How to change the default browser to Xiaomi Redmi 7: all ways and life hacks

Why Redmi 7 is Hard to Change Your Default Browser and What to Do About It

Xiaomi Redmi 7 smartphones running on the proprietary shell MIUI, known for its aggressive policy towards third-party applications. Especially for browsers: the system stubbornly tries to return the user to the standard Mi Browser, even if you installed Chrome, Firefox or Opera. Unlike “pure” Android, where changing the browser takes a couple of clicks, on Redmi 7 this process can turn into a real quest.

The problem is compounded by the fact that MIUI often resets default settings after updates or reboots. For example, after installing an update, you may find that all links open again in Mi Browser, previously you explicitly specified a different browser. This is not a bug, but a feature: Xiaomi is actively promoting its services, including a browser with integrated ad modules.

In this article, we’ll break down all the working ways to change your default browser to Redmi 7, including bypassing restrictions. MIUI, tuning ADB (And even radical methods like shutting down system applications, and we'll focus on the nuances of different versions of firmware. MIUI 10. MIUI 12.5, since the algorithm of actions may differ.

📊 Which browser do you prefer on Xiaomi?

Mi Browser (standard)

Google Chrome

Mozilla Firefox

Opera

Other

Method 1: Standard browser change through Android settings

Let’s start with the most obvious method that should work on any Android device, including Redmi 7. However, due to the features of MIUI, this method can fail, we will warn you about this in advance.

Instructions:

Open the Settings (⚙️) on your Redmi 7.
Go to the Appendix section → Application management.
In the upper right corner, press three dots (⋮) and select the Applications by default.
Slip on Browser.
In the list of available browsers, select the desired one (for example, Chrome or Firefox).

⚠️ Attention: Redmi 7s MIUI 11+ This path can be hidden or redirected to the Settings menu → Memory. → The default apps. If you don't see the Browser item in the list, it's MIUI Blocked the change – move on to the next method.

Install an alternative browser from Google Play

Close all open tabs in Mi Browser

Clear the Mi Browser cache in the app settings

Reboot your smartphone before changing your settings-->

Method 2: Forced change by opening a link

If the standard method didn’t work, try tricking the system into suggesting a browser choice when you open a link, which works even on MIUI 12, where many settings are blocked.

Algorithm of action:

Open any app that has clickable links (such as Telegram, WhatsApp or Gmail).
Click on any link (e.g. https://google.com).
When a window appears with a suggestion to choose a browser, check Always and select the desired browser (for example, Chrome).
Confirm the choice with the Open button.

🔹 If the window of choice does not appear, then MIUI I've already assigned Mi Browser to be the default app for all links:

📌 Try opening a link in another app (such as Twitter or Twitter). VK).
📌 Remove updates for Mi Browser in Settings → Annexes → Mi Browser → ⋮ → Remove updates.
📌 Clear the Mi Browser data from the same menu (this will reset all of its settings).

💡

If links still open in Mi Browser, try installing Browser Chooser from Google Play.This small app intercepts all links and offers browser selection, bypassing MIUI restrictions.

Method 3: Disable Mi Browser via ADB (for advanced)

If previous methods have failed, the radical way is to disable the Mi Browser system-level with the help of ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires connecting the smartphone to the computer, but is guaranteed to solve the problem.

⚠️ Attention: Wrong commands ADB They may disrupt the system. Follow the instructions carefully!

Steps:

Turn on Developer Mode on Redmi 7: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI until you become a developer!

Settings → Additional → For Developers

USB debugging

ADB

adb devices

The name of your device should appear.

Mi Browser

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.browser

or for new versions of MIUI:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.browser

Once this command is executed, the Mi Browser will disappear from the list of applications, and Android will automatically prompt you to choose another browser by default. To return everything back, use the command:

adb shell pm enable com.miui.browser

What if the ADB can’t see the device?

If the adb device command returns an empty list: 1. Check if debugging is enabled by USB 2. Install official Xiaomi drivers from the site MIUI Download. 3. Try another one. USB-cable (preferably original). 4. Reboot your PC and smartphone. 5. If you use Windows, install Universal ADB Driver.

