How to set up link opening in applications on Xiaomi instead of a browser

Every Xiaomi, Redmi or Poco smartphone owner will sooner or later face a situation where, after clicking on a link in a messenger or mail, the system insists on opening it in the browser, ignoring the installed application. This is especially annoying when you want to launch a video on YouTube, open a document in Google Docs or go to a product in AliExpress, and the system asks “what to open” or just launches Chrome or MI Browser.

The reason is that the Android operating system, which is based on MIUI shells or the new HyperOS, has lost its priorities. The smartphone forgets which application you chose to use for processing web protocols, or the settings were reset after updating the firmware. Restoring the correct operation requires manual intervention in system parameters, but this process is not difficult if you know where to look.

In this guide, we’ll look at all the current ways to force you to open links in the right programs. You’ll learn how to manage file and web protocol associations to make your phone behave predictably. We’ll look at both standard methods through the settings menu and deeper configuration options that will help if the standard paths don’t work.

Why links are opened in the wrong app

The Android operating system uses the Intent Filters mechanism to determine which application should respond to a particular user action. When you click on a link, the system scans the installed programs for permission to process this type of application. URL-If there are several such programs or priorities are downed, a conflict arises, which Xiaomi solves by launching the browser by default.

Often the problem arises after updating the system or the application itself. During the update process, the permission cache can be cleared, and the phone returns to factory settings, where the browser is the main handler of web links, and the reason may be the random choice of the item “Only now” instead of “Always” on the previous launch.

⚠️ Note: If you have recently installed dubious applications from unknown sources, intrusive opening of links in the browser can be a sign of the hijacker. In this case, a simple reconfiguration will not help - you will need a full antivirus check.

Understanding the logic of Android Intents helps you find a solution faster, and the system always prioritizes the user’s last explicit choice or application marked “Default” if there is no such token, it offers a choice or uses a system browser.

Resetting application settings by default

The most effective way to get the system to ask you again than to open links is to reset the default settings that you have, which doesn't delete your data, photos or contacts, but only clears the memory of which programs you have chosen to use for certain actions.

To perform this procedure, you need to go to your device’s settings.The path may vary slightly depending on the shell version, but the logic remains the same for all Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco models.

Follow the following steps:

• 📱 Open Settings and go to the Applications (or All Apps) section).
• 🔍 Find in the list or through a search the app that should open links (for example, Telegram, YouTube or Viber).
• 🗑️ Click Clear Default Settings (may be in the three-dot menu or at the bottom of the screen).

After you do this, the next time you click on the link, the system will display a window asking “Open with help,” and it’s important not just to click “Once,” but to select the option Always or assign the default application so that the problem doesn’t happen again.

Opening links in MIUI and HyperOS

Newer versions of Xiaomi’s shells have a more detailed setup of link associations, so you can manually specify which web addresses should be opened in a particular application, bypassing the browser, which is especially useful for marketplaces and social networks.

To access these settings, go back to the App Management menu. Find the program you want (like Instagram or Ozon) and click on Open by default (or Supported Links). Here you will see the Open Supported Links switch.

Turn on this switch. Below you'll see a list of domains.

• ✅ Leave the choice of “All supported links” to the app intercept all of its URL.
• ❌ Manually disable specific domains, if you need to open some links in the browser.
• 🔄 Reset settings if the domain list is empty or inactive.

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If the "Supported Links" option is gray or unavailable, try clearing the app's cache first and then restarting the smartphone.This often activates hidden settings menus.

It is important to understand that some applications may not provide such detailed control if the developer has not prescribed the appropriate filters in the program manifest, in which case only a complete reset of the default settings described in the previous section helps.

Default Browser Management

Often the problem is not that the app doesn’t want to open, but that the browser is too aggressively capturing all links. In the settings of the Xiaomi system, you can change the browser, which is used by default for all common web queries.

Go to Settings → Apps → Settings (three dots in the corner) → Default apps. Find the Browser. If you choose MI Browser or Chrome, you can try changing it to another or, if the system allows, reset the choice.

The table below shows the main browsers and their features of working with redirecting links to Android:

Sometimes it helps to temporarily disable or delete the main browser.If you delete Chrome (which is possible on all devices) or disable MI Browser, the system will be forced to look for an alternative to open links, which can shake up the association settings.

Use of third-party application switches

If standard MIUI and HyperOS methods don’t work, Google Play’s specialized tools come to the rescue, which are designed specifically to manage Intent filters and allow you to force link handlers to be assigned.

One of the most popular and reliable tools is the Better Open With or Link Sheet app. Once installed, they intercept the system request to open a link and provide a user-friendly interface for selecting an application with the ability to remember the choice forever.

⚠️ Warning: When installing system management applications, carefully read permissions. Do not give access to your personal photos or contacts unless the program is designed to do so».

The use of these utilities is “heavy artillery” – usually when standard settings are constantly confused and require regular intervention – and for most users, the settings built into the Xiaomi shell are enough.

Solving problems with specific applications

Some apps, such as Telegram, WhatsApp or Viber, have their own internal link processing settings. For example, Telegram has a feature called Instant Pages that can conflict with an external browser.

Check the settings inside the source app itself. Often you can find "Open Links to" or "Open App." If it has "Embedded Browser," change to "System Browser" or a specific application.

It’s also worth checking if you’re running Traffic Savings or Turbo Mode in your browser, which can force links through their servers, ignoring application settings.

If the problem is only with one particular service (for example, links to maps are opened in the browser, not in Yandex.Maps), try reinstalling this application. This is guaranteed to update its manifesto in the system and restore the correct associations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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The main secret of stable operation is that when an application selection window appears, always press “Always” or “Default”, rather than “Once” to fix the choice in the system.