Modern Xiaomi smartphones, which run on the shells of MIUI or the new HyperOS, often impose their own system applications on the user. In particular, this applies to the Mi Browser web browser, which automatically opens when you click on links from messengers or other programs. For many users, this becomes a source of irritation, especially if they are used to synchronizing history, passwords and extensions in the Google Chrome ecosystem. Changing a standard browser is not just a matter of convenience, but a way to unify the work of all digital services.
The process of changing the priority application in the Android system on Xiaomi devices has its nuances due to the deep modification of the interface by the manufacturer. Standard menu paths can hide behind additional layers of nesting or require pre-cleaning the cache of old settings. It is important to understand that the system always tends to save pre-installed solutions, so simply downloading Chrome from the Play Market does not always automatically switch all links to it.
In this guide, we will take a look at all the steps of configuration, from the basic installation to the deep configuration of system parameters. You will learn how to circumvent the aggressive policy of shell developers by making the phone open web pages in the application that suits you. We will look at the differences between the versions of firmware and pay attention to possible errors that you may encounter in the process.
Preparing and installing the current version of Chrome
The first and obvious step is to have the app on your device. However, Xiaomi smartphones often have an older version of the browser installed or not in the basic build for certain regions. Before changing the default settings, you need to make sure that you have the latest stable version of Google Chrome, which ensures that all modern web standards work correctly and there is no conflict with the Android WebView system libraries.
Download the installation file exclusively from the official Google Play Store.Use of third-party APK-Files from unverified resources may result in a modified version that will not appear in the list of system browsers or will work unstable. After installation, do not rush to open the application immediately – first give the system a few seconds to index the new software.
⚠️ Note: If you have previously used third-party browser builds, be sure to delete them before installing the official version. Having multiple packages with the same identifiers can cause an error in choosing an application when opening links.
For users who have just reset their phone to factory settings, it is also recommended to check the Android System WebView component updates.This system module is responsible for displaying the web.-content In-apps, and its relevance directly affects the stability of any browser you choose, including Chrome.
The easiest and most common way to make Chrome the main browser on Xiaomi is through the standard menu of application settings. This method works in most cases on current versions of MIUI 12, 13, 14 and HyperOS. The algorithm of actions here is quite logical, but requires careful choice of items, since the names can vary slightly depending on the localization.
You need to go to Settings and find the App. Next, select All Apps. In the list that opens, search and click on the Google Chrome icon. It is inside the app card that the key settings for controlling its behavior in the system are hidden. Here you will see the default Start (or Open by default) button.
By clicking this button, you'll be taken to the link management menu. You need to activate the Open Supported Links switch. Then a list of link types will be available. Make sure that http and https are marked. If these points are active, the system will try to open web pages through Chrome, ignoring the built-in browser.
- 📱 Go to Settings. → Annexes → All applications for access to management.
- 🌐 Find in the Chrome list and select the Open by default option.
- ✅ Activate the switch to open supported links for protocols HTTP and HTTPS.
- 🔄 Make sure that there are no other browsers with similar priorities on the list.
However, even after doing this, the system can still ask you every time you click on a link which app to open it through. That's OK, because that's how Android's security works. To remove the permanent selection window, you need to take the extra step of clearing your settings for the old browser, which will be discussed in the next section.
Why can the button be inactive?
If the "Open by Default" button is grey or unavailable, this means that the system has already firmly set a priority for another application (for example, Mi Browser) and it blocks the change. In this case, you must first reset the default settings for the current system browser through the "Default Apps" menu in the general settings of the phone, rather than in the default card of the system.> If the setting through the application card did not give the desired result, or if the Mi Browser continues to "intercept" links, you need to use the global application management menu by default. This level of settings has a higher priority in the main Chrome settings for this. Depending on the firmware version, the item you are looking for may be simply called Apps or be in the Additional Settings section. You need to find the default App item (sometimes hidden inside the App Management submenu). In the category list, select the Browser. Here you will see a list of all browsers installed on your phone. Select Google Chrome. The system may issue a warning that this app may collect data about your activity — this is a standard Android message that you can safely ignore, as it relates to Google's privacy policy. Confirm the choice. Default value parameter (MIUI) Recommended value Impact on the Mi Browser system Google Chrome Opening links from all applications Search engine (assistant) Google / Yandex Google Chrome Processing voice requests Gmail / Mi Mail Gmail Opening links mailto: Google Maps Google Maps Opening geolocation links ⚠️ Note: After changing the browser in global settings, some system widgets (such as News or Tape on the desktop) may continue to open in the built-in browser. API shell MIUI, They're very tightly tied to the system component, in some cases, especially on older versions. MIUI 11 or 12, after selecting a new browser, a mandatory device restart is required. Without restarting, cached processes can continue to use the old path to the browser executable file. Reboot your smartphone and check the result by opening a link from Telegram or Viber. Reset Mi Browser settings and clear priorities Often the problem is not that you did not choose Chrome, but that for Mi Browser is already a hard binding "Always open in this app." Until this status is removed, the system will ignore your new settings. You must forcibly reset the default application status for the built-in Xiaomi browser. → Annexes → All apps. Search the Mi Browser list (can be simply called the "Browser" with a globe or compass icon). Go to the Open by default section. Here you will see the Remove Default Settings (or Reset Settings) button. Click on it. After reset, try to open any link from the messenger. On the screen should appear the system window with the question "What to open?". In this list, select Google Chrome and click Always. This is the choice that fixes system-level priority for a given file or link type. 