Xiaomi smartphone users often face a situation where the system automatically opens links in an inappropriate browser or application that was randomly selected the first time they installed it. For example, instead of the usual Chrome or Yandex.Browser, links start opening in the MIUI Browser system browser or even in the store app, which causes annoyance and slows down, because Android allows applications to “capture” certain types of files and protocols, setting themselves by default without additional confirmation in the future.
Fortunately, the Android operating system with MIUI shells and the new HyperOS provides flexible tools to manage these settings. You can easily reset the previous selection and assign a priority application for processing web links. In this article, we will detail all the available ways to solve the problem, from standard system settings to deeper methods through the developer menu.
A mis-chosen app can not only interfere with navigation, but also create security vulnerabilities if it is a little-known browser with a dubious reputation. Control over the default programs used is a basic skill that every smartphone owner should have. Let's figure out how to regain full control over how your phone responds to clicks on links.
Why links are opened in the wrong app
The Android operating system is built on the principle of intentions processing. When you click on a link, the system sends a request: "Which application can open this URL?" If the phone has several browsers or applications that support web protocols, the system looks for the one that was marked as "Default", the problem occurs when the user accidentally clicks "Always" when choosing an application that was not planned to use for this purpose constantly.
Often, pre-installed apps from Xiaomi or third-party programs that aggressively register themselves as link handlers are the culprits. For example, a Facebook or Instagram app may try to open internal links through its built-in browser, ignoring your primary choices, and that may change after a system or app update, when old priority settings are reset.
It is important to understand the difference between a browser installed and a browser assigned by default. System priority means that this particular program will receive a request to open a link before others. If this application fails or is removed, the system can begin to behave unpredictable, suggesting that each time you choose a program again or opening links in the system minimalist viewer.
⚠️ Note: If you install an app from an unknown source (not from Play Market or GetApps) and it suddenly opens all links, check its permissions immediately.
Another reason could be the specifics of how MIUI works. Xiaomi’s shell has its own optimization services that sometimes force link behavior to “load speed” or “traffic savings” by redirecting requests through its proxy browser. This is especially true for regions where aggressive energy saving features are enabled.
Resetting default settings for a specific application
The most effective and safest way to fix this is to find the app that just grabbed the link opening and reset its default status, and then the next time you click on the link, the system will ask you again what to open the address, which allows you to choose the right browser and fix this choice.
To do this, you'll need to go to the settings of all the apps. The path may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI or HyperOS, but the logic remains the same. You need to find a list of all the programs installed, select the one that is currently opened when you click on the link (for example, MIUI Browser, Chrome or VKontakte), and find the reset point there.
☑️ Checking the application settings
Let's take a closer look at the algorithm. First, open your smartphone's settings. In the menu, find the Apps (or All Apps) section. In the list, find the app that's currently incorrectly processing links. If you don't know which app it is, try clicking on any link and see which program will launch, which is likely the culprit.
Inside the app card, find the default option (sometimes hidden in the "Additional" or "Open by default" submenu. Click on it. You'll see the "Open by default" switch and the "Reset by default" or "Delete default settings" button. Click on the reset. Now the system has "forgot" your choice.
- 📱 Find an application that opens links incorrectly (for example, a system browser) in the list).
- 🔄 Click the “Reset Default Settings” button in the menu of this app.
- ✅ The next time you click on the link, select the browser you want and click “Always».
Once you reset, go to any site or click on the link in the messenger. The action menu will appear on the screen. At the top of the list, select your preferred browser (like Chrome). At the bottom, the Always (or Default) switch will appear. Be sure to activate it so that you don't encounter this question again.
What to do if the reset button is inactive?
Setting up the main browser in the system
There's a default browser in Android, which is a global setting that tells the system which app is preferable for all web queries unless there are more specific rules, and changing that setting is the most direct way to get the phone to open links in the right place.
To change the main browser, go to Settings of the smartphone. Depending on the version of the shell, you need to find the Application -> Application Management or immediately see the default App item in the main settings menu. In newer versions of HyperOS, this item is often displayed in a separate Additional Settings menu or is available through a search in the settings.
Find the Browser. When you click on it, the system will offer a list of all the browsers installed. Choose the one you use most often. After that, all links from messengers, social networks and documents will open in the selected application, without unnecessary questions.
| Setup parameter | Where to find it (MIUI 12-14) | Where to find (HyperOS) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Menu of choice | Settings -> Applications -> Applications by default | Settings -> Applications -> Applications by default | List of categories |
| Category | browser | browser | Type of application |
| Action. | Select from the list | Select from the list | Setting priority |
| The result | Links are opened in the selected software | Links are opened in the selected software | Global application |
If you can't find it through the menu, search by settings, type the word "Browser" or "Default" into the search box, and the system will highlight the section you want to see, which is especially useful in MIUI, where the menu can be overloaded.
