How to remove Mi Browser from Xiaomi Note 7: Full Guide

Owners of Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 smartphones often face the intrusiveness of standard software preinstalled by the manufacturer. One of these applications is the Mi Browser, which takes up space in memory and consumes system resources even if you do not use it. Removing this component allows not only freeing up space, but also increasing the overall autonomy of the device.

The procedure for getting rid of system applications requires caution, since incorrect actions can lead to unstable operation of the MIUI operating system. In this article, we will discuss in detail the safe ways to deactivate and completely remove the built-in browser of web pages.

Before you start taking the plunge, you need to assess the risks and prepare the device. We'll look at both the standard shutdown methods available to every user and advanced techniques using ADB to deep clean the system. Understanding the Android architecture will help you make an informed decision about whether to completely remove the system component or freeze it enough.

Why you should get rid of the standard browser

Standard MIUI shell applications often run in the background, collecting telemetry and wasting battery power. Mi Browser is known for its aggressive notification policy and advertising, which can annoy users. Disabling this service significantly reduces the number of pop-ups and improves the purity of the interface.

⚠️ Warning: Complete removal of system components may disrupt some system functions, such as link opening from other applications.

In addition, the built-in browser is often inferior to third-party counterparts in terms of page rendering speed and the number of extensions available. Users who value privacy prefer to use more secure solutions with built-in ad blockers. Replacing the standard tool with a lighter counterpart will positively affect the performance of the Redmi Note 7.

Freeing up internal memory is another powerful argument for deleting, because while the application itself takes up a bit of space, the cache and accumulated data can grow to hundreds of megabytes, and for devices with limited storage, this becomes a critical factor.

  • πŸš€ Increased system speed by freeing up RAM.
  • πŸ”‹ Reduced energy consumption by stopping background processes.
  • πŸ›‘οΈ Increased privacy and reduced advertising.

Preparing the smartphone for modification

Before any manipulation of system files can begin, a number of preparatory steps must be taken to ensure that your data is safe and that changes can be rolled back if necessary. The first step should always be to create a complete backup of important information.

You will need to enable USB debugging mode in the developer menu. Go to Settings β†’ About Phone and click on MIUI seven times. Once you have become a developer, open the expanded menu and activate the desired switch.

β˜‘οΈ Preparation of the device

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It's also worth checking for the current ADB drivers on your computer. Without them, communication between your smartphone and PC will be impossible, and you won't be able to execute commands to remove apps. Make sure the USB cable is working and supports data transfer, not just charging.

Disconnection method through system settings

The safest, but less effective, way is to permanently shut down the app, which doesn't physically delete files, but it does prevent them from running and displaying them in the interface, which is ideal for those who are afraid of deep interference.

To implement this method, go to Settings β†’ Applications β†’ All Apps. Find the Browser or Mi Browser list and click on it. In the menu that opens, select the Disable button. The system will alert you of the possible consequences, after which the application will disappear from the menu and stop running.

However, this method has a significant disadvantage: application files remain on the disk, taking up space.In addition, after a major update to the MIUI firmware, the system can automatically reactivate disabled components, so this method is more suitable for a temporary solution to the problem.

  • βœ… Safe for inexperienced users.
  • ❌ Does not free up space in internal memory.
  • ❌ Automatic activation after updates is possible.

Complete removal via ADB without root rights

The most efficient way to physically remove an application from the system without obtaining superuser rights is by using the Android Debug Bridge toolkit, which is part of Google's SDK platform, which requires connecting a smartphone to a computer.

After connecting the device and confirming debugging on the phone screen, open the command line or terminal on your PC. Enter the adb device command to make sure the computer sees your Xiaomi Redmi Note 7. If everything goes well, you will see the device's serial number.

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

It is important to know the exact name of the package you want to delete. For a standard browser, it is usually com.android.browser or com.miui.browser. Enter the appropriate command in the terminal. If the operation is successful, you will receive a message "Success", and the application will disappear from the system instantly.

⚠️ Attention: Be extremely careful when entering a packet name. Deleting a system component with the wrong name can lead to a bootloop).

How to return a remote application?
If you have removed the application through ADB, it can be restored by following the command: adb shell cmd package install-existing com.android.browser.

Alternative methods and use of scripts

For those who don’t want to mess with the command line, there are ready-made graphical shells for ADB. Programs like Universal Android Debloat or Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools allow you to remove applications with a simple click of a mouse. They automatically determine the model of the device and offer a list of safe components to remove.

Using such utilities makes it much easier, since you don’t have to search for package names manually. However, it is worth considering that third-party software also requires installing drivers and enabling debugging.

There are also special scripts that can run directly on your phone if you have Root rights, but getting superuser rights to the Redmi Note 7 requires unlocking the bootloader, which voids the warranty and increases security risks, and we don't recommend this path for regular users.

MethodDifficultyEfficiencyRisks.
Disconnection in settingsLow.MediumMinimum
Removal via ADBMediumTall.Average.
Graphical UtilitiesLow.Tall.Average.
Root rightsTall.MaximumTall.
πŸ“Š Which method of removal do you prefer?
Through Android settings
ADB Command Line
Third-party programmes
I do not remove system applications

Choosing a Safe Replacement for the Browser

After removing the standard tool, you need to install an alternative, otherwise links from other applications will not open.The market offers a lot of light and fast browsers that work perfectly on the Snapdragon 660 processor installed in the Redmi Note 7.

We recommend you pay attention to Firefox with support for extensions or Via Browser, which weighs less than 2 MB. These applications consume minimal resources and do not impose unnecessary functions.

πŸ’‘

Install a new browser and make it the default before removing the old one so you don’t lose the ability to click on links.

Remember to regularly update your browser through the Google Play store, which ensures that you have up-to-date security databases and fix vulnerabilities. Older browser versions can become a loophole for malware, which is especially dangerous when surfing the Internet.

Possible problems and solutions

Errors may occur during the deletion process, such as the message "Failure [not installed for 0]" or "Permission denied". This is most often due to the fact that the packet name is incorrectly specified or the application is critical for the current version of MIUI. In such cases, the exact name of the packet should be checked through the command adb shell pm list packages.

If after deleting the browser stopped opening links from messengers, check the default settings of the applications. Go to Settings β†’ Apps β†’ Settings β†’ Default applications and select the browser you installed in the category "Brower".

⚠️ Note: If the smartphone started to work incorrectly after deleting system files, reset the settings to factory or restore the remote package through the ADB.

Sometimes antivirus programs on PCs can block ADB from working, considering it a suspicious tool. temporarily disable protection or add a folder with platform tools in exceptions to the removal procedure.

πŸ’‘

Use only verified packet names and make backups before making changes to the Android system partition.

Can I delete the Mi Browser without a computer?
Completely removing the system application without root rights and a computer is impossible, but you can use ADB wireless debugging if you have another Android device with a terminal, but this requires complex network settings.
Does the removal affect the warranty?
Using ADB to remove applications does not require unlocking the bootloader and leaves no obvious traces in the logs, so the formal guarantee is preserved.
What to do if the phone stops turning on?
99% of the time, deleting one browser does not cause a complete system failure. If it does, press the power and volume button to log into Recovery Mode and run Wipe Data/Factory Reset.
Will the browser update itself after deleting?
When removed through ADB for the current user (--user 0) Automatic updates via Google Play or GetApps are not possible because the system believes the app is not installed and will only appear after flashing or manual restoration.