How to completely remove cloned Chrome on Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

Have you noticed that your Xiaomi, Redmi or Poco has a second Google Chrome icon with a two-layer icon? It's not a virus or a system bug — that's how the Dual Apps feature built into the MIUI shell works. A cloned browser can take up extra memory, duplicate notifications, and even create account synchronization problems. In this article, we'll discuss how to safely remove an unnecessary duplicate of Chrome without affecting the original application or disrupting the system.

It's important to understand that cloned applications in MIUI are not just shortcuts, but full copies with a separate cache, data and permissions. They can't be removed as normal programs through the Settings → Apps menu. We'll look at all the current ways, from standard MIUI tools to manual methods for power users, and we'll also find out why a duplicate Chrome can appear on its own and how to prevent it from being recreated.

What is a cloned application in MIUI and why you need it

Dual Apps (or “Dual Apps”) is a feature that appeared in MIUI 8 and is designed to create independent copies of instant messengers, social networks and other programs.

• 📱 Use two WhatsApp or Telegram accounts on the same phone;
• 🔒 Separate work and personal profiles on Facebook or Instagram;
• 🎮 Test different settings in games without risking your main account.

Google Chrome is rarely cloned consciously, though, with the following common duplicates:

• 🤖 After updating MIUI (The system can automatically clone the browser to "improve multitasking");
• 📲 When transferring data from your old phone via Mi Mover;
• 🔄 Due to a malfunction of the function Cloning applications (especially on firmware) MIUI 12-14).

⚠️ Note: Clone Chrome may conflict with the original app, causing bookmark sync or autocomplete errors.If you are not using a second Google account, the duplicate is better removed.

How to distinguish cloned Chrome from the original

Before you delete the app, make sure you delete the duplicate.The main features of cloned Google Chrome:

You can also check the app version: cloned Chrome often has the same version as the original, but the Warehouse section will show a separate cache and data. If you are still in doubt, open both browsers and try to log in to a Google account - a duplicate will either require a new username or show a blank page.

Method 1: Remove via the menu "Cloned applications"

The easiest and safest method is to use the built-in MIUI tools, which works on all Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones with a MIUI 10 shell and later.

Instructions:

1. Open the settings (cog icon).
2. Scroll down and select Cloned Apps (on some firmwares, Dual Apps or Dual Apps).
3. Find Google Chrome (can be displayed as Chrome: Clone).
4. Tap the three-point menu (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Remove.
5. Confirm the action by pressing OK.

Once removed, the cloned Chrome will disappear from the app menu and all of its data (cache, cookies, history) will be erased.

Close all tabs in the cloned browser|Synchronize important data (if any)|Check that you are removing the duplicate.|Make a backup copy of the data (optional)-->

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI 14 item Cloned apps can be hidden. If you don't find it in the settings, try searching by settings (the magnifier icon in the upper right corner) and enter the "clone" request".

Method 2: Remove via "Applications" with disabling the device administrator

If the first method didn’t work (e.g., the Remove button is inactive), it’s possible that Chrome cloned has admin rights, often when using parental controls or corporate policies.

To remove such duplicate:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. From the top menu, select All Apps (or Systems if Chrome doesn’t appear in the main list).
3. Find a cloned Chrome (could be called Chrome: Clone or com.android.chrome.clone).
4. Slip on it and select Disable (if the Remove button is inactive).
5. Return to Settings → Memory → Applications and try to delete the duplicate again.

If the application is still not removed, check the administrator rights:

1. Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Application Privileges → Device Administrators.
2. Find the cloned Chrome in the list and disable its rights.
3. Repeat the removal attempt.

💡

If Chrome is not deleted after disabling the administrator, try to clear its cache and data in the Storage section first, and then repeat the deletion.

Method 3: Remove via ADB (for power users)

If standard methods don't work, you can remove cloned Chrome using ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires connecting your phone to your computer and basic command line knowledge. Don't use ADB if you're not sure what you're doing - the wrong command can disrupt the system.

Instructions:

1. Turn on Developer Mode on your phone: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI until you become a developer!

Settings → Additional → For Developers

USB debugging

File transfer

ADB Tools

adb

adb devices

(Your device should appear)

adb shell pm list packages | grep chrome

(Look for a cloned Chrome package — it usually contains.clone or.dual)

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 name packet

(Replace the packet name with the identifier found, such as com.android.chrome.clone1)

Once the command is executed, the cloned Chrome will be removed for the current user, the system files will remain intact, but the application will disappear from the menu and will no longer consume resources.

Method 4: Reset MIUI settings (extreme case)

If the cloned Chrome is not removed by any of the above methods, and its presence critically affects the operation of the phone (for example, causing constant crashes), you can perform a partial reset of the MIUI settings. This method will delete all cloned applications, but will not affect personal data (photos, contacts, messages).

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select Reset MIUI (not to be confused with Reset to factory!).
3. Confirm the action by entering the screen unlock password.
4. Wait until the process is completed (the phone will restart).

You should also check the list of installed applications regularly for duplicates, and you can use the built-in Security app to do this:

1. Open Security. → Cleanup.
2. Go to the Application Management tab.
3. Sort the list by installation date – cloned apps often appear at the top of the list.

💡

Disabling the Dual Apps feature for Chrome will not remove an existing clone, but will only prevent the creation of a new one. To get rid of the current duplicate, use one of the methods described above.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

When you delete a cloned Chrome, users often face some problems, and here are the most common ones and ways to solve them:

If none of the methods worked, the problem may be the firmware itself, in which case it is recommended that:

• 📲 Update MIUI Update to the latest version (check the updates in Settings) → The phone. → Updating the system);
• 🔄 Perform reset to factory settings (don’t forget to make a backup copy!);
• 🛠️ Contact Xiaomi Service Center if the problem recurs after resetting.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions