How to put Yandex browser default on the phone Xiaomi Redmi: full instruction

You just installed Yandex.Browser on your Xiaomi Redmi, but when you open links, you still run the standard Mi Browser or Google Chrome? The problem is familiar to many owners of smartphones on MIUI - the system stubbornly ignores your preferences and returns factory settings. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to make Yandex the default browser on Redmi in 2026, including bypassing the limitations of MIUI 14/15 and solving typical errors.

Xiaomi's firmware is very much about promoting its own services, and even after manually changing the browser, it can reset after updating or restarting. We tested all of these methods on current models: Redmi Note 12 Pro.+, POCO X5 Pro, Mi 11 Lite and others. MIUI 12–15, including global and Chinese firmware versions.

Why does Yandex not become the default browser on Xiaomi?

Before you change your settings, it’s important to understand the cause of the problem, and there are several pitfalls in MIUI that prevent users from freely choosing apps:

• 🔄 Automatic Setting Reset: After a system update or reboot, Xiaomi can return factory applications by default.This is not a bug, but a feature of the firmware.
• 🛡️ Limitations MIUI: In some regional versions of firmware (for example, for China) there is no option to select a browser in the settings.
• 📱 Mi Browser conflict: Xiaomi’s built-in browser has system app privileges and can block changes.
• 🔗 Incorrect linking: Not all types of links (e.g., link link linking, http:// vs https://) Redirected to the selected browser.

In addition, if you installed Yandex.Browser not from Google Play, but through APK, the system may not recognize it as a full-fledged application for processing web links. This is true for users who download the browser from the official Yandex site or through third-party stores.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI European region (EEA) It may not be possible to change the browser by default due to the requirements GDPR. In this case, only the rut or ADB-team.

Method 1: Standard browser change via MIUI settings

Let's start with the simplest method, which works on most Xiaomi Redmi and POCO devices with global firmware, and it doesn't require any additional software or superuser rights.

Open Settings → Applications → Default Apps. Here you will see a list of categories where you can set your preferred programs.

1. Tap on the line "Browser" (or Browser app in the English version of MIUI).
2. In the list of available applications, select Yandex.Browser (if not, reinstall the application from Google Play).
3. Confirm the choice by pressing OK or Install.

After that, all links from messages, mail and other applications should open in Yandex. However, this method does not always work - if after the reboot the settings are reset, move to the next method.

Remove the Mi Browser cache in Settings → Applications → Application Management → Mi Browser → Clear the cache

Reinstall Yandex.Browser from the official source (Google Play or yandex.ru)

Check that Yandex.Browser is allowed to access the Internet in Settings → Applications → Permissions

Turn off battery optimization for Yandex.Browser in Settings → Battery and performance → Battery optimization

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Method 2: Forced change through application settings

If the standard method didn’t work, try setting Yandex.Browser as the default app directly in its settings, a method that often helps when MIUI ignores the global system settings.

Follow the following steps:

1. Open Yandex.Browser and tap the icon ⋮ (three points) in lower right corner.
2. Select Settings → General → Make the browser by default.
3. The system will redirect you to the MIUI settings menu where you need to confirm your choice (similar to Method 1).
4. If the button is inactive, go back to Yandex.Browser Settings and turn on the option to Open supported links.

This method is especially effective for users of Redmi Note 11/12 and POCO F4, where the standard MIUI settings menu may not display Yandex in the list of browsers.

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After changing your browser, open any link from Telegram or WhatsApp and in the app selection window that appears, tick “Always” for Yandex.Browser. This will fix the settings at the Android level.

Method 3: Using ADB to force a change (no root)

If MIUI You can easily reset your settings, you can resort to ADB-This method does not require superuser rights, but you will need a computer with Xiaomi drivers installed and debugging enabled. USB.

Here's the step-by-step instruction:

1. Turn on Developer Mode on your phone: go to Settings → About Phone and tap the MIUI version 7 times.
2. Go back to Settings → Additional and open to Developers. Enable USB Debugging.
3. Connect the phone to the PC, confirm the debugging permission on the smartphone screen.
4. Download ADB Tools and unpack the archive.
5. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB and execute the commands:

adb devices


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




adb shell cmd package set-home-activity com.yandex.browser/.BrowserActivity

The first command checks the connection of the device, the second - resets the Mi Browser settings, the third - forcibly installs Yandex.Browser by default. After completing, restart the phone.

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi) 10C s MIUI 13) after-use ADB You may not be able to open links at all. In this case, run the command adb shell pm clear. --user 0 com.android.browser again and restart the device.

Method 4: Remove Mi Browser (root or ADB required)

The most radical, but also the most effective, method is to completely remove the built-in browser, without which the system will not be able to return factory settings, but this method is only suitable for advanced users, because it requires superuser rights or deep ADB knowledge.

If you have root access, use any file manager that supports superuser rights (such as Root Explorer) and delete the following files:

• /system/app/MiBrowser/MiBrowser.apk
• /system/priv-app/MiBrowserGlobal/MiBrowserGlobal.apk (for global firmware)
• /data/app/com.android.browser-* (residual files)

For users without root, you can try disabling Mi Browser via ADB:

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


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

After that, Yandex.Browser will be the only available option for opening links.Please note: on some firmware Mi Browser is associated with system services, and its removal may lead to errors in the MIUI.

Solving problems: Yandex is not saved as a default browser

Even after a successful browser change, MIUI can return the Mi Browser after an update or reboot.

If none of the methods worked, check your firmware version. On some Chinese versions of MIUI (for example, for Redmi K50), the default browser change is blocked at the system level, in which case only the reflash to the global version or the use of root will help.

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On devices with MIUI 14+, be sure to turn off Mi Browser Recommendations in Settings → Applications → Mi Browser → Notifications after changing your browser, and this will prevent automatic factory resets.

Alternative methods: circumventing MIUI restrictions

If the standard methods don't work, you can go to the trick and use third-party tools or system loopholes. Here are some proven methods:

• 🔧 Using Tasker: Create a task that will automatically start Yandex.Browser when you open links.
• 📲 Default Settings: Utilities like Google Play’s Default App Manager let you manually assign link handlers, bypassing restrictions MIUI.
• 🔄 Reset all application settings: Go to Settings → Annexes → ⋮ → Reset application settings. After that, reselect Yandex as the default browser.
• 🌐 Changes to the firmware region: In some cases, changing the region from China to Global or Russia will unlock hidden settings.

For users of POCO F5 and Redmi Note 12 Turbo, there is another working bypass: install Yandex.Browser as a browser for private viewing in the MIUI settings.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Default Applications → Browser.
2. Select Private Browsing and specify Yandex.Browser.
3. Now all links from incognito mode will open in Yandex.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing the browser to Xiaomi