How to Make Google Chrome the Default Browser on Xiaomi Smartphones: The Complete Guide

Xiaomi’s MIUI-based smartphones often come with a pre-installed Mi Browser browser, which automatically becomes the default app for opening web links. However, many users prefer Google Chrome for its speed, sync with a Google account and advanced features. You can switch the browser by default to Xiaomi in several ways, from standard settings to workarounds for stubborn versions of firmware.

In this article you will find the most relevant methods for MIUI 12–14 (2026 Including solutions for cases where the default browser change button is missing or inactive, we will also discuss why the system can automatically return the Mi Browser and how to prevent it. 13/14.

Why Xiaomi doesn’t make it easy to change the default browser?

The MIUI shell is known for its aggressive policy of promoting its own services, and the Mi Browser browser is not only pre-installed, but also deeply integrated into the system:

• 🔗 It processes all web links from other applications (messaging, mail, social networks).
• 📱 Used for login to Mi Account and data synchronization.
• 🛡️ In some regions (e.g. China), it cannot be removed or disabled without root rights.
• 🔄 After the updates MIUI browser settings by default can be reset.

In addition, MIUI versions for European and global markets (such as MIUI Global) sometimes lack a direct option to change the browser in the settings, due to Xiaomi’s agreements with Google for pre-installing services – the company is obliged to keep Chrome on the system, but is not obliged to make it a priority.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI China (Chinese firmware) browser change by default can be blocked at the system level, in which case you will need to unlock the bootloader and install global firmware.

Method 1: Standard browser change through Android settings

This is the simplest method that works on most Xiaomi devices with MIUI 12-14.

1. Open the Google Chrome app (if not, install it from Google Play).
2. When you first start, the system will suggest making it the default browser. Click "Install by default."
3. If the window does not appear, go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
4. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select "Default Apps".
5. Click on “Browser” and select Google Chrome from the list.

If the default application list does not include the browser option, then your version of MIUI uses an alternative method (see Method 2).

Make sure Chrome is installed and updated|Close all background applications|Connect to a stable internet (for synchronization)|Reboot your smartphone after changing your settings-->

Method 2: Change through Chrome app settings

In some versions of MIUI (e.g., on the Redmi Note 11 or POCO X4 Pro), the browser change option is hidden.

1. Open Google Chrome.
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner and select Settings.
3. Scroll down and click on “Default Browser”.
4. The system will redirect you to the Android settings menu – select Chrome from the list.

If the default browser button in Chrome settings is inactive, it means that another browser (usually Mi Browser) has already been assigned by default.

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Mi Browser.
• 🔧 Click on “Default” and reset the settings.
• 🔄 Go back to your Chrome settings and try again.

⚠️ Note: On some devices (e.g. Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite), after resetting the default settings, the system can automatically return the Mi Browser after 1-2 days. This is due to the background process of com.miui.systemAdSolution, which restores factory settings. To avoid this, turn off auto-update. MIUI In Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.

Method 3: Using ADB to Force Browser Change

If standard methods don’t work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a tool for debugging Android devices, which requires connecting your smartphone to your computer, but is guaranteed to work even on blocked firmware.

Step 1: Preparation

• 🖥️ Install. ADB Tools on PC (Windows, macOS or Linux).
• 📱 On your smartphone, activate Developer Mode: go to Settings → About the phone and 7 times tap on the "Version" MIUI».
• 🔧 Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers and include “Debugging by” USB».

Step 2: Execution of commands:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC via USB (select File Transfer mode).
2. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type:

adb devices

(Your device name should appear – if not, check the drivers.)

adb shell pm clear-defaults com.android.browser


adb shell cmd package set-home-activity com.android.chrome/com.google.android.apps.chrome.Main

Step 3. Verification:

Open any link (such as from Telegram or email) that should open in Chrome. If not, follow the additional command:

adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.VIEW -d "http://example.com"

This will forcefully open a link in Chrome and prompt you to make it the default browser.

Method 4: Bypasses for stubborn versions of MIUI

If none of the above methods worked, use alternative solutions:

The most reliable workaround is to use Chrome launch via voice assistant:

1. Activate Google Assistant (hold the Home button).
2. Say, "Open Chrome."
3. When you first start, the system will suggest making it a default browser.

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If you still open links in Mi Browser after you change your browser, clear the cache and data of the Settings app (com.android.settings) and this will reset the cache of system preferences.

Solution: Why Chrome doesn’t become the default browser?

Even after you set up Google Chrome properly, it may not work as a primary browser, and let’s look at the typical reasons and ways to fix them:

• 🔄 Automatic reset after update MIUI: Firmware MIUI Sometimes resets default settings after the update.Solution: disable auto updates in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system → ⋮ → Settings → Auto-update.
• 📦 Conflict with other browsers: If Firefox, Opera or Brave are installed, they can intercept settings. Remove unnecessary browsers or reset their default settings.
• 🔒 Corporate Policy Limitations: On Android Enterprise or Mi Work work phones, the browser change may be blocked by the administrator.
• 🛠️ Damaged System Files: If none of the methods work, reset settings through Settings → Additionally. → Recovery and discharge → Resetting settings (without deleting data).

⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi models (e.g, POCO F3 or Redmi K40) When you change your browser, you may lose the ability to open links from Mi Home or Mi Fit, because these apps are tightly tied to Mi Browser for authorization. Solution: use the web version of services or temporarily return Mi Browser by default.

How to prevent automatic return of Mi Browser?

The MIUI system sometimes returns the Mi Browser as its primary system, to avoid:

1. Turn off Mi Browser Auto Update: Go to Google Play → Mi Browser → ⋮ → Turn off auto-update.
2. Freeze Mi Browser (root rights required): Use apps like Titanium Backup or App Quarantine to block your browser from working.
3. Set limits for Mi Browser: In Settings → Applications → Mi Browser → Battery → Background Limit, select “Limit”.
4. Use Tasker to Auto-Reset: Create a Task in Tasker that executes a once-a-day command: am start -a android.settings.MANAGE_DEFAULT_APPS_SETTINGS

If you don’t want to use root or ADB, the easiest way is to check your default settings regularly (every 1-2 weeks) and return Chrome if necessary.

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On devices with MIUI China, the only reliable way is to install global firmware via Fastboot or Recovery.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing the browser to Xiaomi