Owners of budget devices often face a lack of internal memory, and pre-installed system applications become a real headache. Google Chrome is one such application that takes up space and consumes resources even in the background. On smartphones Xiaomi Redmi 9running a shell MIUIthe process of getting rid of standard software has its own nuances that differ from pure Android.
Complete removal of the system browser requires an understanding of the operating architecture Android System WebView and the restrictions imposed by the manufacturer. You won't be able to simply click the "Uninstall" button in the standard menu, since the security system MIUI blocks the uninstallation of critical components. However, there are proven methods that allow you to free up valuable gigabytes and disable unnecessary services.
In this material we will look in detail at how to safely deactivate or delete Chrome from your Redmi 9without compromising the stability of the operating system. We will consider both standard settings tools and more advanced methods using ADBthat give full control over the device.
Analysis of space occupied and hidden browser functions
Before taking radical measures, it is necessary to assess the real benefits and harm that it brings Google Chrome to your device. By default, the browser takes up about 200-300 MB, but after several months of use and cache accumulation, this volume can grow to 1-2 GB. This is a significant loss for Xiaomi Redmi 9, whose internal memory is often limited to 64 or 128 GB.
It is important to understand that Chrome in the Google ecosystem serves not just as a page browser, but also as a platform for running web applications. Many system services and third-party apps use an engine WebViewthat is tightly integrated with the browser. Full uninstallation of a component without replacement may lead to incorrect operation of some applications that depend on web rendering.
To check the current state, go to Settings → Applications → All applications and find it in the list Chrome. Here you will see detailed memory usage statistics. If the cache size exceeds reasonable limits, it may be worth starting with a simple clear before completely deleting it.
- 📊 The system partition takes up a fixed space that cannot be freed without root access.
- 🗑️ User data and cache can grow large to gigantic proportions over time.
- ⚙️ Browser updates are downloaded automatically through the Play Market, taking up traffic.
- 🔋 Chrome background processes can consume battery power even when the application is closed.
Standard method: disabling through MIUI settings
The safest and most accessible way to deal with unnecessary software on Xiaomi is the disable function. Although the application files technically remain on the system partition, they stop running, updating, and consuming RAM. For Redmi 9 this is the best option that does not require connecting to a computer.
Go to the settings menu of your smartphone and select the “Applications” section. Find Chromein the list. Click on it to open the app information page. At the bottom of the screen you will see a Disable button. The system will warn you that the application will be returned to the factory version and will stop working.
After confirming the action, the browser icon will disappear from the desktop and from the application menu. All accumulated updates will be deleted, freeing up space in the internal storage. However, it is worth remembering that this method does not remove the installation package itself (APK) from the system partition, but only blocks its launch.
☑️ Check before disabling
If the Disable button is grayed out or missing, this may mean that your version MIUI has specific limitations or the application has been set as the default browser. In this case, you must first change the default browser in the system settings.
Using ADB to deep clean the system
For those who want to completely erase traces of presence Google Chrome from the system, you will need to use tools Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This method allows you to remove system applications without obtaining root access, which makes it safer than modifying system files, but requires a computer.
First you need to activate developer mode on your Redmi 9. Go to Settings → About phone and quickly click 7 times on the “MIUI Version” item. After this, a new section “For Developers” will appear in the advanced settings. Enable the “USB Debugging” item there.
Connect your smartphone to the computer via a high-quality USB cable. ADB drivers must be installed on the PC. Open a command line or terminal in the ADB utilities folder and enter the command to test the connection:
adb devicesA request for debugging permission will appear on the phone screen. Confirm it. You can now send a command to remove the package. It is important to know the exact package name, this is common for Chrome com.android.chrome.
⚠️ Warning: Using ADB commands requires caution. Removing critical system components may result in a cyclic reboot of the device (bootloop). Always double-check the package name before entering the command.
The uninstall command is as follows:
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.chromeThis instruction uninstalls the application only for the current user (user 0), without directly affecting the system partition. This allows you to return the browser back if necessary by resetting the settings to factory settings.
How to return a deleted application?
