How to remove Google Chrome from Xiaomi Redmi phone: the full guide

Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often encounter pre-installed software that takes up valuable space in internal memory. One such program is Google Chrome, which is integrated into the Android operating system at a deep level. Many users want to free up the device's resources or simply prefer to use alternative browsers like MI Browser or Firefox.

Unfortunately, standard methods available through the normal settings menu cannot completely remove this browser, the system blocks the removal of critical components to ensure the stability of the operating system, but there are proven ways to circumvent this limitation using developer tools or special commands.

In this article, we will take a look at all the options available, from simple shutdown to complete deletion via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), learn what risks exist when interfering with system files and how to properly prepare your Redmi for the cleaning procedure. It is important to understand the difference between deactivating an application and physically erasing it from memory.

Why you can’t just delete Chrome through your settings

The Android operating system, which runs the MIUI or HyperOS shell, categorizes applications into user and system applications. The Google Chrome browser is a system browser, as it is often used by other Google services to display web content within applications, which is why the Delete button in the application management menu is inactive or absent.

When you try to remove an application in the standard way, the system sends out a message that it cannot perform an action, a security mechanism that prevents the accidental removal of components necessary for the functioning of the Google ecosystem. Even if you manage to find a third-party installer, it will require the right of a superuser (Root), obtaining which on modern Xiaomi devices is a difficult and risky procedure.

⚠️ Note: Attempts to obtain Root rights on new Xiaomi models can lead to bootloader lock and loss of warranty.We strongly recommend against using methods that require unlocking the bootloader unless you are an experienced user!

However, there is a compromise solution in the form of a complete shutdown of the application, while the program code remains in memory, but ceases to execute, update and consume RAM, which for most users is enough to prevent the browser from interfering with the daily use of the smartphone.

Disconnection method: a safe option for everyone

The easiest and safest way to get rid of an intrusive browser is to force it to shut down, a method that requires no computer connection or special knowledge. Once the procedure is done, the app icon will disappear from the desktop and the process will be frozen by Android.

To implement this method, you need to go to the settings menu of your Redmi. Find the section responsible for managing installed programs. You need to find it in the list of Google Chrome and enter its properties. The actions may vary slightly depending on the version of the MIUI shell.

• 📱 Open Settings and go to the Application section.
• 🔍 Select All Apps and find it in the Chrome list.
• 🛑 Click the Disable or Turn Off button at the bottom of the screen.
• ✅ Confirm the action in the system warning pop-up window.

Once disabled, the system may suggest removing browser updates to free up space, which is a sensible move, as the latest versions take up significantly more space than the basic factory version.

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If the "Disable" button is inactive (gray), you have device administrator rights on your Google account, go to the security settings and uninstall the administrator rights for Chrome before you try again.

Complete removal via ADB: instructions for advanced

For those who want to completely erase Google Chrome from the device’s memory, there is a method using USB debugging. This method requires a computer (Windows, macOS or Linux) and a USB cable. It allows you to send commands directly to the Android operating system, bypassing standard interface restrictions.

Before starting the procedure, you need to activate the developer mode on your Xiaomi. To do this, go to Settings → About the phone and quickly press 7 times on the MIUI version or OS version. After the message about the developer mode activation, go to Advanced Settings → For developers and turn on the USB debugging switch.

Then you have to run the command line or the terminal in the folder with the ADB utility. Connect the phone with the cable and enter the command adb devices. On the screen of the smartphone will be a request for permission to debug from this computer — be sure to click "Allow." If the terminal displays the serial number of the device, the connection is installed successfully.

Now you can run a command to delete the packet. Type the following line:

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

After you enter the command and click Enter, the browser will be deleted for the current user (user 0).This does not physically erase files from the partition of the system, but makes them inaccessible and invisible to the user, which is equivalent to a complete deletion. The memory will be freed and the application will disappear from the list.

Recovery of Remote Browser

It is important to understand that the ADB deletion method is reversible, but recovery requires reconnecting to your computer. If you accidentally delete your browser or need it to run a service, you can easily return it to its original state without flashing the phone.

To recover, you just need to reconnect Redmi to the debugging PC and enter the reinstall command, which reinstalls the system package from the hidden recovery partition, which takes only a few seconds and does not require an Internet connection, since the installation files are already in the device's memory.

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Using ADB commands allows you to manage system applications without obtaining Root rights, which preserves the device guarantee and security integrity.

Alternative browsers for Xiaomi

Once you remove Chrome, you'll need another browser, and Xiaomi owners are in a good position to have MI Browser preinstalled, optimized for shelling, built-in ad blocker and traffic saving mode.

However, if the built-in solution doesn’t suit you, Google Play offers a variety of alternatives, such as Firefox Focus for private surfing, Brave with built-in tracker protection, or Opera Mini for weak Internet connections, depending on your personal preferences and security requirements.

• 🦊 Firefox is a great choice for PC sync and extension support.
• 🛡️ Brave – Focus on Privacy and Ad Blocking by Default.
• ⚡ Via Browser is an ultra-lightweight browser that takes up less than 2 MB of space.

Installing an alternative browser should precede deleting the standard one so that you always have a tool to access the network.Do not leave the device without a working web browser, as this may make it difficult to log in to some applications or restore an account.

Possible problems and solutions

Unforeseen situations may occur when removing or disabling system components. For example, after deleting Chrome, some applications associated with WebView may behave incorrectly. Android System WebView is a separate component that is often updated through a browser, but usually it functions autonomously.

If you notice that links in other applications have stopped opening or an error crashes, check the status of the Android System WebView component. It can not be deleted. In case of problems, it is better to restore Chrome through ADB, as described above, or reset the application settings to factory ones.

⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to remove system packages with names that contain "Google Services", "Play Services" or "Framework" and this will cause your smartphone to fail and require complex flashing.

Users may also find that after updating the MIUI system, the browser will appear again, which is normal behavior: with major OS updates, the system checks the integrity of system applications and can restore deleted files, in which case the deletion procedure through ADB will have to be repeated.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions