Modern smart TVs, including popular models from Xiaomi, have long ceased to be just devices for watching terrestrial television. Today, they are full-fledged multimedia centers capable of playing content from the Internet, running games and, of course, displaying web pages. However, despite the presence of an Android TV operating system or a proprietary PatchWall, regular access to the world wide web is often hidden or not obvious to the average user. Many owners face a situation when they turn on the device can not find an icon for surfing the network.
The main difficulty is that the TV interface is optimized for sofa control, not active navigation on sites. Manufacturers deliberately restrict pre-installed software, believing that the user is enough streaming services. However, the need to open a news portal, check email or run a specific web service does not disappear. In this article, we will discuss all the ways to enter the browser, including the use of hidden functions and install third-party software.
It is important to understand that the method of action may vary depending on the version of the operating system and the regional firmware of your Mi. TV. Somewhere the browser is built-in by default, and somewhere it will have to be downloaded manually through the app store or USB-Here are detailed instructions to help you get full access to the Internet resources.
Search for built-in browser in the interface
The first thing a new TV owner needs to do is look carefully at the home screen. In the Android TV operating system on which most Xiaomi models are based, apps are placed in horizontal rows. Often a standard browser, usually called WebView or simply Browser, can be hidden in the Apps folder or shifted to the end of the list of frequently used programs.
On PatchWall, things are more complicated, and here the interface is designed for recommendation content, and access to system functions is limited, and you have to press the Menu button on the remote control and go to the settings section or all the applications. If the standard Home → Applications path didn't work, try using voice search.
⚠️ Note: On some European and global versions of Xiaomi firmware, the full-time browser can be completely removed by the manufacturer in favor of licensing agreements with content providers.
To activate voice search, press and hold a special button with a microphone on the remote. Speak clearly the phrase "Open browser" or "Web browser." The system will try to find the corresponding application. If it is installed but hidden, the voice command often helps to run it directly, bypassing long searches on the menu.
Also, check the Settings section in the Apps category. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps. scroll down to the letter "B" or "W." If you find Android System WebView or a similar name there, then the basic functionality for displaying pages in the system is present, but there is no launcher for it.
Installation of the browser through the Google Play Store
If there is no built-in solution or it doesn't work properly, the most reliable way is to download a dedicated application. The Google Play Store is pre-installed on all Xiaomi certified TVs. First, make sure the device is connected to a Wi-Fi network or an Ethernet cable. Without the Internet, installation is impossible.
Sign in to the Play Store app using your Google account. If you log in for the first time, the system can request confirmation via your smartphone. In the store search box, type in the "browser for tv" query. The key here is to choose the version adapted to control from the remote. Conventional mobile browsers will be inconvenient, as they require touch input.
Among the most popular and stable options for the Android TV platform are:
- 🌐 Puffin TV Browser – features high page loading speeds thanks to cloud rendering, perfect for weak processors.
- 📺 TV Bro is a completely free open source browser, sharpened for navigation with remote buttons.
- 🦊 Firefox for Android TV — powerful solution with support for synchronization of bookmarks and passwords with the desktop version.
- 🚀 Amazon Silk Browser – often preinstalled on Fire devices OS, It is also available for installation on Android.
Once you select the app, click the "Install" button, which will take a few minutes depending on your Internet connection speed, and when you complete the button, change to "Open", and you can log in to the browser through the main menu in the "My Applications" section.
Hand-mounted APK-File (Sideloading)
In situations where the Google Play Store is not working, blocked by a region or the required application is not listed, the manual installation method is used. >sideloading. You'll need a computer to do it, USB-flash drive and installer file (APK) browser-wise.
First, you need to prepare the TV. Go to Settings → TV → Build. Click on Build 7 times in a row until you get the message "You're a developer." Then activate "Install from Unknown Sources" in the Developer menu. This resolution is critical for installing software from outside of official sources.