It’s worth noting that some apps, like Telegram or WhatsApp, have their own built-in browsers, and they can ignore the system settings unless you change the settings inside the messenger itself, so you should look for the “Open Links in an External Browser” option in the privacy settings or the specific messaging data.
Management of links in social networks and messengers
Social media apps, which often create their own “walls” around web content, deserve special attention.VK, Telegram, WhatsApp and Instagram open links in internal viewers by default.This is done to keep the user inside the app and speed up loading, but often causes problems with displaying sites or logging in through Google accounts.
To get these apps to open links in an external browser (which you set up earlier), you need to change the settings inside them. In Telegram, for example, you need to go to Settings -> Privacy and find the Built-in Browser item, disabling it. After that, all links will open in your system browser by default.
The situation is similar in VK. Go to Settings -> Main and find External Links or Open in the app. Disable the built-in browser. This will not only solve the problem with opening, but also increase security, since external browsers often have more powerful security mechanisms than built-in social viewers.
- 🛑 Telegram: Settings -> Confidentiality -> Built-in browser (Off).
- 📘 VK: Settings -> Mainstream -> External links (Select "In the system browser»).
- 💬 WhatsApp: Settings -> Annexes -> Open links (Select "In the App to View»).
For Instagram and Facebook, settings may be less obvious. Often, it is enough to simply clear the app cache or update it to the latest version to give you a choice. If links continue to open inside the app, try, with a long click on the link, select “Copy” and paste it into the address bar of your main browser — sometimes this resets the selection cache.
⚠️ Note: Internal browsers on social networks often do not store passwords and browsing history, if you log in frequently to sites via Google or Apple ID, Using an external browser will make your life much easier.
Use the Open Links menu in Android 12 and later
Starting with Android 12 (and in the respective versions of MIUI 13/14 and HyperOS), Google has introduced more granular (detailed) control over link opening. Now you can customize the behavior for each specific link or domain, which allows, for example, to make YouTube links open in the YouTube app, and links to news sites in the browser.
To access these settings, go to Settings -> Apps. In the upper right corner (or in the three-dot menu), select Link Opening (or Supported Links). Here you will see a list of all the apps that can handle web addresses.
Click on an application you are interested in (like your browser) and you will see a list of domains. You can select the option to Open Supported Link Types and set the switch to the position “In This Application” and force the system to use the selected application for all web queries if it claims to support these protocols.
Settings -> Applications -> (Menu) -> Opening Links -> [Select App] -> Open Supported LinksThis feature is especially useful if you have multiple browsers installed and you want to firmly prioritize one of them while ignoring the suggestions of the others, and you can also turn off link opening for applications you don’t want to use for web surfing (for example, disable link opening for a file manager).
💡
Detailed domain configuration in Android 12+ allows you to create flexible rules: YouTube links go to the app, and news – in Chrome, ignoring the general settings of the system.
Problems with the MIUI system browser and their solution
Xiaomi owners often complain about the intrusiveness of the system browser MIUI Browser (or GetApps, which also likes to open links). Even after changing the default settings, the system can periodically “reset” the choice back to the native application, especially after firmware updates, this behavior is embedded in the strategy of the Xiaomi ecosystem.
If standard methods don't work, you can try a more radical but effective method, which is to disable the system browser. Go to Settings -> Apps -> All Apps. Find the MIUI Browser (or the Browser with the compass icon). Click on it and select Disable or Remove Updates (if the delete button is inactive).
Once you disable your system browser, you will have no choice but to use your installed third-party browser.This is guaranteed to solve the problem, but keep in mind that some system features that depend on webviews (such as previewing links in Google search) may work differently.
- 🔍 Find in the list of applications "Browser" (compass icon).
- 🚫 Click the "Disable" button (confirmation required).
- 🔄 Reboot your smartphone to apply changes.
Also worth checking is the ad settings in the system. MIUI has a service called msa (MIUI System Ads) that can influence link behavior. Disabling advertising in privacy settings (Password and security -> Access to personal data -> disable msa) sometimes indirectly helps to reduce intrusive system offers.
⚠️ Warning: Disabling the system browser can lead to errors in some widgets or smart home features if they are rigidly tied to the web engine MIUI. If you notice any strangeness, just turn the browser back on.