How to change the default applications to Xiaomi: browser, gallery, SMS and others

Xiaomi’s MIUI-based smartphones offer users a wide range of customization options, but it’s not always obvious how to change standard apps to those that are more convenient for you personally. By default, the system assigns Mi Browser browser, Mi Gallery gallery, and the built-in Message app as a messenger for SMS. However, if you prefer Google Chrome, Google Photos or Telegram for SMS, this setting is easy to change.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can change your default apps to Xiaomi (relevant to MIUI 12, 13, 14, and HyperOS), including hidden settings that aren’t always visible in the main menu, how to assign a new app to open links, view photos, send messages, and even make calls, and what to do if the option is inactive or the system resets after an update.

Why Xiaomi Resets Apps by Default and How to Fix It

Many users are faced with a situation where, after updating MIUI or rebooting a smartphone, standard applications are again dropped to factory, due to Xiaomi's policy of prioritizing its own services, but there are several ways to consolidate your preferences:

• 🔄 Turn off automatic optimization in Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization (find the app and select "No Limits").
• 📱 Reset application settings through Settings → Annexes → Application management → ⋮ → Reset application settings (this won’t delete data, but reset permissions).
• 🔒 Stop the system from changing settings through Settings → Special facilities → Special features services (disable "Optimizer" MIUI").

Important: On some models (e.g., Redmi Note 12 Pro+ with HyperOS), the path to settings may be different – instead of “Applications”, look for “All Apps” or “Application Management”.

⚠️ Attention: If you are using MIUI Global, some system applications (such as Mi Browser) cannot be completely removed, only disabled, a restriction that is enforced due to licensing agreements with Google.

How to Change the Default Browser to Xiaomi

By default, all links to Xiaomi open in Mi Browser, but if you prefer Chrome, Firefox, or Edge, follow these steps:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Press on. ⋮ (three-point) → Default applications.
3. Select the browser and specify the desired application from the list.

If the browser is not in the list:

• 🌐 Install it from Google Play and restart your phone.
• 🔗 Open any link manually through the selected browser - the system will suggest making it standard.
• 📌 Go to your browser settings (e.g. Chrome) and enable the option to Open Supported Links.

Install an alternative browser from Google Play

Open at least one link in a new browser

Check the settings "Open links by default" in the browser

Reboot your smartphone to apply changes-->

In some models (for example, POCO F5) The path may look like this: Settings → Annexes → All applications → ⚙️ (gear) → Default applications.

Set up an application for SMS and calls

The standard Messages app on Xiaomi isn’t always handy – many users prefer Google Messages or Telegram for SMS. To change it:

1. Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management → ⋮ → Default applications.
2. Select SMS and specify the desired application.
3. Repeat the steps for calls, but select the phone.

Important: If you use Google Messages as a SMS-Customer, pre-activate it in the settings:

Open Google Messages → ⋮ → Settings → General → SMS by default

⚠️ Note: On smartphones with HyperOS (such as Xiaomi 14) when changing SMS-Applications may notify you of new messages. To fix this, go to Settings → Notifications → Manage notifications and manually enable alerts for the selected messenger.

Standard "Messages"

Google Messages

Telegram

Other-->

Change of the application for gallery and photo

The standard Mi Gallery doesn't always do the sorting, and alternatives like Google Photos or Simple Gallery offer more features to change the image viewing app:

1. Open any photo through the file manager (such as Files).
2. When the Open with... window appears, select the appropriate application and mark Always.
3. Or go to Settings → Applications → Default Applications → Gallery.

If the application is not listed in the list:

• 📷 Install it from Google Play and open at least one photo through it.
• 🔄 Restart your phone – sometimes the system doesn’t update the list right away.
• 🗃️ Check if the app is hidden in Settings settings → Annexes → Hidden applications.

Change of music and video applications

By default, Xiaomi uses Mi Music for audio and Mi Video for video. To assign other players (such as Spotify or VLC):

1. Open an audio or video file through the file manager.
2. In the Open with... window, select the desired application and mark Always.
3. Or go to Settings → Applications → Default Applications → Music / Video.

Tip: If you use Spotify or YouTube Music, enable autoplay in the app settings so that the music starts automatically when you connect your headphones.

💡

To avoid resetting after the MIUI update, add selected apps to the “Secure Apps” list through Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization → Secure Apps.

Problem Solving: The application is not saved as standard

If the system is constantly resetting your settings, try the following methods:

• 🔧 Clear the cache of the Settings application through Settings → Annexes → All applications → Settings → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
• 📲 Turn off optimization for the selected application in the battery settings.
• 🔄 Reset your application settings (as described in the first section).
• 🛠️ Update. MIUI to the latest version - in the new firmware, many bugs with default settings are fixed.

On some models (e.g. Redmi 10 with MIUI 12.5), resetting MIUI settings without data loss can help:

Settings → About phone → Reset settings → Reset MIUI settings

Additional settings: calls, cards and assistants

In addition to the basic applications, you can change standard services on Xiaomi for:

• 📞 Calls – Replace your phone with Google Phone or Truecaller.
• 🗺️ Map – assign Google Maps or Yandex.Maps instead of Mi Maps.
• 🎤 Voice assistant - change Xiao AI Google Assistant.

For a change of assistant:

1. Hold the Home button (or swipe diagonally from the corner on MIUI 14).
2. At the bottom of the screen, a hint will appear – click Change the default assistant.
3. Choose Google or another installed assistant.

💡

On models with HyperOS (such as Xiaomi 13T), the path to the assistant settings may be different. Look for it in Settings → Additional → Voice Assistant.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing apps to Xiaomi