Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones running MIUI shells or the new HyperOS often offer users to use the built-in Mi Browser as their primary surfing tool. However, many are used to the functionality of Google Chrome, Yandex or Opera, and automatically opening links in the system application can be annoying. Fortunately, the Android system makes it easy to reassign the priority application.
The process of changing the settings does not require obtaining root rights or complex flashing of the device. Just go to the appropriate menu of system settings and select the desired option from the list of installed programs. In this article, we will discuss in detail the algorithm of actions for current versions of firmware, and also consider ways to reset erroneous settings if links stopped opening correctly.
Understanding how default apps work in Android will help you not only set up your browser, but also manage other services, such as email clients or cards. We will look at the nuances of working with different versions of the interface, since the location of menu items may differ slightly on old and new models of smartphones.
Why Xiaomi chooses its browser
MIUI is known for its aggressive policy of promoting its own services. When you first turn on a smartphone or after a system update, algorithms often automatically assign Mi Browser to the main one, ignoring user preferences, this is done to integrate with the company's newsfeeds and advertising services, which can reduce the performance of the device on budget models.
And Android also has a default app for certain types of files and actions, and if you accidentally clicked "Always" before you chose a program to open a link, the system remembers that choice. URL-address in the messenger or social network, the phone will ignore other installed browsers and run exactly the one that was fixed in memory earlier.
⚠️ Note: In some regions of global firmware versions, the browser control point may be hidden or blocked, in which case you need to change the region in the settings or use additional methods of resetting priorities.
It's important to understand the difference between just the browser installed and the default browser: the first one is just present in memory and can be manually run through the icon, the second one responds to system requests from other applications, and the second one is the one that we need to activate for the application you choose.
Search for the Application Settings section
To get started, you need to go to the central software management menu. On Redmi and Xiaomi smartphones, the path to it is standardized, but the icons may look different depending on the theme. Open the Settings app (the gear icon) on the home screen or in the notification curtain.
In the list that opens, look for a section called Applications. In some versions of MIUI, it may have the wording "All Applications" or "App Management" in it, which contains a complete database of all software installed on your device, including system services and user utilities.
Once you log in, you'll see a list of all the programs. For ease of search, you can use the search bar at the top of the screen by typing in the name of the browser you want, like Chrome or Yandex. However, we're still interested in the general control section, so we move to a subsection that's often hidden behind three points in the corner of the screen, or called Settings (within the application menu).
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Search by settings: at the top of the main settings menu, there is a search bar. Type the word "apps" in there to instantly go to the desired section, bypassing long searches on the menu.
The interface of application settings is usually divided into tabs: "All", "User" and "System". For our task, the All tab will be suitable, because we need to see the full picture of the interactions between programs, and here you can estimate how much memory a particular browser takes.
Set up default actions through the application menu
When you find the browser you want (like Google Chrome) on the list, click on it to open the page (app information). This is where all the levers of controlling its behavior in the system are concentrated. We are interested in a item that can be called Open by default, Default Launch or Default Installations.
Inside this menu, you'll see the Open Supported Links switch. You need to activate it. If it's already on but the links aren't opening correctly, try turning off and re-enable the switch, which force the browser to register as a candidate for processing web traffic.
- 📱 Click on the name of the application in the general list.
- ⚙️ Select the "Open by default" option in the menu that opens.
- ✅ Activate the switch to Open supported links".
- 🔍 Make sure that the link types are marked (http, https).
Once this is activated, the system will know that you are ready to use this software for navigation. However, if you have already assigned another application with the priority "Always", this step may not be enough, in which case you will need an additional step to reset the settings of the old browser, which we will talk about in the next sections.
☑️ Checking browser settings
Note that some versions of HyperOS may have slightly modified interfaces, and the link control can be in the optional subsection. If you don't see the switch right away, check the screen for menu arrows.
Resetting the settings of the old browser by default
Often, the new browser doesn't become the primary browser because the system clings to the old choice. For example, if you randomly selected Mi Browser and ticked Always, Android will ignore the settings of other programs. The solution is to reset the priority settings of the current link owner.
To do this, go back to Settings → Apps → All Apps. Find the browser that is currently opening instead of the browser you want (often the Mi Browser or Google system), go to its properties and find the Reset default or Delete default settings button.
⚠️ Note: The Reset button will only be active (not grey) if the application does have any designated default actions. If the button is inactive, then this browser is not a priority right now.
After clicking the reset button, the next time you click on any link in any application (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber), the system will ask you again what to open this address. A pop-up will appear with a selection of applications. At this point, select the browser you want and be sure to click the Always (or Always Use this application) button.
| Action. | Where to find | The result |
|---|---|---|
| Search for applications | Settings → Applications → All applications | List of installed software |
| Resetting priority | Inside the application → Reset the default settings | The system will forget the old choice |
| New choice | Click on the link in any chat | The question will be, "What do you open?" |
| Fixation | Choosing a browser → The "Always" button" | Browser becomes the main browser |
This method is the most reliable, as it forcibly breaks the link between the file type (link) and the old application, and then you have complete control over which software product will run.
Use of search in MIUI settings
If you're confused by Xiaomi's multi-level settings menu, you can use the built-in smart search. It's the fastest way to get to the right place, bypassing long tab browsing. At the top of the main settings screen is the search bar with a magnifier.
Type "default browser" or "default applications" into the box. The system will offer several options. You are interested in the item that leads directly to the list of file types and actions. Often it is called simply the default applications.
Hidden search settings
In the menu that opens, you'll see a list of categories: Browser, Phone, Messages, Camera, and more. Click on the Browser. You'll see a list of all browsers installed. You'll see the one you want to make primary. The system will automatically reassign priority.
And the good thing about this is that it shows a global picture, and you can see which application is assigned to each function, but it doesn't work equally well in all versions of MIUI, and sometimes when you select that menu, you don't change anything, and then you have to use the reset method through the menu of the particular application that I described above.
Solving Link Opening Problems
There are times when all the settings are correct, but the links still open in the wrong browser or do not open at all. Often the problem lies in the cache or conflicting extensions. If you have installed a new browser, but it does not appear in the selection list, try clearing its cache.
Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find a problem browser. Go to Memory and click Clear Cache. Don't confuse "Clear All Data" with "Clear All Data" or you lose passwords and history. Cache contains temporary files that may have been corrupted.
- 🗑️ Clear the cache of the problem app.
- 🔄 Reboot the smartphone completely.
- 🔗 Check to open a link from different sources (SMS, messengers).
- 📲 Make sure your browser is updated to the latest version.
It's also worth checking if the links are limited to "Open in the app." Some messengers have their own built-in browsers. To open a link in an external browser, sometimes you need to click on three dots in the corner of the page inside the messenger and select "Open in the system" or "Open in the browser."
⚠️ Note: If after all the manipulations, links open in an empty window or an error crashes, check whether the mode "Traffic Savings" or "Adblocker" is turned on at the system level, which may conflict with the operation of browsers.
In rare cases, reinstall the app: Remove the browser, restart the phone and download it again from the official Google Play store or GetApps. When you first launch, the fresh version will request permissions on the main browser.
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The most effective way to make the system “forget” an old browser is to reset the default settings of the old application, rather than configuring the new one.