How to make the browser the main one on Xiaomi: the complete guide

Xiaomi smartphone owners often face intrusiveness of standard applications, in particular, with Mi Browser. Despite its good functionality, it can annoy with advertising or simply do not coincide with the habits of the user who prefers Google Chrome, Yandex or Opera. Changing the default settings is the first thing you need to do to personalize the device for your own needs. In the MIUI operating system and the new HyperOS, this process has its own features, different from pure Android.

The replacement procedure does not require any Root rights or complex code manipulations. All the necessary tools are already built into the shell interface. However, the settings menu can be hidden in non-obvious sections, which causes difficulties for inexperienced users. In this guide, we will detail the algorithm of actions that will allow you to assign any browser installed to the default application to open links.

Before you make any changes, make sure that the alternative browser is already downloaded and installed on the device. The system will not offer a choice unless an alternative option is found in memory. Once the installation is successful, you can move to system parameters, where the allocation of priorities between applications occurs.

Why Xiaomi imposes its browser

Xiaomi, like many other Android smartphone makers, is committed to keeping the user in its ecosystem. The standard Mi Browser is integrated with system services, allowing the company to collect analytics and show targeted ads, which is why it is a priority when the device is first activated or after a setting reset.

In addition, the built-in app is often optimized for specific shell features, such as uploading files to the cloud or syncing with a Mi Account. However, for many users, these benefits are overshadowed by the presence of banner ads in the news feed and push notifications, which are difficult to disable completely.

Replacing the default browser solves the problem of automatically opening links from messengers and social networks. Without this setting, the system will ask each time which application to open a link, or will ignore your choice and run a standard service, this is especially true for those who are used to synchronizing history and passwords through a Google account.

⚠️ Warning: When removing or disabling a standard browser, be careful. Some system widgets or speed dial functions may stop working correctly unless a full replacement is assigned.

The user experience is greatly improved when the device behaves predictably, and disabling the manufacturer’s services is an important step towards comfortable smartphone use, freeing up the system’s resources from the unnecessary background processes that the heavy Mi Browser consumes.

Preparation for the change of the main annex

The first and most important step is to install the desired browser from the official Google Play Market or GetApps store. APK-The system simply won’t see an alternative in the list of available options. Popular choices include Google Chrome, Yandex Browser, Mozilla Firefox or Opera.

Once installed, it is recommended to launch a new application once, which is necessary for initial setup, acceptance of user agreement and, importantly, registration of the application in the system as a potential web link handler, sometimes after installation, you need to reboot the device so that the MIUI Application Manager correctly updates the lists.

Also worth checking for updates to the system interface itself. In rare cases, bugs in the MIUI version may hide the default app selection menu. Go to the settings and check the update section to make sure you have the current firmware version.

Instructions: Configure via the application menu

The most reliable way to change the priority app is to use the built-in Settings Manager.The path to the desired menu may vary slightly depending on the version of the shell, but the overall logic remains the same for all Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco devices.

Open the main smartphone settings menu. Find a section called "Apps" or "All Apps." In some firmware versions, this item may be inside the "Advanced" tab. We need a subsection called "Default Apps."

In the list that opens, look for "Browser." Click on it. The system will open a selection window where you will see a list of all the browsers you have installed on your web pages. Choose the one you want to use all the time.

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If after choosing a new browser, links still open in the old one, try clearing the cache of the Settings app in the All Apps section.

Once selected, the system can display a warning that the application will be used to open links. Confirm the action. URL-addresses from WhatsApp, Telegram or SMS will be opened in the app of your choice.

Alternative method through search of settings

If you don't want to wander around the menu for a long time, you can use the built-in search, which is especially useful in new versions of HyperOS, where the menu structure has been changed. There's a search bar at the top of the settings screen.

Type "default" or "browser" into a search. The system will list the relevant items. Select "default applications." This method allows you to instantly enter the desired section, bypassing several layers of menu nesting.

Then the algorithm is similar: you pick a browser category and change the value to the desired one, which often works faster and eliminates errors when the user is lost in numerous MIUI menu items.

Solution: If the choice is not retained

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the system ignores the choice or resets it after a reboot.This can be due to aggressive battery optimization or the operation of the Security antivirus built into Xiaomi.

Try to force a standard browser to stop. Go to Apps, find Mi Browser, click Stop. Then try to open a link from another application again, the system must force you to ask how to open the link, and prompt you to remember the choice.

Also worth checking permissions, make sure that the new browser has all the necessary rights, especially access to the network and storage, without basic permissions, the application will not be able to correctly declare itself as the main traffic handler.

⚠️ Warning: Do not install questionable browsers from unknown sources, this may lead to data leakage or the introduction of advertising software that will intercept traffic.

Cache cleaning and preference reset

If nothing works, you can reset your application settings by default, which will put the system back in a state where it asks the user which application to run every time it does so.

To do this, go to the settings, select "Apps," then the three dots in the top corner (or menu button) and select "Reset App Settings." This won't delete your data, but it will reset all priorities.

After this operation, the first time you click on a link, the system will display a window asking "Open with..." Choose the right browser and press "Always" and this will guarantee you a strong choice.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

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Changing the main browser to Xiaomi is a simple procedure that takes less than a minute, which significantly increases the comfort of using a smartphone and eliminates intrusive advertising.