How to return the standard “Open with help” application to Xiaomi Redmi: 5 working ways

Have you ever encountered a situation where your Xiaomi Redmi persistently opens files or links in the wrong app? For example, photos suddenly start running in a little-known editor instead of a standard gallery, and links start running in a browser you haven't used in a long time. This happens due to a failure in the default settings in the MIUI system. Fortunately, you can return everything to place in a few minutes - and in this article we will analyze 5 proven ways, including hidden features that are not written in the official documentation.

The problem is especially relevant for users who are actively testing new applications or accidentally confirmed the choice of a program when opening a file. Android (and its MIUI shell from Xiaomi) remembers these actions, but does not always provide an obvious way to cancel. In some cases, standard settings can be blocked due to updates or conflicts between applications. We will look at solutions for all versions of MIUI — from MIUI 12 to MIUI 14, and also take into account the features of the Redmi Note 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10 and flagship models.

Important: If you use custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), some methods may not work. ADB-Teams – it is universal for any Android device.

1. Reset applications by default via MIUI settings

The easiest and safest way to do this is to use the built-in MIUI tools, which work on all Xiaomi Redmi smartphones, including budget models like the Redmi A1 and the top-end Redmi K50.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to the Appendix section → Application management.
3. In the upper right corner, press three dots (⋮) and select Resetting App Settings.
4. Confirm the action by clicking Reset settings in the window that appears.

This option will reset all default settings for all apps, including:

• 📷 Gallery – Photos and videos will be opened again in a standard viewer.
• 🌐 Browser – Links will stop automatically opening in Chrome or Mi Browser if you don’t want to.
• 📄 Documents –.pdf,.docx and others will return to standard programs.
• 🎵 Music – audio files will be played in Mi Music or another player of your choice.

⚠️ Note: This method does not delete the application data, but resets all permissions (camera, microphone, location) and after resetting, you will have to re-confirm permissions for certain programs, such as WhatsApp or Instagram.

If the problem persists after the reset, move on to the next method – it is possible that the conflict is caused by a particular application.

2. Manually modifying the default application for a specific file type

If resetting all settings seems too radical, you can return a standard application only for certain types of files, for example, if you are annoyed that.apk files open in ES Explorer instead of Mi File Manager.

How to do this:

1. Find the file type you want (such as a.jpg photo or a.pdf document) in Explorer.
2. Click on the file and hold your finger for 1-2 seconds until the context menu appears.
3. Choose to Open with Help (or More) → Open with help).
4. In the list of applications, find the right one (for example, a photo gallery) and tick next to the inscription Always.
5. Confirm your choice by pressing OK.

If the application is not listed, it is either deleted or does not support this type of file.

• 🔍 Install the missing app from Google Play (e.g. Google Photos for viewing images).
• 🔄 Restart your phone – sometimes the system doesn’t immediately update the list of available programs.
• 📱 Check if the application is disabled in the settings (Settings) → Annexes → [Name of name] → Turn it on).

⚠️ Note: Some Redmi models with MIUI 13+ The option may always be missing due to Google's default choice limit policy. ADB-method (section 4).

Make sure the required applications are installed

Close all open programs

Connect your phone to charge (in case of a long procedure)

Backup important data (optional)-->

3. Correction through "Special Opportunities" (for MIUI 12–14)

A little-known trick: some versions of MIUI duplicate the default settings in the Special Features section, which is useful if the standard path from Section 1 has failed or is blocked.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Settings. → Special facilities.
2. Scroll down and find the Application Settings (or Application Management) section.
3. Select the Applications by default.
4. In the list, find the file type or action (e.g., Browser, Phone, Camera) and click on it.
5. Select the desired application from the offered ones or click Reset to return the standard one.

This method is particularly effective for:

• 📞 Calls – if outgoing calls suddenly began to be made via Skype or Viber.
• 📧 Mail – if the emails are opened not in Gmail, but in a third-party client.
• 🗺️ Map – if the addresses are automatically opened in Yandex.Maps instead of Google Maps.

If the default App partition is missing, your version of MIUI does not support this method. Try alternative methods from the following sections.

4.Dumping through ADB-commands (universal method for all Android devices)

If previous methods didn’t work, it’s time to use the Android debugging bridge (ADB), which works on any Xiaomi Redmi smartphone, regardless of the MIUI version, and even custom firmware, you’ll need a computer with ADB drivers installed and USB debugging enabled on the phone.

Instructions:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Click 7 times on the MIUI Version until you become a developer!

USB debugging

• Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
• Activate the debugging switch over USB.
• Connect your phone to your computer via USB and select File Transfer mode.
• Open Command Prompt (CMD) or Terminal on Mac/Linux and type: Adb devices Make sure your device appears in the list.
• Run the command to reset all default settings: adb shell cmd package reset-preferred-activities

To reset your settings for a specific application only (e.g. Chrome) use:

adb shell pm clear com.android.chrome

After you execute the commands, restart your phone. All default settings will be reset, and the system will prompt you to reselect the applications the next time you open the files.

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB Do not execute commands unless you are sure of their purpose, for example, the command adb shell pm clear without specifying the package will delete the data of all applications!

1. Install Xiaomi USB Driver drivers from the official website.

2. switch the connection mode from MTP to PTP and back.

3. Use the original USB-cable (cheap cables often do not support data transmission).-->

5. Removal of conflicting applications (if reset did not help)

Sometimes the problem lies in a particular application that has seized the right to open files and doesn't want to let it go, and most often the culprits are:

• 📁 File managers (ES Total Commander – can block the standard Mi File Manager.
• 🌐 browsers (UC Browser, Opera – aggressively appointing themselves as link handlers.
• 📷 Photo editors (PicsArt, Snapseed) – can replace the standard gallery.
• 🎮 Launchers (Nova Launcher, POCO Launcher – sometimes conflict with system settings.

To solve the problem:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find a suspicious app and open its settings.
3. Click Remove (or Disable if deletion is not possible).
4. Restart your phone and check if the default settings are back.

If deletion is undesirable (for example, you often use the app), try:

• 🔄 Clear the cache and application data (Settings) → Annexes → [Name of name] → Warehouse → Clear the data).
• 📥 Update the application to the latest version.
• 🚫 To prevent the application from opening files by default in its settings (if such an option is available).

For example, for ES Conductor:

1. Open the app.
2. Go to Settings → Additional → Default settings.
3. Uncheck all the ticks next to the file types.

Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

To make it easier for you to determine, we have collected the key features of each method in the table:

If none of the methods worked, the problem may be the damage to the system files, in which case only a full reset (hard reset) or flashing through the Mi Flash Tool will help.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When trying to return default settings, users often face typical problems, and here’s how to prevent them:

• 🔒 «Settings are blocked by the administrator, which means that the phone has an application with administrator rights (for example, Find My Device or corporate). MDM). To unlock: Go to Settings → Passwords and security → Device administrators, uncheck the unneeded apps.

“Settings are reset themselves after rebooting”

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up to enter Recovery.
3. Select Wipe cache partition (not to be confused with Wipe data!).

“There is no “Reset application settings” item”

MIUI

ADB

⚠️ Note: On smartphones Xiaomi with MIUI for Russia (versions) RU) Some system applications, like the Mi Browser, can be rigidly tied to certain actions, and then they can't be reset by standard methods. ADB or manual removal through TWRP.

💡

If you’re using Redmi with an unlocked bootloader, the most reliable way is to install the Default App Manager module through Magisk, which gives you full control over the default settings without the limitations of MIUI.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions