How to completely remove your browser from Xiaomi Redmi 6: 5 working ways

Why is Xiaomi’s standard browser so hard to remove?

Owners of Xiaomi Redmi 6 often face a problem: the preinstalled Mi Browser browser is not removed by standard methods. This is not a coincidence, but a feature of the MIUI firmware, where system applications are integrated into the shell. Even if you installed Chrome or Firefox, the original browser continues to occupy space, show ads and consume resources.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways of removing – from simple (disable and hide) to radical (remote through ADB and root access).It is important to understand that on Redmi 6 with MIUI 9-14, complete removal without superuser rights is impossible, but there are workarounds. We will also look at how to get rid of third-party browsers (for example, UC Browser or Opera Mini), which could be installed by default in some regional firmware.

Before you start, check your firmware version: go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. This is the choice of method. For example, MIUI 12+ introduced a feature called Hiding System Applications, which was not available in earlier versions.

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

If you don't have to completely erase your browser from your device's memory, but just hide it from the menu and stop background activity, this method is the safest. It works on all versions of MIUI and requires no additional tools.

Instructions:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 In the search bar, type "Browser" (or "Mi Browser").
• ⚙️ Tap the app you found. → Disable (or “Remove Updates” if the button is active).
• 🔄 Confirm the action in the dialog window.

What does it mean?

• ✅ The browser icon will disappear from the menu.
• ✅ The app will stop updating through the Play Market.
• ❌ Browser files will remain in memory (take up) ~50–100 MB).
• ❌ Some system functions (such as opening links from messages) can be redirected to a disabled browser.

Make a backup of bookmarks (if you use Mi Browser)

Check if an alternative browser (Chrome, Firefox) is installed

Close all tabs in Mi Browser before disabling

Reboot your phone after disconnecting-->

⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi Redmi 6 firmware (especially Chinese) the "Disable" button may be blocked.

Method 2: Removal via ADB (without root rights)

If you don't want to, or can't, turn off the root, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a method that allows you to delete the browser software without interfering with system files directly, and is suitable for MIUI 10-14.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS.
• 🔌 USB-cable (original, for stable connection).
• 📦 Utility. ADB Tools (download from the official website).
• 🔧 Included debugging by USB phone-on.

Step-by-step:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone → 7 tap on MIUI Version. Return to the main settings menu, and the option "Additional → For Developers" will appear. Enable "Debugging by USB".
2. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the trusted device.
3. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (Linux/macOS) in the folder with ADB and do: adb devices Make sure your Redmi 6 appears in the list.
4. Enter the command to remove Mi Browser: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.browser For UC Browser (if installed): adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.UCMobile.intl

⚠️ Note: After completing the command, the browser will disappear from the system, but its files will remain in the folder. /system/priv-app/. This means that after resetting settings or updating MIUI It can reappear. You need root access to remove it completely.

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If the command doesn’t work, try first to disable the browser through the settings (Method 1), then repeat the procedure with ADB.

Method 3: Complete removal with root rights

This is the most radical method, requiring unlocking the bootloader and installing Magisk or another root solution, suitable for power users, because the wrong actions can lead to a device blink, but after successful execution, the browser will be deleted forever, including all its files.

What needs to be done:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Xiaomi tool (requires a Mi Account and wait 7-15 days).
2. Install custom recovery (TWRP) and get root access through Magisk.
3. Use a root-access file manager (such as Root Explorer or FX File Explorer) and delete the following folders: /system/priv-app/MiBrowser/ /system/app/MiBrowser/ /data/app/com.android.browser-1/

Alternatively, use ADB with root rights:

adb shell


su




mount -o rw,remount /system




rm -rf /system/priv-app/MiBrowser




rm -rf /system/app/MiBrowser




reboot

⚠️ Note: Deleting system files may disrupt the work MIUI. For example, some functions (for example, opening) PDF or processing web links) may stop working. Before deleting, back up folders through TWRP.

Method 4: Remove third-party browsers (UC Browser, Opera, etc.)

If your Redmi 6 has not only Mi Browser preinstalled, but also other browsers (such as UC Browser, Opera Mini or Baidu Browser), they can be removed by standard means. These applications are not system-based, so the process is easier.

Instructions:

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 Find the right browser (for example, UC Browser).
• 🗑️ Press Remove (if the button is active).
• 🔄 If the Remove button is inactive, try it:

List of popular browsers and their packages for ADB:

If you are not sure about the name of the package, use the command:

adb shell pm list packages | grep "browser"

It will display all apps with the word “browser” in the name of the package.

Method 5: Reset to factory settings (extreme case)

If all previous methods failed and the browser is disrupting, you can reset completely, delete all user data, but return the phone to the "out of the box" state. On some Xiaomi Redmi 6 firmware, you can turn off unnecessary system applications after the reset.

How to reset your settings:

1. Save important data (photos, contacts, messages) to your PC or cloud.
2. Go to Settings → Additional → Recovery and Reset.
3. Select "Reset" → "Delete all data".
4. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.

⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI After resetting, the browser may appear again. To avoid this, immediately after setting up the phone, disable it through Settings. → Applications (as in Method 1).

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Factory reset is not a method of removing the browser, but a way to "reset" the system to disable unnecessary applications, and only use it if other methods have not helped.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When you delete your browser, users of Xiaomi Redmi 6 often face typical problems, and here are the most common ways to solve them:

• 🚫 "Team team. ADB doesn't work":
• 🔄 "Browser appears after the update MIUI":
• ⚠️ "The phone stopped turning on after deleting files":

If you are not sure about your actions, it is better to stop turning off the browser (Method 1) or use ADB without deleting system files (Method 2).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions