Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face an intrusive ecosystem of the manufacturer, which by default offers to use the built-in Mi Browser. This application, although it has basic functionality, is significantly inferior in speed, support for extensions and synchronization of the Google account to the popular Google Chrome. However, MIUI or the new HyperOS system is not always willing to give priority to third-party applications, requiring the user to take several additional steps to change priorities.
Changing default settings is not just a matter of personal preference, but also a way to improve security when surfing the Internet, since the Chrome engine receives security updates more often than built-in counterparts. In this article, we will discuss in detail the algorithm of actions that will allow you to permanently get rid of the Mi Browser pop-ups when clicking on links in instant messengers. You will learn how to correctly reset the cache of competitors’ applications and fix Chrome as the main tool for working with web content.
The setup process may vary slightly depending on the version of the operating system installed on your device. Whether it’s the old Android 10 with the MIUI 12 shell or the newest HyperOS based on Android 14, the principles of working with permissions remain similar. We will look at all the nuances, including hidden settings, which are often overlooked even by experienced users, which leads to the reappearance of unwanted browsers.
Why Xiaomi's system imposes Mi Browser
Xiaomi is actively developing its own services, and the browser here plays a key role in collecting analytical data and displaying advertising content. When you first turn on a smartphone or reset it to factory settings, the system automatically registers Mi Browser as the default application for processing HTTP and HTTPS requests. This is the standard behavior of the Android operating system, which must have at least one designated browser for the correct operation of links.
In addition, the MIUI shell has deep integration of its applications with system functions. For example, searches in the global search bar or widgets on the desktop often lead by default to the native browser. Users often notice that even after installing Chrome, links from Viber or Telegram continue to open in the old browser. This is because the priority was not manually changed in the corresponding settings section.
It’s important to understand that imposing your own services is part of the manufacturer’s business model to keep the user inside the ecosystem. However, Android gives the user full control over these processes. Ignoring the default browser settings can lead to a decrease in device performance, since the background processes of the Mi Browser can consume RAM even if you do not use them.
It’s also worth noting the difference in how the system behaves when updating firmware. Sometimes, after a major MIUI update, the default application settings can be reset and the system starts to offer standard tools again, which is why knowing where these settings are located is an important skill for any Xiaomi device owner.
Preparing Chrome to Work as a Primary Browser
Before you start changing system settings, you need to make sure that the Google Chrome browser itself is installed on the current version and has all the necessary permissions. The old version of the application may not display correctly in the list of available browsers or do not support modern encryption standards, which will lead to errors when opening links.
Go to the Google Play store and check for updates for Chrome. If the Update button is active, be sure to follow this step. It is also recommended to clear the app cache, especially if it was previously used but then abandoned. This will help avoid data conflicts when switching the role of the main browser.
☑️ Preparing the browser for the installation by default
If you are switching from another device or computer, make sure that your Chrome settings include password and history synchronization, which will make the transition to using the browser as the main one as comfortable as possible, since all your bookmarks will be available immediately after opening.
⚠️ Note: Do not remove the Mi Browser app completely if you do not have superuser (Root) rights. System applications in Xiaomi are often protected from removal by standard methods, and attempts to "cut" them through the use of the software. ADB This can cause system instability or errors when searching in the global row.
After updating, check that the application is not limited in background activity. In the battery settings for Chrome, select the "No restrictions" mode. This ensures that the browser will instantly open links, even if it has been unused for a long time and was downloaded from RAM by the optimization system.
Step-by-step: install Chrome by default in MIUI and HyperOS
Xiaomi’s browser-change process has its own features that differ from stock Android. Here, the settings are scattered across different menus, and the path to them may depend on the version of the interface. Below is a universal instruction that covers most scenarios.
First, open the main smartphone settings menu. Find a section called "Apps" or "Applications and Notifications." In some versions of MIUI, this item may simply be called "All Apps." We need to get into advanced software management settings.
Inside this section, look for the default app, which is usually located at the top of the list or in a three-dot menu in the corner of the screen, and that's where the key setting is for which application will respond to clicks on web links.
