Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face the intrusiveness of standard applications that can not be simply removed from the device. One of these heavyweights is the Google Chrome browser, which occupies a place in memory and runs in the background. Many users want to know how to remove Chrome from Android to Xiomi completely to free up the system resources or just use an alternative browser.
It is important to immediately identify the technical nuance: since Chrome is a system component of the Android operating system, standard removal through the application menu is impossible without special manipulation. However, there are proven methods that allow you to either completely freeze the application or delete it for the current user through the computer. This action will not disrupt the system, but will require careful follow-up steps.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available ways, from simple disabling through MIUI settings to advanced USB debugging. You will learn how to clear all traces of browser usage and prevent it from automatically updating. Be prepared for the fact that some methods will require a PC connection.
Why you should consider removing the standard browser
Many users are unaware of how much resources Google Chrome consumes in the background. Even if you don’t use it, synchronization and update processes can load the processor and consume battery power. On budget Xiaomi models with little RAM, this can be a noticeable problem.
In addition, the browser collects a huge amount of telemetry and data about your activity. For those who value privacy, abandoning Google products in favor of lighter and more private counterparts is a logical step.
⚠️ Warning: Deleting system components completely may cause some Chrome-dependent Google services (such as WebView) to run in an unstable manner.Be prepared for the fact that some applications may require system resets.
It’s also worth mentioning that alternative browsers often run faster and have more flexible interface settings.If you’re used to a certain set of features that Chrome doesn’t provide, replacing your browser will be a nice upgrade to your smartphone experience.
- 🚀 Freeing RAM for faster operation of games and applications.
- 🔋 Reduced background activity and battery saving.
- 🛡️ Increased privacy by eliminating Google trackers.
- 🎨 Ability to use more lightweight and customizable interfaces.
Preparation of the device before making changes
Before you start radical measures, you need to properly prepare the smartphone Xiaomi. Any manipulation of system applications requires an up-to-date backup of important data. Although the risk is minimal, it never hurts to be safe.
Make sure that the device has an alternative browser installed. If you delete Chrome and there is no other browser, links from messengers and apps may stop opening. Download Firefox, Opera or any other preferred option from Google Play in advance.
☑️ Preparing for the removal of Chrome
It is also recommended to log out of your Google account in the browser settings so that the synchronized data (passwords, history) is not irrevocably deleted from the server if you plan to completely delete.
To perform advanced methods, you may need to turn on the developer mode. To do this, go to Settings → About Phone and click 7 times in a row on the MIUI Version or OS Version. After that, a hidden section for engineers will appear in the menu.
Disconnection method through MIUI settings
The safest and easiest way to get rid of browser intrusion is to force the browser to be disabled, in which case the application remains on the system, but does not start, update or consume resources, the icon disappears from the desktop, and the system ceases to consider Chrome as the default browser.
To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Search in the Chrome list and click on it. From the menu that opens, select the Disable or Remove Updates button if the first button is inactive.
If the system says that the application is system and cannot be removed, that's fine. Once it's turned off, it will stop interfering. However, on some HyperOS firmware or older versions of MIUI, the shutdown button may be blocked by the manufacturer or carrier.
What to do if the “Disable” button is grey?
After turning off, it is recommended to restart the device so that the changes take effect and the background processes finally stop.
- 📱 Go to Settings. → Annexes.
- 🔍 Find Chrome in the list.
- 🛑 Click Disable and confirm the action.
Complete removal via ADB (for advanced users)
If you want to remove the browser physically from user space, you will need a computer and tools ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to remove system applications for the current user without superuser rights (Root).
First, enable USB debugging on your smartphone: Settings → Advanced Settings → Developers → USB debugging. Connect your phone to your computer with a cable and install ADB drivers on your PC. In the command line, enter a command to check the connection:
adb devicesIf the device is displayed with device status, you can proceed to delete. The Chrome deletion command is as follows: It doesn't erase the file forever, but hides it from the system as if it never existed.
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.chrome⚠️ Note: Using the pm uninstall command removes the application only for the current user (user 0). To return the browser, you will need a full reset of the phone (Factory Reset) or re-install via the browser. ADB install-existing.
This method is the most effective way to clean up the system of garbage, but it requires caution: a single mistake in the name of the package can lead to the removal of a critical component of the system.
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To return deleted via ADB Chrome, use the command: adb shell cmd package install-existing com.android.chrome.This will restore the application without losing data if it has not been cleaned previously.
Cleaning of residual files and cache
Even after disabling or deleting an application, the phone may still have residual files, logs and cache in its memory. Go to the file manager to delete them and check the folders associated with Google. These are usually located at the root of internal memory or in the Android/data folder.
It’s also worth clearing the Google WebView service data if you don’t plan to use the Chrome engine in other apps, and you can do this through the App Management menu by selecting the appropriate system component and clicking Clear Data.
It is recommended to use specialized utilities to find duplicates and residual files, but with caution. the built-in cleaner in MIUI ("Security") also does a good job of removing temporary files after uninstallation of programs.
| Type of data | Location. | Can I remove it? | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash browser | /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.android.chrome | Yes. | Safe. |
| Bookmarks (local) | Internal database of the application | Yes (if there's synchronization) | Losing history |
| Download files | Download folder | Selectively | Safe. |
| Data from WebView | System memory | Carefully. | Resetting display settings in other applications |
Alternatives and setting up the new browser by default
Once Google Chrome is removed, the system may get confused rather than open links. It is important to set up the new default browser immediately. Go to Settings → Apps → App Management → Three dots in the corner → Default Apps → Browser and select the desired option.
Modern alternatives offer features that aren’t available in Chrome stock, such as engine-level ad blockers, traffic saving mode, or built-in VPNs. Xiaomi devices with Snapdragon processors are perfectly optimized browsers on the Chromium engine, but with Google’s pared-down services.
Remember to move your bookmarks and passwords if you haven't synced them to your Google account.Most browsers allow you to import data from your Google account. HTML-Sync with or sync with another service’s cloud.
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Proper browser setting by default ensures that all links from messengers and social networks will be opened in the application you choose without unnecessary system questions.
If you use Xiaomi’s ekosystem, you can consider the built-in Mi Browser browser, although it also contains a lot of ads that you can turn off in the settings.
Possible problems and solutions
Users may encounter errors during the deletion process, such as when Chrome is removed, links in apps that are rigidly tied to Google’s Custom Tabs will stop opening, in which case installing Chrome Custom Tabs from third-party developers or restoring the system component will help.
Another problem is automatic updates. Google Play Store may try to reinstalle the browser. To avoid this, in the Play Store settings, search for Chrome and uncheck the Auto Update box if the app is still visible on the list, or use modified versions of the app store.
⚠️ Note: If after deletion you see persistent “Application Stopped” pop-up errors related to Google, a critical component may have been removed.
It’s also worth remembering that some games and apps require Chrome to be authenticated via Google Sign-In. In most cases, this works through Google Play services, but in rare cases, a browser’s absence can cause a crash.