Xiaomi smartphone owners running MIUI 11 often face intrusive behavior from a system that forcibly opens links in their own Mi Browser browser.This annoys those used to the functionality of Google Chrome, Yandex Browser or Opera.The system artificially limits user choice by redirecting requests to a preinstalled app, even if you explicitly indicated otherwise.
The problem is that the standard Android settings in this interface are often hidden or not working properly. Forced installation of the application by default through the settings menu may not work the first time. You will need to perform a number of specific actions to “cheat” the MIUI algorithms and make the system remember your choices.
In this guide, we will look at all the known ways to solve this problem, we will look at both the classic methods through the application menu, and the deeper settings that allow you to completely disable the imposition of manufacturer services.
Why Mi Browser Opens Automatically
MIUI has deep integrations with its own services, which developers prioritize over third-party counterparts. When you click on a link on a messenger or social network, the system checks which application has the highest trust rating. In the case of Xiaomi, this application is assigned by default Mi Browser.
Often users will accidentally tick the "Always Open in this app" box on their first run without noticing the pop-up window. The system then blocks the choice of another browser until you forcefully reset these settings. MIUI 11 algorithms can ignore Android's standard preferences if a complete file association reset is not performed.
⚠️ Warning: Forcing the system browser to close or delete without properly configuring the replacement can cause links to stop opening altogether, causing cyclical system errors.
Also, some versions of MIUI have hidden configs that return settings to factory values after rebooting or updating security components, so it’s important not just to choose a browser, but also to consolidate this choice by disabling unnecessary permissions for a competitor.
Preparation for the browser change
Before you start changing your system settings, you need to make sure that the alternative browser is already installed and fully configured. Don't try to assign a browser that you just downloaded and have never run. Initializing an application is an important step in allowing the system to register it as a full-fledged tool for working with web content.
☑️ Checking system readiness
It is recommended to sign in to your account in the new browser in advance to sync passwords and history.This will make the transition as comfortable as possible. If you plan to use Chrome, make sure it is installed as a system update or downloaded from the official Google Play store, and not from third-party sources, which can cause access rights conflicts.
It is also worth checking for updates to the MIUI shell itself. Sometimes the bug with forced link opening is fixed in security patches. However, if the update did not help or you do not intentionally update, follow the instructions below. It is important that icons of all interested applications are available on the screen.
Method 1: Cleaning the default settings
The most reliable method, which works 90% of the time on MIUI 11, is to force the Mi Browser itself to reset, so we need to make sure that the system forgets that this browser exists as an option for opening links.
To start, go to your smartphone's Settings menu. Find the Apps section and select All Apps. In the list that opens, find the Mi Browser (could be simply called "Browser" with a compass icon). Click on it to open the Control menu.
Inside the app menu, find the default button or the default launch. If it's active, click on it and select Reset or Delete default settings. This action will break the link between the system links and the app.
What to do if the reset button is not active?
After reset, try to open any link from a message in Viber or Telegram. The system should give a selection box with the question "What to open?". Select your preferred browser and click "Always." If the window does not appear, go to the next section.
Method 2: Installation through the Application menu
If the first method failed, you can try to manually prioritize through global system settings, a path that is less obvious in MIUI 11, but allows you to manage the types of files you open in more detail.
Go to Settings → Applications. At the top of the screen, there is often a three-dot button or gear, click on it and select Application Management. At the top right of the menu, find three dots and select the default App option.
In the list that opens, look for the Browser. Click on it. You'll see a list of all browsers installed. Choose the one you want to use the primary browser. The system can alert you to change settings, confirm the action.
| Parameter | Description of action | Probability of success |
|---|---|---|
| Resetting the Mi Browser | Cleaning data and settings by default | Tall. |
| Global tuning | Selection in the "Default Applications" menu | Medium |
| Removal of updates | Recoil Mi Browser to the factory version | Low. |
| ADB team | Forced shutdown via PC | Maximum |
It is important to understand that in some MIUI builds, this menu item may be missing or inactive for system applications, in which case the system will ignore your choice until the link aggregator cache is reset.
💡
If the default apps list doesn’t have the right browser, try removing the Mi Browser updates to the factory version, then repeat the selection procedure.
Method 3: Advanced Adjustment through ADB
For users who are not afraid of complex manipulations, there is a way to guarantee the result: it requires a computer and an installed ADB driver. This method allows you to disable the preferences of the system browser at the package level.
You need to enable USB Debugging in the Developer Menu. To activate this menu, go to About Phone and quickly click on MIUI build number seven times. Then activate debugging in additional settings.
Connect your phone to your PC and enter the following command in the command line to reset preferences:
adb shell pm clear-android-preferred-activitiesThis command will forcefully clear all the records about which apps should open which types of links, and once executed, the system will ask you what to open the content, select the desired browser and consolidate the selection.
⚠️ Attention: Use ADB Introducing incorrect commands can lead to unstable system operation or loss of data, so follow the instructions clearly.
If the above command did not work, you can try to forcefully disable the Mi Browser component responsible for link processing, but this can disrupt the widgets. A safer option is to simply remove browser updates through the application menu if root rights are absent.
Removing or disabling Mi Browser
A radical but effective solution is to completely remove the system browser, but in MIUI 11, you can't do this with the standard root rights, you can only remove the updates by returning the application to its original state.
To minimize your browser impact, go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Mi Browser. Click Remove Updates. After that, click Stop and Disable (if the button is active). This will prevent background work and automatic updates.
To completely remove it, you will need to use Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools on PC or similar programs. They allow you to remove system applications without root rights, simply sending commands through debugging. Deleting the com.android.browser or com.mi.global.browser package will free the system from the dictates of the manufacturer.
💡
Complete removal of the system browser through ADB is the only way to get rid of the imposition of Xiaomi services forever without obtaining root rights.
Remember that removing system components may affect other features, such as news widgets or XiaoAI voice assistant, if they are tied to the browser engine.
Possible problems and solutions
Even after you have done all the work, you may find that the links start to open again in Mi Browser, which often happens after you update the system or restore the backup, in which case the default reset procedure will have to be repeated.
Sometimes the problem isn't in the browser, but in the app you're opening the link from, like Facebook or Instagram might have their own built-in browsers, check the settings of the specific application that's the source of the link, and maybe there's a "Open Links in the App" checkbox.
Also worth mentioning is version conflicts: If you're using MIUI beta or global firmware with a Chinese suite of applications, the behavior of the system may be different, and in such cases, installing a standard launcher and browser may partially solve the problem, but it doesn't guarantee 100% results.
⚠️ Attention: With frequent browser changes by default, the system may begin to behave unstable, giving an error "Application does not respond." In this case, only a complete reset of the phone settings will help.
If nothing works, consider installing customized switching apps from the Play Market Store, which can intercept intent requests and redirect them to the browser you want, acting as an intermediary between the system and web content.