How to change the default browser to Xiaomi: setting up MIUI and HyperOS

Modern Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones come with a pre-installed web browser that many users find overloaded with ads or not functional enough. The standard app often offers news feeds and notifications that distract from the main job, forcing them to look for alternatives. However, simply installing Chrome, Firefox or Yandex is not enough – the system will continue to open links in the native app until you change the appropriate settings.

The default browser change procedure may vary slightly depending on the version of the MIUI operating system or the new HyperOS. Device owners are faced with the fact that the menu item can be hidden in different sections, and aggressive battery optimization sometimes interferes with the correct operation of third-party applications. Understanding the logic of the Android shell from Xiaomi will allow you to customize the gadget to your needs in a couple of minutes.

In this article, we’ll take a look at all the possible customization options, including hidden developer menus and specific security settings. You’ll learn not only to change the surf app, but also to clear the cache so that links open correctly. This guide is relevant for most current models, from the budget Redmi series to the flagship Mi.

Preparation of the device and installation of alternatives

Before you start making system changes, you need to make sure that the desired application is already installed on your device. Android will not allow you to choose the default browser if no alter option is found in the smartphone memory other than the system one. Go to Google Play Market or GetApps and download the preferred version, whether it is a minimalist Via Browser or a powerful Edge.

Once installed, the system may request additional permissions to work correctly, often allowing access to geolocation for maps or notifications to synchronize passwords, and ignoring these requests may cause some sites to malfunction or require re-entering.

⚠️ Note: When you first install some browsers, the security system MIUI This can be a warning of an “unknown source” or potential risk, and this is the standard reaction of a security defender if the app is not downloaded from the official Xiaomi store.

It’s also important to check for updates for Android itself: In older versions of the firmware, the app selection algorithm might have worked differently, and having fresh security patches ensures there are no bugs when switching services.

• 📲 Download and install the selected browser from a reliable source.
• 🔐 Provide the necessary permissions when the application is first launched.
• 🔄 Make sure the app is updated to the latest version.
• 🗑️ If necessary, clear the old browser data before changing.

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If you plan to use a browser to work with documents, immediately configure the path to the cloud storage in it so that links to files are opened automatically.

Standard path through MIUI 12-14 settings

In most cases, you're configured through the main system settings menu, and you need to open Settings and find the section that manages applications. In MIUI, this item is usually called Applications or All Applications, and it stores all the information about the installed programs and their rights.

Then the algorithm of actions depends on the specific version of the shell. In the classic menu, you need to find the "Application Management" item, and then go to the menu with three dots in the upper right corner. This is where the "Other Settings" button is hidden, which leads to the choice of applications by default, which is the most common path for devices released in the last 2-3 years.

In the list that opens, you will see the Browser category, and by clicking on it, the system will prompt you to choose from the available options. If you have not previously opened a new browser, it may not appear in the list immediately, in which case, run it once manually so that it “registers” in the system.

Once you select a new app, all links from messengers, emails and other programs will open in it, a global change that affects the entire Xiaomi operating system.

Setup in the new shell HyperOS

With the release of HyperOS, Xiaomi has significantly redesigned the menu structure to make it more logical, but also more confusing for those who are accustomed to the old methods. Now the default app selection is often placed in a separate section or integrated into the Default Apps menu without having to look for hidden buttons.

To change your browser in HyperOS, go to Settings → Applications → Default Apps. Here, the interface is represented by a list of categories, where you immediately see the Browser item. Clicking on it opens a selection window similar to the standard Android dialog. If there is no such item in the main list, check the "Application Management" tab.

The new system also makes more use of artificial intelligence to offer smart scripts, and sometimes, after updating or resetting, HyperOS can independently return the old browser, believing it to be more optimized for energy savings, so after major firmware updates, it is worth rechecking your settings.

⚠️ Note: In some regions of HyperOS firmware, the choice may be called “Default Services” or combined with search engine settings.

A feature of the new shell is stricter control of background processes. Make sure that the new browser has the option “Out-Start” enabled if you want it to quickly open links.

• 🚀 In HyperOS, the menu has become more flat and clear.
• 🔍 Paragraph "Default Appendices" is issued separately.
• 🤖 The system may attempt to return manufacturer settings after the update.
• ⚡ Check Autostart Permit for Speed.

Change through the application menu (Alternative method)

There's a faster way to change the settings, which works on many versions of Android, and you can go directly to the properties of the app you want to make the primary, and it's convenient because it leads to the right place, bypassing long paths through the system menus.

Go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find your new browser (like Opera or Brave) in the list. Click on it to open the app information page. At the top of the screen, next to the Open or Delete button, there is often a switch or the default Use bar.

If you see the default Open button, click on it. In the menu that opens, select the option “Use by default” or “Open supported links.” The system will redirect you to the general selection menu, where you will need to confirm the change.

This method is especially useful if the standard settings menu has been changed by the manufacturer for a specific region or is not working properly.

Comparison of popular browsers for Xiaomi

Choosing a browser is not just a matter of habit, but also a matter of optimizing for the hardware of your smartphone, and different browsers use CPU resources and RAM differently, which is critical for the budget models of Redmi and POCO.

The standard Mi Browser browser is often criticized for its abundance of advertising in the news feed, but it is well optimized for traffic savings. Google Chrome provides better sync with your account, but can be heavyweight. Firefox offers excellent privacy protection, and Via or Aloha are ideal for weak devices thanks to minimal resource consumption.

When choosing to use heavy browsers, it is possible to drain the battery faster on older phones, and lighter alternatives like DuckDuckGo sacrifice extensions for speed and privacy.

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For devices with less than 4 GB of RAM, it is recommended to use lightweight browsers (Via, DuckDuckGo) to ensure smooth system operation.

Solving problems and resetting settings

Sometimes, after a browser change, links stop opening or open in an empty window, this may be due to caching of old settings or conflicting versions of Android WebView, in which case you need to reset the default settings for the old application.

Go back to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find the old browser (which was standing before the change) and click Clear → Clear Everything. It is also recommended to clear the cache of the Android System WebView component, as it is responsible for displaying web pages inside other applications.

If the problem persists, check if the new browser is not subject to a background activity restriction. In MIUI, this may block the opening of links from some messengers. Go to the battery settings and select No Limits mode for your new browser.

⚠️ Note: Clearing the application data (Clean everything) will delete the history, saved passwords and settings inside that particular browser.

In rare cases, it helps to restart the device in safe mode to eliminate the influence of third-party optimizers, but usually a simple reboot after changing the settings is enough.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)