How to make Google Chrome the default browser on Xiaomi: 5 working ways

Why is it difficult to change the default browser on Xiaomi?

Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO are powered by MIUI, which is actively promoting its own services, including the Mi Browser browser. Even after installing Google Chrome, the system stubbornly opens links in the standard app, ignoring your settings. What's the reason?

It's Xiaomi's aggressive policy: the MIUI shell blocks default browser changes through standard Android settings. Moreover, after system updates, settings can be reset, and the Mi Browser becomes mainstream again. But there are workarounds, from simple to technically complex.

In this article, you will find 5 proven ways to make Google Chrome the default browser on any Xiaomi smartphone, including the models from 2023-2026, and also analyze why sometimes the settings are not saved and how to fix it.

Method 1: Standard browser change through Android settings

Starting with the most obvious method, through the settings menu, it works on most devices, but on Xiaomi with MIUI 14 and later, an additional step may be required (see Method 2).

Open Settings → Applications → Application Management. In the upper right corner, click on three dots and select the Default Apps.

• 🔍 Find the Browser section (or Open links in new versions) MIUI).
• 📱 Tap on the current browser (Mi Browser) and select Google Chrome from the list.
• ✅ Confirm the choice by clicking Ready or Set by Default.

If Google Chrome is not listed, then the app is not installed or disabled. Install it from Google Play and repeat the steps.

Install Google Chrome from Google Play|

Update MIUI to the latest version|

Close all open tabs in Mi Browser|

Reboot your smartphone (optional)-->

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi firmware after changing the browser by default, the links still open in Mi Browser. mms_service, Solution: which forcibly redirects traffic. 3.

Method 2: Reset app settings (if Chrome doesn’t appear in the list)

If Google Chrome doesn’t appear in the default browser selection menu, the problem may be in the system’s cache.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Reset app settings.
3. Confirm the action (this won’t delete the data, but will reset all default settings).
4. Reboot your smartphone and repeat Method 1.

This method also helps if your browser settings are reset after the MIUI update, but note that the reset will return other applications (such as Gallery or Camera) by default.

Method 3: Disable Mi Browser via ADB (for power users)

If Xiaomi stubbornly ignores your settings, you can radically disable the Mi Browser via Android Debug Bridge (ADB).

First, turn on the developer mode on your smartphone:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 7 times on the MIUI version until you become a developer!
3. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.

Now connect your smartphone to your PC, install ADB-tools and execute the command:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.browser

After that, Mi Browser will be disabled and all links will automatically open in Google Chrome (if installed).

adb shell pm enable com.android.browser

💡

Before using ADB, back up your data. Incorrect commands can disrupt the system.

⚠️ Note: Disabling system applications through ADB It can lead to unstable work. MIUI. On some Xiaomi firmware, this causes errors when updating the OS. Use the method only if other methods did not help.

Method 4: Using third-party applications (without root)

If you don’t want to mess with ADB, you can use third-party utilities that force the default browser change, such as the Default App Manager app (available on Google Play).

How it works:

• 📥 Install Default App Manager from Google Play.
• 🔧 Open the application and find the browser section.
• 🔄 Select Google Chrome from the list and confirm your choice.
• 🔒 Click Apply and restart your smartphone.

The advantage of this method is that you don’t have to turn off the Mi Browser completely, but some users complain that the settings are reset again after the MIUI update, in which case only Method 3 (ADB) or Method 5 (change the configuration file) will help.

Method 5: Editing a Configuration File (for Advanced)

This is a method that works for those who are willing to work with system files, and it requires root rights or access to TWRP, but it is guaranteed to solve the problem.

You need to edit the file /system/etc/permissions/platform.xml.

<permission name="android.permission.BROWSABLE">

And add after that:

<group gid="net_bt_admin" />


<group gid="net_bt" />




<group gid="inet" />




<group gid="net_raw" />

Then find the section with Mi Browser (usually com.android.browser) and remove its privileges. Save the file, restart the smartphone, and install Google Chrome with the default browser through standard settings.

💡

Editing system files can cause MIUI to fail. back up before changes!

What to do if the settings are reset after the update?

Many Xiaomi users are facing the default browser once again becomes Mi Browser after the MIUI update, which is due to Xiaomi’s policy of forcibly resetting some settings.

Decisions:

• 🔄 After each update, re-install Google Chrome by default.
• 🚫 Turn off Mi Browser auto-update on Google Play (find the app) → three-point → Turn off auto-update).
• 🛠️ Use Method 3 (ADB) Continuously shutting down the Mi Browser.
• 📵 Install an alternative firmware (e.g. LineageOS) if you are willing to abandon MIUI.

You can also try disabling MIUI updates via Settings → About Phone → System Update → Three Points → Settings → Turn off Auto Boot. But this is not recommended from a security perspective.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing the browser to Xiaomi