If you deleted Chrome via ADB and you needed it, you can restore it with the command: adb shell cmd package install-existing com.android.chrome. This will return the application to a state as if it had never been uninstalled.
Replacing the browser and setting up the web engine
After uninstalling or disabling Chrome the system will need an alternative to display web content. There are many light and fast browsers available in the store Google Play or GetApps that are ideal for Xiaomi Redmi 9.
It is recommended to install a third-party browser before disabling the standard one, so as not to be left without a means of accessing the Internet. Great options include Firefox, Brave or Via Browser, which is renowned for its minimalism and low resource consumption.
Remember to change the default settings. Go to Settings → Applications → Manage applications → Three dots (top right) → Default applications → Browser. Select the newly installed application from the list. This ensures that all links from instant messengers and other apps will open in the new browser.
| Browser name | Size APK | RAM consumption | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Chrome | ~150 MB | High | Synchronization with Google account |
| Via Browser | ~1.5 MB | Minimum | Ad blocking, scripts |
| Firefox | ~80 MB | Average | Open source, privacy |
| Opera Mini | ~20 MB | Low | Traffic saving mode |
Cleaning residual files and cache
Even after successfully disabling or deleting the application, “tails” may remain in the phone’s memory - folders with data, logs and temporary files. On Redmi 9 this data can occupy hundreds of megabytes, which can be safely deleted.
Use the built-in "Security" application from Xiaomi. Launch it and select the "Clean" function. The system will scan the device for junk files. Pay attention to the “Large Files” or “Applications” section, where remnants of Chrome profiles may be hidden.
For deeper cleaning, you can use the file manager. Go to the root directory of the internal memory and find the folder Android/data. If there are directories with names containing chrome or google, and you are sure that they are not needed by other services, you can delete them manually.
Before manually clearing folders in Android/data, make a backup copy of your important data. Deleting system logs is safe, but deleting folders with data from other applications may result in loss of progress in games or settings.
Also check the folder Download. Often, users download APK installation files for Chrome updates manually, and these files remain dead weight for months.
Possible problems and their solutions
In the process of optimizing the system, users Xiaomi may encounter a number of specific problems. The interface MIUI sometimes behaves unpredictably after removing system components, especially if the dependency between applications has been broken.
One of the common problems is the disappearance of the Feed widget or the incorrect operation of the Google voice assistant, which is closely linked to the browser. If, after uninstalling Chrome, links within other applications no longer open, check your Default Applications settings again.
In rare cases, the system may begin to forcefully reinstall deleted applications after a major firmware update. This is a feature of the self-healing mechanism MIUI. In such a situation, you will have to repeat the procedure for disabling or blocking via ADB.
⚠️ Attention: The interface and names of menu items may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI (Global, China, Russia). Always check the current location of the settings on your device.
If your phone starts to become unstable, the easiest solution is to perform a factory reset. This will return all system applications to their original state and remove any traces of your experiments.
A factory reset is a last resort that is guaranteed to eliminate software conflicts that arose after removing system components, but requires a full data backup.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Will Chrome return after updating the MIUI system?
Yes, with a large-scale firmware update (for example, from MIUI 12 to MIUI 13), the system partition can be overwritten and the browser will return to the active state. You will need to disable it again in the settings.
Is it safe to remove Chrome via ADB without root access?
Yes, the command uninstall --user 0 deletes the application only for your user profile, without affecting the system partition. This is reversible and does not violate the warranty, since it does not require unlocking the bootloader.
What is Android System WebView and should you remove it?
It is a system component that allows other applications to display web pages within it. It is strictly not recommended to remove it, as this will lead to malfunctions in many apps, including instant messengers and email clients.
How to free up more space if deleting Chrome did not help?
Try clearing the cache of the Gallery application, removing unnecessary updates to Google system applications and transferring media files (photos and videos) to a memory card or to the cloud storage.
Is it possible to restore deleted Chrome without resetting the settings?
If you deleted it via ADB, then yes, using the command install-existing. If you simply disabled it in the settings, just click the “Enable” button in the application menu.