Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face intrusive behavior from an operating system that aggressively promotes its own services. After each reinstallation of applications or clearing the cache, the system can automatically return Mi Browser or UC Browser as the main surfing tool. This is annoying, especially if you are used to the functionality of Chrome, Firefox or Yandex.Browser.
The problem lies in the features of the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS, which have deep system bindings to preinstalled software. Standard methods running on pure Android may not work here the first time or require additional actions. In this article, we will break down all the nuances so that you can finally consolidate the choice of your favorite application.
Changing default settings is not just a matter of convenience, but also security. Third-party browsers often offer more advanced ad blockers and tracker protection than stock solutions. Properly configured system will allow you to enjoy the Internet without unnecessary visual noise and advertising in notifications.
Why Xiaomi is bringing back its browser
Many users notice a strange pattern: even after a successful browser change by default, after a while, the system begins to open links again in Mi Browser. This is not a bug, but a feature of the company's marketing policy. System restrictions in the MIUI shell often ignore the user's choice in favor of monetizing their own services.
There is also a smart recommendation mechanism that analyzes your actions, so if you clear memory frequently or use the speed feature, the system can reset file and link associations, and the lack of Google Play Services on some Chinese firmware versions, where local services dominate, also affects the lack of Google Play Services.
⚠️ Attention: Global firmware versions have lower return aggressiveness of stock browser, but in Chinese (CN ROM) or re-energized devices, this mechanism works as rigidly as possible.
It is important to understand the difference between a default browser and a system browser. The first opens links from other applications, the second can be used for authorization in some Xiaomi system services, and the second point often becomes a stumbling block.
The classic method through Android settings
The easiest and most obvious way to work on any Android device, including Xiaomi, is to require a minimum amount of action, but not always a 100% guarantee in the long run due to the limitations described above.
You need to go to the settings menu first, look for the Apps or the Apps and Notifications section, and depending on the version of MIUI, the path may be slightly different, but the logic remains the same for the entire ecosystem.
Next, you'll find the default App item. In some shell versions, it's hidden in the submenu Additional or called through three dots in the corner of the screen. Here we're interested in the Browser category.
- 📱 Click on the current browser (most likely there will be Mi Browser).
- 🌐 In the list that opens, select the one you need, for example, Chrome.
- ✅ Confirm your choice if the system requests permission.
If the list is empty or the selection is not saved, try to clear the Mi Browser data first. Go to Apps → All Apps → Mi Browser → Memory and click Clear. This will reset its priority.
☑️ Checking the default settings
Change through the settings of the browser itself
A method that is often ignored by users, and it turns out to be very effective, because modern browsers are able to break through to system status, and it works at the level of the priority request from the application itself.
Open your preferred browser settings. They're usually in a three-dot or bar menu. Look for General or System. There should be an option called "Use by default" or "Make primary."
When you click this button, Xiaomi will automatically take you to the corresponding Android settings menu described in the previous section, but with the desired application highlighted.
In some cases, especially on HyperOS, you may need double confirmation. First, the system will ask permission to change, then suggest disabling notifications from the old browser.
⚠️ Note: If the button in the browser settings is inactive (gray), then the application does not have the necessary permissions".
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If the default button is missing, try updating your browser app through the Play Store. In older versions, this feature could have been implemented differently.
Advanced customization through ADB (for experienced)
When standard methods are powerless, USB debugging comes to the rescue, a method that allows you to forcibly remove or freeze the system browser, making it physically inaccessible to the system as a candidate for link opening.
For this you will need a computer, a cable. USB and established ADB (Android Debug Bridge. You need to activate the developer mode on the phone, and this is done by seven times pressing the build number in the About Phone section.
In the developer menu, enable USB Debugging. Connect your phone to your PC and type a command to remove or hide the Xiaomi browser package.
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.browserThis command does not remove the browser completely from the system (it will remain in the factory partition), but removes it for the current user. Links will stop opening in Mi Browser simply because the system will stop "seeing" this application.
| ADB Team Team | Action. | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| pm uninstall -k --user 0 | Hiding the application for the user | Low (can be reset by resetting) |
| pm disable-user | Shutting down the app. | Medium (may interfere with updates) |
| pm enable | Turns the app back on | No. |
How do you get it back?
Comparison of popular alternatives for Xiaomi
Choosing a new browser is not just a matter of habit, but also optimization for Xiaomi’s hardware: Some browsers work better with aggressive MIUI energy saving, others have better integration with Google’s ecosystem.
Google Chrome remains the benchmark for synchronization. on Xiaomi it works stable, but can consume more RAM, which is critical for budget models Redmi. Yandex Browser often shows better speed of loading pages through Russian servers and has built-in Turbo mode.
For privacy enthusiasts, you should look at Firefox or Brave, which have powerful built-in blockers, which reduces the load on the processor when rendering heavy pages with ads, and this indirectly affects the autonomy of the device.
- 🚀 Speed: Opera and UC Browser (but the latter is overloaded with advertising).
- 🛡️ Privacy: Firefox, Brave, DuckDuckGo.
- 🔄 Synchronization: Chrome, Edge, Samsung Internet (works on Xiaomi).
It is important to note that Samsung Internet, despite its name, works great on Xiaomi and is often considered one of the most optimized browsers for Android in general, bypassing even native scrolling solutions.
Optimization of the browser in MIUI
Even after changing the default browser, the system can limit its operation in the background. To notify messengers, open tabs and downloads do not break, you need to properly configure energy saving.
Go to Settings → Applications → All apps. Find your new browser (like Chrome). Go to Battery or Energy Saving. Select No Limits mode.
Also check permissions. The browser needs access to storage (for downloading files), location (for maps), and microphone (for video calls), without which functionality will be stripped, and the system may consider the application "unused."
⚠️ Warning: Do not enable the Advanced Power Saving feature for the main browser.This will result in the application being permanently unloaded from memory and running slowly.
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The main secret of stable operation of the browser on Xiaomi is to disable all battery restrictions and fix the application in memory (lock in the menu of running applications).