Modern smartphone users often face a situation where the system imposes the use of embedded applications, ignoring the preferences of the owner. Owners of Xiaomi devices are no exception, as the shell MIUI, and now the new HyperOS, by default opens links in its own browser. This can be uncomfortable, especially if you are used to the ecosystem of Google, Opera or other specialized solutions with advanced ad blocking features.
Changing a standard app isn’t just an icon change, it’s a fundamental setup of the Android operating system that affects links, widgets and voice assistants. The customization process on Chinese brand devices has its own peculiarities due to aggressive optimization of background processes and deep integration of services. In this article, we’ll discuss in detail how to correctly assign a default browser so that the system stops opening pages in the Mi Browser.
Before you start technical manipulation, it’s important to understand that the procedure may vary slightly depending on the firmware version. Whether you’re using the old MIUI 12 or the latest HyperOS based on Android 13 or 14, the basic principles remain similar. However, there are nuances that may require additional actions, such as cleaning the cache or resetting app settings.
Why Xiaomi is imposing its browser and what is the problem
Xiaomi, like many other Android device makers, is committed to keeping users inside its ecosystem. The built-in Mi Browser is often pre-installed as a system application that cannot be removed by standard methods without obtaining root rights, this is done to collect analytics, display ads in the news feed and increase engagement with the manufacturer's services.
The main problem is that after updating the system or cleaning the memory, the settings can be reset. Android has a mechanism of “smart” selection, which in the absence of a clearly defined priority, invites the user to choose the application every time you open the link. MIUI often ignores this choice, if in the depth of the settings do not fix the preference rigidly.
⚠️ Warning: Forced replacement of system components may cause some widgets to work unstable if they are tied to the Mi Browser engine.
In addition, many users complain about intrusive notifications and push ads generated by the built-in app, replacing it with a lighter and more functional counterpart, such as Chrome, Firefox or Brave, allows you to significantly improve data security and privacy. Third-party browsers often have more flexible settings for tracker blockers and ads.
It is important to note that in some firmware regions (for example, the Chinese version of CN), the built-in browser is a critical system component for the operation of the search bar in widgets. In global versions (Global) and Russian firmware (RU), the system’s dependence on it is much lower, which allows you to safely change priorities.
Preparation for the change of the standard annex
Before you make changes to your system settings, you need to make sure that the alternative application is already installed and configured correctly. Do not try to assign a program to the browser that has not yet been launched or initialized. This can lead to errors in the work of links.
It is recommended to follow a few preparatory steps to avoid version conflicts. If you already have the right browser installed, but it does not work correctly, try updating it through the Google Play store or GetApps. It is also worth checking for updates to the operating system itself in the Settings → About Phone section.
The next step is to clear the default data of the current browser if the system remembers it too aggressively, which will help reset the selection cache and allow the system to ask you again about preferences.
☑️ Checklist of preparation for setting up
It's not superfluous to check the permissions of the new application. Make sure it has access to the network and, if necessary, to a storage for downloading files. Without basic permissions, even the default browser may not open pages correctly, giving out connection errors.
Step-by-step: Set up through the application menu
The most reliable way to change the default browser on Xiaomi is to use the built-in application management menu, which works on most versions of MIUI and HyperOS, providing deep integration of settings. You do not need third-party utilities or access to hidden developer menus.
To start, open your smartphone's Settings and find the Apps section. In some versions of the shell, it may be called All Apps or Application Management. We need a system settings section, not just a list of icons on the desktop.
In the menu that opens, find the default App item. It is usually located at the top of the screen or in the optional menu (three dots in the corner). If you use HyperOS, the path may look like Settings → Applications → Application Management → Three dots → Default Apps.
In the category list, look for the Browser item. When you click on it, you'll see a list of all the browsers installed on your device. Select the one you want to use all the time (e.g. Chrome or Yandex).
| Action. | The Way to MIUI 12/13 | The Way to HyperOS/MIUI 14 |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance to settings | Settings → Applications | Settings → Applications |
| Menu of choice | Default applications | Application Management → (Menu) → Applications by Default |
| Category | browser | browser |
| The result | Choice from the list | Choice from the list |
If you don't find anything on the list after selecting a list or if you don't save a choice, try restarting your device. In rare cases, you need to repeat the procedure 2-3 times to get the new option to be recorded in the Android system preferences registry, which is especially true for devices with a large number of installed applications.
Alternative method through link opening
There is a faster, but less reliable way to change priorities that works through a link processing engine, which is convenient because it doesn’t require a deep dive into the settings menu, but it may not work if the previous choice was rigidly fixed by the system.
Find any link in your messenger (Telegram, WhatsApp) or in your notes. Click on it. If the system asks you how to open the link, select the browser you want and click Always (or Always Use this app). The One-time button won't change your default settings.
If the system doesn’t ask a question and opens Mi Browser immediately, you should first reset your current browser settings. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find Mi Browser, select Open by default and click Reset or Remove default settings.
What if the “Always” button doesn’t appear?
After resetting your old browser, try again to open the link. This time, a selection dialog should appear. Make sure you choose the right application, as the wrong choice will again anchor the unwanted browser.
The good thing about this method is that it's contextual. You immediately check if the switching is working. However, to completely change all file associations (for example, if you download a file). HTML-Files) still recommend using the first method through the main settings menu.
Solution: If the settings are not saved
Xiaomi users often face a situation where after a reboot or upgrade, the settings are reset and the built-in browser is reopened, which is due to the aggressive MIUI energy saving policy, which can “kill” processes or reset preferences to save resources.
First, check your autorun settings. Go to Settings → Applications → Permissions → Autorun. Make sure your preferred browser has autorun permission. This will help the system "remember" its existence and importance.
Also, disable battery optimization for a new browser. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance, find your browser in the list, and select No Limits mode. This will prevent the browser services that may be responsible for link processing from being forced to stop.
⚠️ Note: If you use third-party launchers or memory cleaners, they may also reset system settings. Add system settings to the exclusion of such applications.
In some cases, removing updates to the Mi Browser itself helps. Go to the Mi Browser app information and click Remove Updates. This will bring it back to the factory version, which can reduce its priority in the system and allow your choices to gain a foothold.
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Use the Activity Launcher app to find hidden Android settings if the standard menu doesn’t work.
Features of changing the browser in HyperOS
With the release of the HyperOS shell, Xiaomi began to rework many system mechanisms, seeking to unify with the IoT ecosystem. In the new shell, the logic of working with widgets and search bars has changed. Now the search bar on the desktop can be rigidly tied to the Mi Browser engine, regardless of the default settings.
To change the search engine in the widget, you need to click on the magnifier icon or widget menu and select another search service (Google, Yandex, Bing). However, this only changes the search engine, not the browser itself, to open the results. To change the browser in HyperOS, the standard way is used through the default Apps, but the interface can look more minimalistic.
An important feature of HyperOS is its enhanced protection against changing system files. If you try to disable Mi Browser via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), the system can automatically restore it when you check for integrity.
HyperOS users also note that the XiaoAI or Google Assistant voice assistant can still use the Mi Browser to open information cards, a behavior that is stitched up at the firmware level and doesn’t yet have a simple solution without a deep modification of the system.
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In HyperOS, the separation of search and browser settings has become more explicit: change them in the respective sections separately.