How to completely remove the default browser on Xiaomi: disable, uninstall and bypass the MIUI restrictions

Why Xiaomi’s standard browser is causing users to dissatisfaction

Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones are equipped by default with the Mi Browser browser, an application that many users tend to remove immediately after buying a device, the reasons for this attitude lie in aggressive advertising, telemetry collection and limited functionality compared to alternatives like Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.

The main claims of Mi Browser:

• 📢 Pop-up ads at the bottom of the screen that interfere with reading
• 🔍 Collection of data on visited sites (even in a “private mode")
• 🐢 Slow work on budget models due to optimization for the Chinese market
• 🔒 Inability to remove completely without root rights (on most firmware)

Xiaomi has positioned its browser as “optimized for the MIUI ecosystem,” but in practice it is often a source of irritation, especially for users of European and global firmware versions, where the browser preloads banner ads before the page opens, consuming traffic and battery power.

In this article, we will explore all possible ways to get rid of Mi Browser – from simple disabling to complete deletion of system files (for advanced users), and consider the legal nuances: why Xiaomi does not allow you to delete the application through standard settings and what European law says about it.

Method 1: Disable the browser through settings (without deleting)

If you don’t have to completely erase the Mi Browser, but just hide it from the menu and stop background processes, use the built-in shutdown feature.This method works on all Xiaomi devices running MIUI 12-14 and does not require superuser rights.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management
2. In the search bar, type "Browser" (or "Browser")
3. Select Mi Browser from the list
4. Press "Disable" (the button will become active after tap)
5. Confirm the action in the dialog window

What happens after the shutdown:

• 🚫 Browser icon will disappear from the app menu
• 🔄 Mi Browser Background Processes Will Stop Working
• 📥 Updates for the browser will cease to be installed
• ⚠️ System links (e.g. from SMS) will open in the default browser you have previously selected

Install an alternative browser (Chrome, Firefox)

Export your bookmarks from Mi Browser (if needed)

Close all tabs in Mi Browser

Check if there is any important data in the browser collection-->

⚠️ Note: The disabled browser will remain in the system and will take up space (about 150-200 MB).To free up the memory, you will need a complete uninstallation (see Methods 3-5).

Method 2: Reset the browser to factory settings (if it is glitchy)

Before you delete the Mi Browser, try resetting it, which will help if the browser slows down, spontaneously opens ads or does not save passwords, the procedure does not require root rights and takes less than a minute.

How to reset your settings:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Browser
2. Put it on the vault.
3. Click "Clear Data" and "Clear Cache"
4. Return to the main browser menu and select “Settings Reset” (if available)

What will be cleaned up:

• 📁 Visit and download history
• 🔐 Saved passwords and autofill forms
• ⭐ Favorite bookmarks (if not synced with Mi Account)
• 🎨 User interface settings

⚠️ Note: If after reset, the browser continues to open ads, check the settings MIUI Optimization is on the developer menu. Sometimes, the ad modules are built into the firmware level.

Method 3: Removal via ADB (without root rights)

For users willing to work with the command line, there is a method of removing Mi Browser through the command line. ADB (Android Debug Bridge. This doesn't require superuser rights, but it requires a computer and a computer. USB-cable.

Step-by-step:

1. Activate Developer Mode on your smartphone: go to Settings → About the phone and 7 times tap on the "Version" MIUI"
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable “Debugging by USB”
3. Connect your phone to your PC, install Xiaomi USB Drivers (unless Windows finds them automatically)
4. Download ADB Tools and unpack into any folder
5. Open the command prompt in this folder (Shift + right mouse button → “Open PowerShell window here”)
6. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices should appear the name of your device.
7. Execute the deletion command: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.android.browser Global versions of MIUI may require an alternative package: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.browser.global

If the command is successful, the browser will be removed for the current user (not systemically), and when the phone is reset to factory settings, it can return.

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ Doesn't require root rights
• ✅ It works on most versions. MIUI
• ✅ Reversible process (you can return the browser with the command adb shell cmd package install-existing com.android.browser)

💡

Before removing through ADB back up your browser data (if it's important). HTML-file through the browser menu: … → Bookmarks → Exports

Method 4: Use of alternative firmware (for advanced ones)

If you're willing to take drastic measures, installing custom firmware will not only remove the Mi Browser, but also get rid of other pre-installed Xiaomi apps.

Comparison of firmware:

How to install Xiaomi.eu (the most popular option for Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO):

1. Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (requires a binding Mi Account and wait 7-30 days)
2. Download the firmware for your model from Xiaomi.eu
3. Install custom recovery (TWRP or OrangeFox)
4. Reboot to recovery and run the firmware through Install → Select file → Swipe to Confirm
5. Clean the cache (Wipe → Dalvik/ART Cache + Cache)

⚠️ Note: Installing custom firmware will void warranty and may result in device locking if the process is disrupted. On models with Anti-Rollback (e.g. Redmi Note 8 Pro), you can’t roll back to the old version. MIUI.

Once installed, Xiaomi.eu or other custom firmware, Mi Browser can be removed as a regular app or disable via Settings → Apps. In firmware based on pure Android (for example, LineageOS), Xiaomi will not initially be a browser.

Method 5: Complete root-right removal (for experts)

If you have obtained root rights (e.g., through Magisk), you can remove Mi Browser at the system level, which is suitable for users who understand the risks and are ready for possible consequences (e.g., disruption of work). OTA-update).

Instructions:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or FX File Explorer)
2. Go to /system/priv-app/ or /system/app/
3. Find folders with names: Browser (for global versions) MiuiBrowser or MiuiBrowserGlobal

Browser_bak

Settings → Applications

Reset the device

Alternative method via Termux (if there is no file manager):

su


mount -o rw,remount /system




rm -rf /system/priv-app/Browser




rm -rf /system/priv-app/MiuiBrowser




mount -o ro,remount /system




reboot

What's important to know:

• 🔧 Removing system applications can disrupt the work MIUI (For example, the integration with Mi Account will be lost)
• 🔄 After updating the firmware browser can return
• 🛡️ Some banking apps refuse to work on rooted devices
• 📦 Free up to 200-300 MB of memory

💡

Before you delete your system files, make a full backup via TWRP or other recovery, which will allow you to restore the device in case of a “brick”.

Legal nuances: why Xiaomi does not allow to remove the browser

Many users have complained about Xiaomi’s refusal to allow pre-installed apps, including Mi Browser, to be removed, because of the company’s business model and legal agreements:

1. Partner contracts: Xiaomi enters into contracts with advertisers and service providers (e.g. Bing or Yandex) that oblige the company to store their services on devices.

2.European law: Since 2023, the EU has had rules requiring manufacturers to allow preinstalled applications to be removed, but Xiaomi has circumvented this requirement by offering only “disable” instead of completely removing them.

3.Monetization: The browser collects user behavior data that Xiaomi uses for targeted advertising, one of the company’s main sources of revenue beyond selling devices.

4.Technical limitations: In China (the main Xiaomi market), many system applications are integrated into firmware at the kernel level. MIUI.

In 2022, Xiaomi was fined €3 million in Italy for aggressively collecting data through the Mi Browser, after which the company added the ability to disable telemetry collection, but it still cannot delete the browser.

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If you are concerned about data collection, turn off telemetry in your browser settings: Settings → Privacy → Data collection and personalization (turn off all switches).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Mi Browser removal