How to set up the default app on Xiaomi

Modern Xiaomi smartphones, which are based on the shells MIUI or the new HyperOS, provide users with the widest possibilities for personalizing the interface and logic of the device. However, despite the flexibility of the system, many owners face a situation where the phone automatically launches programs that are not the ones you would like to see the main ones. For example, clicking on a link in the messenger opens a built-in browser instead of the usual Chrome or Yandex. Browser, and calls are initiated through a third-party application, although there is a more convenient analogue in the memory of the phone.

Knowing how to set up the default app on Xiaomi is a must for every active user who wants to gain full control of their gadget. The Android system that underlies Xiaomi firmware has a strict hierarchy of priorities that by default favors the manufacturer’s proprietary utilities. This is often puzzling for those who are used to “pure” Android or switching from other brands. In this article, we will detail all the nuances of managing these settings so that you can make the smartphone work exactly as you need.

It's important to understand that changing startup settings affects not only convenience, but performance in general. System resources are allocated more efficiently when programs optimized for your habits are active. Next, we'll look at step-by-step algorithms for various use cases, including browser, calls, messages and navigation.

Managing settings through the Application section

The main control center for all installed programs is in the system settings menu. This is where the path to changing startup priorities begins. You need to go to the Settings section, which is usually represented by the gear ikon, and find the App item. In some versions of the shell, this item may be called “All Apps” or have a slightly changed menu structure, but the logic remains the same for all models, whether it is a budget Redmi Note or flagship Xiaomi.

Inside this section, there's a powerful management tool that's often ignored by users. You need to find an option that can be called "Default Apps" or hidden in the "App Management" submenu. Here, the system stores a list of all the action categories for which you can choose your preferred software. MIUI interface may vary slightly depending on the Android version, but key controls remain in place.

⚠️ Note: When changing system applications, such as a phone book or SMS, Make sure the alternative app is fully functional and synced to your account so you don’t lose important contacts or messages.

It's worth noting that in the new versions of HyperOS, developers have regrouped the menu a little bit to focus on privacy, so if you don't find the right item right away, search by settings by typing in the default query, which is the fastest way to get to the right menu without going through long walks.

Changing the browser by default and working with links

One of the most common challenges users face is to replace the standard Mi Browser with more functional browsers, such as Google Chrome, Opera or Yandex. Browser. To do this, you need to find the browser category in the Default Apps menu, and clicking on it, you will see a list of all browsers installed on the system ready to launch.

Once you have selected the right option, the system will stop asking you which program to use every time you click on a hyperlink, which makes it much faster to work with the Internet, but if you want a more subtle setup, such as having certain types of links (Deep Links) open in specific applications, you will need a section called Link Management.

This section lists all the apps that can handle web links, and you can choose a particular app, like YouTube or Telegram, and customize its behavior. There are three main options available:

• 🔗 Open by default: Links will always run in the selected app without any questions.
• ❓ Always ask: the system will offer a choice each time you click on the appropriate type of link.
• 🚫 Do not open: App ignores links even if they lead to its content.

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If after changing the browser, links stopped opening correctly, try clearing the Settings app cache or restarting the device so that the changes take effect at the system level.

Special attention should be paid to deep links that lead to specific content within applications, sometimes after updating the system settings are reset, and the phone again begins to suggest opening YouTube videos in the browser, not in the application, Regularly checking these parameters will help to avoid such inconvenience.

Setting up calls, SMS and keyboard

Replacing the standard caller and messaging app is a step that users who value the advanced spam blocking functionality or improved interface often take. In the default settings menu, you will find the phone and SMS options. By selecting a third-party application there, you will give it all the rights to process incoming and outgoing calls.

A similar situation is with the keyboard. Although technically it is configured through the Language and Input menu, the priority of input can also be adjusted. However, changing the default keyboard application (such as on Gboard or SwiftKey) often requires not only selecting it from the list, but also allowing access in a special security window that pops up when you first switch.

It's important to remember access rights. When you change a call app or SMS, the new app requests access to contacts, microphones and call history. Data security depends entirely on the developer of the software you choose. Always check permissions before making the application the primary one.

The table below shows the main categories that most often require manual setup on Xiaomi devices:

Resetting preferences and eliminating errors

Sometimes, after installing a new application or updating the system, the old settings start to conflict with the new ones. The phone may “forget” your choices or start behaving unpredictablely, constantly asking how to open the file.

This feature doesn't delete your data, photos, or contacts. It only returns all open-with-help system choices to factory status. To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All Apps. In the upper right corner of the screen (or in the three-dot menu), find Reset preferences or Reset application settings.

⚠️ Warning: After resetting your preferences, you will have to re-select the default apps for all actions.Be prepared for the system to start asking you again than opening links and files when you first start.

This is especially useful if you have installed a new file manager or archiver, but the system persists in running old programs. Preference reset forcefully updates file associations in the Android registry, eliminating logical errors.

Features of work in HyperOS and new versions of MIUI

With the release of the HyperOS shell, Xiaomi has made a number of changes to operating system logic, one of the key changes being increased aggressiveness in saving system applications by default. Now, even if you choose a third-party browser, the system can periodically “suppose” recommendations to return to the native Mi Browser, especially after major security updates.

In addition, the new versions have expanded the capabilities of widgets and desktops, which also affects the choice of default applications for certain actions, such as search or voice assistant.Setting up the voice assistant is now brought to a separate subsection associated with the Xiaomi account, which requires special attention when setting up.

Users note that the path to settings has become a little more confusing with the introduction of artificial intelligence elements that try to predict your actions. If automation is not working correctly, manual control through the Default Apps menu becomes the only reliable way to control your smartphone.

For advanced users, there is a possibility of using ADB-commands to force the packets to be installed by default, but this requires a computer connection and some technical knowledge.

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In new versions of HyperOS, the system can more insistently offer a return to standard applications, so after major software updates, it is recommended to recheck the settings manually.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)