Owners of Xiaomi Redmi 9T smartphones often face the intrusiveness of the standard Mi Browser browser, which is preinstalled in the shell of MIUI. Despite the functionality, many users prefer the usual solutions from Google or Opera, which provide better synchronization with the account and blocking advertising. Changing the browser by default is not just a matter of convenience, but also a way to optimize the device for your habits.
The process of setting up Android based on MIUI may be different from the “pure” Android system, which raises questions for beginners. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to switch system links to your browser of choice, you will learn how to manage application priorities and get rid of automatic link opening in unnecessary programs.
Why Change the Standard Browser to Redmi 9T
The standard MIUI browser is often criticized for over-frequency and aggressive advertising, and replacing it with an alternative can significantly speed up page loading and improve data privacy, and third-party solutions often have more flexible privacy settings and built-in tracker blockers.
Many users already have customized profiles in Google Chrome or Yandex Browser with saved passwords and history, and using them as the main surfing tools ensures continuity between the PC and the Redmi 9T smartphone.
Also worth noting is the impact on device autonomy: Optimized browsers can consume less CPU resources in the background than heavy system counterparts with news widgets, which allows you to extend the life of a smartphone from a single battery charge.
⚠️ Note: After changing the browser, some system news widgets may stop updating or not work correctly, as they are tied to the engine of the standard application.
Preparation for system application change
Before you make changes to your system settings, make sure that the desired app is already installed on your Redmi 9T. If you plan to use Chrome, Firefox or any other browser, download it from the official Google Play Store.
It is also recommended to update all apps to current versions, ensuring that there are no version conflicts or display errors in the settings menu. Check for updates in the Settings → About Phone → Update MIUI and in the app store itself.
It is important to understand the difference between deletion and disabling. The Mi Browser system browser can often not be removed completely without root rights, but it can be disabled or simply ignored by reassigning priorities. It is a secure procedure that does not require complex intervention in the code of the system.
☑️ Preparation of the device
Step-by-step: setup through the application menu
The fastest way to change settings is to use a direct transition through the menu of a particular application, which is convenient because it immediately opens the desired section of the Android settings, bypassing long searches in the general settings of the Redmi 9T phone.
Find the icon on your desktop that you want to use as your primary browser, click on it and hold your finger until the context menu appears. In the list that appears, select "About the app" or the icon i in the circle, which will open the program management card.
In the menu that opens, look for the Default or Default Launch section. If the system allows you to control this setting from here, you will see the Open by Default button or similar wording. Click on it and select the Open Supported Links option.
- 📱 Click and hold the icon of the desired browser on the desktop.
- ⚙️ Select “About App” in the pop-up menu.
- 🔗 Go to the “Default” section and activate link opening.
- ✅ Confirm your choice if the system requests permission.
After doing this, Android will remember your choice for this type of file and link, but in some versions of MIUI, this may not be enough, and additional configuration through the general system settings will be required, which will be discussed below.
Global configuration through system parameters
If the direct method didn’t work or you want to make sure that the settings are applied correctly for the entire system, you should use the global settings menu. In Xiaomi Redmi 9T, the path to these options may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI (Global or China).
Go to the main smartphone settings menu. Scroll down to the Apps section and select App Management. This is the full list of all installed software. In the upper right corner of the screen, click on three dots and select Other Settings or immediately find Default Apps.
In the list that opens, you'll see action categories like Browser, Phone, SMS. Click on Browser. The system will offer a list of all browsers installed. Choose the one you want to use all the time, like Chrome or Opera.
| Setup parameter | Description of action | Recommended value |
|---|---|---|
| browser | The main application for web links | Google Chrome / Selected |
| Calling appendix | Incoming call processing | Telephone (System) |
| Annex for SMS | Communications management | Messages (System) |
| Assistant | Voice assistant | Google / Mi AI |
Once selected, the system can issue a warning that the application may be accessing certain information. This is standard Android security procedure. Confirm the action to fix the result. Now all links from other programs will open in the window of your choice.
Link management and preference reset
Sometimes, links continue to open in the old browser despite changes, this may be due to cached preferences or specific MIUI settings, in which case you must forcibly reset file associations.
Go back to the App Management menu and find the old browser you don't want to use the primary browser anymore. Go to its properties and find the Default section. There'll be a button called Reset Default Settings or Clear Preferences. Click it.
Once reset, the next time you click, the system will ask you again which app to open the content with. Choose a new browser and be sure to tick Always or Remember the Choices, which is critical to capturing the result.
⚠️ Warning: Resetting preferences may cause the system to ask for an app selection every time you click on a link until you again specify the “Always” action».
It’s also worth checking the settings inside the newest browser. In some cases, there’s a “Register as the primary browser” option that triggers a system request to change priorities. Make sure that the “Use by default” switch is activated in Chrome or its analog settings.
Possible problems and solutions
Redmi 9T users may find that after updating the firmware settings are reset.This is a famous feature of the MIUI shell, which seeks to return the user to the Xiaomi ecosystem. If you notice that links are reopened in the Mi Browser, the customization procedure will have to be repeated.
Another problem may be that there is no choice on the menu, which often happens if the browser you have installed does not support certain types of links or has incorrectly registered yourself in the system.
In rare cases, antiviruses or optimization programs conflict by blocking system applications from changing. If nothing helps, try disabling third-party security utilities while you set up, and cleaning the Android System cache through the developer menu also helps.
- 🔄 Update the problem app to the latest version.
- 🗑️ Clear the cache and data of the old browser before resetting.
- 🛡️ Check if the antivirus is blocking the change of settings.
- 📲 Reboot your smartphone after making all the changes.