How to Reset the Browser by Default on Xiaomi

Xiaomi smartphone owners often face a situation where links from messengers or apps are opened in the wrong browser you used to use. This is because the Android system and MIUI shell always have the default app assigned to handle web links. Sometimes it's the built-in Mi Browser, and sometimes the third-party Chrome or Opera you installed earlier.

Compounding the problem, standard settings don’t always allow you to simply “undo” a single-button choice: the user has to scour the app settings menu, look for hidden options, or use additional tools. Understanding how to reset the default Xiaomi browser is a key skill for comfortable smartphone use, as it brings back control over the navigation of the Internet.

In this article, we will discuss all the available methods for solving this problem in detail. We will look at the regular system tools, options for different versions of the HyperOS and MIUI shell, and also touch on advanced methods through ADB. You will learn not only to reset the settings, but also to choose the right new application to avoid a repetition of the situation.

Why you need to reset browser settings

The main reason users are looking for a way to reset is the intrusive behavior of some pre-installed apps. The built-in Mi Browser on Xiaomi smartphones is known for its aggressive policy of promoting its services, news feeds and push notifications. If it accidentally becomes the default browser, the system begins to forcefully open all links in it, which annoys many users.

In addition, the need to reset may arise when applications work correctly. Some programs, such as social network clients or instant messengers, can “remember” the choice of the browser and stop asking the user the next time you click on the link. If the browser you selected was deleted or stopped working correctly, the links may simply not open or lead to errors on the page.

⚠️ Warning: Resetting your browser won’t delete your browsing history, passwords, or bookmarks. It only returns the app to “not selected by default” status, causing the system to ask you again about preferences the next time you click on the link.

Also worth mentioning are security situations: If you install an unknown application that has seized permission to open links, resetting those settings is the first step to eliminating a potential threat.

Standard Method through Application Settings

The most reliable and secure way to change or reset settings is to use the built-in application management menu, which works on most versions of MIUI and the new HyperOS. The algorithm requires careful attention, as the location of items may vary slightly depending on the version of Android.

To start, you need to go to the main settings menu of your smartphone. Find a section that is usually called "Apps" or "All Apps." In the list of installed programs, look for the browser that is currently undesirable (such as Mi Browser or Chrome).

Next, you'll find "Default" or "Open by default," and that's where you store information about whether an application takes priority when processing certain types of files and links. Inside this menu, you'll see a button called "Delete default settings" or "Clear default values," and clicking on it will remove privileges.

After this operation, the system will forget your choice. The next time you click on a link from any application (for example, from Telegram or Viber), you will see a pop-up with the question: “What to open?” At this point, it is important not just to choose a new browser, but also to click the “Always” button to capture a new choice.

Reset via the “Default Apps” menu

There's an alternative way to manage priorities centrally, and Xiaomi's shells have a section that lists all the types of actions and the programs that are assigned to them, and it's convenient because you can see the full picture of what the apps are doing in the system.

To get into this section, open Settings and in the search bar at the top, type in the phrase “default apps” or simply “default apps.” The system will suggest you go to the corresponding menu. Here you will see a list of categories: “Browser”, “Phone”, “SMS” and others. We are interested in the category “Browser”.

Clicking on Browser, you will see a list of all browsers installed. If a particular browser is selected there (for example, Mi Browser), just select another option from the list or the option “No” / “Ask always” if it is available in your firmware version, this action will automatically reset the previous choice and assign a new priority.

It is important to note that in some versions of MIUI, direct reset through this menu may not clear the association cache completely, so once the setting is changed, it is recommended that you also clean the application cache, as discussed in the next section.

Cleaning cache and data for complete reset

Sometimes simply removing the default status is not enough if there are errors or junk configuration files in the system, which require a deeper cleaning, and this involves manipulating the cache and application data, which allows the browser to return to the post-installing state.

It is important to distinguish between cache cleaning and data cleaning. Cache cleaning is secure and only deletes temporary files, speeding up the application. Data (or memory) cleaning will delete all your settings inside the browser, including saved passwords, history and bookmarks if they are not synced with the account. Use this method carefully.

