If you use a Xiaomi smartphone and prefer the Yandex Browser as your primary surfing tool, you may have noticed an unusual feature called Xiaomi tabs. This term often raises questions: what are these tabs, how do they differ from the standard ones, and why does the browser suggest synchronizing them? In this article, we will discuss in detail the mechanism of this feature, its advantages and possible nuances that are worth knowing about.
At first glance, it may seem like we're talking about some kind of exclusive technology that's only available to owners of Xiaomi devices. It's actually simpler: it's part of the Yandex ecosystem integrated into MIUI firmware. But there are important details that affect usability, privacy, even the speed of the browser. Let's get this straight.
What is Xiaomi tabs in Yandex Browser
Xiaomi Tabs are synchronized tabs that are open on other of your devices under a Xiaomi account (or Mi Account), a feature that allows you to quickly access web pages you’ve viewed, such as on a smartphone, directly from a tablet or other phone linked to the same account, essentially analogous to the Open Tabs feature on Google Chrome or Safari, but with a link to the Xiaomi ecosystem.
It's important to understand that this is not a separate type of tab, but rather a Xiaomi cloud sync mechanism that Yandex Browser uses for user convenience, so these are the same tabs physically, but with the ability to quickly switch between devices, and this function only works when you log in to Mi Account and sync your browser.
- 🔹 Not to be confused with Yandex Tabs are different things: the latter are synchronized through the Yandex account, and the Xiaomi tabs are synchronized through the Mi Account.
- 🔹 The feature is only available in the official version of Yandex Browser for Android, installed on Xiaomi devices (or with firmware). MIUI).
- 🔹 Sync works in the background, but may require a Wi-Fi connection to save traffic.
If you don’t use other Xiaomi devices, this feature may seem useless, but it’s useful, for example, when switching to a new smartphone of the same brand – all open pages will automatically be drawn to the browser.
How to enable and disable tab synchronization Xiaomi
By default, the feature can be activated automatically when you first sign in to Mi Account on your device. If this does not happen or you want to manually configure it, follow the instructions:
- Open Yandex Browser on your Xiaomi smartphone.
- Slap the icon. ⋮ (three points) in lower right corner → Select Settings.
- Go to Sync (or Mi Account, depending on the browser version).
- Activate the switch next to Sync Xiaomi tabs.
To disable the function, you just need to deactivate the same switch. Please note that after disabling all previously synchronized tabs will remain on the device, but new open pages will no longer be transferred to the cloud.
Open the tab on one device|Make sure it is connected to your Mi Account|Check for a tab on the second device|Update the tab list (swipe down)-->
⚠️ Note: If you use Mi Account on multiple devices but the tabs are not synced, check if the data sync feature is enabled in your Xiaomi account settings (Settings) → Mi Account → Synchronization. Without this, the browser will not be able to communicate.
Differences between Xiaomi tabs and standard tabs and Yandex tabs
To avoid confusion in terms, compare the three types of tabs that can be displayed in Yandex Browser on Xiaomi:
| Type of tab | Synchronization | Account. | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular tabs | Local (only on this device) | Not required | Always. |
| Xiaomi Tabs | Mi Account (between Xiaomi devices) | Mi Account required | Only on Xiaomi with MIUI |
| Yandex tabs | Through Yandex account (between any devices) | Yandex account is required | On all platforms. |
The main difference between Xiaomi tabs is that they are ecosystem-based, and they won’t be displayed on your computer, for example, via Yandex Browser for Windows, even if you’re logged in to the same Yandex account, but they instantly appear on another Xiaomi smartphone tied to your Mi Account.
Another nuance: Xiaomi tabs can take up space in the cloud storage of Mi Account if there are too many, and Yandex tabs are more versatile in this regard, but require separate authorization.
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If you want to sync tabs between Xiaomi and your computer, use Yandex tabs instead of Xiaomi tabs. They work cross-platform.