What if there is no "Default App" clause?
Find the category "Browser" in the list. Click on it. The system will give you a choice of all the browsers installed. Select Google Chrome. After that, all the links from any application will open in it.
To fix the result, it is also recommended to check the settings of the specific application through which you most often click on links (for example, Telegram or WhatsApp). Go to Apps → All Apps, find the messenger, select Other Permissions or Default, and make sure that there is no tick Always Open in Mi Browser.
Setting up link opening parameters and resetting preferences
Sometimes you choose Chrome, but when you click on a link, the system still asks how to open the file, or worse, it starts Mi Browser again, which means that the system has retained old preferences for certain types of links or protocols.
To fix this, reset the default settings for a competing browser. Find the Mi Browser app list. Go to its detailed settings (usually click on the app name itself). Scroll down to "Open by default" or "Start by default."
Click Reset Default or Delete Settings, which will force the system to forget that Mi Browser was ever the boss, and then the first time you click on a link, Android will ask you what to open the file, select Chrome and click Always.
| Parameter | Mi Browser | Google Chrome | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Synchronization | Only Mi/Xiaomi account | Full sync with Google | Choose Chrome for Cross-Platform |
| Expansion | Not supported. | Support for mobile extensions (flags) | Chrome offers more options |
| Advertising | Present in the news feed | Missing (basic version) | Chrome is cleaner and faster |
| Security | Google’s standard safe browser | Google’s Advanced Safe Browsing | Both are good, but Chrome is a priority. |
Also worth paying attention to protocols. In modern versions of Android, links can be treated not only as http/https, but also as application intent links. Make sure that maximum protection is included in the Chrome settings under Privacy and Security → Safe browsing.
💡
Tip: If, after all the manipulations, links in a particular app (such as Instagram) still open where they should, try to clear the cache of the source app itself.
Remember that some Xiaomi system components (e.g., the Global Search widget or Wallpaper Carousel widget) can ignore the default browser settings and open links inside themselves or in the Mi Browser. For such cases, there is no complete solution except to disable these widgets, as they are part of the system shell.
Problem Solving: If the settings are not saved
Xiaomi users sometimes face a situation where, after a smartphone reboot, the browser settings are reset by default, this can be caused by aggressive energy saving system operation or a bug of a particular firmware version.
First, check if you have Second Space or Guest Mode enabled, and in these profiles, the application settings are isolated, and you will have to repeat the installation procedure of Chrome by the main browser for each profile separately.
⚠️ Warning: Avoid using third-party cleaner apps (Clean Master and analogues) on Xiaomi. They often reset the default settings for all applications in pursuit of memory cleanup, considering this data garbage".
If the problem persists, try forcefully stopping Mi Browser before choosing Chrome as your primary. Go to the Mi Browser settings, click Stop, and then immediately go to the default application settings and change your browser. This will prevent the system application from intercepting the initiative at the time of the switch.
In rare cases, resetting all app preferences helps. Go to Settings → Apps → App Management → Three dots (menu) → Reset app settings. This will return all permissions and default settings to factory status, after which you can reset Chrome priority cleanly.
Additional Chrome Optimization on Xiaomi Devices
After Google Chrome became the default browser, it is recommended to fine-tune it to the features of Xiaomi screens and processors, which will ensure maximum smooth scrolling and battery savings.
In the Chrome address bar, type chrome://flags. You can find hidden settings here. Find the Choose ANGLE graphics backend option and try to switch it to OpenGL or D3D11 (if available), which can improve graphics performance on some Redmi models.
💡
The main conclusion: Successful installation of Chrome by default on Xiaomi depends not only on the choice in the menu, but also on resetting preferences from Mi Browser and the correct setting of permissions for link source applications.
Also activate Simplified Mode (if available in your version) or Traffic Saving if you use mobile Internet frequently, which will reduce the CPU load when rendering heavy pages. Remember to enable PC sync to access all tabs.