How to choose the default application Xiaomi Redmi

Owners of Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones often face the obsessive politics of the MIUI ecosystem and the new HyperOS. The system tries to keep the user on its standard solutions: the Mi Browser browser, the standard caller and the proprietary launcher. However, Android is an open platform that gives you the right to choose, and knowing how to choose the default application Xiaomi Redmi is the key to personalizing the device.

Often, after updating your firmware or installing a new launcher, settings can be reset, returning the user to the factory settings. This is annoying, especially if you are used to a different interface or functionality of third-party programs. In this article, we will discuss in detail the algorithms for all versions of the shells, so you can configure the system once and forget about constant reminders.

It is important to understand that the change process may vary depending on the version of Android and the specific modification of MIUI. Some of this is done through the application settings, and some require a preference reset. We will look at all the nuances so that you do not have any white spots in the understanding of the operation of the operatic system of your gadget.

Why Change Standard Apps to Xiaomi

The standard set of programs preinstalled by Xiaomi is often called “bloated.” Many users prefer to install lighter or more functional analogues from Google Play. For example, a standard browser may consume too much battery life, and a third-party call may have a better number detector.

When you install a new program, the system doesn't always automatically switch to it. You need to manually specify that it is the software that should open certain types of files or perform specific actions. Without this setup, Android will continue to use old, built-in solutions, ignoring your new installations.

Also, the right setup allows you to get rid of the constant pop-ups with the question "Open with help?". If you want links to always open in Chrome and PDF files to open in Adobe Reader, you need to fix this choice in the system, otherwise every time you click on a link, the phone will ask your opinion.

⚠️ Note: Some system applications, such as Xiaomi’s Security or File Manager, are deeply integrated into the shell, and their complete replacement may lead to system instability or errors in other services.

Replaceable applications also affect power consumption: Optimized third-party programs often run more efficiently than stock counterparts, which has a positive effect on device autonomy, especially for older Redmi models, where every percentage of charge counts.

Global configuration of application categories

The main way to manage preferences is in the back of the system menu, which is where you decide which browser will open the link from the messenger, and which program will be used for calls, and access to these settings is unified, but the names of items may vary slightly.

To start, you need to go to the main menu of smartphone settings, find the section that is responsible for managing all installed programs, in different versions of MIUI it can be simply called "Apps" or "Apps and notifications".

Inside this section, there's a key subsection that users often ignore, and you need to look for the default app. When you click on it, you'll see a list of categories: browser, calls, SMS, launcher, and more.

When you select the right category, the system will offer you a list of all compatible programs installed on the device. For example, when you select a browser, you will see Chrome, Yandex, Opera and Mi Browser. Just click on the desired option, and it will become a priority.

It's important to note that for some categories, the choices may be limited, and if you don't install an alternative call, you'll only have a standard call, so you'll need to download and install the software you need from Google Play, and then assign it to the primary one.

Configure through the "Application Management" section

Sometimes the global settings are not saved or the desired item is hidden, and in such cases, a more detailed approach through the management of a particular application helps, this method allows you to force the program to be assigned to the main one, even if it is not selected through the common menu.

Go to Settings → Apps → All apps. In the list that opens, find the program you want to make the main one, for example, if you want to use WhatsApp instead of a standard call (if this feature is supported) or a third-party launcher.

When you open the application card, scroll down to Default or Default Launch. If the program supports default assignment, there will be a button that will be used, and if you click on it, you can activate the status of the main application for this category.

Note that new versions of HyperOS may have slightly different interfaces, but the logic remains the same: look for a specific application and look at its internal startup settings.

If the default button is inactive or not, the developer has not put this option in place, or the system blocks this action for security reasons, in which case you will have to settle for a standard choice or look for an analogue.

Resetting application settings by default

There are times when the settings get lost, or you want to get back to the way they were, like when you delete the main browser, the links stopped opening, or the system got stuck in a program selection cycle, and then a complete preference reset helps.

This feature doesn't delete your data, photos or contacts, it just clears the memory of which apps you've chosen to play a major role in the various actions, and once reset, the system will start asking you again every time you do it, until you make a new choice.

To reset, go to Settings → Applications → All apps. In the upper right corner of the screen, find a three-dot menu. In the drop-down list, select Reset App Settings.

⚠️ Note: After resetting, you will have to reconfirm your choice of apps to open links and files.Be prepared for the fact that the system will often ask for your opinion in the first hours of use.

Confirm the action in a pop-up window. It only takes a few seconds. It's a universal way to solve problems when the phone has forgotten, rather than open certain file formats.

Sometimes users confuse this reset with a full factory reset. Don't worry, your personal files will remain intact. Only system preferences and file association with programs are deleted.

Features of the launcher change to MIUI and HyperOS

Changing the desktop (launcher) is the most popular request among Xiaomi owners: users want to see a different design, widgets or just get rid of advertising in the standard shell, but Xiaomi has implemented a mechanism that makes this process difficult.

When you try to install a third-party launcher (like a Nova Launcher) and assign it to the main one, the system can issue a warning about potential instability or block access to the selection menu.

Usually, after you set up the launcher and you try to press the Home button, you get a choice window, and if it's not there, or it disappears, you go to the launcher settings and you find "Make Main" there, and the system redirects you to the security menu.

The security menu will allow the use of a third-party launcher, and then quickly (in 5 seconds) select the desired launcher from the list before the timer expires, if you do not have time, the choice will not remain.

This feature is annoying to many, but it's part of the company's policy that once installed successfully, the new interface will become the main one, and the navigation buttons will work through the new program.

Table of conformity of categories and annexes

To make it easier for you to navigate, we've created a table that shows you which standard applications you can replace and which you can replace, which helps you understand where flexibility is possible and where the system dictates its conditions.

As you can see from the table, replacing most applications is pretty easy, and problems can only arise with the launcher and, in some regions, with the call due to the requirements of the law on recording conversations.

Use this chart as a checklist when you first set up your new Redmi smartphone. Go through all the points to personalize your device immediately after you buy it.

Solving and eliminating errors

Even with strict adherence to instructions, errors can occur, and users often complain that choices are not saved after a reboot, which may be due to aggressive battery optimization that kills the background processes of third-party applications.

To avoid this, you need to go to the battery settings and set the "No Limits" mode for the selected main application, which allows the program to run stably and intercept the desired actions of the system.

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If after selecting the default application, it still does not open, try clearing the cache of both applications – both the one that should open and the one from which you are calling the action.

Another common problem is the conflict of versions: If you upgraded to Android but stayed on the old version of the launcher, crashes may begin. Always keep track of the updates of all key applications on Google Play.

In some cases, removing updates to the standard application you want to replace helps, and then the system may be more willing to prioritize the third-party counterpart.

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The main secret of success is not only to choose an application, but also to give it all the necessary permissions and remove restrictions on energy saving.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions