Xiaomi smartphone owners often face intrusive behavior from the operating system, which forcibly opens links in its own Mi Browser browser.This is annoying, especially if you are used to the functionality of Google Chrome, Opera or Yandex. The standard application is often overloaded with news feeds and recommendations that not all users need in the background.
Fortunately, the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS allow you to change startup priorities, although this option is sometimes hidden in the depths of the menu. The default browser change process does not require superuser rights or complex software. It is enough to perform several actions in the system settings in a consistent manner to regain control of the navigation on the Internet.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all possible ways to assign a preferred application, we will look at the standard methods, work with data cleaning and specific settings for different versions of firmware, you will learn to bypass restrictions and customize the device to your usage habits.
Why Change the Standard Browser on Xiaomi
Xiaomi’s standard web browser, despite having an incognito mode and an ad blocker, has a number of features that might not suit an advanced user, first of all, integration with the Chinese manufacturer’s ecosystem, which involves collecting telemetry and displaying news feeds in the style of “Carousel”, which for many is redundant functionality that consumes RAM.
Alternative solutions like Chrome, Firefox, or Brave offer more flexible sync with desktop versions and enhanced add-on support. If you use password managers like LastPass or KeePass, third-party browsers often provide better compatibility with these services than the built-in solution.
Third-party applications are also often faster thanks to optimized page rendering engines, and replacing a standard application with a lighter one can have a positive impact on device autonomy and heavy web loading speeds, especially for mid- and low-end models.
Preparing the device for changing settings
Before you make changes to system priorities, make sure that the alternative browser is already installed on your device.If you just purchased a smartphone, there may be nothing in memory other than the standard Mi Browser. Download your desired application through Google Play Market or GetApps.
It is important to check for updates to the operating system. In different versions of MIUI (12, 13, 14) and HyperOS, the menu layout may differ slightly. Updating the software ensures that you see the settings interface as it was intended by the developers.
☑️ Preparation for the browser change
You should also sign in to your account in the new browser in advance to synchronize bookmarks and passwords, which will allow you to continue working with your usual sites immediately after changing the default settings without losing data.
The main way through the application menu
The most reliable and correct method of changing a priority application is in the general settings of the system, which is universal for most versions of the shell and does not require third-party utilities.
Go to the Settings menu on your smartphone. In the list, find the App item (sometimes called "All Apps" or "App Management"). Next, select the option "Setting Up Apps" or "Default Apps." In some firmware versions, this item is displayed in a separate menu "Additional Settings".
In the list that opens, look for the Browser category, and if you click on it, you'll see a list of all the browsers you've installed, and the system will tell you to choose one of them, and you'll want to choose one of them, like Chrome or Yandex.
⚠️ Note: If after selecting a new browser, the system does not save settings or the selection point is missing, it is possible that the system is active power saving restrictions for the selected application. Go to the battery settings and select "No restrictions" mode for the new browser.
Once selected, the system can request confirmation of action: click OK or Accept. Now all links from messengers, emails and other applications will open in your browser of choice, which changes the global priority for the entire Android operating system.
Resetting the settings of the standard Mi Browser
Sometimes a new browser is selected, but the links still open in the old one, which happens if the standard application has a "stamped" start settings, in which case you have to force it to reset to the factory settings.
Find the Mi Browser itself in the app list. Go to the app information. At the bottom of the screen or in the three-dot menu, select Clear Data or Delete Data. Confirm the action in the pop-up window.
What happens when you clean your browser data?
After resetting, try to open any link from the message in the messenger. The system should show the "Application Select" window, where you can tick Always and select a new browser. If the window does not appear, repeat the selection procedure through the "Default Applications" menu described in the previous section.
This method is also useful if the standard browser has started to work incorrectly or consume too much resources in the background.Data reset is an effective way to combat program errors without removing the application itself, which is the system component.
Features of configuration in MIUI and HyperOS
Xiaomi shells have their own specifics: the latest versions of HyperOS and MIUI 14 have a feature called “Recommended Apps,” which can interfere with changing settings. The system can insist on returning a standard browser, claiming that it is safer or faster.
To avoid this, disable recommendations. Go to Settings → Passwords & Security → Special Opportunities (or “Privacy”). Find the recommendation item and turn it off. This will prevent pop-ups from suggesting you change your browser back.
| Shell version | The path to settings | nuance |
|---|---|---|
| MIUI 12 / 13 | Settings → Applications → All Apps → Three Points → Default Apps | Mi Browser data reset may be required |
| MIUI 14 | Settings → Applications → Applications Configuration → Browser | Aggressive notifications of return to the standard |
| HyperOS 1.0 | Settings → Applications → Application Management → Accesses → Default Browser | The interface is more minimal, less advertising |
| Global ROM | Settings → Google → Settings for Google apps → Chrome | Deep integration of Google services is possible |
Owners of Chinese versions of firmware (CN ROM) If you have a Google framework, you need to be careful, and if you have a standard browser, you can have a very tight integration of the standard browser into the system services, and if you can't change it, you might need to use it. ADB-Teams, but this is an advanced level.
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If the system is constantly returning settings back, try to remove updates to the standard Mi Browser through the About menu → Three dots → Remove Updates. This will roll the application back to the factory version, which often helps to reset the imposed priorities.
Decision (FAQ)
Can I remove the Mi Browser completely?
Why does the old browser open again after the reboot?
Does a browser change affect the work of news widgets?
Is it safe to use third-party browsers on Xiaomi?
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Changing the default browser to Xiaomi is a safe and reversible procedure that significantly improves the user experience, eliminating intrusive advertising and speeding up the work with web content.
To sum up, replacing the standard surfing tool is the first step to personalizing your Xiaomi. Despite some of the features of the shell, the system provides enough tools to make comfortable use of any alternative solutions.