Modern Xiaomi smartphones running MIUI or HyperOS shells offer users a wide range of pre-installed software. Among other things, the system often has its own Mi Browser, which developers actively promote as a primary means of accessing the Internet. However, many users prefer to use alternative solutions such as Google Chrome, Yandex Browser or Opera, accustomed to their interface and data synchronization.
The problem is that the Android system on the Chinese manufacturer’s devices can behave aggressively, trying to return the user to standard settings or ignoring the choice of a third-party application when opening links from instant messengers. This creates discomfort, especially when you need to quickly click on a link and the phone offers to launch an unnecessary service. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to force and permanently install the desired browser as the main tool for web surfing.
The default browser change procedure for Xiaomi does not require superuser rights or complex device flashing. All the necessary tools are already built into the operating system settings menu, but they can be hidden in non-obvious sections. The correct configuration of these parameters will allow you to completely ignore standard applications and use only the software that is convenient for you.
Why Xiaomi System Changes Browser on Its Own
The behavior of the MIUI shell is often puzzling for new owners of Redmi and POCO smartphones. After another system update or installing a new application, settings can be reset, this is because memory optimization and energy saving algorithms sometimes “freeze” the background processes of third-party browsers, giving priority to system analogues, as a result, when you click on a link in Telegram or WhatsApp, the device can ignore your choice and open the Mi Browser.
There's also a nuance with the so-called hot keys. Some Xiaomi smartphones have a feature to quickly swipe the browser on the Home button or double tap on the locked screen. This is the default system browser. Even if you changed the standard application in the Android settings, this gesture can continue to open the software you don't need, creating the illusion that the settings are not saved.
⚠️ Warning: Aggressive advertising of system applications may appear as pop-ups when you unlock the screen or clear memory.This is not a virus, but a feature of the manufacturer's marketing policy that can be disabled in the ad settings (MSA).
It is important to understand the difference between a default browser and a link-opening app. In modern versions of Android, these concepts are delineated, but in the case of a new version of Android, the two are not. MIUI They're often intertwined. The system can request confirmation every time you try to open it. URL-If you randomly select "One Time" and run the system application, the next run will cause the question again, and the cycle will repeat.
Basic configuration through the application menu
The easiest and most reliable way to install your preferred app is to use the standard Android settings menu adapted to the Xiaomi interface, which works on most current firmware versions, including MIUI 12, 13, 14 and the new HyperOS. You do not need to download additional utilities or connect your smartphone to your computer.
You need to get to the general settings menu first. Usually, the gear icon is located on the home screen or in the notification curtain. Find a section called Apps. Depending on the shell version, it can be directly on the main list or hidden inside the Additional Settings category. The interface can be slightly different on global and Chinese versions of firmware.
Inside the Apps section, we're interested in the default App, and that's where the key setting that controls how the system handles web links is located. When you click on this, you'll see a list of categories that you can choose a standard action for. Find the browser string and click on it.
- 📱 Open the smartphone settings and go to the "Applications" section".
- ⚙️ Select "Default Applications" (may be called "Application Management").
- 🌐 Click on the "Browser" line and select from the list of Google Chrome, Yandex or other installed.
- ✅ Confirm the choice if the system requests permission to change the standard.
Once you have done this, the system will remember your choice, but if you have multiple browsers installed, the system can ask for confirmation the first time you run a link, at which point it is critical to choose the option Always or Always Use this application. If you click "Just now", the process will have to be repeated every time you click on the link.
☑️ Checking the browser settings
Managing permissions and resetting default settings
Sometimes the browser selection menu is simply missing, or the system persists in returning the old choice, in which case you need to do a deeper cleaning of the settings of a particular application, this is about resetting the default settings for the browser that currently occupies this place (often it is the Mi Browser).
To do this, go back to the Apps menu -> All Apps. Find the current default browser (like Mi Browser) in the list. Click on it to open the management page. In the menu that opens, find the Open Default or Default Launch button. There will be a switch and a Reset default button.
