How to change the default browser to Xiaomi Redmi 9: 3 working ways

Xiaomi Redmi 9 comes with a pre-installed Mi Browser browser, which automatically becomes the default application for opening web links. However, many users prefer alternatives like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or Opera because of the greater speed, synchronization with other devices or lack of advertising. In this article, we will discuss how to change the default browser to Redmi 9, taking into account the features of the MIUI shell and possible system limitations.

It’s important to understand that the process can vary depending on the firmware version (e.g. MIUI 12 vs MIUI 14) and the phone’s regional settings. We’ll look at the universal methods that work on most versions, and we’ll also tell you what to do if the browser you want isn’t displayed on the list of available apps.

Why you should change your default browser to Redmi 9

The pre-installed Mi Browser has a number of features that not all users like:

• 📢 Built-in advertising – even in the main sections like bookmarks or stories, banners from Xiaomi can appear.
• 🔒 Limited sync – unlike Chrome or Firefox, there is no easy transfer of data between devices.
• ⚡ Performance – on tests on the Redmi 9 with a Helio processor G80, Alternative browsers often run faster when you open heavy websites.
• 🛡️ Privacy – Mi Browser collects data about visited pages to personalize advertising (this is stated in the privacy policy of Xiaomi).

According to a study by StatCounter in 2023, more than 60% of Xiaomi smartphone users in Russia and the CIS prefer Google Chrome as their primary browser, which is not only due to the familiar interface, but also due to integration with Google services – for example, automatic login and password synchronization. However, even if you choose a different browser (for example, Brave for blocking trackers or DuckDuckGo for anonymity), the change procedure remains the same.

⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI China ROM (China firmware may not be able to select the default browser, in which case you will need to install global firmware (Global) ROM) or use the workarounds described in the Problem Solving section.

Method 1: Change browser through MIUI settings (main method)

This is the most reliable and recommended method that works on most versions. MIUI 11–14. The instructions are relevant to Redmi. 9 Android-based 10/11:

1. Install an alternative browser from Google Play (e.g. Chrome or Firefox). If the app store is not available, download the APK from the official website (e.g. chrome.google.com).
2. Open any app that can open links (such as Telegram, WhatsApp or Mail).
3. Click on any web link. The system will suggest selecting an application to open. Click Always and select the browser you want from the list.
4. If the selection window does not appear, go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Browser by default and manually specify your preferred application.

On Redmi 9 with MIUI 12.5 firmware and later, the path to settings may be different: Settings → Apps → App settings (cog at the top) → Browser by default. If the partition is missing, then your version of MIUI is blocking the change - go to method 2 or 3.

Install an alternative browser from Google Play

Check the version of MIUI in Settings → About the phone

Close all background apps (especially Mi Browser)

Connect to Wi-Fi to download browser updates-->

Method 2: Use of third-party utilities (for power users)

If the standard method didn't work, you can use applications like Default App Manager or SetEdit, which allow you to manually assign the default browser, bypassing the limitations of MIUI, but they will require root rights or a developer mode enabled.

Instructions for Default App Manager:

1. Download the app from Google Play.
2. Open the utility and provide access to settings (if requested).
3. In the category list, select the browser.
4. Click on the current default browser (usually Mi Browser) and select an alternative from the list.
5. Confirm the changes and restart the phone.

If the settings are reset after the reboot, try:

• 🔄 Disable battery optimization for the selected browser in Settings → Battery. → Optimizing the battery.
• 📱 Install the browser as the default application for all supported link types (HTTP, HTTPS, web-addresses).

⚠️ Note: Applications like SetEdit require ADB-If you're not sure what you're doing, you can crash the system if you're not sure what you're doing, you can skip this.

Mi Browser (standard)

Google Chrome

Mozilla Firefox

Opera or Opera Mini

Another (write in the comments)-->

Method 3: Reset application settings (if the browser does not appear in the list)

Sometimes the browser you choose does not appear in the default selection menu, which may be due to:

• 🔧 Application cache conflict.
• 📦 Error of installation APK (If the browser is not downloaded from Google Play).
• 🔒 Restrictions MIUI firmware-specific.

To fix this, reset the application settings:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Reset App Settings.
3. Confirm action. This will clear the default settings for all applications, but it won't delete the data.
4. After reset, open any link again and select the desired browser by clicking Always.

If the problem persists, check:

• 📌 Browser Version – Update it to the latest version.
• 📌 Link-opening rights – some browsers (e.g. Kiwi Browser) require additional permissions.

Table: Comparison of popular browsers for Redmi 9

To help with the choice of Mi Browser alternative, we compared the key options of popular browsers on Xiaomi Redmi 9 (tested on MIUI 13 with 4 GB of RAM):

* The speed test was conducted on speed-battle.com with the cache disabled, and the results may vary depending on the browser version and server load.

💡

If you frequently open links from messengers (such as Telegram or VK), after changing your browser by default, check the settings of these applications. Some of them (such as WhatsApp) have a separate option Open links to..., which may ignore the system settings.

Solving common problems

When you change your browser to Redmi 9, users experience typical errors, and consider the most common ones and how to fix them:

Problem 1: Browser resets after MIUI update

This is because MIUI resets some of the default settings when it updates, to prevent this from happening:

• 🔄 Before updating, fix the current settings with the help of ADB: adb shell cmd role add-role-holder android.app.role.BROWSER com.android.chrome (replace com.android.chrome with your browser package).
• 📌 After updating, re-select the browser through the settings (see Method 1).

Problem 2: New browser does not open links to some applications

Some apps (like Facebook or Instagram) have their own built-in browsers and ignore system settings.

• 🔧 In the settings of the problem application, find the option to Open links in an external browser.
• 📱 Use Universal Copy (an app from Google Play) to copy links and manually paste them into the desired browser.

Problem 3: “No applications to handle this action”

This means that the browser selected is not registered in the system as a processor. HTTP/HTTPS-references. Correction:

• 🔄 Reinstall the browser.
• 📌 Check if the browser supports link opening (some specialized browsers, such as torrents, may not have this feature).

💡

If neither method worked, regional firmware (e.g. China ROM) could be the cause, in which case only flashing to Global ROM or using cloud browsers (e.g. Puffin Browser) that do not require a default destination will help.

More tips on optimizing your browser on Redmi 9

After changing the browser by default, it is recommended to perform several actions to improve performance and convenience:

• 🔧 Clear the old browser cache (Mi Browser) to free up space: Settings → Annexes → Mi Browser → Clear the cache.
• 📱 Set up sync in a new browser (for example, in Chrome this is done through the Settings menu). → Log in to a Google account).
• ⚡ Turn off background activity for Mi Browser if you don’t plan to use it: → Battery. → Optimizing the battery → Mi Browser → Limit.
• 🛡️ Install an ad blocker (e.g., uBlock Origin for Firefox or built-in in Brave).

For users who often work with a lot of tabs, it’s helpful to enable Traffic Saving (available in Chrome and Opera).It compresses data, speeding up page loads on Redmi 9 with its modest 4GB of RAM. Also pay attention to night mode – it reduces eye strain and saves battery power.

If you chose Firefox, try activating Firefox Focus, a lightweight version of the browser that automatically deletes history and blocks trackers, which is especially true for Redmi 9, where every megabyte of RAM counts.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing the browser to Xiaomi Redmi 9