How to change the default player on Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

The standard media player on Xiaomi devices, Mi Video or Mi Music, often doesn’t suit users due to limited functionality, advertising or an uncomfortable interface, especially for owners of Mi TVs, Mi Boxes and smartphones on MIUI, where embedded applications can automatically open files, ignoring user preferences. In this article, we will discuss how to completely replace the default player, including hidden settings, bypassing system restrictions and solving typical problems.

It’s important to understand that the process differs depending on the type of device (smartphone, TV, console) and firmware version. For example, on MIUI 14 the player change algorithm is simplified, and on Mi TV Stick you will need to use ADB. We will look at all the current methods, including manual configuration through developer parameters, installing third-party players with DRM support, and even modifying system files for advanced users.

If you’ve tried to change the player before, but after updating the system, the settings reset – there’s a solution for this, and we’ll also analyze which alternative players work best with MKV, FLAC and DTS formats on Xiaomi devices, and why some applications (such as VLC or Kodi) may not become default players without additional manipulation.

Why Xiaomi’s standard player doesn’t suit users

Xiaomi’s built-in players, Mi Video (for video) and Mi Music (for audio), have a number of limitations that force you to look for alternatives:

• 🎵 No format support: Do not play FLAC, ALAC, DTS-HD or MKV with multichannel sound without conversion.
• 📺 Advertising and Mi Account integration: Banners are displayed in players, and some features require authorization.
• 🔄 Outside drives are not always visible on OTG- flash drives or network drives SMB.
• 🎚️ Limited equalizer settings: No presets for audiophiles or manual frequency adjustments.

On Mi TVs and Mi Box consoles, the system is made worse by the fact that it is forced to open media files in Mi Video, even if Kodi or Plex is installed. This is due to Xiaomi's policy of blocking the default player change to "protect the user experience."

On devices older than MIUI 12.5, it is not possible to change the player by default through the standard system settings - you will need to use ADB or a modification of the build.prop file.

Method 1: Change the player through system settings (for MIUI 13/14 and Mi TV)

Current MIUI (13 and later) and Mi TVs with PatchWall have partial support for changing the default player, but the algorithm doesn't work for all file formats.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select the Default Apps.
3. Slip on the item Music player or Video player.
4. In the list, select an alternative application (such as VLC or Poweramp).

Limitations of the method:

• 🚫 Doesn't work for files with.mkv,.flac,.ape extensions -- they'll still open in the built-in player.
• 🔄 On Mi TV TVs, settings may reset after rebooting.
• 📱 On smartphones with MIUI 12.5 and below, this menu item may not be available.

If the player you want isn't listed, it doesn't support media intent processing, for example, Kodi doesn't show up in this menu because it uses its own file manager, so go to Method 2.

Method 2: Using ADB to force a player change (universal method)

Devices where standard settings don’t work (such as Mi TV Stick or Redmi Note 10 on MIUI 12.5) will require ADB connectivity. This method allows you to manually set the default player for any format.

Step 1: Preparation

1. Download Google’s Platform Tools and unpack the archive.
2. Turn on USB Debugging on your device: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (tap 7 times), then go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging over USB.
3. Connect the device to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.

Step 2. Teams to change player:

adb shell am start -a android.settings.MANAGE_DEFAULT_APPS_SETTINGS


adb shell cmd package set-home-activity [Player Package]/[Activity]

For popular players, use the following packages:

Example of a team for VLC:

adb shell cmd package set-home-activity org.videolan.vlc/org.videolan.vlc.gui.video.VideoPlayerActivity

adb shell cmd package clear-defaults [Clear-default]

For example, to reset Mi Video: adb shell cmd package clear-defaults com.miui.videoplayer-->

⚠️ Warning: Some Xiaomi devices (e.g., Mi TV 4S) will require a reboot after the commands are executed. If the player has not changed, check if the selected application supports file processing via Intent (this can be specified in the description of the player in Google Play).

