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Sack off Xiaomi's OS and put AOSP on it, you can find ROMs here: https://xdaforums.com/f/redmi-note-11-spes-spesn.12617/
I used DivestOS on my Poco F3, however I'm not sure if there's an official version of that for your phone. crDroid is at the top of the forum page though, I used to use that, it was alright.
Disable all that crap with the Universal Android Debloater
You've also discovered one reason why I root - to ensure the only things that run are those I choose to run.
Chrome isn't required. The web view engine is, and even that can be replaced.
Edit: oh, Xaiomi. 'Nuff said. There are certain brands to avoid because of either bloatware or the customizations of the OS make debloating difficult, and rooting or flashing difficult to impossible. Samsung is another.
It's these issues that keep me on devices that are a little older, ones with well-documented root/flashing processes.
Disable all that crap with the Universal Android Debloater
Just so you know, that one is outdated. The new, maintained repo can be found at https://github.com/Universal-Debloater-Alliance/universal-android-debloater-next-generation
It's these issues that keep me on devices that are a little older, ones with well-documented root/flashing processes.
Just grab a Pixel, even the newest one. Those have the best documented alternate OS support, bonus points if you use GrapheneOS. Granted, rooting is frowned upon there as they're more about security.
While I agree Pixel and GrapheneOS rock, it's a hilarious solution contextually. OP was gifted a phone for Christmas, and your solution is to get rid of the gift, assume they have expendable income, and suggest dropping $700 on a new phone so they can immediately void its warranty.
OP was gifted a phone for Christmas, and your solution is...
Except I wasn't replying to OP. I was replying to someone who said (and I quoted them) they only use older phones due to proven flashing support, so I was saying they don't have to for the Pixel reason. I wasn't suggesting OP do this if they don't want.
...suggest dropping $700 on a new phone so they can immediately void its warranty.
Where does it say that unlocking the bootloader and flashing an alternate OS voids the warranty? I've done it with every Nexus/Pixel I've had, and have traded them all in for credit...and even sent two in for warranty repair which Google honored.
A quick search (link below) said it doesn't necessarily void the warranty...unless what you did breaks the device and they deem it your fault. And with how good rhe flashing process is on Pixels, I feel you'd have to try and actively break it. Please don't spread unverified rumors (unless you have an official source, which I'd like) and potentially scare people away needlessly.
Yea that warranty BS always irks me.
First, no it doesn't void warranty.
Second, so what if it did? How many phones has anyone sent back for warranty? I've had (let me count) about 13 individual phones since 2009. Many being duplicates of my daily driver, almost all bought second hand, so I paid no more than $120 for a phone, and as little as $50.
The number I've sent in for warranty:0. The number I've broken: probably 3 (I remember breaking one specifically, and I know I've borked the flash on a couple, but those were old and no longer of any value).
I bet most people have spent as much on a couple phones as I've spent on all my phones. And I always have a hot spare waiting at home, fully configured, all I have to do is swap the sim and I'm up and running. And OS upgrades never take out my production phone, my spare gets it first, I verify everything works, at my leisure, then switch.
Buying two Pixel 5's I'll still be well under the price of the newest Pixel. I'm a serious power user - I move gobs of files with my phone, it's always on, I'm remoting into stuff all the time (ssh and RDP), have a bunch of automation going on, I could use the most powerful available today, unlike most people who just use SMS, facecrack, and WhatsApp.
Xiaomi/ Redmi is responsible for what you can install and what not.
Their OS is horrible. You can't even use another launcher. I'd give it back or sell it or install linux if that's possible
Sadly I'm not in a position where I can sell it back
You can install custom roms into Xiaomi phones, I recommend LinageOS or /e/OS if you want a degoogled experience. If its not for you, the latter isn't really user friendly as some google apps like maps wont really work.
Unfortunately, not on all Xiaomi phones.
If you are using the default OS (MIUI), you can install another browser (from Play Store or F-Droid) and then disable Chrome by adb. Other apps will then be forced to send their links to your new browser.
Xiaomi also allows you to install your own OS and/or root your phone, but that isn't necessary.
Just root it it. In waiting to unlock the bootloader, you can disable unwanted apps either via ADB or simply from the application manager.
This might be just your device. On a stock pixel 8 I've removed Google, Chrome, and Chrome webview.
I replaced the latter with Firefox and Firefox webview. For Google I just use Firefox directly (Ecosia) because the home screen search will break entirely now if you don't have the Google app.
Not sure if the Note 11 is the one that shares a model with the POCO X4 Pro or not, but if it is you can root it with Magisk and uninstall system apps with that. That's what I did with my X4 Pro.
One of the first things I do on a new Samsung phone is disable Chrome and install Firefox. You've just saved me from ever buying a Redmi.
I don't think I ever seen an Android app launching Chrome if it's not a default browser. Are you sure they are not launching built-in WebView?
Nope I'm sure. It is the steam app when I want to access their website and that they redirect me to their app. I'm not logged in but the app offers me to click on a link to open the website and launches chrome.
Same shit with Spotify, cannot use "login with Facebook" in firefox, automatically redirects to chrome although I changed the default browser.
Last time I checked, the Google Home Feed is hard coded to use Chrome webview.
Everyone else still works as expected with chrome though
I am puzzled by this because I run stock Android (not rooted) and have been using Firefox with chrome completely disabled for months now without issue. This is not a Google issue.
The links are your OS 's problem. My pixel lets me use edge as the default just fine.
Same with me for Firefox.
Even the in-app browser defaults to firefox webview
Xiaomi and subbrands are nice with custom roms. Otherwise, it's not usable.
That's not Google, that's Xiaomi, and possibly your cell carrier. Google phones only come with Google bloatware.
obligatory 'consider grapheneos'
Graphene only works on certain pixel phones. They have no plans of supporting anything else and expects people to buy a phone to install graphene on, not the other way around
I don't understand why this would surprise someone. Are they complaining that Safari is built in to iPhones and can't be removed?
There are some FOSS phones out there if you want one...