Method 4: Using third-party utilities to reset settings

If you don’t want to mess with ADB, you can use specialized applications that automate the process of changing your browser, such as Default App Manager or SetEdit (requires root rights).

Instructions for Default App Manager:

Download and install the app from Google Play.
Open it and provide access to settings (if requested).
In the category list, select Browser.
Tap on the current browser (Mi Browser) and select an alternative.
Confirm the change.

Xiaomi Redmi 7 browser comparison: which one to choose?

Before changing the browser by default, it is worth deciding which alternative browser is suitable for Redmi 7. Below is a comparative table of popular options taking into account the features of the hardware of the smartphone (Snapdragon 632 processor, 2-4 GB of RAM).

browser	Speed.	RAM consumption	Support for MIUI	Features
Google Chrome	⭐⭐⭐⭐	~300-500MB	Good.	Sync with Google account, but "heavy" for 2 GB of RAM.
Mozilla Firefox	⭐⭐⭐	~400-600MB	Medium	Support for extensions, but can slow down on weak configurations.
Opera	⭐⭐⭐⭐	~250-400MB	Great.	Built-in VPN and ad blocker, optimized for MIUI.
Brave	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	~200-350MB	Good.	Blocks trackers and ads out of the box, faster than Chrome.
Kiwi Browser	⭐⭐⭐⭐	~350-500 MB	Medium	Chrome extensions are supported, but rarely updated.

🔹 Recommendation: For the Redmi 7 with 2 GB of RAM, Opera or Brave is the best choice – they are less system loading and have built-in tools to block ads, which is so much in the Mi Browser.

💡

If your Redmi 7 is slowing down when working with Chrome, try Chrome Lite (the lightweight version) or turn off background sync in your browser settings.

What to do if the browser is reset after the MIUI update?

One of the most common problems with Xiaomi Redmi 7 is the default browser reset after the firmware update, which is because MIUI resets some user settings when it updates, including the selection of standard apps.

Decisions:

🔄 Reverse to the previous Mi Browser version: Go to Settings → Annexes → Mi Browser, press. ⋮ → Remove updates. Reboot your smartphone.
🔄 Turn off the automatic Mi Browser update: Open Google Play. Find Mi Browser in the app list. Tap three dots (⋮) and uncheck the auto update box.

Tasker

Install Tasker and AutoInput plugin.
Create a task that, after rebooting, opens the default browser settings and selects the desired option.

Complete removal is only possible with Magisk or TWRP, but this requires unlocking the bootloader and may take away the warranty.

Why do some links open in Mi Browser after changing the browser?

This is because MIUI shares default settings for different types of links. For example: HTTP/HTTPS links can open in one browser, and links from applications (e.g. intent://) can open in another. Solution: Try to open a link from another source (e.g. Telegram, not WhatsApp). Clear the cache and data of Mi Browser. Use Default App Manager to force all types of links to be changed.

How do I get my Mi Browser back if I disabled it through ADB?

To return the Mi Browser after being disabled via ADB, follow the command: adb shell pm enable com.miui.browser If this didn't work, try: Reboot your smartphone. Update your Mi Browser via Google Play. Reset your application settings (Settings → System → Reset → App Settings Reset).

Will this work on the Redmi Note 7 or other Xiaomi models?

Yes, all of the described methods apply to other Xiaomi smartphones based on MIUI, including: Redmi Note 7/8/9, Poco X3/F3, Mi 9/10/11. However, there are nuances: On MIUI 13+, the path to the default browser settings may differ. On some models (for example, Poco) Mi Browser may be called Poco Browser. On Android 12+ devices, you need to confirm the browser change through the system window.

Can I change the default browser without a computer?

Yes, but with reservations: 🔹 Method 1 and 2 (through settings and link opening) do not require a PC. 🔹 For Method 3 (ADB) You need a computer, but you can use Termux (Android app with support) ADB), If you have root rights. 🔹 Method 4 (third-party utilities) also doesn't require a PC, but some applications (e.g. SetEdit) only work with root. If you don't have access to a computer, try Method 2 (open links) combination) + Default App Manager.