After resetting the settings of the current browser, the system at the next click on the link will ask you what to open. URL. At that point, you can select the app you want and pin it. It's also helpful to check the permissions: make sure your preferred browser has access to the network and storage, otherwise it may not display pages correctly or download files.
| Parameter | Action. | The result |
|---|---|---|
| Open by default | Turn off/Reset | Removes compulsory linking |
| Permits | Check network access | Ensures the loading of web pages |
| Notifications | Turn on/off | Control of pop-up messages |
| Auto-start | Permission. | Allows you to open links from other applications faster |
It is worth noting that some versions of MIUI have a bug where the settings are reset after the phone is restarted, in which case it helps to clear the cache of the Google Play Services service or update the components of the Android System WebView, which is responsible for displaying web content within applications and should always be relevant.
Set up hot keys and gestures
Special attention deserves the function of fast start, which is often ignored by users. Xiaomi smartphones implemented a mechanism that allows you to swipe up from the bottom navigation button (home button) or double-click on the lock screen. By default, the system browser is rigidly prescribed, and a simple change in the settings of the application does not change the behavior of this gesture.
To change this behavior, go to Settings -> Additional Features (or "Advanced Settings"). Find Quick Launch Apps or Launch Apps. In the Action List, find "Start Browser" or "Swipe Up." Click on it and select from the list the browser you want to run with this gesture.
Also check the lock screen settings. Wallpaper and personalization -> Wallpaper carousel or Super wallpaper can have its own widget settings. Sometimes double tap on a particular corner of the screen can trigger the browser. All these settings are worth checking if you want to achieve full control of the device.
If you use gesture navigation (swiping your fingers around the edges of the screen instead of buttons), make sure you don’t make random swipes, which the system interprets as a browser start command. In the Full-screen settings, you can turn off unnecessary actions or change the sensitivity of the edges.
Solving problems with opening links in applications
A common problem with Xiaomi users is that links from social networks (VK, Telegram, Instagram) open in the built-in WebView (internal viewer) or in the Mi Browser, ignoring user choice.This is due to the Android App Links mechanism, which allows applications to intercept certain types of links.
To get the system to ask you how to open a link, or to open the browser you choose, you need to set up file associations. Go to Settings -> Apps -> All Apps. Find the application from which you click on links (for example, Telegram). Click Open by default -> Open supported links. Select the option Always Ask or Allow in this application (if you can choose a specific browser there).
A more radical but effective method is to disable the system browser’s ability to open links, and to do so, in the Mi Browser (or any other unwanted browser) settings in the Open by default section, remove the tick from Open Supported Links, and then the system will not be able to use it as a URL handler automatically.
- 🔗 Go to the problem app settings (such as WhatsApp).
- 🚫 Find the "Open by Default" or "Links" section".
- ⚙️ Select the “Always Ask” mode for link types http/https.
- 🧹 Clear the app cache if the changes do not take effect immediately.
This is done for security reasons, and it is almost impossible, and not necessary, to circumvent this by standard means without root rights.
Using ADB for Advanced Users
For those who are not afraid of the command line and want to securely remove the binding of the system browser, there is a method using ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to hide the system browser from the list of available applications for certain actions, effectively depriving the system of choice.
This will require you to enable debugging over USB in the section For developers (item MIUI version, press 7 times). Then connect the phone to the PC, install drivers and ADB. The command to reset preferences for all applications looks like this:
adb shell pm reset-preferred-appsA more point command allows you to remove the assignments for a particular package, for example, to remove the assignments for the Mi Browser, you need to know its packet name (usually com.android.browser or com.mi.global.browser).
adb shell pm clear-defaults com.mi.global.browser⚠️ Attention: Use ADB Incorrect removal of system components can lead to unstable interfaces or cyclical reboot of the device. Use this method only if you understand what you are doing.
After executing commands via ADB, the first time you click on the link, the Android system to Xiaomi is guaranteed to give a browser selection window, since the old associations will be erased at a low level.