK Apps like Debloater (requires) ADB Wi-Fi allows you to remove system applications without a PC, but it is less reliable. ❓ Why did some games stop working after Chrome was removed? Some games (especially Unity or web browsing) use Chromium components to display ads or embedded browsers. Solutions: Install an alternative WebView (e.g. Bromite SystemWebView); Return Chrome via Google Play (suffice it to install, not necessarily make the default browser); Contact support for the game - perhaps the problem is on their side. ❓ How to remove Chrome from Xiaomi on Chinese firmware (without Google Services)? MIUI (For example, for Redmi K50 Xiaomi 13 without GMS) Chrome can be part of system services: 🚫 Don’t delete Chrome, it will lead to a crash. MIUI. 🔧 Disable the browser through Settings → Applications (if the option is available). 📥 Install an alternative browser (e.g. Mi Browser or QQ Browser Optimized for China). ⚠️ On Chinese firmware, any manipulation of system applications can lead to a "brick" of the device. If you are critical to get rid of Chrome, consider reflashing to a global or European version. MIUI. ❓ Will other Google apps update after Chrome is removed? Yes, deleting Chrome does not affect updating other apps (like YouTube or Gmail).However: If you deleted Chrome through root and damaged Google Play Services, the updates may stop working. Some apps (like Google Maps) use Chrome components to display web content – their performance may deteriorate. 🔹 To check the status of Google Play Services, open Settings → Annexes → Google Play Services → If the "Remove Updates" button is active, then the services are working normally. ❓ Can you delete Chrome with the help of TWRP? Yes, if you have a custom recavery installed TWRP, You can manually remove Chrome: Download to TWRP (clamp down the Power + Volume Up when enabled. Select Advanced → File Manager. Go to the /system/priv-app/ or /system/app/ And find a folder with Chrome. Delete the files Chrome.apk, Chrome.odex and lib folder (if any). Go back to the main menu and select Reboot System. ⚠️ Important: Before removing, make a backup section /system into TWRP (backup → If the phone does not boot after removal, restore the backup.