How to install the default browser in Xiaomi: the complete guide

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face intrusive behavior of the system, which forcibly opens links in the branded Mi Browser or GetApps store, even if you prefer Google Chrome or Yandex. This is due to the features of the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS, where system algorithms prioritize the company’s own services. The user can look for a setup for a long time, not understanding why the unwanted application is launched again when clicking on a link in the messenger.

To make matters worse, the standard path in the settings menu is sometimes hidden or not working as expected in a classic Android.The system may not offer browser choice on first run if a forced action has been previously established. App resets or a complete reinstallation of the preferred browser often becomes the only working methods to solve the problem. In this article, we will break down all the current methods, from standard menus to hidden engineering options.

It is important to understand that Xiaomi algorithms are constantly updated, and the location of points can vary depending on the firmware version (Chinese or global). URL-We'll look at how to force this priority and avoid the imposition of manufacturer services.

Why Xiaomi is changing its browser without demand

The main reason for imposing Mi Browser lies in the deep integration of Xiaomi services into the MIUI shell. The system considers its browser a system component necessary for widgets, news feeds and some security features. When updating the firmware or the applications themselves, the default settings of the applications can be reset, and the system automatically returns its priorities.

In addition, there is a battery optimization and background mechanism that can block third-party browsers if they do not have the appropriate permissions. If you installed Firefox or Opera but did not give them full rights, the system will ignore them when trying to open a link from another application.

And there's also ad integrations, which sometimes the browser link doesn't open in the browser itself, but in the GetApps shell or the internal viewer, which is done to collect statistics and display ads, and this behavior can and should be disabled through privacy settings and special permissions for each application separately.

⚠️ Note: After major updates MIUI or switch to HyperOS, all default application settings can be reset. Always check this setting immediately after you update your system.

The standard way through Android settings

The classic default browser method in Xiaomi is not much different from pure Android, but has its own nuances in the name of the items. You need to go to the main settings menu and find the section responsible for managing applications. In different versions of the firmware, it can be simply called “Apps” or “Apps and notifications”.

Next, you'll find "Default Apps," and that's where it stores information about what software to use for calls, messages, and, of course, browsing the Internet. If Mi Browser is on the browser list, you need to change it. Click on this one and it will suggest a list of all the browsers you've installed, which you'll choose from, like Chrome.

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Annexes → All applications.
• 🌐 Find the default App item (often in the top menu or through three dots).
• ✅ Select the browser and specify the preferred application from the list.

If the default app is not in the main settings menu, try searching by settings. Type the word "browser" or "default" into the search bar and the system will redirect you to the desired section, which works on most devices with MIUI 12, 13, 14 and HyperOS.

Configuring through the management of a specific application

Sometimes the global settings don't apply correctly, and you need to manually configure each browser separately, which is more robust because it forces the system to use a particular application to open links, and you need to go to the card of the application itself that you want to make the main one.

In the application management menu, look for the "Default" or "Open by Default" section. Here you will see the "Open Supported Links" switch. It must be activated. If this switch is already on but the system ignores the choice, try turning it off first, then click "Delete Default Settings" (if the button is active), and turn it on again.

Once you do that, the system should remember your choices, but MIUI has a feature: even after you set up a link click, you can pop up a "Always" or "One Once" selection box. If you choose "One Once," the torment will recur. Make sure you choose "Always" to seal the result.

Resetting Mi Browser and GetApps settings

If standard methods don't work, and Xiaomi keeps pushing the links in its browser, you have to forget your current settings. The logic is simple: if the system doesn't know how to open links, it will ask you the first time it clicks, and you need to clear the default settings from the intrusive Mi Browser.

Go to Settings → Applications → All apps. Find Mi Browser (or GetApps if links open there). Go to its settings and find “Default” and click “Delete default settings.” Then, the next time you click on the link, the system will have to ask you which application to use.

You can do the same thing with your preferred browser if it's stuck. Cleaning up the default settings for Chrome or Yandex will reset their priority, which, combined with cleaning up the Mi Browser, will give you a clean slate for the new choice. It's one of the most effective ways to fight shell bugs.

⚠️ Attention: Clearing the data (not the default settings, namely the data) will delete the history, cache and saved passwords in the browser. Be careful not to confuse the paragraphs "Clear the data" and "Delete the default settings by default".

Comparison of popular browsers for MIUI

Choosing a browser for Xiaomi is not just a matter of habit, but also a matter of shell optimization: Some browsers work better with aggressive MIUI energy saving, others have built-in ad blockers, which is critical for Xiaomi users who are tired of ad integrations.

Below is a table comparing the main characteristics of popular browsers in the context of their work on Xiaomi devices, which will help you decide whether to switch to an alternative if the standard Mi Browser does not suit you.

It’s worth noting that Firefox and Brave often require manually configured startup permissions to work consistently in the background, while Yandex and Chrome usually already have the necessary certifications and trust from Xiaomi’s security system.

Solving Link Opening Problems in GetApps

A separate and very annoying problem for Xiaomi users is opening links to apps or games in the GetApps store instead of a browser, often when clicking on links from Telegram or Viber, and the system mistakenly identifies the link as a command to install the application.

To fix this, you need to find the GetApps store itself (can be called the App Store or Market) in its Open by Default settings, you need to turn off support for web links. If this is not possible, only removing store updates completely or disabling it if the firmware allows.

Also check the settings of a specific application-source link (for example, WhatsApp). In some cases, it is the messenger that “remembers” that links of this type should be opened through GetApps. In the settings of the messenger, find the “Default Apps” or “Open Links” section and reset preferences for application store domains.

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If GetApps keeps opening, try temporarily disabling the internet before clicking on a link, selecting a browser from the list (which will appear if the network is not available), and then turning on the internet. This sometimes helps to “outrun” the system’s priority.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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The main secret of success is consistency: first reset the settings from Mi Browser, then prioritize your browser and be sure to choose "Always" at the first test run of the link.