The process is as follows: in the application management menu (as described in the second section), find the memory or storage button. There will be two buttons: Clear cache and Clear everything (or Reset). To solve the problem with opening links, often just click on Clear everything. This is guaranteed to reset all application settings.

⚠️ Note: Before performing a complete data cleanup ("Clean Everything"), make sure your passwords and bookmarks are stored in the cloud (Google Account or Mi Account.

Removal of system browser updates

Xiaomi’s built-in apps, such as Mi Browser or MIUI Browser, are system-based, and cannot be removed through a standard interface like regular programs from the Play Market, but if the problem is an erroneous update that disrupts file associations, you can roll the app back to the factory version.

To do this, go to the app information page (Settings → Applications → Mi Browser). In the upper right corner of the screen (or in the three-dot menu), find the option “Delete Updates.” The system will warn you that the application will be returned to the factory version. Confirm the action.

Once a version rolls back, it often automatically resets all default settings, as the system perceives this as a critical change in the state of the application, an effective way to combat the intrusive behavior of the updated browser, which has begun to ignore the user's choices.

It is worth remembering that after removing updates, the system may try to automatically update the application again through the GetApps store or Google Play. To prevent this, you can turn off automatic updates for specific applications in the store settings or prevent the browser from accessing the network.

Using ADB for Advanced Users

For those who are not afraid of the command line and want to gain full control of the system, there is a method using Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which allows you to send commands directly to the operating system, bypassing the GUI, with which you can force reset packet preferences.

First, you need to include “Developer Mode” and “Debugging by” USB» In the settings of the smartphone. Then connect the phone to the computer through USB-There's a platform on the computer. ADB. In the command line or terminal, enter a command to check the connection:

adb devices

If the device is determined, you can execute a command to reset all the "open by default" settings for all applications at once, a radical method that will return the system to a state where it will ask the user at every action that requires the choice of program.

adb shell pm reset-preferred-apps

You can also remove preferences for a particular package if you know its name (e.g. com.android.browser for system browser):

adb shell pm clear-package-preferred-apps com.android.browser

⚠️ Attention: Use of teams ADB Incorrect commands can cause the system to malfunction or reset other important settings. Use this method only if you understand what you're doing.

How to choose the right browser default

Once you successfully reset your old browser, the system will prompt you to select an app the next time you click on the link, a critical point that many users miss, which leads to a recurrence of the problem, and in the window that appears, you will see a list of available browsers.

At the bottom of this window, there's usually a switch or two buttons: "Just Now" and "Always" (or "Default"). If you select "Just Now," the system will remember this choice only for the current session or for a specific action. The next time you run, the question will repeat.

To record the choice, it is necessary:

• 👉 Click on the desired browser icon (e.g. Chrome).
• 👉 Make sure you select the “Always” item or check the appropriate box.
• 👉 Confirm the action, after which the system will remember the new priority.

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If you accidentally clicked "Always" on an unnecessary browser, don't panic.Just go back to the app settings (as described in Section 2) and reset the settings for that app to call the selection menu again.

Choosing the right browser is important not only for convenience, but also for security and speed. Modern browsers offer various rendering engines, ad blockers and traffic saving features. Make sure that the browser you choose is up to date and receives regular security updates.

Possible problems and solutions

Even following the instructions, users may encounter non-standard system behavior, such as the Delete Default Settings button, which may be inactive (grey).This often means that the application is not currently “default” and there is simply nothing to reset, in which case the problem may be in another application that intercepts links.

Another common problem is cyclical link opening: you reset your settings, you choose your browser, but after a while the system reopens the links to Mi Browser. This can be a sign of malware or aggressive scripts in the shell itself, in which case it is recommended to check the phone with an antivirus (for example, Dr.Web or built-in security scanner).

It's also worth checking the special features settings, and some applications may request access to "Special Opportunities" to change the behavior of the system, and if you see a suspicious application with these rights, you'd better turn them off.

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If standard methods don't work, it could be a conflicting application or a virus, check the list of applications with device administrator rights and revoke the rights of suspicious programs.

In rare cases, only a full reset of the phone to the factory settings helps, but this is an extreme measure, and most often the problem is solved by a combination of cleaning the cache and choosing the right application "Always".

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions