How to completely remove the standard browser on Xiaomi: 5 working ways

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the problem of the pre-installed Mi Browser browser – it takes up space in memory, shows annoying advertising and is not always easy to use. Despite the fact that the manufacturer does not provide a standard way to completely remove system applications, there are workarounds: from simple disabling to radical removal through the engineering menu or ADB.

Many users try to simply remove the icon from the desktop, but this does not solve the problem - the browser continues to work in the background, consuming resources and updating through Google Play. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods for different versions of MIUI (12 to 14), including solutions without superuser rights (root) and with them. It is important to understand that some methods require technical training, so we will describe each step in detail with warnings about possible risks.

If you want to not just hide, but to delete Xiaomi forever, you have to use tools like ADB or third-party utilities. For beginners, you can use the method of disabling through settings, which is safe and requires no special knowledge. But for owners of devices with an unlocked bootloader, more radical options are available, including editing system files.

Why you can’t remove Mi Browser in standard ways

Mi Browser is a part of the MIUI system applications package, which are protected from removal for several reasons:

First, the manufacturer integrated it into the firmware layer shell, which means that the browser files are stored in the /system partition, which is read-only by default, and even if you find the "Delete" option in the app menu, it will be inactive or simply hide the icon without affecting the files themselves.

Second, Xiaomi uses the browser to display system notifications, web views in settings, and even some Mi Account features. Deleting the entire system can cause interface failures, such as when users are deleted, some users complain of errors in opening links from messages or inability to log in to Xiaomi services.

Finally, the manufacturer makes money by displaying ads in the browser, so it artificially makes it difficult to remove them. In recent versions of MIUI 14, even disabling through the settings became less obvious - the option is hidden in the depths of the menu.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI For Russia (global firmware), the browser can be linked to Google Mobile Services. its forced removal can disrupt the work of Google Play Services, which will lead to problems with updating applications.

Method 1: Disable the browser through settings (without root)

The easiest and safest method is to deactivate the browser so that it does not appear in the menu and consume resources, which is suitable for all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models on MIUI 12/13/14 and does not require special knowledge.

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings → Applications.
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Show all apps.
3. Find the Browser (or Mi Browser) in the list and open its settings.
4. Click Disable (on some firmwares, the option may be called Remove Updates → Disable).
5. Confirm the action in the dialog window.

Once disabled, the browser icon will disappear from the desktop, and it itself will cease to receive updates through Google Play. However, the application files will remain in the device’s memory, taking up about 50-100 MB.

To return the browser, just go back to its settings and click Enable. This method is reversible and does not affect the warranty.

Backup important bookmarks from Mi Browser|

Check that you have an alternative browser installed (Chrome, Firefox)|

Make sure that MIUI version is at least 12 (on old firmware, the option to disable may not be available)|

Close all browser tabs before deactivation-->

Method 2: Remove updates and reset to factory version

If the browser has been updated through Google Play, it can be rolled back to the factory version, which takes up less space and contains no recent changes (including advertising modules), which does not remove the browser completely, but reduces its size and activity.

How to do this:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Browser.
2. Slip on the three dots in the top corner and select Remove Updates.
3. Confirm action. The system will return the browser to the version preinstalled in the firmware.
4. (Optional) Turn off automatic browser updates in Google Play:

After rollback, the browser will take about 30-50 MB instead of 100+ MB in the updated version, but it will still be available on the system and may open by default for some links.

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T or POCO F4) After rollback, the browser can automatically update through system services MIUI, It's not Google Play, and it's only going to help you delete it completely. ADB.

Google Chrome|

Mozilla Firefox|

Samsung Internet|

Opera|

Other-->

Method 3: Remove via ADB (without root but with PC)

For users who are ready to connect a smartphone to a computer, there is a method of removing through Android Debug Bridge (ADB).It does not require superuser rights, but involves working with the command line. This method is suitable for most Xiaomi models on MIUI 12-14, except for devices with a locked bootloader (for example, some Redmi Notes for the Chinese market).

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on USB debugging: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version to activate Developer Mode. Go back to Settings → Additional → Developer. Activate USB Debugging and confirm permission.
2. Connect your phone to your PC: Use the original USB-Type C cable. On your phone, select File Transfer (MTP) mode. On your first connection, confirm access for debugging.
3. Install ADB on your computer: Download Google's Platform Tools. Unpack the archive into the C:\platform-tools folder. Open the command prompt (Win + R → enter cmd).

Execute commands for removal

adb devices

(Your device should be displayed)

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

or for new versions of MIUI:

adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.mi.globalbrowser

If the command is successful, the browser will be removed for the current user (not completely from the system), which means that after resetting to the factory settings, it may appear again.

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

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Before deleting via ADB, check if the browser is used to display system web pages (such as the Mi Account Terms of Use). To do this, temporarily disable it through the settings and make sure that all phone features are working normally.

Method 4: Complete removal with root rights

If your device has an unlocked bootloader and Magisk or another root rights manager is installed, you can delete the browser permanently by editing system files.This method is suitable for advanced users, since improper actions can lead to bootloop.

Instructions:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or FX File Explorer).
2. Go to /system/app/ or /system/priv-app/.
3. Find folders with names: Browser (or MiBrowser) MiBrowserGlobal (for global firmware)

.bak

Browser.bak

Reset the device.

Once the browser is rebooted, it will be completely removed from the system, but this method has risks:

• 🔴 On some firmware, deleting the browser breaks the Mi Account.
• 🔴 There may be errors when opening links from system applications (e.g. from Settings).
• 🔴 After updating MIUI The browser may return.

To recover, copy the renamed folders back or reset to factory settings.

Method 5: Use of third-party utilities (for experienced)

For users who do not want to work with ADB or root, there are specialized utilities that allow you to remove system applications.

• 📱 App Inspector – Shows hidden system applications and allows them to be disabled.
• 📱 Debloater Tool (for PC) – removes pre-installed applications through ADB graphically.
• 📱 Universal Android Debloater is an open source project that supports most Xiaomi devices.

Example of Universal Android Debloater:

1. Download the utility from GitHub.
2. Connect your phone to your PC and activate Debugging via USB.
3. Run the program and select your device in the list.
4. Find the Mi Browser list and tick it.
5. Press Uninstall selected.

Advantages of this method:

• ✅ Graphical interface – no need to enter manual commands.
• ✅ Ability to back up before deletion.
• ✅ Support for batch removal of multiple applications.

⚠️ Note: Some utilities (e.g. Debloater) may conflict with antivirus software. Add the program to exceptions before use or temporarily disable protections.

💡

Third-party utilities make it easier to uninstall, but they don’t guarantee 100% success. On new MIUI 14 firmware, some tools may not recognize browser packets due to a changed system file structure.

What to do if the browser is back after the MIUI update

After updating the MIUI firmware via OTA or Mi Flash Tool, all remote system applications, including the browser, can return, because the new firmware version contains a full set of preinstalled programs.

How to prevent the return of the browser:

• 🔄 Turn off automatic updates MIUI: Settings → The phone. → Updating the system → Three points. → Settings → Auto-update (off).
• 🔄 Use custom firmware: Install custom ROM (For example, Pixel Experience or LineageOS, where there are no pre-installed Xiaomi apps.

If the browser has already returned, repeat the deletion process in the previously chosen way. On root devices, you can also freeze the browser packet using Titanium Backup or Lucky Patcher to prevent it from activating after updates.

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing the browser on Xiaomi