How to change the browser to open links Android Xiaomi: all ways

Are you tired of having all links to your Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO automatically open in a standard MIUI browser instead of Chrome, Firefox or another preferred application? This problem is familiar to many users of smartphones based on MIUI firmware - even after installing an alternative browser, the system stubbornly ignores your choice. In this article, we will discuss 5 working ways to change the default browser, including hidden MIUI settings, bypassing system restrictions and solutions for cases when the Open by default button is inactive.

Xiaomi is a major feature of its own services, including the Mi Browser browser (or Browser in newer versions), which leads to conflicts with Google Chrome, Samsung Internet or other browsers. MIUI 14/15 The default logic of changing the browser has changed, so it's not done through the app settings, but through the Links and Open menu. If you've tried the standard method and it hasn't worked, don't worry: below you'll find alternative methods, including: ADB-Teams and Configurements through Digital Wellbeing.

Why Xiaomi does not allow you to change the browser by default?

The MIUI firmware has several “features” that complicate changing the browser:

• 🔄 Automatic reset of selection after system updates (especially relevant for the MIUI 13–15).
• 🚫 Blocking alternative browsers in the background through battery optimization.
• 🔗 Linking links to system applications (e.g. Mi Browser or Quick Apps).
• 📱 Restrictions on the European version MIUI (EEA), where some of the settings are hidden.

Xiaomi also has Quick Apps, which can intercept links before they reach the browser, which leads to a situation where you click on a link on Telegram or WhatsApp, and instead of Chrome, a mini version of the site in Quick Apps opens, and to avoid this, you have to disable this feature separately.

Method 1: Standard browser change through settings (MIUI 14/15)

In recent versions of MIUI, the default way to set up the browser has changed, and now it's not done through the app menu, but through the Special Features section or Links and Open.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on three dots in the top right corner and select Links and Open (or Open by default in older versions).
3. Find the Browser section (or Web pages) and tap on it.
4. Select the browser you want from the list (such as Chrome or Firefox).
5. Confirm the choice by clicking Set by default.

If your browser is not on the list, make sure it is installed and updated to the latest version, sometimes it helps to reboot your phone after you install a new browser.

Remove the current browser cache (Settings → Applications → Browser → Storage → Clear the cache)

Update an alternative browser on Google Play

Reboot your smartphone

Check if the browser is blocked in Battery Optimization

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Method 2: Reset the link opening settings (if the button is inactive)

A common problem on Xiaomi is the grey color of the Set Default button or the lack of ability to select a browser.This occurs due to a failure in Android settings, when the system “forgets” about previously installed applications.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots at the top → Reset application settings (or Reset preferences).
3. Confirm action. This won't delete data, but it will reset all link opening settings.
4. After reset, repeat Method 1 – now the browser should appear in the list.

Important: This method will also reset the opening settings for other file types (such as PDF or video) so that they will have to be reconfigured.

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If the browser still doesn’t show up after reset, try temporarily disabling Mi Browser through Settings → Applications → Disable. Then turn it on again and reset it.

Method 3: Use ADB-Teams (for advanced users)

If standard methods don’t work, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires connecting your smartphone to your computer, but is guaranteed to work even on locked versions of MIUI.

Instructions:

1. Turn on Developer Mode on your phone: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version. Go back to Settings → Additional → Developer. Activate USB Debugging.

ADB

adb shell pm clear com.android.browser

This command will reset the settings of the standard browser.

Settings → Applications

To completely reset all settings of opening links, use:

adb shell pm clear com.android.providers.settings

⚠️ Warning: com.android.providers.settings will reset all custom settings (wallpaper, sounds, brightness, etc.) Use it only as a last resort!

Method 4: Disable Quick Apps (Fast Apps)

Quick Apps in MIUI often intercepts links by opening them in a mini version of the site instead of a full-fledged browser.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Quick Apps (or Quick Apps) and tap on it.
3. Select Disable (or Remove Updates if the Disable button is inactive).
4. Reboot the phone.

After disabling Quick Apps, all links will open in the browser by default. If this option is not available in your version of MIUI, try disabling the function via ADB:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.quicksearchbox

Method 5: Configure with Digital Wellbeing (for MIUI 12+)

In some versions of MIUI (especially on Xiaomi for the European market), the default browser change is blocked at the system level.

1. Open Settings → Digital Well-Being and Parental Controls.
2. Go to the Control Panel → Distracting applications.
3. Find the Mi Browser and turn off notifications and background activity for it.
4. Go back to the application settings and try to install the default browser again.

Another common problem is that after the MIUI update, the browser is reset to the standard browser.

1. Before updating, fix your browser settings via ADB: adb shell cmd package set-home-activity com.android.chrome/com.google.android.apps.chrome.Main (replace com.android.chrome with your browser package).
2. Turn off the automatic Mi Browser update on Google Play.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro with a MIUI 13) after resetting to factory settings, the default browser cannot be changed until the first Internet connection. Connect to Wi-Fi before setting up the browser!

FAQ: Answers to popular questions