The situation where links from messages are opened in the wrong application you planned, familiar to many owners of Xiaomi smartphones. Often this happens after accidentally clicking the button “Always” when choosing a program, which fixes a particular application as a priority. In the Android operating system, and in the shell of MIUI in particular, there is a clear hierarchy of actions that allows you to quickly fix this error without going deep into the technical wilds.
Default reset is a secure procedure that doesn’t delete your personal data, browsing history, or saved passwords. It only gives the system the right to choose the application the next time you run a web page. For Redmi and POCO users, the algorithm may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the general logic remains the same.
In this guide, we’ll take a look at all the methods available, from standard system settings to more advanced methods through the developer menu, how to force a phone to ask you about your preferred browser, and what to do if the standard path is blocked or hidden by the manufacturer.
Why are application settings on MIUI being confused?
The MIUI shell and the new HyperOS have their own link processing features that often cause confusion among users. The system seeks to optimize the work by automatically selecting the “most suitable” application based on frequency of use or preset priorities. However, algorithms do not always guess the owner’s wishes, especially if there are several browsers on the device, such as Chrome, Yandex and Via.
The main reason for attaching an unwanted application is the human factor: accidentally pressing the confirmation button. When Android requests rather than open a link, the user often rushes and taps “Always” without noticing that the wrong browser was chosen, and then the system remembers this choice as a global priority for all web links.
The impact of system updates should also be considered: After switching to a new version of Android or updating a security patch, file association settings can be reset or, conversely, fixed rigidly on the system browser MI Browser. This behavior is part of the company's strategy to promote its own services, but is easily bypassed by the user.
Sometimes the conflict arises because of a corrupted cache of the browser application itself. If the program is not working correctly, the system may try to redirect the request to another application, creating a cycle of errors. In such cases, a simple reset by default may not help, and a deeper data cleaning will be required.
Standard Reset Method through System Settings
The most reliable and secure way to change your preferred app is to use the regular Android settings menu, which works on all current firmware versions, including MIUI 12, 13, 14 and HyperOS. You do not need superuser rights or third-party software installation.
To start, you need to get into the general application management menu. The path may vary slightly visually, but the logical structure is maintained. Find the section responsible for managing installed programs, and select the specific application that now opens links instead of the one you want.
Once you select an app, you'll see a screen with information about it: space occupied, version, battery usage. This is where the hidden button is, which allows you to remove the restrictions. Please note that the button may be inactive (gray) if there are no default actions set for this application.
☑️ Algorithm of resetting settings
It's important to understand the difference between cleaning the cache and resetting the default settings. Cache clearing removes temporary files, speeding up work, but does not change startup priorities. We're interested in the Open by Default section, which stores information about the types of files and links that the program processes.
If you open the link from the messenger again after the procedure, the system should give a pop-up asking about the choice of the application, at which point it is important to take your time and carefully study the list of available options.
⚠️ Note: If the default reset button is inactive (gray), this means that no priority actions are currently assigned to the application, in which case the problem may lie in the settings of another browser that intercepts links.
Manage settings through the “Applications” menu
An alternative and often faster way to solve the problem is through a detailed list of all installed programs. Unlike the general settings menu, here you can manage each application separately, which is especially convenient if you have multiple browsers installed.
Go to Settings → Apps → All apps. There is often a search bar at the top of the screen — type in the name of the browser you want to make the main one, or vice versa, the one you want to “decompose” — which will save time scrolling through a long list.
Once you log in to your app card, look for either “Default” or “Open by Default.” In some versions of MIUI, this item may be hidden inside the “Additional” submenu or have a gear icon. Clicking on this option will open a list of the types of content the program handles.
Here you will see the Open Supported Links switch. If it is active, the system automatically triggers this browser when you click on web addresses. Disable this switch to break the connection. For full effect, it is also recommended to click the Delete Default Settings button at the bottom of the screen, if it is available.
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If you can’t find the app you want in the list, click on the three dots in the corner of the screen and select Show System Processes – sometimes the system browser is hidden by default.
It is worth noting that some Xiaomi system applications may have limited rights to change these settings, in which case the system may require confirmation via a screen unlock password or fingerprint to prevent accidental changes to important security settings.
Once you disable all options in this menu, the app will no longer claim to automatically launch links. Now, when you click on the URL, Android will ignore this app and either ask you about the choice or use the next one in the priority list.
Forced Choice When Opening a Link
There is a faster, more "user" method that doesn't require deep digging into the settings, which is based on a forced call to the app selection menu, which is especially effective if the standard methods seem too complicated or confusing to you.
The method is to trick the system into thinking that previous settings have been lost, so you can temporarily turn off the current default browser, go to the application settings (as described in the previous section) and click on the “Disable” or “Stop” button.
Once the application is stopped, try to open any link from messages or notes. Since the active browser is now asleep, the system will have to look for an alternative, it will either launch another installed browser or give a selection menu if there are more than one.
Once you successfully open a link in the right browser and perhaps even select the Always option for it, you can go back to the settings and turn on the previously disabled application again.
| Action. | The result | Risks. |
|---|---|---|
| Reset via settings | Fully returning to factory priorities | No. |
| Disabling the application | Forced search for alternatives to the system | Temporary inoperability of the browser |
| Clearing the data | Complete reset of the browser (including passwords) | High (data loss) |
This method is good for its simplicity, but it requires at least two browsers on the device. If you have only one browser installed, disabling it will cause the links to simply stop opening until you turn it back on.
What to do if the “Disable” button is inactive?
Reset via the special options menu
In some cases, especially on custom MIUI builds or after failed experiments with settings, standard paths may be blocked or not work properly, and then comes the help of a special feature menu that is part of the Android architecture.
Go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Special Features. Here we are interested in the Access to Use section. Although this menu is designed for people with disabilities, it also controls which applications can overlap or control the system's activities.
Find browsers on the list. If any of them have permissions to "Change System Settings" or "Overlay on Other Windows," try temporarily disabling those permissions, which can reset the priority of link interception.
Also, this section often hides information about which application is currently the highest priority for certain actions.
Using this method requires caution: Disabling important system services can lead to unstable interfaces, and make changes consistently, checking the results after each step.
Cleaning data as a radical method
If none of the softer methods worked, there is “heavy artillery” – a complete cleanup of browser data – which will remove all browsing history, cookies, saved passwords and sync settings within the application.
The procedure is similar to the previous one: go to Settings → Applications, select a problem browser and find the “Clear” (or “Memory”) button. From the menu that opens, select “Clear all data” or “Clear all data”.
After this operation, the application will return to the “as after installation” state. All default settings will be reset automatically, since they simply will not be. When you first start, the browser will prompt you to configure it again, and the system will ask you about your preferences when opening links.
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Clearing the data is the only way to guarantee that you will reset all internal prioritization errors, but the price is to lose your local history and passwords.
It is recommended to make sure that your passwords and bookmarks are synced with your cloud account (Google Account or browser account) before performing this procedure, which will allow you to quickly restore the work environment after a reset.
Once cleaned, the system can behave as if you’ve turned on your phone for the first time: it will actively suggest installing or configuring the default browser. Be careful when you start up, so as not to fix the wrong choice again.
⚠️ Note: Clearing the Mi Browser system browser data may affect the performance of news widgets and Glance feeds on the lock screen if they are tied to this engine.