Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face intrusive behavior of the operating system, which forcibly opens links in the standard Mi Browser. This causes discomfort for users who are accustomed to the Yandex ecosystem with its password synchronization, convenient services and familiar interface. Changing the browser by default is not just a matter of personal preferences, but also a way to optimize the work with web content, making it more secure and faster.
The procedure for replacing a standard application with a Yandex Browser is quite simple, but in the shell of MIUI or the new HyperOS, these settings can be hidden in non-obvious menu sections. Many users get lost in the abundance of configuration points of the system without finding the right switch. In this article, we will discuss in detail the algorithm of actions that will allow you to forget about Mi Browser forever and use only the tool you choose to surf the Internet.
It is important to understand that installing Yandex Browser as the main application does not remove the standard browser from the device memory. It continues to take up space and can receive updates, but stops running when you click on links in messengers or other programs. This gives you flexibility: if necessary, you can always return to factory settings or use both applications for different tasks.
Preparation for installation and configuration
Before you start changing your system settings, you need to make sure that Yandex Browser itself is installed correctly on your device. If you’ve just bought a smartphone or reset it to factory settings, the first step should be to download the current version of the app from the official Google Play store or GetApps. APK-Files from unverified resources can lead to malicious code installation, so security should be a priority.
Once installed, launch the application and perform the initial setup: accept the user agreement, log in to your Yandex ID account to synchronize bookmarks and history. This is a critical step, since it is the presence of an active session that allows the Android system to consider the application as a full candidate for the role of the main one.
⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to remove the standard Mi Browser through third-party utilities before changing the default settings.This can lead to system errors when links stop opening at all, as Android will not know which application to run.
It’s also worth checking for updates to the operating system itself. In rare cases, on older versions of MIUI, the settings interface may be different and menu items will be called differently. Updating to the latest available firmware version ensures that the screenshots and descriptions in the instructions will match your screen.
Search for the "Default Applications" section
The settings interface in Xiaomi smartphones may vary depending on the shell version, but the search logic remains the same. You need to get into the deep menu for managing installed programs. To do this, open the standard Settings app and scroll down to the App item. In some versions of the firmware, this section may be called Applications and Notifications.
Inside the Apps section, you'll need to find the global software settings subsection, look for an item called Application Management or just All Apps, and it's where you keep a complete database of all the software installed on your phone, including system services, that are hidden from the average user.
Then you switch to a menu hidden behind three dots in the top corner of the screen or in a special tab. You need the default App item. In older versions of MIUI, it could be in the main settings menu, but in modern HyperOS interfaces, it is hidden deeper to prevent accidental changes in important system components.
If you can't find this item through a search, use the built-in search bar in the settings. Type in the phrase "default" or "default browser", and the system will prompt you to move to the desired menu. This is the fastest way of navigation, which saves time and eliminates errors in manual search.
Replacement of the standard browser with Yandex
Once you have successfully navigated to the default App menu, you will see a list of action categories for which the system selects standard programs. Find a line called the Browser or Web browser. By default, it will indicate Mi Browser or Chrome if you have previously made changes.
Tap this line and the system will open a pop-up window with a list of all the browsers that can handle web links installed. This list must have Yandex. If you have installed an application but don't see it on the list, try running it once directly through the desktop icon, and then trust the settings.
Select Yandex Browser from the list. The system will instantly apply changes, and next to the name of the application will appear a characteristic tick or a filled circle. From now on, all links that you click on in Telegram, Viber, WhatsApp or any other applications will open in Yandex.
☑️ Checking the browser installation
Importantly, some system widgets, such as Glance News Feed or built-in global search, can ignore this setting and open content in the internal engine. This behavior is set by the developers of the MIUI shell and is not always changeable without root rights, but for 95% of user scenarios, the replacement will be successful.
Configure advanced parameters and permissions
Simply selecting a browser from the settings menu is only half the battle. To make the Yandex Browser work properly, as the primary tool, you need to make sure it is allowed to interact with other applications and system. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, search Yandex and click on it.
In the app management menu that opens, look for Other Permits or Additional Permissions. It is critical to activate the Display switch on top of other applications. Without this permission, the browser will not be able to properly open pop-ups, authorization forms through third-party services or redirect you after paying in online stores.
| Permit parameter | Recommended status | Impact on work |
|---|---|---|
| Displaying on top of others | Permitted. | Opening of authorization windows and payment gateways |
| Access to files | Permitted. | Download and download documents, photo |
| Notifications | Permitted. | Upload and news information |
| Auto-start | Permitted. | Quick start of synchronization services |
Also worth paying attention to the settings of energy saving. In Xiaomi smartphones, aggressive battery optimization can “kill” the background processes of the browser, which can lead to the opening of links with a delay or not open at all. In the application menu, find the option “Saving charge” and select the option “No restrictions”.
⚠️ Note: When you enable the Display on Other Apps permission, the system can display a warning about the potential risk of fraud.This is standard Android protection that works on any application with such access. If you downloaded the browser from the official store, feel free to confirm the action.
Solving Link Opening Problems
Sometimes you did everything right, but links still open in Mi Browser.This can be due to cached file associations or version conflicts.First of all, try clearing the cache of a standard browser. Go to Settings → Applications → Mi Browser → Memory and click Clear.
If that didn't work, check if the priority is to open links for a particular application. Android 11 and above has a "Open by default" feature for each application separately. Go to the Browser's Yandex settings, find the "Open by default" option and make sure that the switch is active, and the list of supported file types is ticked against http and https.
In rare cases, a complete application preference reset helps, and it won’t delete your data or photos, but it will return all default opening settings to factory values. To do this, click three dots in the App menu and select Reset application settings. After that, you will have to re-select Yandex when you first click on the link.
What if Yandex disappeared from the list after the update?
Features of work in the shell of HyperOS
With the release of the new HyperOS operating system, which gradually replaces MIUI on Xiaomi’s new smartphones, the settings interface has undergone significant changes. The default application control point has been moved. Now it is most often on the path: Settings → Additional settings → Default apps.
HyperOS also has increased integration of its own services, so the system may more often suggest you return to using standard tools. When you open links, a pop-up may appear with the question “Always open in...” or “Select an application.” Make sure to check the box Always and choose Yandex, so that you do not confirm your choice every time.
Another feature of the new shell is a modified mechanism for working with widgets on the desktop. If you use the "Search" or "News" widget, they can be rigidly tied to the system engine. In this case, you can not change the browser for the widget, but all links inside the news feed that lead to external sites must open in the browser of your choice.
💡
Advice for HyperOS users: After upgrading to a new version of the system, always check the permission settings again. The update often resets the access rights "on top of other windows", which breaks the functionality of browsers and instant messengers.
Data Cleanup and Final Optimization
Once Yandex Browser is mainstream, it is recommended that you do the final optimization. Remove Mi Browser shortcuts from your desktop and folders to avoid confusion. Although you can't remove a system application completely without root rights, you can hide it from view, making the interface cleaner.
You should also set up data import if you go from another browser. Yandex will offer to import bookmarks, passwords and history from Chrome or Mi Browser on your first run. You should agree to this so you don't lose important data. The process takes only a few seconds and takes place in the background.
Remember to periodically clean the browser cache, especially if you actively use media content. In a crowded cache, the application can work slower. In the settings of Yandex itself, you can enable automatic garbage cleaning when you close tabs or set a limit on the cache size.
💡
After selecting Yandex Browser in the "Default Applications" option, the Android system redirects all web queries (URL) to this application, ignoring the standard Mi Browser, which ensures uniformity of work with the Internet on the device.
Now your Xiaomi smartphone is fully adapted to your habits. You will no longer encounter unnecessary news feeds in the system browser, and all links will be opened in your environment with working synchronization and ad blocker.