🗑️ Find Mi Browser in the list of all apps through settings. 🔘 Click the Remove Default Settings button in the link opening menu. 🔗 Click on any link from social networks to call the selection menu. 🏆 Select Chrome and confirm the action with the Always button. If the reset button is inactive or missing, try clearing the Mi Browser app itself. Go to Memory inside the app card and click Clear → Clear everything. This will put the browser back in the "just installed" state, killing all accumulated priorities. Be prepared that this will also delete the history and bookmarks stored in this particular browser. 💡If a standard reset doesn’t work, try temporarily disabling the Mi Browser. Go to the app card and click "Disable" (if available). This is guaranteed to make the system look for an alternative to open links, and it will choose Chrome. MIUI With the release of the HyperOS shell (as well as in later versions) MIUI 14) Xiaomi has changed the logic of working with applications, there is more strict control over the behavior of programs, and the settings menu has become more fragmented. New firmware gives priority to security, so the system can more often ask permission to open links with external applications. HyperOS has a feature called “Protection against interception of links”. If it is activated, the phone can block the automatic transition to Chrome if the system considers the link potentially dangerous or if the source application (for example, downloaded) APK-file) does not have sufficient rights. In this case, you need to check your security settings, and in the new versions, the way you've changed to the settings has changed. Now it often looks like Settings. → Annexes → The default application settings (a separate item at the top of the list, not inside the application menu) are more centralized. Importantly, in HyperOS 1.0 and above, the Google account sync process immediately suggests selecting preferred services when you first set up your phone, and if you missed that point, the system could have preserved the default choice. Users of the new shells also note more aggressive behavior of the energy saving system. If Chrome does not open links, check if it is not subject to a restriction of background activity. → Battery and performance, find Chrome and select No Limits mode. This will prevent the “sleeping” of the browser, because of which the link may simply not open. ⚠️ Note: On devices with the Chinese version of firmware (CN ROM) Google Chrome may not appear in the list of system browsers without installing Google services (GMS). Make sure your device has Google Play framework activated. Solving common issues and errors Even after all the manipulations, there may be situations where links open in the wrong app or open in an empty window. One common cause is the conflicting versions of Android System WebView. This component is the engine that many applications run on, and it has to be updated to the latest version through the Play Market. Another problem is the sticking of selection. It happens that you accidentally clicked “Always” for some other, unnecessary browser or application (for example, a text editor). To fix this, you need to find the app that is currently intercepting links and reset its default settings, as described in the Mi Browser section. If Chrome opens but the pages don't load (white screen), the problem may be in the settings. DNS or Mi Security antivirus. Try the settings of Chrome itself (Settings) → Confidentiality and security → Use the safe one. DNS) Change the provider to Google (Public) DNS). It is also worth checking whether the built-in anti-village blocks network access for this application. 🛠 Update Android System WebView and Chrome to the latest versions. 🧹 Reset the default settings from the app that mistakenly opens links. 🔒 Check your antivirus and firewall settings for Chrome blocking. 📡 Try changing. DNS in the browser settings on public (Google or Cloudflare). In rare cases, only a complete reset of application settings (not data, but settings) in the menu Advanced Settings helps. → Resetting settings → Resetting Wi-Fi, mobile internet and Bluetooth (sometimes there is an option to reset application preferences) will return all system choices to factory ones, and when the link is first run, the system will again ask you about your preferences. 💡The main reason for the problem with opening links is not the lack of Chrome, but the "stuck" priority of the old Mi Browser. Resetting for the old application solves 90% of all cases. MIUI major system updates (e.g. switching from the MIUI 13 by 14 or HyperOS often change the internal structure of permissions and application IDs. With this update, Android perceives applications as new entities or resets the file association table for security. So after every major firmware update, the default browser selection process often has to be re-run. Can I completely remove Mi Browser? The Mi Browser system browser cannot be removed without root permissions, as it is part of the system partition. You can only disable its updates or hide the icon. Complete removal is possible only through ADB-commands on the computer (adb shell pm uninstall) -k --user 0 com.android.browser), but this requires caution, as some system functions may depend on the presence of the basic browser. What if Chrome does not appear in the default browser list? → Annexes → Show it all. → Settings → Memory. → Clear the cache). Also make sure you don’t use a simplified interface mode or “For Seniors” mode, which may hide some app selection options.