How to remove Chrome from Xiaomi Android completely: expert guide

Many owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones face intrusive preinstalled system applications. The Google Chrome browser often occupies one of the central places on this list, consuming RAM and space in internal storage even in the background. Standard deletion through settings is impossible in this case, since the system considers this component critical to the operation of Google Play Services.

However, there are several proven ways to get around this limitation: you can either completely deactivate the application, hiding it from the user’s eyes, or use advanced methods to force removal.

In this article, we will take a look at all the options available, from simple settings to working with the command line. It is important to understand that interfering with system processes requires care to not disrupt the stability of MIUI or HyperOS. We will look at safe algorithms that will help you clean your smartphone of excess software.

⚠️ Warning: Deleting system components completely can cause some Android features to function unstable, such as syncing accounts or opening links from other apps.

Why you can’t just delete Chrome through your settings

The Android operating system, including the shells from Xiaomi, is built on the principle of the minimum necessary components for basic functioning. The Chrome browser is part of the GMS (Google Mobile Services) package, which makes it a system application. When you try to find the “Delete” button in the application management menu, you will find only the option “Disable” or “Stop”.

This restriction is designed to ensure compatibility, and many applications use Chrome Custom Tabs to display web pages internally, and if deletion were possible through regular means, it could lead to bugs in messengers, social networks, and other programs that require browser authorization.

However, for users who prefer alternative browsers like Firefox, Brave or Via Browser, having an active Chrome is often a redundant, and it continues to receive updates through the Play Market store, taking up space and consuming traffic, so the issue of deactivation or deletion remains relevant for enthusiasts of cleanliness.

Disconnection method: a safe alternative to removal

The safest and most recommended way to get rid of Chrome activity is to shut it down completely, in which case the application stops running, disappears from the list of work programs and does not consume CPU resources, in fact, the difference between the disabled and the remote application becomes invisible to the user.

You don’t need any additional tools or a computer connection to do this, and all of the activities are done directly in the interface of Xiaomi’s smartphone, which ensures that if necessary (for example, if an application fails to work without a system browser), you can quickly return everything back.

The disconnection process is as follows:

• 📱 Open the Settings menu of your device and go to the App section.
• 🔍 Search in the Google Chrome list (you can search) and click on it.
• 🛑 At the bottom of the screen, click the Disable button and confirm the action in the pop-up window.

Once these steps are done, the browser icon will disappear from the desktop and menu, and the system will also prevent the application from receiving updates or running background processes, which is the best option for most users who want to simply free up resources without risking damage to the system.

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Before you turn off Chrome, make sure you have another browser installed and configured that will open by default when you click on links.

Preparation for deep cleaning through ADB

If the standard disconnection does not suit you and you want to physically remove the browser packet from the system, you will have to use the tool. ADB (Android Debug Bridge. It's a command-line utility that allows a computer to interact with an Android device at a deep level. You'll need a PC (Windows, macOS or Linux) to work. USB-cable.

The first step is to activate the developer mode on your Xiaomi. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click 7 times on the MIUI Version (or OS Version). After the notification "You became a developer" appears, return to the main settings menu.

Next, you need to configure the debugging parameters:

• 🔧 Go to Additional Settings → For developers.
• ✅ Activate the debugging switch on USB.
• 🔌 Connect your smartphone to your computer with a cable and on the phone screen confirm the debugging permission by ticking the box "Always Allow".

⚠️ Note: Do not connect your smartphone to public charging stations with activated debugging USB, This can create a vulnerability to your personal data.

Now you need to download the SDK Platform Tools from Google's official website. Unpack the archive into a convenient folder on your computer. This is where the commands to remove applications will be executed. Make sure that your PC has drivers for Xiaomi installed so that the computer correctly identifies the device.

Remove Chrome via ADB Command Line

Once you've successfully prepared, you can move to direct deletion. Open the command prompt (CMD) or PowerShell in the ADB tool folder. First, check the connection by entering the adb device command. If done correctly, you'll see your device's serial number.

To delete the browser, you need to know the exact name of its package. For Google Chrome, it is standard and the same on all Android devices.

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

Enter this line and press Enter. If the operation is successful, the system will respond with the message "Success". The application will disappear from the device instantly. It is important to understand that this deletion is only for the current user (user 0), so when reset to factory settings, the browser will return.

The table below shows Chrome-related packages that can also be removed for complete cleanup:

Recovery of Remote Browser

Often, users who have removed Chrome through ADB are faced with the need to return it back, for example, if a critical application requires that browser to authorize or display content, and fortunately, since we didn't erase the system recovery section, it's very easy to return it as it was.

To restore a remote system application, it is enough to run a reverse command via ADB. Connect the phone to the computer, open the command line and enter:

adb shell cmd package install-existing com.android.chrome

This command will force the reinstalling of the package from the system reserve, and after it is executed, the browser will appear in the list of applications, and you can use it again or simply disable it in the standard way through the settings.

Use of Superuser Rights (Root)

For smartphone owners with unlocked bootloaders and installed Root rights (for example, through Magisk), the removal process is even more simple and radical. Having superuser rights allows you to remove any system applications without using a computer and command line.

There are many Root-enabled file managers, such as Root Explorer, MT Manager, or specialized utilities like System App Remover, which can be used to find /system/app or /system/priv-app, locate the Chrome.apk file, and simply delete it.

However, this method carries the greatest risks: an error when deleting system files can lead to a bootloop (cyclical reboot) of the phone. system_root Direct removal may be blocked or require reassembly of the system image.

⚠️ Note: Using Root rights voids the device warranty and may disrupt the operation of Google Pay (Mir Pay) banking applications and services if you do not use special concealment modules.

If you are not an experienced user and do not understand the consequences of modifying the system partition, it is better to limit yourself to the ADB method or simply disabling.

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The safest and most effective way for 95% of users is to simply disable the app in settings or uninstall it via ADB without obtaining Root rights.

Alternative browsers for Xiaomi

After removing the heavyweight Chrome, many users are looking for a replacement for it.The Android ecosystem offers a plethora of lightweight and fast alternatives that work great on the Snapdragon and MediaTek processors used at Xiaomi.

One of the best replacements is Via Browser.It’s an ultra-lightweight browser, whose installation file weighs less than 2MB.It supports plugin installation, ad blockers, and has a minimalist interface perfect for small screens.

Also worth looking at is Brave or DuckDuckGo, if privacy is important to you, which have built-in lock trackers and don't collect data about your activity, unlike Google products. For users who are used to syncing, Firefox with extension support is a great choice.

The choice of alternatives depends on your needs: speed, privacy or functionality. In any case, the abandonment of Chrome on mobile devices often leads to tangible gains in performance and battery life.