Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face intrusive behavior from a system that aggressively promotes its own Mi Browser. Even if you installed an alternative application, such as Google Chrome or Yandex, the system may ignore your choices when opening links from messengers or social networks. This is due to the features of the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS, which prioritize the company’s preinstalled services.
To make matters worse, the standard settings interface does not always allow you to simply select a new application with a single click. The user has to go through several menu levels to “mist” the preferences. There are also hidden settings that force you to open internal links in the system browser, ignoring manual selection. In this article, we will examine all the ways to solve the problem, from standard methods to advanced settings through the engineering menu.
You don't have to put up with the inconvenience, because the default browser is security, speed and no advertising. We'll look at the current ways for all firmware versions, including the latest security updates, and you'll learn to fully control which app responds to your clicks in any situation.
Why Xiaomi imposes its browser
Xiaomi’s policy is to build its own ecosystem of services that generate additional revenue through advertising integrations and data collection. Mi Browser is a key element of this strategy, so the system prevents its removal or replacement. Even after installing a third-party application, Android on Xiaomi smartphones can continue to redirect web queries to the native application.
Many users notice that after updating the firmware, settings are reset and links reopen in the wrong application, which is because updates often change packet identifiers or reset application priorities. It is also important to note that in some regions (e.g., the Global version of the Global version). ROM) Restrictions may be milder than in Chinese versions of China ROM.
⚠️ Warning: Aggressively imposing system applications can lead to increased battery consumption, as the background processes of the Mi Browser continue to work even when using other programs.
Understanding the logic of the shell helps to more effectively combat restrictions, the system checks not only the basic user choices, but also the settings of specific types of files and protocols, sometimes you need to reset the settings of all browsers to the selection menu appears again.
The standard method of changing through Android settings
The most reliable and secure way to change the priority application is to use the regular operating system settings menu, which works on most devices with MIUI 12, 13, 14 and HyperOS shells. First, make sure that the alternative browser is already installed and has all the necessary permissions.
Go to your smartphone’s Settings menu. Find an App section that can be called “All Apps” or “App Management.” In the list, find Settings (in some versions it’s at the top of the list or hidden in the three-point menu) and that’s where the default management is hidden.
Inside the app settings menu, find the default Apps section. In the category list, select the Browser. You will see a list of all the browsers you have installed. You will see the browser you want to use as your primary browser, like Chrome or DuckDuckGo.
☑️ Checking browser settings
Once selected, the system must confirm the action. However, if you have previously ticked the "Remember Choices" box for the Mi Browser, the system may not show the selection menu. In this case, you need to clear the default settings for the old browser. Find the Mi Browser application list, click on it and select the "Open by default" option, then click "Reset" settings.
Resolving the problem with internal links
Even after changing the default browser, Xiaomi users often encounter an annoying bug: links from apps (VK, Telegram, WhatsApp) open in a built-in window, not in the app of your choice. This is due to the Open Links feature inside the settings of the Mi Browser itself or the system component.
To fix this, go to Settings → Applications → All apps. Find the Browser (compass icon, system) in the list. Click on Open by default or Run by default. Here you will see the Open Supported Links switch.
If this item is inactive or hidden, try the following method: Go to the Mi Browser settings, scroll down to the "Additional" or "Privacy" section and find the setting associated with opening external links. In some versions, MIUI helps to clean the application's data through the storage menu.
| Action. | Where to find | The result |
|---|---|---|
| Resetting Mi Browser settings | Annexes → Mi Browser → Memory. | Resetting opening priorities |
| Disabling references | Applications → Browser → Open by default | Links stop opening inside |
| Choice in the system | Settings → Applications → By default | Global Browser Change |
| Clearing the cache | Settings → Storage → Cleaning | Delete temporary error files |
⚠️ Note: When resetting system browser settings, saved passwords and history may be deleted if they are not synced with the account.
It is important to check the settings of each particular messenger application. For example, Telegram has its own setting “Embedded browser”. Go to Telegram Settings → Data and memory → Built-in browser and disable this feature. Now all links will open in the application that you chose as the main one in the system.
Use Activity Launcher for Advanced Users
If standard methods don't work or menu items are hidden by the manufacturer, Activity Launcher comes to the rescue. This app allows you to access hidden Android activities, including deep settings that are not available through the normal interface. It is secure and does not require Root rights.
Download and install Activity Launcher from Google Play. Once launched, the app will scan the system and give you a long list of all activities. In the search bar, type in the word “default” or “browser.” You need to find an activity that is called something like com.android.settings.DefaultAppsSettings or contains the phrase “Default apps.”
com.android.settings.Settings$DefaultAppsSettingsActivityRunning this activity will open a hidden default app selection menu that may be different from the standard one, where you can often force a browser to be assigned even to protocols that the system previously ignored, especially for older versions of MIUI, where the menu was hidden deeper.
Risks of using third-party launchers
Another useful feature is to find the activity of a particular application: find your installed browser in the list, expand the list of its activities and see if there are items related to the default setting, sometimes the browser itself has a hidden menu for registration in the system.
Specifics of work in HyperOS and MIUI 14
With the release of HyperOS and the upgrade to MIUI 14, the default algorithms for working with applications have changed, the system has become more tightly controlled in the background and more often reset user preferences after rebooting, part of a memory optimization strategy that sometimes works against user convenience.
Newer versions of firmware offer an additional layer of protection, and even if you choose a different browser, the system can offer “Optimize” link opening, encouraging you to use Xiaomi services. To avoid this, you need not only to change your browser, but also to limit the rights of the Mi Browser to autorun.
Go to Settings → Applications → Permissions → Autorun. Find browsers in the list and leave only the one you use constantly on. For the system Mi Browser, it is better to deny autorun access, this will prevent it from activating when the system starts and reduce the likelihood of interception of links.
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Owners of devices with HyperOS are advised to disable the “Recommendations” function in the settings of the Mi Browser itself to remove pop-ups with suggestions to change the search engine or news feed.
HyperOS also has improved widgets, so if you use the Global Search widget on your desktop, it defaults to the system browser, and unfortunately, you can't change that behavior by regular means, but installing an alternative search widget (like Google) solves the problem.
Disabling advertising and optimizing work
After a successful browser replacement, it is recommended to perform additional optimizations to completely eliminate the surveillance and advertising that characterizes the Xiaomi ecosystem. Even if you do not use the Mi Browser, it can continue to collect data.
Go to the Mi Browser settings. Find the Privacy or Advanced section. Turn off all items related to personalizing ads, recommendations, and improving user experience. It's also helpful to disable notifications from this app so it doesn't remind you of itself.
For the third-party browser you chose as the primary, it’s also worth setting up: Turn on the ad blocker if you have one (as in Brave or Firefox with add-ons), and set up sync with your account.
⚠️ Note: Complete removal of the system browser (via ADB) It can cause errors in the weather widgets or news feed, and it's safer to just turn off notifications and autostart it than to delete it completely.
Regular cleaning of the cache of the main browser will help to work quickly. In the settings of the storage of the smartphone you can set up automatic garbage cleaning, but make sure that in the exception of important sites are added to avoid crashing from accounts.
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Full replacement of the browser on Xiaomi requires not only the choice of a new application in the settings, but also the forced disconnection of the system analogue from opening links and auto-start.