Modern smartphone users often prefer Google Chrome to standard solutions installed by the manufacturer. Owners of Xiaomi and Redmi devices often face the imposition of a proprietary browser Mi Browser, which can show unnecessary advertising or not support synchronization with the desktop version as users of the Google ecosystem are used to.
Changing the main application for opening web pages to Redmi Note 8 Pro is a simple procedure, but it requires understanding the logic of the MIUI shell. Android allows you to flexibly adjust priorities, but the interface of settings in different versions of the firmware may differ. Our goal is to get the phone to automatically run Chrome when you click on any link in messengers or social networks.
In this article, we will discuss in detail the algorithm of actions that is relevant for current versions of the operating system, you will learn where the desired switches hide and how to avoid common errors when the system returns the old browser again.
Preparation for installation and initial setting
Before you start making system changes, you need to make sure that Google Chrome itself is already installed on your Redmi Note 8 Pro. In some regions or on global versions of firmware, it may be preinstalled, but in Chinese versions or custom builds it will have to download yourself.
Once installed, it is important to make a primary start. When you first open, Chrome will ask you to accept the terms of use and possibly offer to sign in to Google account. This is a critical step, because without authorization, you won't synchronize your history, passwords and bookmarks between devices.
It's worth noting that the standard Mi Browser is still active. Android allows you to have many browsers, but only one of them can be the default browser. Until you prioritize explicitly, the phone can periodically ask you which app to open a link through, or automatically choose the one that was used last.
- 📱 Make sure that the device has at least two browsers for the correct choice.
- 🔐 Sign in to your Google account to activate data sync.
- 🔄 Check for Chrome updates in the Play Store before setting up.
- 🚫 Do not remove the Mi Browser system to avoid errors in some services. MIUI.
Search for the “Default Apps” section in MIUI
The MIUI shell interface installed on the Redmi Note 8 Pro can hide the desired settings in different places depending on the Android version. Most often the path lies through the main settings menu. Find the gear icon on the desktop or in the notification curtain and start System Settings.
In the list that opens, you need to find the program management section, which in the older versions of MIUI could be simply called “Applications”, in the newer versions it could be called “Applications” or “All Apps”, and within this menu, look for the Settings subsection (usually the button is in the upper right corner or as three dots) or a separate item “Default Apps”.
If you don't see the explicit "Default Apps" item at the root of the settings menu, search. There's a search bar at the top of the settings screen -- type in the phrase "default" or "browser" there, and the system will prompt you to go to the desired application management section, which will greatly speed up the search process.
It's important to understand the difference between deleting and replacing. We're not removing Mi Browser, we're just changing its priority status, which ensures that system links that are strictly tied to any browser will continue to work correctly using the Chrome engine.
Why can the menu item be called differently?
Step-by-step: Choosing Chrome by the main browser
Once you're in the default application management menu, you'll see a list of categories: calls, messages, maps, and of course, a browser. Find a line called "Browser" or "Web browser," which is probably the Mi Browser name or a dashboard that says no choice.
Tap this line. A pop-up or a new page will open with a list of all the Internet browsers installed on the Redmi Note 8 Pro. In this list, you should see the Google Chrome icon. Click on it to make it the main one.
The system can issue a warning that a change in settings may affect the performance of certain features. This is a standard Android security message. Confirm the action by clicking OK or Change. From now on, all links will open in Chrome.
☑️ Checking browser change
To fix the result, you should run a test run: Open any messenger, such as Telegram or WhatsApp, find a message with a link and click on it. If the Chrome tab with the downloadable site opened, then the setup was successful.
| Parameter | Value before setting up | Value after adjustment |
|---|---|---|
| Main annex | Mi Browser | Google Chrome |
| Opening of links | Automatically (Mi) | Automatically (Chrome) |
| Launch request | No, there | No. |
| Synchronization | Mi Account | Google Account |
💡
If, after selecting Chrome, links still open in Mi Browser, try clearing the Mi Browser app cache through the app settings, then rebooting the smartphone.
Set up notifications and permissions for Chrome
Once Chrome is the default browser, make sure it has all the necessary rights to work comfortably on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro. Unlike standard apps, third-party browsers sometimes require manual inclusion of certain permissions, especially in aggressive energy-saving shells.
Go to Settings. → Annexes → All apps, search the Chrome list and select Permissions. Make sure you allow access to memory (for downloading files), microphone (for voice search) and camera (for scanning). QR-Without these permissions, the functionality will be limited.
Special attention should be paid to notifications. The browser can notify you when files are uploaded or news (if tape is turned on). In the Notifications section inside the app settings, you can flexibly adjust which ones are important to you and which ones should be turned off so as not to clog the curtain.
It is also recommended to check the battery settings. MIUI is known for its strict control of background processes. To prevent Chrome from falling asleep while loading a large page or file, look for “Saving Charge” in the app settings and select “No Limits” mode.
- 🔒 Give permission to access the storage for downloading files.
- 🎙️ Allow access to the microphone for voice assistant.
- 🔋 Set the “No Limits” energy saving mode for stable operation.
- 📢 Set up notification categories, leaving only important ones.
Solving problems: if settings are reset
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where after rebooting the Redmi Note 8 Pro or updating the system, Mi Browser becomes the main browser again, this can be due to a version conflict or aggressive optimization of the system, in which case you need to reset application preferences.
To do this, go to Settings → Applications → All Apps. Click on the menu (three dots or gear) in the upper right corner and select Reset App Settings or Reset Preferences. This operation will not delete your data, photos or contacts, it will only return all system choices (open files, calls, links) to the original state.
After resetting, the system will ask you, “What to open?” when you first click on the link, select Google Chrome and make sure to click Always (or Default) on the window that appears. If you click Only Now, the system will remember this choice only temporarily.
⚠️ Note: Resetting app preferences will also reset settings to open other file types (such as video or video). PDF). Be ready to re-select a player or reader when you first start the relevant files.
If the problem persists, check for updates for the MIUI shell itself. Sometimes priority bugs are fixed in security patches. Go to Settings → About phone and click on the MIUI version to check for updates.
💡
Resetting app preferences is a secure procedure that often resolves issues with the “stubborn” default settings without affecting the user’s personal data.
Cleaning the cache and optimizing the browser
Once Chrome has taken its rightful place, it is recommended to conduct its initial optimization.Over time, the browser accumulates temporary files that can slow down the Redmi Note 8 Pro. Cleanup can be performed through the standard “Security” application, which is preinstalled on all Xiaomi smartphones.
Launch the Security app, select the Cleanup tool and wait for the scan to finish. Make sure there are Chrome files in the trash list and clean them. Also inside the browser itself in the Settings menu → Privacy and Security → Clear history can delete site data and cached images.
To speed up page loading on mobile networks, you can turn on Traffic Saving mode, which compresses data on Google servers before sending it to your phone, which is especially true when using 3G/4G networks with limited traffic.
Remember to update your browser regularly through the Play Store. Developers are constantly releasing patches that close security vulnerabilities and improve the speed of the Chromium engine on which Chrome is based.
⚠️ Note: With a complete clearing of the history and data of the sites, you will exit all accounts where permanent authorization was not enabled, and site settings (themes, permissions) may reset).
Additional Chrome features on Xiaomi
Using Chrome on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro opens up access to ecosystem features, for example, you can send tabs from phone to computer and vice versa if both devices are signed in to the same account, and this works through device history.
You should also pay attention to the Read feature, which means that if an article is too long, the browser can offer a simplified viewing mode, removing ads and unnecessary layout elements, which makes reading news on a smartphone screen much more comfortable for the eyes.
The built-in page translator is another powerful tool, and if you open a website in a foreign language, Chrome will offer you to translate it into Russian, and the quality of translation is constantly growing thanks to the introduction of neural network models of language processing.