Modern Xiaomi smartphones running MIUI shells or the new HyperOS often impose their own system applications on the user, as well as a web browser that launches automatically when you open links from messengers or mail. Many device owners prefer more functional or faster alternatives, such as Chrome, Firefox or Yandex, and want to see them as the main tool for surfing.
The procedure for replacing a standard application does not require root rights or complex manipulation of code. However, the settings interface in the firmware of a Chinese manufacturer sometimes hides the desired items or changes their location after major updates. Understanding the logic of the Android system in conjunction with the corporate shell will help to quickly solve this problem.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all possible ways to set the desired browser as the main one, you will learn how to act if the system does not allow you to choose a new application, and also consider the nuances of working with system security restrictions.
Why Change the Standard Browser on Xiaomi
The standard Mi Browser, preinstalled on most models, is optimized to work in the manufacturer's ecosystem, but often trails third-party counterparts in page rendering speed and extensions. Users accustomed to synchronizing history and passwords through a Google account face the inconvenience of opening links in an isolated app. The default replacement eliminates this problem by combining the digital experience.
In addition, third-party browsers often offer more advanced ad-blocking features, traffic saving mode, or built-in features. VPN-Data security is also an important factor: popular global brands regularly update their phishing engines, while system software can be updated less often.
Changing the default app affects not only link opening, but also widgets, voice assistant, and some search system features. If you use specific tools for developers or testing web pages, you'll need the engine you choose, which allows you to create a single work environment on your device.
- 🚀 Accelerating the loading of heavy web pages with optimized engines.
- 🔒 Advanced privacy settings and tracker blockers.
- 🔄 Full synchronization with the desktop version of the browser on the computer.
- 🎨 Flexible interface configuration and support for design themes.
Preparing for the application change by default
Before you make changes to your system settings, make sure that the alternative app is already installed and configured correctly. If you just bought a phone or reset it to factory settings, first go to Play Market or GetApps and download your desired browser. Undetermined APK-The file system will not offer you a choice.
It's also important to check for updates to the operating system. In recent versions of MIUI 14 and HyperOS, the algorithms for prioritizing applications may have changed. Sometimes bugs in older versions of firmware don't save user choice, so current software is key to success. Make sure there's enough free space on the disk to work properly on the new browser's cache.
Signing in to your account in your new browser in advance to sync your bookmarks will allow you to continue working from where you left off on the other device immediately after the default settings change, and ignoring this step can lead to the loss of important data if the old browser is no longer used.
☑️ Preparation for setup
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Tip: Before changing your browser, export your bookmarks to HTML-file or make sure that sync in the new application works correctly so as not to lose important links.
The main way through system settings
The most reliable and standard method of changing a priority app is in the deep Android settings menu. The path may vary slightly depending on the shell version, but the logic remains the same. You need to find the section responsible for managing all installed programs and their rights.
Open the Settings menu and find the App. Some versions of the interface may call it All Apps or Application Management. Inside this section, we're not interested in the list of programs, but in the special features of the system. Look for the default button or tab. This is where you decide which software will respond to certain types of actions.
In the list that opens, look for a browser or a web browser category, and if you click on that category, you'll see a list of all browsers installed on your device, choose the browser you want to use all the time, and the system can alert you that the app you choose can access certain data, which is standard Android security procedure.
⚠️ Note: If after selecting a new browser links still open in the old one, try to force the Mi Browser system application to stop in the All Apps menu before trying to change again.
Once selected, the system remembers preference, and when you click on any link in Telegram, Viber or email, the tool you choose will automatically start up, and if there is a failure and the choice does not survive, it may be that the system activates a hard power saving mode that blocks the background processes of new applications.
| Shell version | The way is on the menu | nuance |
|---|---|---|
| MIUI 12 / 13 | Settings → Applications → Applications by default | The classic path unchanged |
| MIUI 14 | Settings → Applications → Application Management → Three Points → Default Apps | The item is hidden in the additional menu |
| HyperOS | Settings → Applications → Applications by default | Simplified menu structure |
| Android 10-11 | Settings → Applications and Notifications → Additional → Default Applications | Depends on the skin of the manufacturer |
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The way to setup always lies through the general menu "Applications", even if the shell interface is visually modified.
Method by Opening a Link (Quick Method)
There's a faster, but less obvious way to change priority that works through an action trigger, and it's convenient because you can see the result immediately and you don't wander through the deep settings menu, and it's especially effective if you've just installed a new browser and the system hasn't forgotten the previous choice, or if you haven't made a choice yet.
Find any web link in notes, messages or document. Click on it. If you already have an alternative browser installed but it is not the default, the system may do nothing and simply open the link in the current standard application. In this case, you first need to "make down" the settings of the old browser. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications, find the current browser (for example, Mi Browser) and click Clear default settings (or Reset by default).
After resetting the old app, the next time you click on the link, the system will force you to ask, "What to open?", a pop-up with a selection of applications will appear. Be sure to tick Always (or "Use by default") next to the name of the desired browser and confirm the action. Now this choice will become permanent.
- 📲 Find any active link in the text of the message.
- 🗑️ Pre-reset the default settings in the old browser.
- ✅ In the window that appears, select a new browser and click "Always".
This is a good technique, but it requires that the user has at least two browsers installed. If there is no alternative application, the system will simply open the link in the only available version without asking questions, so installing the software is the first step.
What happens if the window of choice does not appear?
Mi Browser problems and their solution
Xiaomi smartphone owners often face aggressive behavior from the system’s Mi Browser, which can reclaim its status as a primary after system upgrades or memory cleanups, because some system processes perceive it as an integral part of the shell, especially in Chinese firmware versions.
If you notice that the settings have reset themselves, check if the settings of the Mi Browser itself check the "Restore session" box or a similar feature that can reactivate its priority. It is also worth noting that this application should autoboot and work in the background if you do not use it. This can be done in the Battery menu and performance.
In rare cases, when standard methods to remove or ignore the system browser fails, users resort to disabling the application. However, the complete removal of the system component of the Mi Browser is possible only through the use of a system browser. ADB-commands or root, which may disrupt some of the system's news widgets, and it's safer to just ignore it using the "Default Apps" method".
⚠️ Note: Do not attempt to delete the system browser through third-party snails without creating a restore point. In case of an error, the system links may stop opening at all until you return the application to the place.
Another issue could be version conflict: If you upgraded Chrome to beta and the system is expecting a stable version, there may be crashes. Make sure both browsers (both old and new) are updated to the latest stable versions from official stores.
Setting up access rights for a new browser
Once you have successfully changed your default browser, it is important to make sure that it has all the necessary permissions to work properly. Unlike a system application, the new one may not have features out of the box due to the MIUI security policy.
Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, select your new browser (like Firefox). Go to App Permissions. Make sure you allow access to memory (for downloading files), microphone (for voice search), and geolocation if necessary. Without these permissions, sites may not work properly.
It’s also worth checking notification settings. If you want to receive notifications from sites, make sure that the Notifications section for this browser has a switch to the On position. In Xiaomi shells, notifications are often blocked by default to save charge.
- 📂 Access to storage: required to download files and pictures.
- 📍 Geolocation: needed for maps and localized content.
- 🎤 Microphone: Required for voice input and video calls in the browser.
- 🔔 Notifications: to see messages from websites.
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Important: Without permissions, even the best browser will work with limitations, so don’t ignore system requests when you first start.