Method 3: Modify the build.prop file (for power users)

This method is suitable for devices with unlocked bootloader and root rights. It allows you to forcibly disable the built-in player at the system level, forcing Android to use an alternative application.

Instructions:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer).
2. Go to /system/build.prop and open the file in the text editor.
3. Add a line to the end of the file: ro.miui.default_video_player=org.videolan.vlc (replace org.videolan.vlc with the desired player package).
4. Save the file, restart the device.

Risks of the method:

• 🔧 Incorrect editing build.prop can lead to bootloop (locked on).
• 🔒 After the firmware update, the changes will reset.
• 🛡️ On devices with a locked bootloader (Mi TV, most smartphones), this method does not work.

Method 4: Using a file manager to bind formats

Some file managers (such as Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer) allow you to manually assign applications to open specific extensions.

How to tie the format to the player:

1. Install Solid Explorer from Google Play.
2. Open the manager and go to Settings → File Association.
3. Select an extension (such as.mp4 or.flac).
4. In the list of applications, specify the desired player and click Save.

⚠️ Warning: On Mi TV TVs, this method only works for local files. If you open media through DLNA or SMB, the system will still use Mi Video. Network sources will require settings via ADB (see Method 2).

Advantages of the method:

• 🔄 Does not require rooting or ADB.
• 📁 Works for external drives (USB-OTG, SD- cards).
• 🔒 Settings are saved after updates.

Method 5: Install custom firmware (for enthusiasts)

If none of these methods worked, the radical solution is to install custom firmware like LineageOS or Pixel Experience, which will completely remove Xiaomi’s built-in players and allow any alternatives to be used without restrictions.

The advantages of custom firmware:

• 🎛️ Full control of system applications (you can remove Mi Video and Mi Music).
• 🔄 Supports all formats without additional settings.
• 📱 No advertising and forced integrations with Mi Account.

Cons and risks:

• 🔧 Requires unlocking the bootloader (violates warranty).
• 🔒 Possible problems with DRM (Netflix, Disney+ will not work in HD).
• 📡 There are virtually no custom firmware on Mi TV TVs.

For firmware installation, follow the official instructions on the XDA Developers forum, for example, Pixel Experience is suitable for the Redmi Note 11, and CoreELEC (specialized firmware for media centers) is suitable for the Mi Box S.

💡

Custom firmware is the only way to completely get rid of Xiaomi’s built-in players, but it’s only suitable for experienced users, ready for possible bugs and loss of warranty.

Top-5 alternative players for Xiaomi in 2026

The choice of player depends on the type of content and device, we tested more than 15 applications and made a ranking of the best options for Xiaomi:

For Mi TVs, Kodi (because of support for 10-bit HDR and Dolby Vision) is the best choice, and for smartphones, VLC or MX Player (due to optimization for mobile screens).

⚠️ Warning: On devices with MIUI 14 and later, some players (e.g., Kodi) may not work properly with DRM- content due to Widevine L1 limitations. Check support on the developer's website before installing.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

When you change the default player, users face typical problems, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them:

• 🔄 "Settings reset after rebooting" Solution: Use ADB for forced binding (see Method 2) or install the player as a system application via Magisk.
• 📁 "Player does not see files on USB- drive" Solution: In the player settings, enable the option to Scan external devices or use Solid Explorer to manually select files.
• 🎵 "No sound in an alternative player" Solution: Install the DTS/Dolby codec (e.g., MX Player Custom Codec) or use a player with Passthrough support (e.g., Kodi).
• 🔒 "You can't change the player to Mi TV" Solution: On Xiaomi TVs, you can only change the player through ADB or the CoreELEC installation (for power users).

If the player refuses to play files with the.mkv or.flac extension, check if it supports these formats. For example, Google Play Music does not work with FLAC, and Mi Video does not play MKV with multichannel sound.

💡

To check which codec is used for playback, in VLC or MX Player, open the file information (button i in the player). If Unknown is indicated next to the audio track, then the codec is not supported.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions