How to completely remove the clone of Chrome on Xiaomi: 5 working ways

Have you noticed that your Xiaomi has a second Chrome browser that is not deleted in standard ways?This is a typical problem of MIUI users, where system applications can be duplicated after updating or installing third-party firmware.

In this article, we’ll look at all possible removal methods, from simple (through settings) to advanced (using ADB and manual editing of system files). Special attention will be paid to hidden MIUI packages, which masquerade as Chrome, but are actually modified versions from Xiaomi. You’ll learn how to distinguish the real Google Chrome from a fake and why some methods work only on unlocked downloaders.

Important: the procedure is different for different versions of MIUI (12/13/14) and smartphone models (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T, etc.). If you are not sure about your actions, first create a backup of data through Settings → About Phone → Backup.

1. How to determine if Xiaomi has a Chrome clone installed

Before you delete anything, make sure you're dealing with a duplicate, not the original app.

• 🔍 Double icon: the app menu displays two browsers with the same name “Chrome”, but different icons (one is standard from Google, the other with a logo). MIUI).
• 📦 Different versions: in Settings → Annexes → App management shows that one browser has a version that is current from Google Play (e.g. 124.0.6367.91), and another has an outdated version (e.g. 105.0.5195.79).
• 🛠️ There is no button "Delete": the clone instead of it will only "Disable" or "Remove updates".
• 📱 System application: the package information indicates "System" (unlike custom Chrome).

To accurately identify the package, open Settings → Applications → Application Management → Chrome and look at the Package Name field:

• Original Chrome: com.android.chrome
• Xiaomi clone: can be com.miui.browser.global, com.android.browser or com.xiaomi.chrome (depending on the version of MIUI).

If you have MIUI 14 or later, the clone may be hidden under the name "MIUI Browser", but you can use the Chrome icon. You can check this through the adb shell pm list packages | grep -i chrome (team for ADB, more about this method is in section 4).

2. Method 1: Disconnect via MIUI settings

The safest method that does not require superuser (root) or ADB rights is suitable for most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models on MIUI 12-14.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find a duplicate browser in the list (see the signs in Section 1).
3. Slip it and select "Disable" (if the button is active).
4. Confirm the action in the dialog window.

If the "Disable" button is inactive:

• 🔧 Try to delete the updates first (the button "Delete updates").
• 📥 Restart your phone and try again.
• 🔄 If it doesn’t work, go to method 3 (via the ADB).

⚠️ Note: Disabling the system browser may cause web browsing to crash in other applications (for example, in Mi Account or Themes). If links stop opening after disabling, return the settings back.

Method 2: Removal via ADB (without root)

If the shutdown didn’t help or the button is inactive, the next step is to use Android Debug Bridge (ADB).This method works on all Xiaomi smartphones, but requires a connection to a computer.

What you need:

• 💻 Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📦 Installed Xiaomi drivers (download from the official website).
• 🛠️ Utility. ADB (Installation instructions - here).

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on Developer Mode on your phone: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version. Go back to Settings → Additional → Developer. Activate USB Debugging.

"File transfer"

CMD

Terminal

adb devices

If the device appears on the list, move on. If not, check the drivers and permissions on the phone.

adb shell pm list packages | grep -i chrome

In the output, look for lines from com.miui.browser or com.android.browser.

package.name

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 package.name

Example for MIUI Browser:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.browser.global

Reboot the phone.

If the team makes a Failure error [DELETE_FAILED_DEVICE_POLICY_MANAGER], So the app is protected by politicians. MIUI. In this case, only the bootloader will help (the method) 5).

Method 3: Manual removal via TWRP (for advanced)

This method is only suitable for users with an unlocked bootloader and a customized recap (TWRP) installed. It allows you to remove system applications directly from the firmware, but requires caution - an error can lead to a bootloop (cyclical reboot).

Warning: Be sure to make a full backup through TWRP (Backup section) before starting.

Instructions:

1. Load the phone into TWRP mode (turn off the device, then press Power + Volume up).
2. Go to Advanced → File Manager.
3. Open /system/priv-app/ or /system/app/ (depending on the version of MIUI).
4. Find folders with names: MiuiBrowser Browser2 ChromeStub

"Delete"

Reboot the phone.

If the phone does not load after removal:

• 🔄 Come back in TWRP and restore the backup.
• 📥 Check it out. MIUI via Fastboot (instructions on XiaomiUI).

⚠️ Note: On some models (Xiaomi) 12S Ultra, Redmi K50 Pro) browser folders can be protected by dm-verity, and deleting them will result in a system check error, in which case use Magisk to disable dm-verity before deleting it.

5. Method 4: Using Magisk and the App Systemizer module

If you have root rights (installed by Magisk), you can convert the system application to a custom one and then uninstall it without risk to the system.This method works on MIUI 13/14 and does not require manual deletion of files.

Instructions:

1. Install Magisk (instructions on the official website).
2. Download the App Systemizer module from the Magisk repository.
3. Open Magisk, go to Modules → Install from storage.
4. Find the App Systemizer and install it.
5. Reboot the phone.
6. Open App Systemizer from the app menu.
7. In the list, look for a Chrome clone (e.g. com.miui.browser.global).
8. Click on it and select "Convert to User App".
9. After the process is complete, restart the phone.
10. Now the application can be removed in a standard way through Settings → Applications.

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ No need to edit system files.
• ✅ It even works on secure firmware.
• ✅ You can return the application (via Convert to System App").

💡

If the application is not deleted after conversion, clear its cache and data in the settings, then try again.

6. Method 5: Complete flashing (extreme case)

If none of these methods worked, the radical solution is to install the firmware clean, which will delete all system applications, including clones, but also erase all the data on the phone, and only use this method if:

• 🔧 Phone is unstable due to browser conflict.
• 📱 You were planning to update the version. MIUI.
• 🔄 Other methods have led to system errors.

How to reflash Xiaomi without a Chrome clone:

1. Download the official firmware for your model from the Xiaomi website (choose Fastboot or Recovery version).
2. Unpack the archive in a folder on your computer.
3. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode (turn off the device, then press Power + Volume down).
4. Open the command line in the firmware folder and execute: fastboot flash all (for MIUI 14, you may need to command fastboot update rom.zip).
5. Wait for the finish (10-15 minutes) and restart the phone.

To avoid the reappearance of the clone:

• 🚫 Do not install updates through MIUI Updater manually (use only) OTA).
• 🔧 After firmware immediately disable the automatic installation of applications in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Installation of unknown applications.

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing a Chrome clone on Xiaomi

💡

The safest method is to disable via MIUI settings. Use ADB or Magisk for complete removal, but only if you understand the risks.