Modern Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones are equipped with MIUI shells or the new HyperOS, which have their own features of managing system applications. Often users are faced with a situation where links from messengers or social networks are opened in an unexpected application, rather than in the browser you used to use daily, this is due to a reset of priorities after updating the system or installing new software.
Setting up your browser by default is not just a matter of convenience, but also security, since you control which rendering engine handles web content. In this article, we will detail the algorithm for all current firmware versions, explain why the system can ignore your choices, and how to force the desired application for all links.
The customization process may vary slightly depending on the Android version and the regional version of the shell. We will look at the universal methods that work on most devices, and also touch on the specific nuances that are characteristic of Chinese firmware versions and global builds. Prepare for the fact that the interface may look a little different, but the logic of actions will remain unchanged.
Why Change the Standard Browser on Xiaomi
The standard Mi Browser browser, preinstalled on the system, is often criticized for intrusive advertising and excessive resource consumption in the background. Many users prefer to install lighter or more functional alternatives, such as Google Chrome, Yandex Browser or Firefox. However, simply installing an app is not enough - you need to change system priorities.
If you don't assign a preferred application, the system will ask you what to do each time you open a link, or it will use the first one that comes up on the list of compatible programs, which creates unnecessary actions and slows down, and installing the browser by default allows you to automate this process, making navigation on the network instant and predictable.
In addition, specialized browsers often offer better synchronization with desktop versions, built-in ad blockers and traffic saving modes. The transition to an alternative solution is especially relevant for owners of devices with a small amount of RAM, as third-party engines can work more optimized than the stock solution.
- 🚀 Speed: Specialized browsers often load pages faster thanks to advanced data compression algorithms.
- 🔒 Security: Regular updates to rendering engines in popular browsers close vulnerabilities faster than patches for stock apps.
- 🎨 Interface: The ability to fine-tune the appearance, themes and arrangement of controls under your habits.
⚠️ Warning: After installing a new browser, the system may retain old file associations for a while.If links still open in the old app, try restarting the device.
Where to find application settings in MIUI and HyperOS
To change the default settings, you need to get into the deep application management menu. In Xiaomi shells, the path to these settings may not be obvious to the beginner. There are two main ways to get to the desired section: through the general system settings or through the menu of a particular application.
The first method is the most universal. You have to open Settings, then go to the Apps section. Here's the All Apps item, where you have the full list of installed software. Find your browser on the list, click on it, and you'll be taken to the management menu of that particular application.
The second method is faster if you're already on the desktop: Find a browser icon, pinch it for one second before the context menu appears, and select About the app (often indicated by the i icon in the circle), which immediately opens the desired window with version information, memory and control buttons.
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Use search in settings: type the word “apps” in the search bar at the top of the settings menu to instantly get to the desired section without long clicks on the menu.
The interface of the menu can vary. With new versions of HyperOS, the design has become more minimal, but the structure has remained the same. The main thing is to find the section responsible for launching by default.
Step-by-step: browser assignment
Once you have opened the management menu of your browser (e.g. Chrome or Yandex), you need to find the launch option, depending on the version of the shell, it can be called “Default Launch”, “Open by Default” or “Default apps”.
Click on this. If the browser is not already in charge, you will see a "Start by default" button or switch. Activate it. The system may issue a warning that using this application may reduce security or performance — this is a standard MIUI message that can be ignored if you trust the browser developer.
☑️ Checking browser settings
In some cases, the system will prompt you to select an action for certain types of files or links. Make sure you select "Always open in this application." If you accidentally select "Only once", the system will ask you again every time you click on the link.
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Key point: If the activation button is gray or not pressed, then another browser has already been assigned to the system, and you need to first reset the settings of the current “main” application.
Once activated, you should check the result. Open any messenger, find a link and click on it. If the browser you selected opened without further questions, the setup was successful.
Resetting default settings for all applications
There are times when the browser you want doesn't appear on the list of choices, or when the system gets stuck on an old app you've already removed, in which case the way is to completely reset your app preferences, and this action doesn't delete your data, photos or contacts, but it returns all system associations to factory values.
To do this, go to Settings → Applications → All Apps. In the upper right corner of the screen, click on the three dots (menu) and select Reset App Settings or Reset Preferences. Confirm the action in the window that appears.
After resetting the first click on the link, the system will forcefully ask you which browser you want to open. URL-In this window, be sure to select the desired application and check the option "Always" with a tick or button».
| Action. | The way is on the menu | The result |
|---|---|---|
| Resetting one annex | Apps → Select App → Clean by Default | The system will ask again when clicking on the link |
| Global discharge | Settings → Applications → Menu (3 points) → Reset | Reset all associations of files and links in the system |
| Clearing the cache | Apps → Select app → Clean → Cash | Deletes temporary files without affecting settings |
This procedure is especially useful after major Android updates, when old settings may conflict with new shell safety regulations.
Problems with the Chinese version of firmware (CN ROM)
Owners of devices imported from China or purchased on marketplaces with the Chinese version of MIUI CN often face aggressive behavior of the system, in such firmware, the built-in browser is system and secure, and it is sometimes impossible to replace it with standard methods without additional manipulation.
The system can ignore user choices and force links to Mi Browser, due to the deep integration of Xiaomi services in the Chinese region.To solve the problem, it often requires not only changing the default browser, but also disabling or “freezing” the stock browser through the stock browser. ADB-commands or special dispatcher applications.
How to disable the system browser through ADB
Chinese versions also often feature MSA (MIUI System Ads) service, which can interfere with the process of opening links to display ads, and disabling this service in authorization settings can partially solve the problem of intrusion.
⚠️ Warning: Be careful when disabling system components. Complete removal of critical packages can lead to unstable interface operation or cyclical reboot.
If you are not confident in your abilities, it is better to limit yourself to installing a third-party browser and carefully adjusting priorities, without resorting to removing system components.