How to permanently remove Zen from the Yandex Browser on the Xiaomi phone: working methods 2026

Why Zen Appears in Xiaomi’s Yandex Browser and How to Fix It

If you own a Xiaomi smartphone (Redmi, POCO, Black Shark or flagship models), you probably faced a situation where when you open Yandex Browser instead of home page or search, Zen tape is automatically loaded. This feature is integrated into the browser by default, but not all users like it – especially those who prefer a minimalist interface or use other services for reading news.

The problem is compounded by the fact that MIUI (Xiaomi firmware) often pre-installes Yandex Browser as a system application, and its default settings are optimized for the Russian market. As a result, even after manually removing the Zen tape, it can reappear after updates or resets. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to remove Zen from Yandex Browser to Xiaomi in 2026, including hidden settings and radical methods for power users.

It is important to understand that simply turning off the tape in the browser settings does not always help – sometimes a comprehensive approach is required, including changing the system settings or even deleting the browser itself. We will look at options for different versions of MIUI (12 to 14) and Android (11-14), and take into account the features of specific Xiaomi models where Yandex Browser can be protected from removal.

Method 1: Disconnect Zen through the settings of Yandex Browser

The simplest and most obvious method is to disable Zen tape directly in your browser settings, which is suitable if you do not want to delete the browser completely, but only remove the unnecessary tab.+):

1. Open Yandex Browser on your Xiaomi.
2. Slip the icon "Three dots"** (menu) in the lower right corner of the screen.
3. Select the Settings item.
4. Go to the Main Page section.
5. Click on Set up the main page.
6. Uncheck the box at Show Zen tape.
7. Save the changes by pressing Ready.

If after these actions, the Zen tape continues to appear, try additionally:

• 🔄 Clear the browser cache in the settings (Settings) → Clear the data → Cash).
• 📱 Reboot your phone – sometimes the settings are only applied after the reboot.
• 🔧 Update your browser to the latest version via Google Play.

Clear the Yandex Browser cache|Reboot the phone|Update your browser to the latest version|Check the settings of the main page again-->

On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5), the settings may be reset after the MIUI 14 update, in which case you will have to repeat the procedure or use alternative methods described below.

Method 2: Resetting the settings of Yandex Browser to factory

If you can't turn off Zen through the menu, you can try resetting your browser to factory settings, which will delete all your bookmarks, history and saved passwords, so back up important data in advance.

1. Open the phone settings (Xiaomi).
2. Go to the Appendix section → Application management.
3. Find the Yandex Browser in the list and tap it.
4. Choose Warehouse.
5. Click Clear Data and confirm the action.
6. Return to the main browser settings and reconfigure the home page.

After resetting, the browser will start as after the first installation, and you will have to reset:

• 🔑 Sign in to your account (if you have synchronized).
• 🌐 Select the search engine by default.
• 📁 Restore the bookmarks from the backup (if you did).

💡

Before resetting your settings, export your bookmarks: open Bookmarks → Menu → Export and save the file to the cloud or memory card.

Xiaomi with MIUI 13/14 may receive a notification after reset to update your browser.Do not agree to an automatic update - it is better to install the latest version manually from Google Play to avoid re-activating Zen.

Method 3: Remove Yandex Browser as a system application (root rights)

Many Xiaomi smartphones have Yandex Browser installed as a system application, and standard methods can neither remove nor disable it. If you are willing to take radical measures, you can use root rights or tools like ADB. This method is suitable for advanced users!

Removal will require:

1. Unlock the bootloader on Xiaomi (instructions are available on the 4PDA or XDA Developers forums).
2. Install TWRP or other custom recaveri.
3. Get root rights through Magisk.
4. Use a root-enabled file manager (such as Root Explorer) or ADB command.

The command to remove via ADB:

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

If the browser is not deleted, try to turn it off first:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.yandex.browser

On Xiaomi models with MIUI 14 and Android 13/14, system applications can be restored after updates.

• 🛡️ Block updates for Yandex Browser through Settings → Annexes → Yandex Browser → Three points. → Disable updates.
• 📦 Remove the update package manually through ADB:

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

💡

Removing system applications can disrupt the stability of MIUI. Before experimenting, back up through Settings → Additional → Backup.

Method 4: Using alternative browsers and blocking Zen

If you can’t delete Yandex Browser, you can simply replace it with another browser and block Zen opening through the system settings, for example, Google Chrome, Firefox or Brave do not have built-in Zen tape and offer more customization options.

How to make another browser by default:

1. Install an alternative browser from Google Play.
2. Open Phone Settings → Applications → Default Apps.
3. Slip on Browser.
4. Select from the list the installed browser (for example, Chrome).

To block the opening of Zen in Yandex Browser (if it is still installed):

• 🚫 Disable notifications from the browser: Settings → Notifications → Yandex Browser → Shut down.
• 🔒 Block background activity: Settings → Annexes → Yandex Browser → Battery → Limit background activity.
• 📵 Remove the browser widget from the main screen (prolonged pressing) → Delete).

Xiaomi with MIUI 14 has a feature called Distraction-Free Mode that can block unnecessary tabs:

1. Go to Settings → Special Opportunities → Mode without distractions.
2. Activate the mode and add Yandex Browser to the list of limited applications.

Method 5: Altering DNS to block Zen at the network level

If you want to completely block access to the Zen service not only in the browser, but also at the network level, you can use alternatives. DNS-This method is suitable for users who want to get rid of Zen on all devices connected to the same network.

Instructions for changing the DNS on Xiaomi:

1. Open the Settings. → Wi-Fi.
2. Slip on the connected network and hold its name.
3. Select Change the Network → Additional settings.
4. In the DNS field, enter the AdGuard DNS addresses: 176.103.130.130 and 176.103.130.131 (blocks ads and trackers). Cloudflare Family: 1.1.1.3 and 1.0.0.3 (filters adult content). Yandex DNS: 77.88.8.7 and 77.88.8.8 (basic protection).

Save your settings and reconnect to the network.

Once the DNS is changed, the Zen tape can stop loading because the servers will block requests to zen.yandex.ru domains and related resources.

💡

For more flexible customization, use the DNS Changer app from Google Play, which allows you to quickly switch between servers and test their effectiveness.

Method 6: Remove via MIUI Optimization (for advanced users)

Xiaomi smartphones have a hidden MIUI Optimization feature that allows you to disable system applications without root rights.This method does not work on all models, but can be useful for Redmi and POCO on MIUI 12-14.

Instructions:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and tap on MIUI Version 7 times.
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find the MIUI Optimization option and turn it off.
4. Reboot the phone.
5. Now open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
6. Find Yandex Browser and tap it.
7. Click Disable or Remove Updates (if the button is active).

After disabling MIUI Optimization, some firmware functions may not work properly, such as:

• 🔄 Animations will become less smooth.
• 📱 Control gestures can work with delay.
• 🔋 Optimizing the battery will be less efficient.

If the browser still appears after disabling, try:

• 🛠️ Remove it through ADB (see method 3).
• 📦 Install custom firmware (e.g. LineageOS) where there are no pre-installed Yandex apps.

Frequent problems and solutions

When removing Zen from the Yandex Browser on Xiaomi, users often face typical difficulties. Let’s consider the most common ones and how to solve them:

⚠️ Note: If after deleting the browser, links from other applications (for example, Telegram or VKontakte) cease to open, install any other browser and make it the default browser in the system settings.

If none of these methods worked, consider using alternative browsers that support extensions to block content, such as:

• 🦊 Firefox + uBlock Origin extension (blocks Zen as an ad).

On Xiaomi models with MIUI for Russia (e.g. Redmi 10C or POCO M5), the Yandex Browser can be tightly integrated into the system, in which case the only reliable way to get rid of Zen is to completely flash the phone to a global or European version of MIUI.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions