How to change the default browser to Xiaomi Redmi 9T

The modern Xiaomi Redmi 9T smartphone provides users with ample opportunities for personalization, but the standard settings of the MIUI shell sometimes impose the use of their own applications. In particular, the built-in Mi Browser often opens automatically when clicking on links from messengers or social networks, which can annoy users who prefer Google Chrome, Firefox or Opera. Changing this parameter not only increases comfort, but also allows you to synchronize your browsing history with the desktop version of the browser.

The procedure for changing the main application for browsing the web on Redmi 9T It doesn't require root rights or complex programming, and all the tools are already built into the Android 10 operating system with the shell. MIUI 12.You only need to carefully follow the algorithm of actions in the settings menu to reassign startup priorities to the URL-Below we will discuss in detail each step of this process.

Before you get into the technical steps, it’s worth noting that an alternative browser should already be installed on your device.If you’re planning to abandon the standard solution, make sure Chrome or another client of your choice is downloaded from the Google Play Store and fully updated, which ensures stability and no conflicts when reassigning system protocols.

Preparation for changing the main browser to Redmi 9T

The first step before making changes to system settings is to check for alternative software. The MIUI shell allows you to choose any installed application as the main one, but if only one browser is registered in the system, the option of choosing will not be available.

Not only do you download the browser, but you also do the initial setup inside the browser: log in to your account, check your bookmarks and password sync, which is especially important for users who are switching from other platforms or using cross-platform sync, and once the application is ready to go, you can move to system settings.

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Before changing your settings, make sure that the alternative browser is running at least once – this will activate it in the list of Android system services.

It’s also worth checking for updates to the MIUI shell itself. Sometimes the forced link opening bugs in Mi Browser are patched with security patches. Go to Settings → About phone and click on the MIUI version to check the firmware’s relevance.

• 🌐 Download your preferred browser (Chrome, Yandex, DuckDuckGo) from the official store.
• 🔐 Sign in to your account inside a new data retention app.
• 🔄 Check for system updates in the About Phone section».
• 📂 Make sure that the new app is not hidden in the Tools folder».

Configure applications by default through the system menu

The main method of changing startup priorities is in the depth of the system settings menu. The interface of Xiaomi Redmi 9T may vary slightly depending on the regional version of the firmware (Global, EEA, Russia), but the logic remains the same. You need to find the section responsible for managing installed programs and their behavior.

Open the main settings menu and scroll down to the App. Inside this section, you're interested in the default App subsection. This is where the Android operating system stores the rules for handling different types of files and actions, including opening web links.

In the list that opens, find the Browser bar. By default, it will indicate the current active application (most likely, Mi Browser). Click on this line to reveal the list of all available browsers installed on your Redmi 9T. Select the desired application from the list offered.

Once selected, the system can request confirmation of action, which is a standard security measure to prevent any accidental change of important system parameters. Confirm your choice, and from now on, all links from WhatsApp, Telegram or email will open in the app of your choice.

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Annexes.
• ⚙️ Select the Application paragraph by default.
• 🌍 Click on the category "Browser».
• ✅ Select the desired app from the list (e.g. Chrome).

Resetting default settings for Mi Browser

Sometimes, even after selecting a new browser in the system settings, links continue to open in Mi Browser, this is due to the cached preferences of the application itself, the system “remembered” that the user previously allowed this browser to open links always, and ignores the global setting.

To fix this, you have to force reset the default settings for the old browser. Find the Apps section in the settings menu and select All Apps. In the list, find the Mi Browser (or Mi Browser) and click on it.

Inside the app menu, scroll down to the default button. You'll see information that the app is being used to open links. Click the Reset Defaults button. After this operation, the system will "forget" about Mi Browser preferences and the next time you click on the link will ask you what to open the page, or use the global setting you set earlier.

⚠️ Note: Resetting your default settings does not remove your bookmarks or history inside the browser, it only removes the status of “main” for link processing.

• 📂 Open the Settings. → Annexes → All applications.
• 🔍 Find in the Mi Browser List.
• 🗑️ Click on Default and select Reset Settings.
• 🔄 Restart the device to apply changes.

Managing Links in Specific Applications (Deep Links)

The Android operating system that runs Redmi 9T has a more subtle link management mechanism known as Deep Links or Supported Links.Some apps, such as Instagram or TikTok, can ignore the default system browser and force you to open links in your built-in WebView or specific browser if it's written in their manifesto.

To take full control of the situation, you can set the link behavior for each application separately on Xiaomi. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management. Select an application that does not behave correctly (for example, Telegram).

Here you'll see the Open Supported Links switch, and if it's activated, the app can decide where to open the content, and try turning it off or selecting the Always Ask option, which will give you control of the situation: when you click on the link, the system will ask which browser to open it in, allowing you to select the desired option and set the "Always" checkbox.

This method is especially effective when the default browser change doesn’t work for specific services, and allows you to create a flexible configuration, where, for example, links to maps are opened in Google Maps and news articles are opened in Chrome.

Comparison of popular browsers for Xiaomi Redmi 9T

Choosing a browser is not just a matter of habit, but also a matter of performance and energy efficiency. The Snapdragon 662 processor installed in the Redmi 9T is reliable, but not flagship, so heavy browsers can consume more battery life. Below is a table comparing the main characteristics of popular browsers for this model.

If you’re critical to the speed of the interface and the minimal impact on smartphone autonomy, you should pay attention to lightweight versions of browsers like Opera Mini or Via Browser. They consume less RAM, which is important for the Redmi 9T with its 4 GB of RAM.

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For owners of Redmi 9T with a memory capacity of 4 GB, lightweight browsers will be the best choice, which will not overload RAM when multitasking.

At the same time, if you are deeply integrated into Google’s ecosystem, standard Chrome will provide better password and history synchronization despite slightly higher resource consumption.

Solution: If the settings do not apply

In rare cases, users are faced with a situation where after all the manipulations, the system continues to return the Mi Browser as its main one, which can be caused by the work of proprietary MIUI optimizers or third-party antiviruses that block changes in system parameters.

Try to clean the Settings cache. To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All apps, click three dots in the corner of the screen and select Show System Processes. Find the Settings app and clear its cache. Don't worry, it won't reset your personal phone settings, only temporary configuration files.

⚠️ Warning: When cleaning system applications, be extremely careful. Choose only "Clear cache" and avoid the "Reset" button if you are not sure of your actions.

Also check if MIUI Optimization is included in the developer menu. In some firmware versions, this mode can block the change of standard applications. Disabling MIUI optimization (via Settings → About Phone → 7 times click on the MIUI version → Advanced Settings → Developer) sometimes solves the problem, but can change the interface.

• 🛠️ Clear the cache of the system application "Settings».
• 🚫 Check the Safe Mode (clicking the shutdown button).
• 📉 Turn off aggressive battery saving for new browser.
• 🔄 Completely reset your network settings if the problem persists.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)