Users of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the need to replace standard system programs with more functional counterparts from the Google Play store. For example, you installed a new browser or messenger, but when you click on the link, the system still opens the old, preinstalled software, this is because the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS fixes priority actions for certain types of files and links.
Changing these settings doesn’t require superuser rights or complex device flashing. The whole process is done through a standard settings menu, but the location of the desired items may vary depending on the version of the Android operating system. Understanding the logic of the system will allow you to quickly reassign any program.
In this article, we will take a closer look at all the default application management options available, learn how to force reset a choice if the change button is inactive, and how to set file associations for maximum productivity.
Basic default settings in MIUI
The main way to manage application priorities is in the back of the system menu, and to get there, the user needs to open Settings and scroll down to the App section, and that's where all the keys to managing the installed software are concentrated.
Inside the App section, you should find App Management. In the list of all installed programs that opens, you should find the one you want to make the main one. For example, if you want links to open in Chrome, find it in the list. After you log into the menu of a particular application, click on the Open default button.
If the system allows you to change your choice, you will see a switch or a default button, and if you activate this option, you will confirm your desire to always use this software for the corresponding actions, but it often happens that this item may be inactive or hidden if you previously chose to use another application.
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If you don’t see the application you want in the Application Management list, check if it’s hidden in Hidden Apps mode or if it’s installed for the current user.
It's worth noting that the path may vary slightly between firmware versions, and in some cases it's more useful to switch to a global reset, which we'll talk about in the next sections, and the key is not to panic if the switch you want isn't there the first time.
Global reset of preferred applications
There's a more radical, but highly effective, method that allows you to reset all the choices you've made, all over the system, and it's especially useful if you don't remember where the old program stuck, or if the selection menu just doesn't show up when you start the action.
To reset, go to the Settings menu, then select the App section and click on the three dots in the top right corner of the screen (or menu button). In the drop-down list, select Reset App Settings. The system will alert you that all previously set preferences will be removed.
Once you confirm the operation the next time you run an action that requires you to select a program (such as opening a link or a PDF file), the system will ask you again what to open that content, which is the perfect way to shake up the system if it is not behaving properly.
⚠️ Warning: After you complete a global reset, you'll have to re-choose your preferences for all types of actions. Links, calls, messages and opening files - everywhere the system will ask your opinion again.
Using this feature doesn't delete the apps themselves or your personal data inside them; it only resets associations: which program opens what type of content, and it's a secure operation that often solves problems with "hangover" settings.
☑️ Pre-reset check
Setting up browsers and search engines
One of the most common tasks is to replace the standard Mi Browser browser with the more familiar Google Chrome, Yandex or Opera. In the Android ecosystem, this is done through a special system mechanism that ignores the choices made inside the browser itself.
To change your default browser, go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find the current browser that opens when you click on links. Go to it and click Open by default, then select Clear Default Settings. Now, the next time you click on a link in any messenger, the system will suggest you choose a new browser.
In addition, the new versions of HyperOS and MIUI 14 have a more convenient way: in search of settings, type the phrase “browser” or go to the Applications section → Application settings (cogs) → Applications by default. Here you can clearly specify which browser should be used to process web links.
It’s also important to distinguish between the default browser and the search engine, and if you want to change the search engine you use when you type a query into your address bar, it’s done inside the browser’s settings, not on Android.
Managing calls and SMS-message
Replacing a standard caller or messaging app is a challenge for those who prefer Google interfaces or third-party solutions like Truecaller, a process similar to changing a browser but with its own nuances in the shell interface.
To change the call app, you need to install the desired program from the Play Market. Once installed, the system can suggest making it the main one. If that does not happen, go to Settings → Apps → Application settings (cogs) → Applications by default. Find the Phone item and select the desired application from the list.
Similar actions are performed for SMS. In the same Application menu, by default, find the SMS section. If you use a third-party messenger for short messages, select it here. This ensures that all incoming messages will come to the chosen application, and not to the standard Mi Messaging.
| Type of action | Where to Change (The Way) | Popular alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Web browser | Settings → Applications → Applications by default | Chrome, Firefox, Brave |
| Phone (Calls) | Settings → Applications → Applications by default | Google Phone, Truecaller |
| SMS text message | Settings → Applications → Applications by default | Google Messages, Textra |
| Navigation | Opens when you click on the address link | Yandex.Maps, 2GIS, Waze |
It's important to understand that some system features, such as emergency calls, will always use the system module, regardless of your settings.It's an Android security limitation that can't be circumvented by standard methods.
Setting up navigation and maps
Xiaomi smartphone owners often prefer to use Yandex.Maps or 2GIS instead of the standard Google Maps. The problem arises when you click on an address in Telegram or WhatsApp, it is Google maps that opens. To fix this, you need to reset the settings for the current map application.
Search for Maps in the Google App List, go to Open by default, and click Clear by default. Then, the first time you click on geolocation in any chat, the system will ask what to open the address. Select your preferred navigator and click "Always."
If you want certain types of links (e.g. ymaps:) to open only in Yandex.Maps, make sure that the settings of the Yandex.Maps application itself include support for the relevant links. This is usually done automatically when installed, but sometimes requires manual confirmation.
Why is the map application not changing?
Problems with opening files and documents
The situation when photos, PDF-files or videos are opened in the wrong viewer, which is quite common. For example, a gallery can open in a standard application, even though you have installed Google Photos.
The solution is to clear the action cache. Find the application that is currently opening (like Gallery or Explorer) and reset the default settings as described above.
For advanced users, there is the possibility of fine-tuning through hidden menus, but for most cases a standard reset is enough. If the file is of a rare format, the system may not know how to open it, and will suggest selecting the application from the list of installed each time.
⚠️ Note: When installing new file managers or viewers PDF The system can aggressively impose them as the main ones, so be careful when you press the "Always" button, checking if you have chosen the application.
Remember that some file formats may be protected by DRM or have specific codecs that are supported only by certain players, in which case the system may not give a choice if the alternative application does not support this codec.
Features of work in HyperOS and new versions of MIUI
With the release of the HyperOS shell, Xiaomi has changed the logical structure of some menus, and while the basic principle of Android has remained the same, the visual design and access paths have become deeper.
HyperOS has a separate section in its settings, dedicated to the default apps, which is brought to a higher level of the hierarchy. Look for it in the Apps section → Application Management → menu (three dots) → Default apps. Here you can find all the main categories: browser, phone, messages, assistant.
Newer versions also improve widgets and deep links, and if the app supports deep links, it can take control even without an explicit default destination, and keep an eye out for pop-ups when installing new programs.
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In HyperOS, managing file associations has become more centralized, making it easier to find the right setup, but requires careful initial setup of a new smartphone.