Owners of Xiaomi Mi Box S smart consoles and Android TVs often face a limited selection of web browsers in the official Google Play Market Store. Standard applications often do not support full remote control or incorrectly display complex web pages. That is why many users are looking for a way to install Google Chrome, which is the benchmark for speed and compatibility in the world of web surfing.
Direct installation via a search in the app store on the TV is usually impossible, since the developers have not created a separate version of the interface for large screens and remote controls. However, using the hidden capabilities of the system and debugging tools, you can successfully install the mobile version of the browser. The key is to use the debugging mode over USB (ADB) to transfer the installation file (APK) directly to the Android TV system.
This procedure requires minimal technical training and will take no more than 15 minutes of your time. In the course of this article, we will discuss all the steps from setting permissions to choosing the right version. APK-It's important to understand that once installed, you'll need a mouse emulator for easy navigation, because there's no remote-focused interface on desktop Chrome.
Preparation for installation and selection of APK version
The first step is to find and download the right installation file, and because we can't download it directly on the TV, you'll need a computer or a smartphone, and it's important to download the version for your device's CPU architecture, or the application won't start or will give you an error when you install it.
Most of today’s Xiaomi Mi Box and TVs are based on ARM architecture, but older models can use x86. You can use the built-in Task Manager or third-party utilities like AIDA64 to verify the exact model of the processor, if they are already installed. In the vast majority of cases, ARM64-v8a is relevant for Android TV.
Download. APK-files only from verified resources, such as the official APKMirror repository or APKPure. avoid questionable sites that may distribute modified versions with malicious code. The security of your home network depends on where you get your TV software from.
⚠️ Warning: Never install Chrome versions marked "Beta" or "Dev" on your main TV unless you're prepared for possible crashes and system instability. Use only a stable branch (Stable Channel).
Once you upload a file to a computer or phone, you'll have to transfer it to a TV. USB-flash drive, network environment (SMB) or special file sharing applications that work on Wi-Fi. The choice of method depends on the availability of free ports USB and the speed of your local network.
Setup of developer rights on Xiaomi TV
To allow third-party application installation and debugging connectivity, you need to activate the hidden menu. Go to Settings → Device → About the system. Find the Build string and click on it 7 times in a row with the remote.
Once you've done the work, the system will notify you that you've become a developer, and now a new Settings for developers will appear in the settings menu. Go to that and find the Debugging Switch. USB (USB Debugging. This should be translated to "Included".
Also in this menu you should find the option of Installation through USB (Install via USB) And activate it. Without that permission, Android's security system is running. TV block the attempt of installation APK-The file, even if you've transmitted it correctly. MIUI TV may require input PIN-code or confirmation through your Mi Account.
☑️ Checking the developer's settings
Remember or write down. IP-The address of your TV, which is displayed in the Network section or in the developer menu itself, is used to connect your computer to the TV. 192.168.1.XX or 192.168.0.XX.
Installation of the browser via ADB (from the computer)
The most reliable way to install is using the Android Debug Bridge toolkit (ADB) This is a method that gives you complete control over the process and allows you to see errors in real time if something goes wrong. ADB for Windows, macOS or Linux.
Unpack the archives with ADB Open the command line to a convenient folder (CMD) or a terminal in this folder. To connect, type a command where IP_ADRES is your TV address, and the default port is often the same as the 5555:
adb connect IP_ANDRES:5555If the connection is successful, you will see a message "connected to". IP_Ádrez:5555". You can see a request for debugging permission on your TV screen, confirm it with the remote control, select "Always Allow." Next, from the folder with the debugging permission. ADB, execute the installation command:
adb install -r chrome_apk_filename.apkInstead chrome_apk_filename.apk Substitute the real name of the downloaded file. -r means reinstallation if the browser has already been installed, which allows you to save data".
What if the ADB can’t see the device?
Alternative method: Installation through file manager
If you don't want to mess with the command line, you can use a simpler, less informative method, and you'll need a file manager application that supports APK installation, such as File Commander or X-plore, which you can find on Google Play on your TV.
Copy the downloaded APK-Chrome file USB-Put the drive in the drive. USB-You can open the file manager, find the file and click on it. You can ask for an installation confirmation from an unknown source.
This method is good for its simplicity, but it has a significant drawback: if the Android version is not available, it is not possible to use it. TV too new or too new APK It doesn't match, you can get the "Application not installed" error without explaining why. ADB You will see a specific error code, for example, INSTALL_PARSE_FAILED_NO_CERTIFICATES.
| Method of installation | Difficulty | Reliability | Equipment required |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADB (Command Line) | Medium | Tall. | PC/Laptop, Wi-Fi/Cable |
| USB-flash-drive | Low. | Medium | USB-accumulator |
| Send Files to TV | Low. | Medium | Smartphone with Android/iOS |
| Cloud Storage | Low. | Low. | Google Drive Account |
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Use the Send Files to TV (SFTV) app if you don't have a flash drive on hand, and install it on both your phone and TV, and you can transfer files over Wi-Fi at a high speed.
Browser management: cursor and remote
Once installed, you will face a major problem: Chrome can't control focus using the remote navigation buttons (up, down, left, right). The browser interface is sharpened for a touch screen or a computer mouse. By pressing the remote buttons, you will most likely achieve nothing.
To solve this problem, you need to install a mouse emulator app. In the Google Play store on your TV, find the Tv Remote Control or Mouse Toggle app. Once installed and launched, a cursor will appear on the screen that can be controlled by the remote control, emulating mouse movements.
Some users prefer to use their smartphone as a touchpad. Apps like Android TV Remote Control (officially from Google) or CetusPlay turn the phone screen into a touchpad, which is often more convenient because it allows you to quickly type in text from the phone's keyboard, which is critical for searching the Internet.
⚠️ Warning: Don’t try to control Chrome with just the remote buttons without a mouse emulator.You can accidentally click the hidden “Close all tabs” button or exit the app as the navigation will be chaotic.
You can adjust the sensitivity of the cursor in the mouse emulator settings. For a large TV with a diagonal of 50 inches or more, it is worth setting a high sensitivity so that you do not make unnecessary movements with the remote control to move from corner to corner of the screen.
Optimization of work and frequent problems
Chrome is quite resource-intensive. On budget consoles with 1-2 GB of RAM, tabs can be unloaded from memory when you switch. To minimize this, try not to keep more than 3-4 tabs open at once. Cache cleaning regularly helps keep you up.
Another common problem is the lack of sound in the video on some sites, which is codecs or codecs. DRM-Native applications (e.g. YouTube, Netflix) are better used to view videos from online cinemas, IVI), a Leave Chrome for surfing news sites and forums.
If your browser is slow, try turning off hardware acceleration in the Chrome settings (System section), although on Android TV this item may be hidden or called differently.
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Chrome on Android TV is a great solution for quick access to web content, but for watching heavy video (4K HDR) it is always best to use specialized apps from the Play Market.
In some cases, video can be slowed down due to buffer overflow: Regularly clearing history and cookies through the Settings menu → Privacy and security → Clearing history helps avoid the accumulation of debris that slows down page rendering.