How to completely remove the history in Yandex Browser on the Xiaomi phone: 5 working ways

Why it is important to regularly clean up the history in Yandex Browser on Xiaomi

Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi, POCO and Mi lines) often come pre-installed with Yandex Browser, one of the most popular mobile browsers in Russia. However, few users know that accumulated search history, cache and cookies not only occupy precious space in the device’s memory, but can also become a privacy vulnerability. For example, if you logged into bank or social network accounts through a browser, their data can be stored as autocomplete forms.

The feature of MIUI (branded shell Xiaomi) is deep integration with Yandex services, which sometimes complicates standard cleaning procedures. For example, on some models (for example, Redmi Note 12 Pro+ or POCO X5 Pro), the history of the browser can be duplicated in the cloud storage Yandex Drive, if synchronization is enabled, which means that simply deleting data through the browser settings may not be enough.

In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven ways to clean up history, from basic deletion through the browser menu to deep cleanup through MIUI system settings, and learn how to disable the history synchronization with the cloud and why data is sometimes returned after cleaning.

Method 1: Standard cleaning through the Yandex Browser menu

The simplest method that is suitable for most users is to delete your browsing history, cookies, image cache and other temporary data, and the instructions are relevant for the latest versions of the browser (23.7+).

Open Yandex Browser on your Xiaomi and follow the following steps:

  • 📱 Slap the icon «☰» (three horizontal lines) in the lower right corner of the screen.
  • 🔍 In the menu that opens, select History.
  • 🗑️ In the upper right corner, click on the basket icon ("Delete»).
  • ⏳ Select the time range: Last hour, Today, Yesterday or All the time.
  • ✅ Confirm the deletion by pressing “OK».

This method only deletes your browsing history. To clear your cache and cookies, go to Settings → Privacy → Clear your data and tick the right items.

Page history |Cookies and site data |Cache of images and files |Form autocomplete data (if selected)

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⚠️ Note: If you have synced with your Yandex account enabled, the history may be restored after re-entry. To avoid this, turn off sync in your browser settings (Settings) → Account. → Synchronization).

Method 2: Deep Cleaning through MIUI settings

If the standard method didn't help or the story comes back after the phone is rebooted, the cause could be the system app cache. MIUI has a built-in deep cleaning tool that deletes residual browser data.

Follow the instructions:

  1. Open the phone settings (cog icon).
  2. Go to the Appendix section → Application management.
  3. In the search bar, enter “Yandex Browser” and select it from the list.
  4. Slip on Warehouse.
  5. Click on “Clear Cache” then “Clear Data” (this will remove all browser settings, including bookmarks!).

After this procedure, the browser will return to the factory settings. You will need to re-enter the account (if you used) and configure the home page.

What to do if the “Clear Data” button is inactive?
If the “Clear Data” button is gray, then the browser is a system application and is protected from reset, in this case, only disabling the device administrator for Yandex Browser (in the security settings) or completely resetting the phone will help.

Cleaning methodWhat's removedDoes the story recover after the reboot?Does the browser need to be reconfigured?
Standard cleaning through the browser menuHistory, cookies, cacheYes (if synchronization is enabled)No.
Deep cleaning through MIUIAll browser data (including bookmarks)No.Yes.
Removal via Safe ModeTemporary files and cachePartially.No.
Reset via ADBAll data in the applicationNo.Yes.

Method 3: Delete your history in Safe Mode (Safe Mode)

If the browser is unstable (for example, the history does not delete or returns by itself), the problem may be in conflict with other applications or viruses, in which case the Safe Mode, which loads the phone with only system applications, will help.

How to Sign In to Safe Mode on Xiaomi:

  1. Press the “Power” button before the turn off menu appears.
  2. Slip and hold your finger on the "Switch off" item.
  3. In the window that appears, select “Reboot in Safe Mode”.

After the reboot, the bottom right corner of the screen will show the words "Safe Mode." Now:

  • 🔍 Open Yandex Browser and repeat the standard history cleanup.
  • 🛡️ Check if the story is deleted without errors.
  • 🔄 Restart your phone in normal mode.

If Safe Mode removes the story normally, the problem lies in one of the installed applications, most often the culprits are:

  • 🤖 Memory optimizers (e.g. Clean Master or Clean Master) DU Speed Booster).
  • 🛡️ Antiviruses with browser protection (for example, Dr.Web or Kaspersky).
  • 🔄 Auto Start Managers (like Greenify).

