Owners of flagship devices such as the Xiaomi Mi9 often face the need to personalize the operating system to suit their habits. The standard shell of MIUI offers many pre-installed services, but the priority is often given to the company’s own solutions, such as the Mi Browser browser. For many users, this becomes an obstacle, as they are accustomed to the functionality of Google Chrome, Yandex or Firefox. Changing the application by default is not just a matter of convenience, but also a way to improve security and speed of the Internet.
The process of replacing a standard page browser with a Xiaomi Mi9 can seem confusing due to the peculiarities of the settings menu. The system sometimes hides the necessary items or requires additional actions to activate third-party software. In this article, we will discuss in detail all possible ways to switch, including working with deep system settings and resetting priorities. You will learn to fully control which application will open links from messengers and other programs.
Before you start making changes, make sure that the alternative browser is already installed on your device. Without the main executable file (APK), the system will not offer you a choice. If you are just planning to install, download the necessary distribution from the official Google Play store or a trusted source. After a successful installation, you can proceed to setting priorities in the smartphone menu.
Analysis of the current situation and choice of alternatives
The first step in optimizing your Xiaomi Mi9 is to assess the current state of the system. By default, after a purchase or reset, all web links are opened through the built-in Mi Browser. This app is deeply integrated into the shell, which sometimes leads to intrusive notifications and advertising that users often want to avoid. Understanding how the system manages these processes is critical to successful replacement.
Choosing a new surfing app is a personalized solution that depends on your needs. Some people value minimalism and speed, others require powerful tools for developers or built-in ad blockers. It is important to choose the tool that will become your main window into the world wide web. You should not rely on random choice, you should study the capabilities of competitors.
- 🌐 Google Chrome – the benchmark of synchronization with a Google account and cross-platform.
- 🦊 Mozilla Firefox is a great choice for those who value privacy and openness of code.
- 🚀 Opera – known for its built-in free VPN and traffic-saving mode.
- 🛡️ Brave – a browser focused on maximum protection from trackers by default.
Once you install the app, the system won't switch automatically yet. You'll need to manually specify to Xiaomi Mi9 that this new software is to be used to process web protocols. Ignoring this step will cause links to continue to open in the old app, causing irritation. So we move on to directly configuring the settings.
The main method of change through system settings
The most reliable and correct way to change the priority application is to use the system settings menu. In the MIUI shell, the path to this feature may vary slightly depending on the version of Android and the firmware itself, but the logic remains the same. You need to find the section responsible for managing applications by default, which will eliminate conflicts and ensure stable linking.
To start, open the Settings menu and find the Apps section. In some versions of MIUI, this item may be called All Apps or be displayed in a separate Application Management menu. This is where all the controls of installed software are concentrated. Be careful when navigating, as the interface can be overloaded.
☑️ Check before changing the browser
Next, you'll need to find the default App. It's often hidden in the submenu or accessible through a three-dot button in the corner of the screen. When you click on it, you'll see a list of categories: phone, messages, gallery, and of course browser. Select the browser bar, and the system will offer you a list of all the browsers installed. Click on the desired one, such as Chrome, and confirm the choice.
⚠️ Note: If the Default Apps option is not active or hidden, you may have a special mode or restrictions on your guest account enabled.
Once you do this, any link you click on in Telegram, Viber or email will open in your chosen app, a global setting that applies to the entire Xiaomi Mi9 system. If the result is not achieved, it may be that the system has cached data from the old app, which we will discuss in the next section.
Resetting default settings for a specific application
Sometimes the system remembers the previous choice and ignores the new prioritization settings, which happens if you accidentally ticked the "Always use this app" box for Mi Browser earlier, in which case simply selecting a new browser in the settings may not be enough, and you need to force the association reset for the old application.
To do this, go back to the Apps menu and select All Apps. Find the Mi Browser (or the browser you want to replace now) and go to its properties. At the bottom of the screen or in the three-dot menu, you'll find the default button or the default button.
Click Reset default. This action won't delete your bookmarks or your history, it will only remove the "main" status from this application. Now, when you try to open any link, the Xiaomi Mi9 system will again ask you what to open the file and prompt you to choose a new application with the ability to install it permanently.
What happens when you reset your application settings?
This method is especially useful if you have updated your browser and after the update the settings are lost, or if you want to temporarily return the old browser and then change it again.Reset mechanism is standard for Android OS and works equally effectively on all versions of MIUI.
Comparison of popular browsers for MIUI
Choosing a browser for the Xiaomi Mi9 is not just a matter of habit, but also a matter of optimizing the device’s resources. Different browsers work differently with memory and processor. Some may better integrate with the Google ecosystem, others may offer unique features for the Chinese market, which may be relevant for owners of Xiaomi equipment.
Consider the key differences that may affect your decision: It is important to consider not only page loading speed, but also the presence of built-in blockers, read and sync modes. Below is a table comparing the main characteristics of market leaders.
| browser | RAM consumption | Ad-blocker | Synchronization |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Chrome | High. | Expansion is required | Google Account |
| Mozilla Firefox | Average. | Built-in (basic) | Firefox Account |
| Opera | Low. | Built-in | Opera Account |
| DuckDuckGo | Minimum | Aggressive built-in | No (local storage) |
For owners of the Xiaomi Mi9 with its powerful Snapdragon 855 processor, memory consumption is not a critical issue, but battery optimization plays a role. Browsers with built-in ad blockers such as Brave or DuckDuckGo can save significantly charge by preventing heavy ad scripts from loading.
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Use the “Light” or “Traffic Saving” modes in browsers if you are often in areas with unstable Internet – this will speed up the loading of pages on the Xiaomi Mi9.
Solving Link Opening Problems
Even after setting it up properly, there can be situations where links behave unpredictably, such as some applications that may ignore system settings and open links in their built-in web widget, which often happens to social networks or marketplace customers, and in such cases, additional customization within the source applications themselves is required.
There is also the problem of Deep Links. Some sites try to run a specific application (like Instagram or TikTok) immediately without going through the browser. If you want the link to open in the browser, you need to manage these associations. In the Xiaomi Mi9 settings, go to Apps → Settings → Reset app settings (use with caution) or manage links for each application separately.
It is a common mistake to have multiple browsers with the same priorities. The system may ask you how to open a link every time unless you tick "Always." To avoid this dialogue, make sure that the Application section only selects one option by default, and the rest of the users reset this status as described above.
⚠️ Warning: If links stop opening at all, check if the app you select is disabled in the battery settings. MIUI aggressively manages background processes and can "kill" the browser, preventing it from starting by click.
In rare cases, the problem may lie in the damage to the system component of Android WebView, which is responsible for displaying web content within applications. Go to Google Play, find Android System WebView and try to update it or, if the problem occurs after the update, roll back the version.
Optimization of the browser on Xiaomi Mi9
Once you’ve successfully made the browser your primary browser, it’s worth taking care of its performance. Xiaomi Mi9 has a high-resolution screen and refresh rate, so it’s important that the browser takes advantage of these advantages. Most modern browsers can enable hardware acceleration and support for high DPI.
Remember to clean the cache regularly. Accumulation of temporary files can slow down even the most powerful device. MIUI has a built-in cleaning tool, but it's better to use the browser's built-in tools for more precise control. It will also free up precious space in internal memory.
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Properly configuring the default browser on the Xiaomi Mi9 not only changes the icon, but also affects data security, page load speed and overall smartphone power consumption.
If you switch from another Android device or use an iPhone, logging in will instantly transfer all passwords and history, making the transition to the Xiaomi Mi9 as comfortable and unobtrusive as possible.