How to turn on the default browser on Xiaomi: 3 proven ways

Why can’t you just choose your default browser on Xiaomi?

Xiaomi’s MIUI-based smartphones are known for their customization of Android, but sometimes this flexibility comes with unexpected limitations. Unlike pure Android, where the default browser change takes 2 clicks, Redmi, POCO or Mi devices can turn the process into a real quest, the reason for this is the aggressive integration of branded services, where the Mi Browser browser is often blocked as a system application.

After upgrading to MIUI 14 or Android 13/14, many users find that the Open by Default button in the application settings simply disappears for third-party browsers. This is not a bug, but a feature of the firmware: Xiaomi forcibly reserves the processing of web links for its browser, even if you have never used it. But you can bypass this limitation - and we will show how.

In this article you will find:

• 🔹 Official method through settings (works on 60% of devices)
• 🔹 Bypass using ADB (for advanced users)
• 🔹 Hidden settings MIUI, which are not written in the manuals
• 🔹 What to do if the default button is inactive

Method 1: Standard browser change through Android settings

Let’s start with the simplest method that works on most Xiaomi devices with MIUI 12-14 and Android 10-14, but be prepared for the fact that some firmware may block this path.

Instructions:

1. Open the settings (cog icon on the desktop).
2. Go to the Appendix section → Application management.
3. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select the Default Apps.
4. Click on the Browser line.
5. In the list, select the browser you want (such as Chrome or Firefox).

If you see Mi Browser instead of a browser list and you can’t change it, go to Method 2. Also check if you have regional restrictions: some firmwares in China or India have a default browser change blocked at the system level.

Make sure the browser is installed | Check the version of MIUI in the About Phone settings | Disable VPN (can block changes) |Reboot your phone before setting up

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⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI For the EU (European firmware), after changing the browser, the default function "Quick Search" in the notification panel may stop working. This is due to the fact that Xiaomi links the search bar to the Mi Browser.

Method 2: Reset application settings (if the button is inactive)

If the default app menu doesn’t want Xiaomi to “let go” of the primary, try resetting all application settings. This method works on 80% of devices and doesn’t require root rights.

Step-by-step:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the top corner and select Reset App Settings.
3. Confirm the action (a password or pattern lock may be required).
4. After reset, try again assigning the browser to default via Settings → Applications → Default Apps.

This method will work if the problem was caused by a cache failure, but it will also reset all permissions for applications (camera, microphone, etc.), so after the procedure you will have to reconfigure the permissions for key programs.

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If the browser choice is still unavailable after reset, try temporarily disabling Mi Browser through the application settings (the "Disable" button), sometimes this "unlocks" the system.

Method 3: Using ADB to Force Browser Change

If previous methods fail, you’ll need to connect to the device via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), an advanced way that requires a computer and minimal technical skills, but it’s guaranteed to work on all versions of MIUI.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original)
• 📱 Included debugging by USB phone-on
• 🛠️ Google's Platform Tools utility

Instructions:

1. Activate Developer Mode on Xiaomi: go to Settings → About Phone and tap the MIUI version 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect the phone to the PC and type in the command line:

adb devices

(Your device should appear)

adb shell pm clear --user 0 com.android.browser

(This will reset the Mi Browser settings)

adb shell cmd package set-home-activity com.android.chrome/com.google.android.apps.chrome.Main

(Replace com.android.chrome with your browser package if you are not using Chrome)

After you execute the commands, restart your phone. Now, when you open the links, a browser selection window should appear.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi firmware after use ADB You may be able to reset the Widevine certificate. L1 (reviewer HD-content from Netflix, Disney+ To avoid this, before changing the settings through ADB Make a backup of the data in Settings → Google → Backup.

Problems after changing the browser and their solutions

Even if you manage to assign a new browser by default, Xiaomi may experience side effects, and here are the most common ones and ways to eliminate them:

1. Links still open in Mi Browser

• 🔄 Check if Mi Browser is installed as a system application for specific types of links. → Annexes → Mi Browser → Open supported links and disable all options.
• 📱 Remove updates to Mi Browser via Settings → Annexes → Mi Browser → Three points. → Remove updates.

2. The search bar on the desktop has disappeared

• 🔍 Install Google Search or Chrome widget manually: a long tap on your desktop → Widgets → Find the widget of the desired browser.
• 🎨 If you use POCO Launcher, upgrade to the latest version – new versions support third-party search widgets.

3. push notifications from the browser do not work

• 🔔 Go to Settings. → Notifications → Additionally. → Notification feeds and enable notifications for your browser.
• 🛡️ Check if your security is blocking them. MIUI: Settings → Annexes → Permit management → Auto-start.

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If, after all the manipulations, the links still open in Mi Browser, try temporarily disabling it through Settings → Applications → Mi Browser → Disable. This will force the system to use an alternative browser.

Alternative method: Using Launchers

If none of these methods worked, the way to do this is to install an alternative launcher (desktop shell) that ignores the limitations of MIUI.

• 🌟 Nova Launcher – supports browser assignment by default at the launcher level.
• 🔧 Lawnchair is an open source lightweight launcher compatible with MIUI 14.
• ⚡ Hyperion Launcher – Optimized for Devices Xiaomi/POCO.

How it works:

1. Install the selected launcher from Google Play.
2. Assign it to the default launcher (the corresponding window will appear at the first start).
3. In the launcher settings, find the Default or Default Apps section and select the desired browser.

The advantage of this method is that it does not affect the system settings of MIUI, so it will not cause conflicts with updates, but some features (such as navigation gestures) may work differently than in a standard launcher.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing the browser to Xiaomi