How to change the default application to Xiaomi: all ways for MIUI

Xiaomi’s MIUI-based smartphones offer users flexible settings, but it’s not always obvious how to change standard apps to alternative ones. For example, you installed Google Chrome instead of the standard Mi Browser browser, but the system stubbornly opens links in the native app. Or you want to use Google Photos instead of Xiaomi Gallery to view images.

Complicating the problem, the path to settings may differ from version to version 12 of MIUI to 14, and some options are hidden in non-obvious sections. In this article, we will look at all the ways you can change your default applications, from standard settings to manual assignments through ADB for power users, and you will learn why the system can reset your choices and how to fix them.

Why Xiaomi is dropping apps by default?

Many users face a situation where, after updating MIUI or rebooting the smartphone, the default settings of the applications are reset, due to several factors:

• 🔄 Updates MIUI: Newer versions of firmware can reset user settings to clean up the system, especially when switching to a new version of Android (for example, from 12 to 13).
• 🛠️ Battery Optimization: Auto Start and Background Limitation MIUI It can block alternative applications, forcing the system to use standard applications.
• 📦 Cache and data: Clearing the cache of the Settings app (com.android.settings) sometimes results in resetting appointments.
• 🔒 Security Policy: On some models (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi Note 12), the system forcibly returns standard applications to the user. SMS Calls due to the demands of the operators.

I wonder what on POCO-devices (e.g., devices, POCO F5) This problem is less common due to less aggressive optimization. If you notice that settings are reset regularly, check permissions for alternative applications in the Settings section. → Annexes → Application management.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI Global (for example, for the European market) some system applications (Mi Browser, Mi Video) can not be completely disabled - they can only be replaced by default. ADB It can cause errors in the operation of the shell.

Method 1: Standard Replacement through MIUI settings

This is the simplest method that works on most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices with MIUI 12-14.

• 🌐 Browser (Mi Browser) → Chrome/Firefox)
• 📷 Galleries (Mi Gallery) → Google Photo)
• 📱 Launchera (MIUI Launcher → Nova Launcher)
• 💬 SMS-Messenger (Messages) → Google Messages)

Steps to replace:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Applications by default.
2. Select the category you want to change (e.g. Browser).
3. In the list of available applications, tap on the desired (for example, Chrome).
4. Confirm the choice by clicking Set by default.

On some devices (such as Redmi 10 or Xiaomi 11T), the path may be slightly different: Settings → System and Device → Additional → Default apps.

Install an alternative app from Google Play

Check the permissions for the new app (storage, contacts, etc.)

Turn off battery optimization for an alternative app

Reboot your smartphone after the changes-->

Method 2: Replace by opening a file or link

If the desired partition is not in the settings (for example, on MIUI 13 for Xiaomi 12), you can replace the default application on the fly when you first use:

1. For browser: Open any link (for example, in Telegram or WhatsApp). The system will prompt you to select a browser and tick Always.
2. For gallery: Find any image in the file manager and tap it. In the window that appears, select Google Photos (or another application) and click Always.
3. For Music Player: Play the audio file through Files and select the player you want in the dialog box.

This method works for most file types:.jpg,.mp3,.pdf,.apk. The key is to keep the dialog box of your app selection open. If you accidentally clicked Only once, repeat the action again.

⚠️ Note: On some devices (e.g. Redmi Note 11 with a MIUI 13.0.6) The dialog box may not appear due to AutoRun. To fix this, go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management → Threefold (⋮) → Special access → Auto-Start and Enable It for an Alternative Application.

browser

gallery

SMS-messenger

Launcher

Other-->

Method 3: Using ADB for Power Users

If standard methods do not work (for example, on Xiaomi 13 Ultra with MIUI 14), you can apply ADB commands. This method requires connecting the smartphone to the PC and enabling debugging over USB.

Instructions:

1. Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and tap the MIUI version 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect your smartphone to your PC, install ADB drivers, and execute the command in the terminal: adb devices (your device should appear).
4. To designate Chrome as the default browser, use: adb shell cmd role add-package com.android.chrome android.role.BROWSER
5. For a launcher change (e.g. on Nova Launcher): adb shell cmd role add-package com.teslacoilsw.launcher android.role.HOME

Full list of roles for MIUI:

Important: On some devices (e.g. Xiaomi with MediaTek), ADB commands may not work due to manufacturer limitations, in which case only manual assignment through settings or factory reset will help.

adb shell cmd role remove-package com.miui.browser android.role.BROWSER

where com.miui.browser is a standard browser package.-->

Method 4: Reset application settings (if nothing helps)

If the system stubbornly ignores your changes, you can reset your application settings, which will return all the default permissions and assignments to the factory, and then you can re-select the desired applications.

How to reset:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Stick on the three-points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Reset application settings.
3. Confirm action. The smartphone will reboot.

After the reboot:

• 🔄 All permissions for applications will be reset (they will have to be reconfigured).
• 📱 Applications will return to standard (Mi Browser, Messages, etc.).
• 🔒 Some system applications (such as Mi Gallery) may be granted additional rights.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 14 resetting app settings also resets permissions for notifications. After the procedure, check which apps have access to alerts, in Settings section → Notifications.

Features for specific Xiaomi models

On some Xiaomi devices, the default application replacement process has nuances. Consider the most popular models:

On devices with a MediaTek processor (such as Redmi 10A or POCO M5), ADB may not work for role change, in which case only manual replacement through customization or firmware installation will help.

What to do if the application is not on the list?

Sometimes an alternative application (such as VLC for video or Solid Explorer for files) does not appear in the list available for the default destination.

• 📥 App not installed: Check it is downloaded from Google Play or official source.
• 🔧 No Role Support: Some Apps (e.g., No Role Support, FX File Explorer does not declare support for opening files by default. Try an alternative (MiXplorer).
• 🔒 Limitations MIUI: On some devices (Xiaomi) 12S Ultra) the list is edited only through ADB.
• 🔄 Cache Systems: Clear the cache of the Settings app (com.android.settings) and restart your smartphone.

If the app is installed but does not appear on the list, try:

1. Open the appropriate file type (e.g..mp4 for video player) and manually select the application in the dialog box.
2. Remove and reinstall the application.
3. Check if the app supports the desired role on the developer’s website.

💡

If the application does not appear in the default destination list, it most likely does not declare support for this feature in its manifesto (AndroidManifest.xml). It's a limitation of Android, not MIUI.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing apps to Xiaomi