Incognito mode in Yandex on Xiaomi Redmi Note: how to turn on and use without traces

Incognito mode in Yandex.Browser on Xiaomi Redmi Note smartphones is not just a “secret tab”, but a full-fledged tool for confidential surfing. Unlike standard browsing, it does not save your visit history, cookies, form data and passwords. But many users face problems: the incognito button disappears after updating, the browser itself goes out of mode when you lock the screen. In this article, we will analyze the unique nuances of incognito work on Redmi Note — from basic activation to hidden official functions, which are not written in the reference.

Xiaomi’s feature is that it often preinstalles modified versions of apps, including Yandex.Browser.This means that the interface and button layout may differ from the “pure” version of Google Play. For example, on the Redmi Note 10 Pro with MIUI 13, the path to incognito is hidden behind an additional swipe, and on the Note 9 with MIUI 12.5 is available directly from the home screen. We tested the instructions on 5 Note models (from Note 8 to Note 12) and identified common steps that work independently of the firmware version.

Why Xiaomi’s Incognito Mode Works Differently Than Other Phones

It’s not just about the MIUI shell, but Xiaomi is integrating additional security modules into the browser that can conflict with the private mode, such as:

• 🔍 MIUI Optimization – utility software that sometimes resets browser settings after rebooting.
• 🛡️ Security MIUI — can block the creation of new incognito sessions if the Privacy Defender is enabled».
• 📱 Double applications – if you cloned Yandex.Browser through Settings → Annexes → Dual applications, incognito mode will only work in one of the copies.

Another caveat: on the Redmi Note with Android 11+, the system can request permission to access the history even in incognito. This is not a bug, but a feature of Google's privacy policy. To avoid data leaks, check before activating the mode:

Turn off synchronization with Yandex.Account in browser settings|

Close all active tabs (they can retain traces even after switching to incognito)|

Check that in Settings → Special Options disabled “Actions Journal” |

Update your browser to the latest version (in) MIUI There are often bugs in old builds)-->

If you’re using the Redmi Note 8/9 with Android 10, beware: there’s a bug in these models that can suddenly close when the battery is low (less than 15%), which is due to aggressive MIUI optimization to save energy.

Step-by-step: how to turn on incognito in Yandex on Redmi Note

Method 1: Through the main browser menu (works on all Note models)

1. Open Yandex.Browser (the icon with the letter "I" on a blue background).
2. Slap the icon «⋮» (three points) in lower right corner.
3. In the drop-down menu, select the item “New Incognito tab” (mask icon).
4. There's a black window that says, "You're in incognito mode."

Method 2: Quickly open via swipe (only for the purpose of MIUI 12.5+)

1. Launch your browser and open any tab.
2. Make a swipe left on the tabbar (where the page thumbnails are displayed).
3. A hidden panel will appear with the Incognito button - tap it.

Method 3: Through a desktop widget (for Redmi Note 11/12)

1. Long click on the icon Yandex.Browser on the main screen.
2. In the context menu, select “New Incognito tab”.

💡

If the incognito button is gone after the update, reset your browser settings: go to Settings → Applications → Yandex.Browser → Storage → Clear the data. This will return the standard interface.

There's a bug on the Redmi Note 10S and Note 12 Pro: When you first start incognito, the browser can request permission to access the geolocation. This is not necessary for the mode to work - feel free to refuse if you want to remain anonymous.

Table: differences incognito in Yandex from Chrome on Xiaomi

Note: in Yandex.Browser on Xiaomi, incognito mode automatically blocks downloading files to the Downloads folder if they weigh more than 50 MB. This is done to protect against accidental malware downloads. To circumvent the restriction, use the MIUI File Manager and manually specify the save path.

What to do if the incognito mode does not open

Problem 1: The button is incognito gray and inactive.

⚠️ Note: This means that in the settings → Security → Privacy protection is enabled with the "Hidden Mode Lock" option, turn it off and restart the phone.

Problem 2: Incognito opens, but closes immediately.

• 🔄 Check if the energy saving mode is included in the Settings → Battery.
• 🚫 Remove the browser cache: Settings → Annexes → Yandex.Browser → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
• 📱 If you are using Redmi Note 9T, upgrade the firmware to MIUI 14+ — In older versions there is a critical bug with the processing of WebView.

Problem 3: Incognito tabs are not saved after the screen is locked.

This is a feature of MIUI: the system kills background processes to save RAM, to avoid data loss:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Special Access → Battery Optimization.
2. Find Yandex.Browser and select “No Limits”.
3. Enable “App Fixing” in the multitasking settings (swipe up → lock icon on the browser card).

Hidden Incognito Features in Yandex on Xiaomi

Few people know, but in Yandex.Browser on Redmi Note there are advanced settings of private mode.

1. Open the incognito tab.
2. Enter the address bar: browser://flags.
3. Find the options: #incognito-media-key - allows you to use multimedia keys (volume, pause) without traces. #incognito-reauth - disables re-authorization on sites. #enable-incognito-screenshots - allows screenshots in private mode (by default blocked).

Restart the browser.

Another life hack: if you need to switch quickly between normal and incognito mode, use a two-finger gesture. On any page, swipe down with two fingers, and a menu with the option "Go incognito" will open. This only works on the Redmi Note 11/12 with MIUI 13.5+.

Yandex.Browser|

Google Chrome|

Mozilla Firefox|

Other|-->

Security: What is actually saved in incognito

Many people mistakenly think that incognito makes them completely invisible on the network, but in fact, it only hides your activity on the device, not from:

• 🌍 Internet Service Provider – He can see all the websites visited.
• 🔗 Website Owners – They Can Track Your Website IP.
• 📡 Public Wi-Fi – Network administrator sees traffic.

To increase anonymity on Xiaomi Redmi Note:

1. Use a VPN (for example, built-in in Yandex.Browser or ProtonVPN).
2. Turn off geolocation in your phone settings.
3. Install the uBlock Origin extension to block trackers.

⚠️ Attention: Redmi Note with MIUI Global built-in VPN Yandex may be in conflict with the system MIUI VPN. If the Internet stops working after the connection, turn off Settings. → Connections → VPN and use only one solution.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

💡

On the Redmi Note with MIUI 14, Yandex.Browser’s incognito mode supports biometric authorization (fingerprint/face) to access saved passwords. Enabled in Settings → Privacy → Incognito biometrics.