How to change the default browser to Xiaomi with MIUI 12: 3 working methods

Why Xiaomi is difficult to change the default browser and what to do about it

Owners of Xiaomi smartphones based on MIUI 12 often face an unexpected problem: the system stubbornly returns the standard Mi Browser browser even after an explicit choice of alternatives. This is not a coincidence, but a feature of the firmware, where the manufacturer actively promotes its own services. Unlike “pure” Android, where it takes 2 clicks to change the browser, you will need to bypass several restrictions.

The main difficulty lies in architecture. MIUI 12: The system ignores the default global Android settings for individual link types (e.g, http:// and https://). Even if you choose Chrome or Firefox in your app settings, some links can still open in Mi Browser. The solution is there, you need to know where these settings are hidden.

In this article, we will break down 3 proven default browser change methods, including hidden settings. MIUI, work ADB-You will also learn why, after updating the system, the browser can reset to the standard one again and how to avoid this.

Method 1: Standard change through Android settings (partial solution)

So, to start with the most obvious way, through the settings menu, this works, but with the caveats: it changes the default browser for only a fraction of the links. Here's how to do this:

1. Open Settings → go to the Applications → Application Management section.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select the Default Apps.
3. Slip on the browser and select the desired application (for example, Google Chrome or Firefox).

⚠️ Attention: After these actions MIUI 12 may still open some links in Mi Browser, which is because the system shares link processing with Mi Browser:

• 🌐 Normal. HTTP/HTTPS-links (changed through the settings above)
• 🔗 Special intent links (e.g. from Xiaomi apps – require separate setup)
• 📱 Links from system notifications (often ignore global settings)

If after these manipulations the browser still does not change, move to the next method - it is more radical, but also effective.

Method 2: Disable Mi Browser via ADB (for power users)

This method requires connecting your smartphone to your computer and using Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which completely disables the standard browser, forcing the system to use an alternative. Importantly, once these commands are executed, the Mi Browser will disappear from the application menu and will not be able to open links even without bypassing the settings.

You'll need:

• 💻 Computer with installed ADB Tools
• 📱 Included Debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times to tap → Additional settings → Developer parameters)
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original)

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.browser


adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.mi.globalbrowser

After these commands are executed:

1. Reboot your smartphone (adb reboot)
2. Go to Settings → Applications → Default Apps and select an alternative browser
3. Check for link openings from different sources (messages, email, social media)

⚠️ Note: Disable Mi Browser via ADB This can cause some system functions to fail, such as: Open links from Mi Account (Xiaomi account) Web representations in Xiaomi applications (for example, in Mi Home) Advertising in system windows (its blocking can disrupt stability) If after disconnecting there are problems, return the browser with the command: adb shell pm enable com.android.browser

Method 3: Using third-party utilities (without root)

If the first two methods didn't help or seem too complicated, you can use specialized applications. They don't require ADB or root rights, but their effectiveness depends on the version of MIUI.

The most reliable option on this list is SetEdit, and here's how to work with it:

1. Download SetEdit from Google Play.
2. Open the application and give access to the Special Permits.
3. Find the listing of android.intent.action.VIEW and assign your browser.
4. Reset the device.

💡

If the browser is reset after using the utilities, try clearing the Settings app cache (Settings → Apps → Settings → Storage → Clear cache) this will reset the temporary system preferences data.

Why the browser resets after the MIUI update and how to fix it

Many users complain that after updating the firmware browser default again becomes Mi Browser.This is due to the fact that Xiaomi updates reset some user settings to factory.

• 📥 Before updating, back up the settings through Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset.
• 🔄 After the update, do not click “Ready” in the setup wizard – first return the browser to default.
• 🔒 Turn off automatic optimization for the browser in Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery.

If the reset has already occurred, use one of the methods above. For MIUI 12.5 and later, also helps to disable the MiuiOptimization function via ADB:

adb shell settings put global miui_optimization_disabled 1

This command disables some of the system optimizations that reset default settings.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

When you change your default browser, you often encounter typical problems, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

⚠️ Note: If after changing the browser, some links still open in Mi Browser, check: 📌 Settings of a particular application (for example, WhatsApp or Telegram may have their own rules for opening links). 🔗 Link type: Some applications use custom schemes (e.g, tg:// for Telegram) that do not comply with standard settings. 🛠️ System Settings Cache: Clean It Through Settings → Warehouse → Application data → Settings → Clear the cache.

If none of these methods work, the last option is to install custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), which is a radical solution, but it completely removes the limitations of MIUI. Remember, it requires unlocking the bootloader and obtaining root rights, which voids the warranty.

💡

The most reliable way is to combine standard settings + disable Mi Browser via ADB. This gives 90% success in changing the default browser to MIUI 12.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions