Xiaomi smartphone users often experience a situation where the system automatically triggers a certain action when opening a file or launching an application. For example, a video starts playing in the wrong player, and links open in a browser that you have not used for a long time. This is due to the “Remember Choices” feature, which is designed to speed up work, but sometimes creates inconvenience. To regain the choice, you need to forcefully cancel this decision through system settings.
There is no one universal Cancel All button in MIUI or the new HyperOS, so the process requires understanding the menu structure.You have to find the specific application that was assigned by default and clear the data for it.This action is safe and will not lead to loss of personal photos or contacts, but will take back control of how your smartphone handles different types of files.
Next, we will analyze the algorithm of actions for different versions of firmware, consider the nuances of working with system components and answer frequent questions. Understanding the logic of the Android will help you not only solve the current problem, but also manage the device more effectively in the future.
The mechanism of the function “By default” in MIUI
When you first open a file of a certain type, the system offers you a list of compatible applications. If you tick the "Remember my choice" box and confirm the action, Android records this connection in a special system registry, from which point the operating system stops asking you about preferences and automatically forwards the request to the previously selected application.
This is convenient for commonly used programs, but it becomes a problem if you decide to change your browser or music player. The system will ignore new installations, continuing to use the old purpose. To change this behavior, it is not enough to simply delete the program; you need to manually reset priorities through the settings menu.
⚠️ Note: Resetting default settings for system applications (e.g., Phone or Messages) may cause temporary call failure or SMS, until you have reconfigured the necessary permissions.
It's important to distinguish between two types of reset: cleaning the cache of a particular application and completely resetting all application settings. The first option returns the choice for a particular program, the second one rolls all user preferences back to the factory state. To solve the problem of "how to undo the choice", we need the first, more point method.
Step-by-step: reset via application settings
The most reliable way to undo a memory choice is to find the culprit in the installed program list. MIUI interface may vary slightly depending on the version, but the logic remains the same. You need to get to the management menu of the particular application that was selected earlier.
To start, open your device’s Settings. Search the Apps section and select All Apps. Here’s a complete list of installed software. Find the program you previously selected as the primary (e.g., Chrome, VLC, or Gallery) in the list.
After you go to the app menu, scroll down to the default button. If the system remembers the choice, this option will be active. Click on it, then select Reset or Delete default settings. After that, the next time you start the file, the system will ask you again what to open it.
In some cases, especially on older versions of Android, the path may look different. → Annexes → Application management → menu) → Resetting app settings. This is a more radical option, because it affects the app-
He's running all the programs at once.
Cancel choice for browsers and links
Most often, users want to change the default browser. Links from messengers or documents can open in an uncomfortable built-in MIUI browser or old Chrome. To fix this, the procedure is similar to the general instruction, but there are nuances depending on the version of the shell.
With modern versions of HyperOS and MIUI 14, link management has become more flexible, so you can not just reset the choice, but also configure which links should open in a particular browser, and for this, an extended list of domains can be available from the default menu inside the browser settings.
- 🌐 Open the settings of the desired browser (for example, Yandex or Opera).
- 🔗 Find the section “Open Links” or “Supported Links».
- ✅ Make sure the “Open Supported Links” switch is activated.
- 🗑️ If necessary, click “Clear Default Settings” in the general app menu.
Why doesn't the reset work right away?
If you use multiple browsers, the system can behave capriciously, in which case it is recommended to temporarily disable or delete an unused browser, reset the settings for the remaining one, and then reinstall the desired application, which is guaranteed to force the system to re-index the link handlers.
Resetting preferences for multimedia files
The second most common problem is that video or music opens in the wrong player. Often, the built-in MIUI player doesn't support certain codec formats, and the user has to manually select the VLC or MX Player. If you accidentally click "Remember" for the built-in player, you can only fix this through a reset.
The procedure requires finding the exact application that opens automatically now. Even if you want to use a different player, you need to reset the settings for the current file capturer. Find the player that is currently running itself in the application list and clear the default settings.
Once you reset, look up the video file in the file manager and click on it. You'll see a "What to open?" window. Choose the right player and if you want it to open always, click "Always." If you want the system to ask every time, just select the application without setting a memory tick.
| File type | Possible "invader" app | Where to look in the settings | Action. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video (MP4, MKV) | Video (Mi Video) | Annexes → All applications | Reset the settings |
| References (HTTP) | Browser / Mi Browser | Annexes → Management | Clean by default |
| Documents (PDF) | Mi Doc Viewer / Google PDF | Special opportunities | Remove settings |
| Calls/SMSs | Telephone/Messages | System applications | It is not recommended to change |
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Tip: PDF files often use Xiaomi's built-in document viewer. If it's slow, reset its settings and select a third-party reader, such as Adobe Acrobat or Xodo.
Radical methods: a complete reset of application settings
If you don't remember which application was chosen by default, or if a reset for a particular application didn't work, you can use a global reset, which will return all system preferences to factory values, and it won't affect your personal data, contacts or media files, but it will reset all your default settings.
To do this, go to Settings → Applications. Click on the menu (three dots in the corner) and select Reset App Settings. The system will alert you that all preferences will be removed. Confirm the action.
⚠️ Warning: After a global reset, you will have to re-choose your Internet browser, your phone app (if there are more than one) and your music player, and be prepared for the system to start asking questions for each type of action.
This method is especially useful after major system updates, when old settings may conflict with new MIUI components. It also helps if the system is “glutchy” and does not allow you to change the choice by standard methods.
Problems with system components and launcher
Sometimes the problem isn't with third-party applications, but with the system launcher or the explorer, and if you don't have a selection menu open or the settings are reset by themselves, you may need to clear the cache of the system services, which is a more complex process that requires care.
You need to find the system component that runs the application list, which can be called Application Selection, Package Installer, or Android System, and cleaning up the data for these components can temporarily change the interface, but often solves the problem of hung-up choices.
Access to hidden system processes may require the activation of developer mode. However, in most cases, the user's rights are sufficient to override the selection. If standard methods do not work, check if you have a cleaner application that can block changes to system settings.
- 📱 Find the Security app (green icon with shield).
- 🧹 Use the “Cleanup” function to remove garbage.
- ⚙️ Check the permissions for the application that should open files.
- 🔄 Restart your phone to apply changes.
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Main conclusion: In 95% of cases, the problem is solved through the Apps menu → All Apps → Selecting a specific application → Default → Reset.