How to change the application to open files on Xiaomi: a detailed guide

Xiaomi’s MIUI-based smartphones often automatically assign standard applications to open certain types of files — whether photos, documents or archives. However, embedded programs (such as Files or Gallery) don’t always suit users in functionality or convenience. The question is, how do you reassign these associations to third-party applications like Solid Explorer, FX File Manager or dedicated PDF viewers?

In this article, we’ll break down all the ways to change the default apps on Xiaomi – from standard Android settings to hidden features. MIUI, We'll focus on the typical problems of why the system ignores your choices, how to reset associations to factory ones, and what to do if the desired application does not appear on the list of available ones. MIUI (12 to 14) and features of working with files on external drives.

Why Xiaomi automatically selects applications for files

The Android operating system (and the MIUI shell in particular) uses a file association mechanism to simplify the user experience. When you first open a file of a certain format (for example,.pdf or.apk), the system offers to select an application from the list and suggests making it by default. This choice is saved in the settings and applies to all files of this type in the future.

There are several reasons why standard apps can be assigned automatically on Xiaomi:

• 🔹 Pre-setting MIUI: The manufacturer pre-associates popular formats (e.g.,.jpg with Gallery,.mp3 with music) to unify experiences.
• 🔹 System updates: After major updates MIUI (For example, from 13 to 14) associations can be dropped to factory.
• 🔹 Battery Optimization: Some applications lose their default rights after long downtime due to energy-saving mechanisms.
• 🔹 Application conflict: If several programs are installed to work with the same format (for example, WPS Office and Microsoft Word for.docx, the system can select the last used.

It is important to understand that MIUI sometimes blocks changing associations for system applications (such as Downloads or Files) and that these cases will require workarounds, which we will discuss below.

Method 1: Change the standard application through Android settings

The most obvious and universal method is to use Android built-in tools, which works on all versions of MIUI (12 to 14) and does not require superuser rights.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select the Default Apps.
3. In the list, find the category you want to change (for example, Browser, Gallery or Music Player).
4. Choose the app you want from the one you want. If the app isn't on the list, install it from Google Play first.

Please note: some categories (such as Phone or Messages) may be blocked for change on Xiaomi due to MIUI policy.

Make sure the right application is installed|Check the version. MIUI (Settings → The phone)|Close all open files before changing|Restart your phone after changing the application by default-->

If after changing the settings, the system continues to open files with the old application, try the following steps:

• 🔄 Clear cache: Go to the settings of the application that should open files, and click Clear cache.
• 🔄 Reboot: Sometimes changes only apply after the device is rebooted.
• 🔄 Resetting Associations: The App’s default menu has the option to Reset App Settings (password may be required).

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If you often work with archives (.zip,.rar), install ZArchiver or RAR and assign them by default. This will speed up the decompression of files directly from the file manager.

Method 2: Reassigning through the context menu of the file

A faster way to change an application for a specific file type is to use the context menu when you open it, which is convenient if you only need to reassign one format (like.pdf) without affecting the rest.

Algorithm of action:

1. Open any file of the desired format through Files or other manager.
2. When the Open with... window appears, select Always (or Use by default) and specify the application you want.
3. If the window doesn’t appear, press your finger on the file → Open with the help → select the program and mark Always.

On MIUI 14, this method may not work for system formats (e.g.,.apk will always open through the Packet Installer), and some applications (e.g., Google Drive) block the ability to become standard for certain file types.

Important: On Xiaomi with MIUI 13+, some formats (such as.xapk) may not appear in the default file manager, requiring you to display hidden files or use third-party applications like Total Commander.

Method 3: Using ADB to reset associations

If standard methods don’t work (e.g., the system ignores your choices or the application you want isn’t listed), you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires connecting your phone to your computer, but doesn’t need root rights.

Step-by-step:

1. Install ADB Tools on your PC and enable USB Debugging on your phone (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times tap on version → Return to Additional → For Developers).
2. Connect the phone to your computer and confirm the debugging permission.
3. Open the command prompt (or Terminal on Mac/Linux) and type:

adb shell pm clear-package-preferred-activities com.android.fileexplorer


adb shell pm clear-package-preferred-activities com.miui.gallery

These commands will reset the associations for embedded Files and Gallery. For other applications, replace the packets:

• 📄 com.android.browser - browser
• 🎵 com.miui.player - Music player
• 📖 com.miui.pdf - viewer PDF

After you execute the commands, restart your phone. When you open the file, the system will again prompt you to select the default application.

Method 4: Setup through third-party file managers

Some advanced file managers (such as Solid Explorer or FX File Manager) have built-in tools to manage file associations, which is handy if you prefer not to use MIUI system settings.

Example for Solid Explorer:

1. Open the app and go to Settings → General.
2. Find the File Association section (or Open Files).
3. Select the formats you want to assign Solid Explorer to by default (e.g.,.txt,.csv).
4. Confirm the selection and restart the manager.

The advantage of this method is that it can flexibly configure file opening directly from the manager interface without digging into system settings, but some formats (such as.apk) can still be opened through system applications due to the limitations of MIUI.

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Partition file managers often offer more options for working with associations than standard Android settings. For example, in FX File Manager you can assign different applications for file subcategories (for example, separately for.mp4 and.mkv).

Problem Solving: Why Changes Are Not Applicable

Sometimes, even after changing the application by default, MIUI continues to open files through old programs.

⚠️ Attention: If you are using MIUI 14 based on Android 13+, Some system applications (such as Files or Gallery) can automatically restore their rights after updates, in which case only disabling automatic updates for these applications in Google Play will help.

If none of the methods worked, check:

• 🛠️ Version MIUI: There may be bugs with associations on beta versions of the shell. Check for updates in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 🛠️ Application Conflict: Remove duplicate programs (for example, if two programs are installed) PDF-reader).
• 🛠️ Application Rights: Go to the settings of the program you want and check that it has access to the storage (Settings) → Annexes → Permits).

Method 5: Changing root rights associations (for advanced ones)

If you have root access on your Xiaomi, you can manually edit the system files that are responsible for the associations, a risky method (may cause the system to run in an unstable way), but it gives you complete control.

Instructions:

1. Install any root conductor (e.g. Root Explorer or FX File Manager with root access).
2. Go to /data/system/users/0/ and find mimeTypes.xml.
3. Make a backup copy of the file (copy it on the SD-map).
4. Open mimeTypes.xml in the text editor and find the lines with the desired extensions (for example, <item name="application/pdf" type="com.miui.pdf" />).
5. Replace the application package (com.miui.pdf) with your program package (e.g. com.adobe.reader for Adobe Acrobat).
6. Save the file, reboot the phone.

⚠️ Attention: Incorrect editing mimeTypes.xml It can cause system applications to crash or you can’t open any files.Be sure to back up the file before making changes and make sure you have access to recovery to recover.

Alternative way with root:

su


pm clear com.android.providers.media

This command will reset all file associations to factory settings, after which you can reassign them.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing applications for files