A modern smartphone is impossible to imagine without access to the Internet, and Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro is no exception, offering users a powerful platform for web surfing. However, the standard browser Mi Browser, preinstalled in the shell of MIUI, does not suit all owners of the device due to the abundance of advertising or unusual interface. Many users prefer to install familiar solutions from Google, Yandex or Opera, but face intrusive behavior of the system, which constantly offers to return the standard application.
In this article, we will discuss in detail how to fix a third-party browser as the main one on your Redmi Note 8 Pro so that links from messengers and social networks open in the app of your choice. The setup process may seem confusing due to the features of the MIUI interface, but following the step-by-step instructions, you can easily cope with the task. We will also consider hidden settings that will help avoid automatic resets after the system update.
Before you start changing your system settings, make sure that the browser you need is already installed from Google Play Market or GetApps. If you are just planning to choose, pay attention to the compatibility of web engines with your version of Android, as older versions of sites may not display correctly in experimental browser builds.
⚠️ Note: Forced change of system applications through an engineering menu or ADB-Teams without proper experience can lead to unstable operation of the interface MIUI.
Why MIUI imposes a standard browser
The MIUI shell on the Redmi Note 8 Pro is a deep modification of Android, designed by Xiaomi engineers to create a unified ecosystem of services. The standard browser in this system is not just a page-viewing application, but a key element of the news feed and recommendation system that generate traffic and revenue for the company, which is why the algorithms of the system try to return the user to the use of the native product, ignoring the choice of the owner of the device.
After each major firmware update, default settings may be reset, and the system again prompts you to open the link via Mi Browser.This is because the updated system file preferences.xml often overwrites user configurations. Understanding this logic helps the user to be more attentive and check the settings after each software update.
In addition, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro has an aggressive power saving system that can limit the background work of third-party browsers if they are not marked as the main one. If you do not secure the application correctly, the system can forcibly terminate its processes, which will lead to the loss of open tabs when switching between tasks.
Hidden statistics of use
It’s also important to note that some system components, such as the Global Search widget or voice assistant, are rigidly tied to the standard engine by default, and changing this behavior requires not just selecting settings, but also deep cleaning the cache of the relevant services.
Preparation of the device for changing the main application
Before you make changes to system priorities, you need to make sure that the alternative software is installed correctly and has all the necessary permissions. On the Redmi Note 8 Pro with its Helio G90T processor, there are no problems with the performance of heavy web pages, but access rights must be configured manually. Go to the settings of the application you plan to use and check for permissions to access storage, camera and microphone.
It is also recommended to clear the data of the standard browser to avoid conflicts when switching, this is especially true if you have previously actively used the Mi Browser and it has accumulated a lot of temporary files. The accumulated cache can take up hundreds of megabytes, which is not critical for the memory of the device, but important for the purity of the experiment.
- 📲 Make sure the new browser is installed and updated to the latest version via Play Market.
- 🗑️ Clear the cache and data of the old browser through the application management menu.
- 🔋 Turn off the power saving mode for the time of setting up so that the system does not block changes.
- 🔒 Check for device administrator rights if the browser requires them to synchronize passwords.
☑️ Checking before setting up
It is not superfluous to back up important bookmarks if you plan to completely remove the standard application in the future. Although we will only change priorities, accidentally resetting settings during experiments with system files can lead to data loss.
Step-by-step: installing the browser through settings
The main method of changing the priority application is in the deep settings of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro system. The path to the desired menu may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI (11, 12 or 13), but the logic remains the same. You need to open the Settings application, scroll down to the Apps section and select All Apps.
In the list that opens, find and click on the three dots in the top right corner of the screen, then select "Default Apps." That's where the key setting is hidden. If you don't see this right away, try searching by settings by entering "default apps" or "default apps."
Settings → Applications → All Applications → (Menu) → Default Applications → BrowserIn the window that opens, you'll see your current browser, which is likely to be Mi Browser. Click on it and the system will suggest a list of all the browsers you've installed. Select the browser you want, like Chrome or Yandex. After that, all the links from other apps should start opening in the selected program.
⚠️ Note: If after choosing a new browser, links continue to open in Mi Browser, it is possible that in a particular application (for example, Telegram) there is an individual setting for opening links.
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Changing the priority in the system menu is the only official way to get Android to open links in the desired application without using root rights.
In some versions of the firmware, the item may be simply called "Browser" without the word "Applications." Be careful when translating the interface if you have an English or Chinese version of the software installed.
Setting up file and link associations in apps
Even after system setup, there may be situations where Redmi Note 8 Pro asks how to open the link again each time, this is due to the “Open by Default” mechanism inside the browser applications themselves. To avoid constant system questions, you need to explicitly state that the chosen application should always handle web links.
To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All Apps and find your new browser (like Opera). Click on Open by Default (or Start by Default). Here you will see the Open Supported Links switch. Make sure it is activated and below the domain list you select Open in this app.
A similar procedure is recommended for a standard browser, but with the opposite effect: Find Mi Browser in the list of applications, go to Open by Default and select Do not Open or turn off the link support switch, which will prevent the old browser from accidentally starting when you click on some types of specific links.
| Setup parameter | Action for a new browser | Action for Mi Browser | The result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open by default | Included. | Off. | Links open immediately |
| Supported references | Everything (http, https) | No. | Exclusion of conflicts |
| Launching from other applications | Permitted. | Forbidden. | Stable work |
| Alerts | If you wish, | Disconnected. | No advertising |
If the system continues to insist on selecting each time you run, try to clear the Settings service data (not the settings themselves, but the system component), but this is an extreme measure that requires caution.
Solving Settings Reset Problems After Updates
Owners of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro often complain that after the MIUI update, the settings are reset, and again there is an offer to open a link in the Mi Browser.This is a famous feature of the system's behavior, which prioritizes Google's own services and Xiaomi's after the changes in the file system.
To minimize risks, use the change blocking feature if available in your launcher version, and disable auto-update system applications through your Google Play account settings helps, but it is not recommended to disable security updates completely, as this can open vulnerabilities.
There is a method of "freezing" a standard browser through ADB-If you have a computer and minimal command line skills, it doesn't require root rights, but it requires debugging. USB.
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.browserThis command deactivates a standard browser at the user level, making it impossible for the system to run it accidentally, but be careful: if you deactivate a single browser on the system and the new one does not start for some reason, you may be left without access to the Internet until the settings are reset.
⚠️ Attention: Use ADB-commands to disable system components can lead to loss of warranty or unstable operation of the smartphone with incorrect input.
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If the settings are lost after the update, do not rush to reinstall the browser. Just re-travel the path "Default Apps" - it will take 10 seconds.
Optimization of the selected browser on Redmi Note 8 Pro
After successfully installing the main browser, you should take care of its performance on the Snapdragon processor (or Helio depending on the regional version of the Redmi Note 8 Pro). Proper power saving settings will allow pages to load faster and video play without jerking.
Go to the battery settings and find the browser installed. Select "No Limits" or "No Limits" mode so that the system does not kill the process in the background. This is especially important for instant messengers and social networks that use built-in browsers to preview links.
- 🚀 Enable hardware acceleration in the settings of the browser itself for smooth scrolling.
- 🛡️ Install an ad blocker (AdGuard or built-in) to reduce the load on the ad blocker. CPU.
- 💾 Clean the cache regularly as the Redmi Note 8 Pro has a fast drive, but overflowing cache slows down work.
- 🌙 Use a dark topic if you have a AMOLED-screen, to save battery power.
It is also recommended to synchronize passwords and history through a cloud account, which will allow you to instantly restore all tabs and stored data in the event of a reset or purchase of a new device.