MIUI 14|MIUI 13|MIUI 12.5|MIUI 12|Another version |I don't know

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Method 4: Disabling synchronization with Yandex account

One of the most common reasons why history returns after cleaning is synchronization with the Yandex cloud. If you log in to a Yandex account in your browser, all data (including history, bookmarks and passwords) is automatically stored on the company’s servers and restored the next time you log in.

To turn off synchronization:

  1. Open Yandex Browser and go to Settings → Account.
  2. Slip on your profile (if you are not logged in, this item will be inactive).
  3. Select Synchronization.
  4. Turn off the slider next to the "History" item.
  5. To completely disable synchronization, click “Exit from account”.

After that, the story will no longer be stored in the cloud.

  • 🔄 All previously synchronized data will remain on Yandex servers (they can be manually deleted through your personal account).
  • 📱 Bookmarks and saved passwords will also be removed from the device.
  • 🔒 If you use Yandex.Key to autofill passwords, you will have to enter them again.

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Before you turn off sync, export your bookmarks: open Settings → Bookmarks → Export and save the file in your phone’s memory or to your microSD card.

Method 5: Complete browser reset via ADB (for advanced users)

If none of the previous methods worked, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a tool for low-level management of Android devices, which is suitable for advanced users and requires connecting the phone to a computer.

We warn you that misuse of ADB can lead to data loss or system instability.If you are not sure about your actions, skip this section.

Instructions:

  1. Download and install Platform Tools on your computer.
  2. On the phone, turn on the Developer Mode (go to Settings → About Phone and tap on the MIUI version 7 times).
  3. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable “Debugging by USB”.
  4. Connect your phone to your computer through USB-cable and select File Transfer Mode.
  5. Open the command prompt (cmd on Windows or Terminal on macOS/Linux) and type:
adb devices

If the device is displayed in the list, execute the command to reset Yandex Browser data:

adb shell pm clear ru.yandex.browser

After that, all browser data (including history, cache and settings) will be erased, which is guaranteed to delete even data that is not cleared through the standard menu.

⚠️ Note: pm clear is equivalent to pressing the Clear Data button in the application settings, but it works even for secure system applications.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after clearing the history, Xiaomi users sometimes face unexpected problems, and let’s look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

Problem 1: History comes back after cleaning up

Reason: synchronization with Yandex account is enabled or the Smart Hint function in MIUI is used.

Decision:

  • Turn off synchronization (see Method 4).
  • Go to MIUI Settings → Special Features → Smart Tip and turn off the “Offer frequented sites” option.

Problem 2: The “Clear Data” button is inactive

Reason: Yandex Browser is a system application and is protected from changes.

Decision:

  • Use ADB (see Method 5).
  • Install an alternative browser (like Google Chrome or Firefox) and transfer the data to it.

Problem 3: After cleaning, the browser began to slow down

Reason: Deleting the cache could have caused temporary files needed to run quickly.

Decision:

  • Reboot the phone.
  • Open your browser and wait 5-10 minutes until it recovers the necessary data.
  • If the brakes are still there, try turning off animation in MIUI: Settings → About Phone → Additional → Windows animation (select 0.5x).

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If your browser is unstable after cleaning, try updating it via Google Play or AppGallery.Outdated versions often conflict with new MIUI updates.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

Can I delete the Yandex Browser history without logging in?
Yes, but only locally. The history synchronized with the cloud will remain on Yandex servers, and to delete it completely, you need to log in to your account and manually clear the data on the search history page.
Why does the history still appear after resetting the browser via ADB?
The story is probably stored elsewhere, such as: In Yandex Drive (if backup is enabled); in Google Account (if the browser is linked to it); in the MIUI cache (try clearing data through Settings → Memory → Cleanup); check all possible sources and disable autosynchronization.
How do you delete a story on a certain day?
Yandex Browser does not have a day-select function, but you can: Open History and manually delete unnecessary entries (swipe left for each item), use incognito mode to visit sites that should not be saved in history.
Will I remove the story from other devices if I clean it up on Xiaomi?
Not if you are not logged in to a Yandex account, the history is deleted locally, but if you use one account on multiple devices, cleaning up the history on one of them will lead to its deletion everywhere (the next time you sync).
Can you reconstruct a story that was accidentally deleted?
It is almost impossible to recover the history after cleaning, since it is not stored in MIUI backups. However, you can try: View the Yandex Disk journal (if synchronization was enabled); Use data recovery programs (for example, DiskDigger), but the chances are minimal. In the future, we recommend regularly export important bookmarks.