☑️ Preparation for installation APK
Next, perform the following actions:
- Download. APK-browser file (e.g., Chrome) TV Be careful and use only proven resources such as APKMirror or 4PDA, to avoid viruses.
- Copy the file to the formatted file in FAT32 USB-flash-drive.
- Put the drive in USB-TV port Xiaomi.
- On TV, open a file manager (often called File Manager or Explorer) and if you don’t, install any of the Play Store, such as File Commander.
- Find the APK file on the flash drive and run it. Confirm the installation.
⚠️ Attention: When installed APK-You take responsibility for the security of your data from third-party sources, make sure that the downloaded file is not modified by malicious actors and has a digital signature of the developer.
Once installed successfully, the new browser icon will appear in the general application list, and you can now log in and start surfing, which is universal and suitable for all models, including older versions of the Mi Box.
Use of the Cast function (Translation from the phone)
Sometimes you don't need a full browser on your TV, just display the contents of the page from your smartphone. Google Cast (or Miracast) technology is built into the Xiaomi ecosystem and allows you to stream the browser tab from your phone to the big screen. This is a great option if the remote is inconvenient to use to type text.
Make sure your smartphone and TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Open your browser on your phone (like Google Chrome). Click on the menu (three dots) and select "Cast." From the list of available devices, select your Mi TV.
The phone screen or a separate browser tab will be displayed on the TV, controlled from a smartphone, which is much faster and more convenient than navigating the screen with a cursor, but it is worth considering that when broadcasting the entire screen is occupied by content, and notifications from the phone will also be visible on the TV.
Why can the broadcast be interrupted?
To stop broadcasting, you just need to click the Stop button in the smartphone app or select Stop broadcasting from the menu. The TV will automatically return to the previous signal source, which is ideal for viewing video content from sites that do not have a native TV app.
Comparison of popular browsers for Smart TV
The choice of browser depends on your needs: someone cares about speed, someone — support for extensions, and third — the ability to install add-ons to block ads. Below is a comparative table of the main solutions available for the Android TV platform.
| browser | Control from the remote | Support for Flash | Ad-blocker | Weight of the application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puffin TV | Excellent. | Got it (cloud) | Built-in | ~50MB |
| TV Bro | Good. | No. | Built-in | ~15MB |
| Firefox TV | Average. | No. | Through expansion | ~80MB |
| Chrome (Cast) | No (caste only) | Depends on the OS. | Through DNS/Extensions | Depends on the phone. |
As you can see from the table, Puffin TV is the leader in functionality, but has limitations in the free version. TV Bro is the best choice for those who want an easy and free solution without unnecessary advertising. Firefox will suit users already tied to the Mozilla ecosystem.
When choosing, consider codec support. Some browsers may not play videos of certain formats directly, requiring an external player to be connected. For most users, installing TV Bro or Puffin is the best option.
💡
Use a wireless keyboard and mouse to type text into the address bar, which will save you a lot of time compared to typing letters with a remote.
Frequent problems and their solution
Users may encounter various difficulties in setting up, and one of the most common is that the cursor doesn't move or moves too slowly, often due to overcrowded cache or low battery charge in the remote. Try clearing the browser cache in the Settings → Applications section.
Another problem is that fonts are too small or too large, and this is solved by the browser settings in the “Page Size” or “Text Size” section, and check the screen resolution settings in the Xiaomi TV itself, making sure that the native resolution of the matrix is selected (usually 1920x1080 or 3840x2160).
⚠️ Note: Do not install heavy desktop versions of browsers on your TV designed to x86 They can cause a system to freeze or a complete interface failure, because the architecture is very complex. ARM, The TV does not support them.
If your browser crashes immediately after launch, check for updates to your TV operating system. Go to Settings → About TV → System Update. An outdated version of Android may conflict with newer versions of apps.
💡
Stable operation of the browser on the TV directly depends on the speed of the Internet and the availability of free space in the internal memory of the device.