How to make Chrome the default browser on Xiaomi

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face intrusive behavior from the branded MIUI shell or the new HyperOS. The system aggressively promotes its own Mi Browser browser, which, despite its functionality, is often overwhelmed with advertising and news feed. Users accustomed to Google's ecosystem prefer to install Google Chrome as their primary surfing tool.

However, the default default application selection procedure on these devices can be unpredictable, sometimes ignoring user choices or requiring additional actions to consolidate the result. In this guide, we will examine not only the basic algorithm, but also the hidden nuances that ensure that links from messengers will open in Chrome.

We'll look at the interface differences between the shell versions, how to bypass system constraints, and how to completely disable a competing browser if you don't need one. A critical step is clearing the system settings cache if the standard choice isn't saved after the reboot. Let's set up your smartphone for a comfortable experience.

Why Xiaomi doesn’t choose Chrome right away

Xiaomi’s policy is to monetize pre-installed software. The built-in Mi Browser is one of the sources of revenue through affiliate programs and advertising integrations, which is why the system sometimes “forgets” your choice or hides the default browser change option in the depth of the menu, especially after major Android updates or the shell itself.

In addition, in some regions of the firmware (especially the Chinese versions of CN), the aggressiveness of settings is higher than in global (Global), the system can force the internal links of applications in its own engine, ignoring user preferences, understanding this logic helps to build a proper strategy for setting up a smartphone.

⚠️ Note: In new versions of HyperOS, memory optimization algorithms can force Chrome’s background processes to unload if not correctly resolved, which can look like a browser malfunction, although the problem is energy saving.

Also, some MIUI system components are rigidly tied to standard ways of doing things, not a bug, but a feature of the architecture that is aimed at the stability of the ecosystem, but creates inconvenience for advanced users who want to customize the device for themselves.

Basic instruction: browser selection in settings

The easiest and most obvious way to change settings is to use the standard menu, which works 90% of the time on current versions of Android 12, 13 and 14, and you don’t need superuser rights or third-party software.

First, make sure Google Chrome is installed and updated to the latest version through the Play Market. Then follow the path: Settings → Apps → All apps. In the list, find the Browser option (usually it has the Mi Browser icon).

After clicking on the launch control button, the system will prompt you to select a new application. The list will be all installed browsers. Select Chrome and confirm the action. If the system requests a confirmation with a warning about replacing the standard application, agree.

Importantly, some versions of the shell may have slightly different paths. For example, MIUI 14 often has direct access through Settings → Applications → Application Management → Three dots in the corner → Other settings → Default apps. Here, the choices are more explicit and clear.

The “Coercion” Method: Cleaning the Mi Browser Settings

If the standard choice is not saved or the system constantly returns you to use the built-in browser, you need to use a more radical method, which is to reset the priorities of the Mi Browser itself, which makes the system forget that once this browser was the main one.

To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find Mi Browser (can simply be called “Browser”). Go inside and select “Clean” (or “Reset” settings).

After clearing your Mi Browser settings, try opening any link from your messenger, such as Telegram or Viber. If you don't find the default active browser, you have to give the system selection box, and then select Chrome and click Always.

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If the selection window doesn’t appear after resetting, try temporarily disabling Mi Browser from the same app menu (the “Disable” button at the bottom of the screen), select Chrome, and then turn on Mi Browser again.

This method is especially effective when you upgrade from MIUI 12 to 13 or 14 and the old configs conflicted with the new safety rules.Reset returns settings to factory values for a particular component.

Nuances of work in HyperOS and Android 14

With the release of the Android 14-based HyperOS shell, Xiaomi has tightened its control over permissions. Now, default browser selection can be blocked until the user explicitly allows access to certain system features.

In HyperOS, it is common to see links opening in an “embedded app viewer” rather than a browser. To fix this, you need to go to Settings → Apps → Settings → Default apps. If there is no option, search by settings by entering the phrase “default”.

The new versions also include a feature called Tracking Protection, which can interfere with third-party browsers if they are not properly certified. Make sure your Chrome is downloaded from the official Play Market Store, not from third-party sources.

The problem of links within applications (Deep Links)

A separate category of problems is called Deep Links, and some apps, like Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook, try to open links in their built-in browsers, ignoring Xiaomi's system settings, which are designed to keep the user inside the app.

To get them to use Chrome, you need to change the settings of each particular application individually. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find, for example, Telegram. Select Open by default (or Supported Links).

Here you'll see a list of domains. You'll need to find the "Open in this app" option and switch it to "Always Ask" mode, or turn off in-app link opening if that option is available, and then when you click on the link, the system will ask again what to open it, and you can select Chrome with the "Always" tick.

⚠️ Warning: Be careful when disabling all links for messengers.This can cause the "Login through" buttons to Google/Facebook» Other applications will not work properly because they use the same protocols.

This process may seem tedious if you have a lot of apps, but it’s essential for full control of your smartphone navigation, especially for those who use corporate profiles or specific links.

Removing or disabling Mi Browser

The most drastic way to solve the problem is to completely remove the built-in browser. However, in most global firmware Xiaomi Mi Browser is a system application, and normal removal is impossible without Root rights.

To turn off, go to Settings → Applications → All apps → Browser. At the bottom of the screen, there should be a button to turn off. After that, the icon will disappear from the desktop, and the system will no longer consider it an active candidate for opening links. This is a safe operation.

If the "Disable" button is inactive (gray), then your firmware version requires more in-depth intervention, in which case you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a tool for developers to control the system from a computer.

Remember that removing system components completely can cause some features to function in an unstable way, such as news widgets or XiaoAI voice assistant (in Chinese versions).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Main conclusion: For a guaranteed result on Xiaomi, you need not only to select Chrome in the default settings, but also reset the settings of the Mi Browser itself, as well as check the permissions to open links in specific source applications.