How to make a main browser on Xiaomi: the complete guide

Owners of Xiaomi smartphones often face intrusive behavior of the operating system, which forcibly opens links in its own Mi Browser browser. This is annoying, especially if the user is used to the functionality of Google Chrome, Firefox or Yandex. The standard procedure for changing the default browser in Android on the shells of MIUI and HyperOS has its own features and hidden settings that you need to know.

The company’s system algorithms are set up to keep users as much as possible within the Xiaomi ecosystem. However, with the administrator rights of your device, you can reconfigure your application launch priorities. In this article, we will discuss not only the standard method through settings, but also solutions for cases where the system blocks choices or hides the desired options.

The process of reconfiguration does not require root rights or complex software. All actions are performed using the standard interface tools. It is important to consistently go through the menu and disable certain functions that are responsible for intercepting links. The key is to clean the data of the Mi Browser application before setting a new priority.

Why Xiaomi imposes its browser

The MIUI shell and the new HyperOS are built on the principle of deep integration of their own services. The browser from the developers of the smartphone is a system application, which gives it higher priorities in processing Internet traffic and links compared to third-party software, this is done to collect analytics and display advertising, which is part of the company's business model.

When you install a new surfing app, Android asks you how to open links. If you accidentally clicked "Always" for the system browser or didn't pay attention to the pop-up, the system remembers that choice. URL-Addresses from messengers, emails and social networks will be automatically redirected to Mi Browser.

In addition, in some regions, firmware contains hidden settings that force the built-in browser to activate when certain types of content are launched, which can occur even if the default settings select another product, an understanding of this logic necessary to successfully solve the problem.

⚠️ Note: System updates may reset your default application selection settings. After a major firmware update, the procedure will have to be repeated.

Basic configuration through the system menu

The easiest and most obvious way to change a priority web content application is in the general smartphone settings, which works most of the time unless the system is blocked by the strict restrictions of regional firmware.

To start, go to your device's settings menu, find a section called "Applications" or "Applications and Notifications." Depending on the version of MIUI, the interface may be slightly different, but the logic remains the same. We need to find the default control.

Inside the app menu, select "App Management" option, and then you'll need to find "Default Apps" or "App Configuration." Here's a list of all the types of actions that a smartphone can perform: calls, messages, maps, and of course, the browser.

• 📱 Open "Settings" on your Xiaomi.
• 🔍 Go to the "Applications" section" →"Application management".
• ⚙️ Select the Default Apps tab (sometimes hidden in a three-point menu).
• 🌐 Click on the "Browser" and select the one you need from the list (Chrome, Opera, etc.).

If the default app is not in the main menu, try searching by settings. Type the word "default" or "default" into the search box and the system will prompt you to go to the desired section. This is a universal method for all versions of Android.

Forced resetting of Mi Browser settings

It often happens that the default browser selection menu is the option you want, but the links still open in the system application. This means that the Mi Browser has cached data about the interception of links.

To do this, go back to the App Management menu and look for the browser itself from Xiaomi. It can be simply called "Browser" or "Mi Browser." Go inside the app card. Here we are interested in the "Clear Data" or "Clear Data" button at the bottom of the screen.

Click on this button and select Clear All or Clear All Data. Don't worry, it won't delete your bookmarks if they're synced with your account, but it will reset all of the app's behavior settings, including link opening priority, and then the system will ask again what to open the link the next time you click.

After cleaning the data, it is recommended to immediately restart the device, which will help the system completely re-index the link processors (Intent Filters). When the first link starts after the reboot, the system should issue a system selection window with the question "What to open?".

Working with the Action Choice Window

When you reset your data or when you first install a new browser, when you click on a link from any application (Telegram, Viber, SMS), a pop-up will appear. At this point, it is critical to make the right choice. The interface of this window can be presented as a list or a grid of icons.

At the bottom of this window, there's usually a switch or checkbox, which can be called Always, Always, Always, Remember Choices, or Default Use. If you just click on the browser icon without activating that item, the system will remember the selection only for the current session or for the specific source application.

You must always activate the Always tick and then click on the icon of your preferred browser, such as Google Chrome. If you made a mistake and did not tick, the action will have to be repeated every time you run the link until you make the choice permanent.

⚠️ Note: If you accidentally select "Only once", the system will ask you every time you click, and to fix this, you need to reset the settings of the application that was chosen incorrectly.

In some versions of shells, the selection window may be blocked by ads or other interface elements. Be careful and make sure that you click on the Android system dialog box, and not on the pop-up offer from the browser itself.

Specifics of working with hyperlinks in applications

Special attention should be paid to the behavior of links within specific applications, such as Instagram, Facebook or VK. These social networks often use WebView technology or their own built-in browsers to display content, ignoring the system settings of Android.

To open links from these apps in an external browser, you need to change the settings within the social networks themselves, usually under "Account" or "Application settings." Look for "Open links externally" or "Open in the system browser."

There is also a system setting that controls the opening of supported links. It is on the Settings path → Applications → Application Management → (Selected App, such as Instagram) → Open by default. Here you need to select the option “Open Supported Links” and activate the switch.

If standard methods do not help, you can try to disable the Android System WebView component through application settings (if the version allows), but this can lead to unstable operation of other programs.

Solving problems with regional firmware

Users of Chinese firmware or global builds for specific regions (India, Indonesia) may not be able to choose a browser. HTTP-This is often found in the budget models of the Redmi series.

In these situations, changing the region of the smartphone helps. Go to Settings → Additional settings → Region. Change the country to "USA", "Germany" or "Ukraine." After changing the region, the interface may change, and the default application settings will appear the desired selection point.

Another radical but effective method is to use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) commands from a computer, which requires connecting a smartphone to a PC and enabling debugging over USB, which allows you to force the browser package to be installed as the default handler.

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

However, using ADB requires technical literacy; it is safer for the average user to use a region change or install a third-party launcher that intercepts link management; launchers like Nova Launcher often have their own link processing settings.

Comparison of popular browsers for Android

Choosing a primary browser is a matter of taste, but for Xiaomi owners, options such as power consumption, the presence of an integrated ad blocker and speed on Snapdragon or MediaTek processors are important.

The table below will help you compare the key characteristics of popular browsers available in the Google Play Store. Note the presence of traffic saving mode and support for extensions, which is critical for comfortable surfing.

For devices with a small amount of RAM (3-4 GB), it is recommended to use Opera Mini or Via Browser. They consume much less system resources, which has a positive effect on the autonomy of the smartphone and the speed of switching between tasks.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)