Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face the imposition of the branded browser Mi Browser, which is preinstalled in the shell of MIUI or the new HyperOS. The system can aggressively offer its use, ignoring your preferences if you are used to Google Chrome, Yandex or Firefox. This creates discomfort, as links from messengers and other applications open in the wrong window that you are comfortable with.
Fortunately, Android provides flexible tools for managing applications by default, allowing you to completely redefine system settings. You don't need to be an experienced programmer or get root rights to change this interface logic. You just need to do a few sequential actions in the settings menu so that the system "forgets" about the imposed choice and starts asking you or automatically use the desired software.
In this guide, we’ll take a look at all the nuances of the procedure, including hidden settings and forced reset methods if the standard path doesn’t work. You’ll learn how to bypass the limitations of the shell and make your smartphone experience truly personalized. This is especially true for users who value speed and no unnecessary advertising in system components.
Preparation and installation of an alternative reviewer
Before you try to change your system priorities, you need to make sure that the desired application is already installed on your device. There are many options available in the Google Play store or GetApps, from minimalist to functional combine harvesters. If you are not already decided on the choice, you should pay attention to such options as the presence of an integrated ad blocker, traffic saving mode and synchronization with the desktop version.
After downloading and initial setup, take your time to open links. First, give the system a few seconds to index new software. Sometimes Android doesn't immediately see the package installed if you try to change the settings instantly after you finish downloading. Rebooting the device can speed up this recognition process.
☑️ Ready to change browser
Importantly, some Chinese firmware versions can block third-party browsers from unknown sources without additional permissions, in which case the system will issue a security alert, you will need to go to security settings and allow the installation of applications from a specific source, whether it is a browser or a file manager.
⚠️ Warning: Avoid installing modified versions of popular browsers from unverified forums. These files may contain malicious code that can intercept your passwords and banking data.
The standard way through the MIUI and HyperOS settings menu
The most reliable and correct method of reprioritizing is through a deep system settings menu, and the path may vary slightly depending on the shell version, but the logic remains the same. You need to find a section that manages all the programs installed and how they interact with the operating system.
Go to Settings and find the App. In some versions of MIUI, it may be called "All Apps." Then select the Application Management tab. In the upper right corner of the screen, there is a three-dot menu, which you click on, you will see the drop-down list, and that's where the default feature of the App is hidden.
What if there is no "Default App" clause?
In the list that opens, look for the Browser category. Now it probably lists Mi Browser or Chrome if it was preinstalled. Click on this. You'll see a list of all the browsers you've installed. You'll see the one you want to make the primary.
Once selected, the system can show a brief notification that the application will open the default links, which is standard behavior. If you did everything correctly, a tick will appear next to the selected option or it will be highlighted in color, from now on, all hyperlinks in Telegram, Viber or Email will open in the selected program.
Reset method through data cleanup of imposed application
Sometimes it happens that the standard menu does not allow you to choose another browser, or the system ignores your choice, continuing to run Mi Browser. This can be due to cached data or rigid bindings in the system processes of the shell, in which case the radical but effective method of completely resetting the settings of the current main application helps.
To do this, go back to the Application Management menu and find the browser that is currently the primary browser (such as Mi Browser) and go inside its card and find the Clean button (usually at the bottom of the screen).
This operation will delete temporary files, cache and most importantly reset all default assignments for that particular package. Once cleaned, the system will "forget" that this application is allowed to open links automatically. The next time you click on any link in any application, Android will force you to call the selection menu.
| Action. | The result | Impact on data |
|---|---|---|
| Change in settings | Instant application | Data saved |
| Cleaning the application data | Resetting priorities | Cache and login removal |
| Disabling the application | Forced choice of new | App hidden |
| Removal of updates | Return to the factory version | Resetting version settings |
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If you are resetting Mi Browser data, be sure to export your bookmarks in advance if they are not synced with your Mi Cloud account, otherwise your visit history will be lost.
Beware: Clearing your data may result in logging out of your accounts if they were only stored in the app’s memory, so it’s best to use this method when other methods don’t help, or if you’re ready to re-sign in to the services.
Forced Choice at First Link Launch
Once you have done the reset or the initial setup, there comes a moment of truth, the first click on the link. Android's Intent Resolver engine has to respond to that action. If the system is not given a strict priority, a dialog box will appear on the screen asking "What to open?".
In this window, you'll see a list of available browsers. It's critical that you don't just click on the app icon, but select it first, and then find a switch or check box with text Always. If you just click Just once, the system will remember that choice only for the current session or for a particular type of link.
Some users experience a situation where the Always button is inactive or absent. This may be a sign that another application is intercepting link management (for example, an antivirus application or a download manager).
If you make the right choice, there shouldn't be any more questions. However, if after a while the system starts to open links again in Mi Browser, it may be that the firmware update reset your settings, in which case you'll have to repeat the procedure. This is a rare but possible phenomenon after major Android updates.
Disabling the system browser as a last resort
If none of the above methods are consistent and the Mi Browser continues to be imposed, you can resort to a more stringent method - disabling the system component. In the MIUI shell, it is often impossible to completely remove preinstalled applications without a computer, but they can be "freezed" or disabled.
Go to the Mi Browser app card via settings. If the Disable button is active, click on it. The system will warn that the app will stop working and disappear from the menu. Once confirmed, it will become inactive, and the system will have no choice but to use other installed browsers.
In some cases, especially on global firmware versions, the shutdown button can be hidden. ADB-By connecting the phone to the computer and enabling debugging. USB, You can enter a command to hide the package:
pm disable-user --user 0 com.mi.global.browserThis command forcibly disables the user process of Xiaomi's browser. To get it back, you just need to replace the disable-user with enable in the same line. This method requires caution, but it is guaranteed to solve the problem of imposition.
⚠️ Note: Disconnect system components through ADB This can cause some shell functions that depend on the Mi Browser web engine to function unstable (e.g., newsfeed widgets.
Frequent problems and their solution
Even after you set it up properly, you can get nuanced. For example, some apps like Facebook or Instagram have their own built-in browsers and ignore system settings. It's not a phone bug, it's a feature of the social networks themselves. To open links in an external browser, you need to go to the settings of a particular application and find the "Open links in an external browser."
Another problem is MIUI's smart features, which can analyze links and suggest opening them in safe mode through the system component, which can be turned off in the security settings or in the Mi Browser itself if it's not completely disabled.
Also worth mentioning is the power saving effect: Aggressive battery optimization on Xiaomi can “kill” the background processes of an alternative browser, which can cause links to open for a long time or not open at all. Add your main browser to the battery exception list (Settings → Battery → Application Management) and select No Limits mode.
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The main problem when changing the browser to Xiaomi is not the lack of technical capability, but the aggressive behavior of the system, which sometimes requires a complete disconnection of the imposed component for a stable result.
Check the updates to the apps themselves regularly. Browser developers often change how they sign up, and after a major update, your default settings may go off. This is standard Android behavior when you update an app or change its manifesto.