Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face intrusive behavior of the system, which forcibly opens links in the built-in Mi Browser. This happens even if the user has long installed Google Chrome and prefers its functionality. The problem lies not only in personal preferences, but also in the aggressive policy of the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS, which tries to keep the user in their ecosystem of services.
Changing a standard web browsing app is a basic setup that greatly improves the comfort of your device. When you click on a link in a messenger or email, the system should instantly know which browser to run without requiring additional confirmations. However, Xiaomi algorithms often ignore user choices unless it is fixed rigidly in the system settings.
In this article, we will discuss how Xiaomi can make Chrome the default browser by bypassing all system limitations. We will look at the standard paths in the settings menu, ways to force reset preferences and methods relevant to the latest firmware versions. You will learn how to control the behavior of your smartphone, making it work in a way that is convenient for you, not the Corporation.
Why Xiaomi doesn’t choose Chrome right away
Many users notice that when you first start a link, the system either silently opens the Mi Browser, or offers a choice only once, after which it returns to the factory version, which is due to the fact that the Mi Browser is a system application with extended access rights. Unlike third-party software, it is deeply integrated into the shell, allowing it to intercept. URL-system-level addresses.
In addition, the company’s policy is to monetize its own ecosystem: through the built-in browser, Xiaomi broadcasts ads, promotes its news feeds and services. Replacing it with Chrome breaks this chain, so the system can “forget” your choice after updating components or cleaning up memory.
It’s also worth considering the features of Android on different versions. In older versions of the operating system, the choice was made easier, while modern versions of Android 12, 13 and 14 require more explicit confirmation of user actions through the Default Apps menu.
⚠️ Note: In some regions (e.g. India or China), firmware may have stricter restrictions on removing or disabling system components, requiring additional steps to change priorities.
Understanding how application priority works in MIUI will help you not only change the setting once, but also fix the result forever.
Preparation for setup: installation and updates
Before you change your system priorities, you need to make sure that Google Chrome itself is installed correctly and has all the necessary permissions. Often the problem lies not in the settings of the system, but in the fact that the browser is not updated to the latest version that is compatible with the current version of Android.
Go to the Google Play Market and check for updates for Chrome. If the app is not installed, download it. It is important to use the official version from the Google Store, as modified builds may not correctly register themselves as handlers. HTTP/HTTPS reference.
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Before setting up, be sure to open Chrome at least once, accept the terms of the agreement, and log in to your Google account. This will activate all the browser's background services.
It is also worth checking whether the application is disabled in the battery settings.Aggressive power saving Xiaomi can "kill" the background processes of the browser, which makes the system no longer see it as an active option for opening links.
- 📲 Make sure you have the latest version of Google Chrome installed from the Play Market.
- 🔋 Check the battery settings: select "No restrictions" for the browser.
- 🔐 Give the application all the permissions requested at the first start.
- 🔄 Restart your smartphone after installing or updating the app.
Main method: configuration through the system menu
The most reliable way to make Xiaomi Chrome the default browser is through a deep system settings menu.The path may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI (12, 13, 14) or HyperOS, but the logic remains the same.
First, open the Settings app. Scroll down and find the Apps section. In some versions of the firmware, it may be called Applications and Notifications. We need to get into the management menu for all installed programs.
☑️ Algorithm of action
Next, look for the "Default Apps" option, which can be right at the top of the list or hidden in the optional menu (sometimes you need to click on three dots in the corner of the screen or the "More" button).
You'll see a list of all browsers you've installed. Select Chrome. The system may issue a warning that using a third-party app may affect some features -- ignore it and confirm the selection. Now all links must open in the selected app.
| Shell version | The path to adjustment | Features |
|---|---|---|
| MIUI 12 / 13 | Settings → Applications → Applications by default | The menu is available immediately. |
| MIUI 14 | Settings → Applications → (three dots) → Default Apps | Hidden on the menu |
| HyperOS | Settings → Applications → Applications by default | Simplified interface |
| Android 10-11 | Settings → Applications and notifications → Additional | The classic Android way |
Resetting Preferences: If the choice is not retained
There are times when you choose Chrome, but after a while or after a reboot, the phone starts to reopen links in Mi Browser, which means that the system has retained the old preference cache or file association conflict, in which case the default settings for a particular application will help.
You need to find the Mi Browser app itself in the settings. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps. Find the "Mi Browser" list. Click on it to open the app information page.
At the bottom of the screen, find the default button or the default button. If it's active (not grey), click on it, and then select Reset default settings or Delete settings. This action will forget that Mi Browser was ever the main one.
⚠️ Note: After resetting the settings at the first opening of any link, the system will again ask you what to open. URL. Be prepared to choose Chrome immediately and click Always to prevent re-capture.
The same procedure can be done for Chrome itself if it's not behaving properly. Go to the Chrome settings → Default → Reset. This will clear all associations, allowing you to reconfigure them from scratch.
Solving problems in HyperOS and new versions of MIUI
With the release of the HyperOS shell, Xiaomi has changed the structure of the menu to look more like pure Android, but adding its limitations. In new versions, it is often a situation where the browser selection point is hidden or blocked before the first use.
If the default Apps menu doesn't have a browser option, try the next trick: Open Settings → Apps → Application Management. In the upper right corner, click three dots and select Default Apps. If it's empty, open Chrome, open any page, then close it.
Secret code for verification
HyperOS also has a lot more control over ads, so if you're annoyed that Mi Browser pops up with news, you can turn off its notifications completely. → "Notifications and turn off all sliders.This won't make Chrome the main thing, but it will take away visual noise.
Importantly, HyperOS has introduced an Advanced Settings feature inside the app menu, and there may be a separate "Recommendations" or "Personalization" switch that should be turned off to stop the system from imposing its services.
Removing or disabling Mi Browser
A radical but effective way to solve the problem of how Xiaomi makes Chrome the default browser is to completely disable the built-in competitor. Since Mi Browser is a system application, you can not remove it in the usual way, but you can “freeze” or disable it.
To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Mi Browser. Click Disable (or Delete if your firmware version allows) and then the icon will disappear from the desktop and the system will have to use Chrome for all web queries, as it simply will not have an alternative.
If the "Disable" button is inactive, you can use your computer and the ADB utility (Android Debug Bridge), a secure method that does not require superuser rights (Root), you need to connect the phone to your PC, enable debugging over USB and enter a command to delete the packet for the current user.
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.browserThis command will remove Mi Browser just for your user without affecting the system partition.If something goes wrong, resetting the phone to factory settings will put the browser back in place.This is the most reliable way to ensure that links never open in an unnecessary app.
⚠️ Attention: When in use ADB Be careful with the name of the packages. Removing system components you're not sure about can cause the interface to work in an unstable way.
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Disabling Mi Browser via ADB is the most effective way to permanently get rid of the imposition of the built-in browser on Xiaomi.