Xiaomi tab problems and how to solve them
Despite the convenience, users sometimes have difficulty working with synchronized tabs, and consider the most common problems and ways to fix them:
- 🚫 Check the Internet connection, authorization in Mi Account and enabled synchronization in the browser settings. Sometimes it helps to restart the browser or reconnect the account.
- 🔄 Tab list not updated Try to manually update the list swipe down on the tab page. If it doesn't help, clear the browser cache (Settings) → Clear the data).
- 📱 Tabs duplicated This can happen if you use the same device under different accounts.
- 🔒 No access to tabs after resetting the phone After reset, you need to re-authorize in Mi Account and enable synchronization. Previous tabs will be restored automatically if they were not deleted from the servers.
⚠️ Note: If you sell or transfer your Xiaomi device to another person, be sure to log out of Mi Account and reset your browser settings. Otherwise, the new owner will be able to see your synchronized tabs and history.
If the problem is not solved, try reinstalling Yandex Browser or contacting Xiaomi through the official website. In rare cases, failures are associated with server problems on the Mi Cloud side.
Security and Privacy: What You Need to Know
The synchronization of tabs through Mi Account raises questions about data privacy, because all open pages are transmitted to Xiaomi servers, where they can theoretically be analyzed.
- 🔐 According to Xiaomi, the data transfer between devices is encrypted, but the details of the algorithm are not disclosed.
- 🌍 Mi Account data can be stored on servers in China (if you use a global firmware version) or in Russia (for localized versions.
- 🗑️ To completely remove synchronized tabs, it is not enough to clear the history in the browser - you need to go to Mi Account → Manage data and manually remove it from there.
If you are concerned about privacy, we recommend:
- Disable tab synchronization in browser settings.
- Use incognito mode for sensitive pages.
- Periodically clear synchronization history in Mi Cloud.
How to check what data is stored by Mi Account?
Alternatives to Xiaomi tabs: what to choose
If the sync function through Mi Account is not suitable for you, consider alternative ways to manage tabs:
- 🌐 A universal solution for synchronization between all devices (including PCs). Requires a Yandex account, but works more stable.
- 🔗 You can manually share links via Telegram, WhatsApp or Mi Share (if both devices are Xiaomi).
- 📋 Save important pages in bookmarks – they are synchronized through the Yandex account and are available on all devices.
- 🔄 Third-party services Apps like Pushbullet or Join allow you to synchronize tabs between any devices, but require additional configuration.
The choice depends on your needs:
If you want maximum simplicity and all devices – Xiaomi, the Xiaomi tabs will do.
If you work with different platforms (Android, iOS, Windows), it is better to use Yandex tabs or bookmarks.
For increased privacy, refuse to synchronize at all and use manual link transfer.
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Xiaomi tabs are convenient only within the Xiaomi ecosystem. For cross-platform work, it is better to use Yandex tabs or third-party services.
How to optimize the work with tabs in Yandex Browser
To make working with tabs (including synchronized ones) more convenient, use these tips:
- 📌 Secure important tabs Long click on the tab → It'll stay in the first place and not close when the history is cleared.
- 🔍 Use tab search At the top of the tab list there is a search bar – type in a keyword to quickly find the desired page.
- 🗂️ Group tabs by topic In the latest versions of Yandex Browser, the grouping function has appeared. + next to the tab to create a group (e.g., “Work”, “Hobby»).
- 🔄 Set up automatic cleaning In the browser settings (Settings) → Privacy: Automatic removal of old tabs (e.g., older than 30 days) can be enabled).
For Xiaomi devices with a small amount of RAM, it is useful to limit the number of tabs open simultaneously. To prevent the browser from hanging, close unnecessary pages or use the Roll All Tabs function (available by long pressing the tab management button).
If you often work with a lot of tabs, consider using tab management extensions (like Tab Manager or OneTab) to help save tab groups as lists and restore them when needed.