How to Make Google Chrome the Default Browser on Xiaomi Redmi Note 9: Complete Guide 2026

Why Google Chrome is not the default browser on Xiaomi Redmi Note 9?

Owners of Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 often face a problem: despite the installed Google Chrome, the system persistently opens links in the standard browser MIUI Browser or the suggestion to choose an app every time. MIUI, It aggressively promotes its own services, even if you manually specify Chrome in the settings.

On the Redmi Note 9 (models M2003J15SC/M2003J15SS) with Android 10/11/12 and MIUI 12-14, the default setting reset algorithm works differently than on “pure” Android. For example, after a system update or factory reset, the browser binding may fly off, and MIUI blocks Chrome’s automatic assignment for some types of links (for example, from WhatsApp or Telegram).

This article outlines the current ways to anchor Chrome as the default browser on the Redmi Note 9 in 2026, including bypassing MIUI restrictions, solving “failure to save” settings, and alternative methods for advanced users.

Preparation: What to do before changing your browser by default

Before you assign Google Chrome to your primary browser, follow these steps – they will save time and prevent common errors:

• 📱 Update Chrome to the latest version via Google Play.Outdated versions may not appear in the default app list.
• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone. Sometimes background processes. MIUI block out changes in settings.
• 🚫 Turn off battery optimization for Chrome: go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → Chrome → Battery and select No Limitations.
• 🔍 Check for duplicate browsers. On some firmware MIUI It installs a hidden Android System WebView that can conflict with Chrome.

If you previously tried to assign Chrome to the default browser, but the settings were not saved, clear the cache of system applications:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Show All Apps.
3. Find the settings (the icon with the gear), go to the storage and clear the cache.

Method 1: Standard Assignment through Android Settings

This is the basic method that works on most Xiaomi devices, but on the Redmi Note 9, it may require additional action due to the features of MIUI.

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to the Appendix section → Application management.
3. At the top of the screen, click on three dots and select the Default Apps.
4. Slip on Browser.
5. Select Google Chrome from the list, and if you don't have one, go back to Preparation.

On MIUI 13/14, a notification may appear after this step: "Some applications may ignore default settings," which means that MIUI Browser will still open some links.

• 🔗 Open any link (for example, from Telegram or Gmail).
• 📋 In the box that appears, check Always and select Chrome.
• 🔄 Repeat the action. 2-3 time-to-time (HTTP, HTTPS, deep-linked applications).

Update Google Chrome to the latest version

Clear the cache of the Settings application

Disable battery optimization for Chrome

Reboot the smartphone after the changes

Check for the absence of duplicate browsers-->

Method 2: Forced assignment through ADB (for advanced)

If the standard method does not work, MIUI Resets the settings persistently, you can use ADB-This method requires connecting the smartphone to the computer, but it is guaranteed to override system constraints.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB-driver.
• 📱 Included Debugging by USB Redmi Note 9 (path: Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times, then return to Settings → Additionally. → For developers).
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

Instructions:

1. Connect your smartphone to your computer and confirm the debugging permission.
2. Open the command line (Win + R → cmd) and type:

adb devices

(Your device should be displayed.)

1. Follow the command to assign Chrome to the default browser:

adb shell cmd package set-home-activity com.android.chrome/com.google.android.apps.chrome.Main

1. Reboot your smartphone.

If the team doesn’t work, try an alternative:

adb shell pm clear com.android.browser


adb shell pm disable-user com.miui.browser

This will disable the standard MIUI browser and the system will automatically redirect all links to Chrome.

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

If you don’t want to mess with ADB, you can use specialized utilities that automate the process.

Instructions for Default App Manager:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Open it and grant permission for Special Features (a window will pop up asking you to go to the settings).
3. In the main menu, select the Browser.
4. Slip on Google Chrome and confirm your choice.

⚠️ Note: Some apps from Google Play (such as App Cloner) may conflict with the MIUI Optimization. If after using the utility, the smartphone began to slow down, clear the cache in Settings → Annexes → Application management → MIUI Optimization.

Solution: Why Chrome is not saved as the default browser

Even after setting it up correctly, MIUI can reset the browser by default, and here are the typical reasons and ways to fix them:

• 🔄 Automatic reset after update. MIUI Sometimes resets default settings after a system update.Solution: After the update, reassign Chrome via Settings → Annexes → Default applications.
• 📱 Conflict with MIUI Browser. Standard browser. MIUI The solution is to turn it off through the system. ADB (command above or freeze with Titanium Backup (root required).
• 🔗 Links from specific applications. Some programs (e.g. Facebook or Instagram) ignore system settings. Solution: manually select Chrome when you first open a link from such an application.
• 🛠️ Error in the system cache. Solution: clear the Settings cache and MIUI Optimization as described in the section "Preparation".

If the problem persists, check if your Redmi Note 9 has global firmware with regional restrictions, for example, on some versions of MIUI for India or China, the browser is rigidly bound to MIUI Browser by default, in which case only the flashing on MIUI Global or Xiaomi.EU will help.

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If Chrome doesn’t save after all the manipulations, try temporarily disabling the “MIUI Optimization” feature in the developer settings (Settings → Additional → For Developers → Disable MIUI Optimization). This may solve the problem, but note that some system functions will stop working correctly.

Alternative methods: if nothing helps

If all the previous methods have failed, there are radical solutions that require more effort, but are guaranteed to solve the problem.

1. Install custom firmware (requires unlocking the bootloader)

Firmware like Xiaomi.EU or Pixel Experience does not have MIUI restrictions and allows you to freely assign the default browser, minus the loss of warranty and the risk of “bricking” the device.

2.Use of Tasker for Forced Link Redirection

With the Tasker app, you can create a rule that will automatically open all links in Chrome:

1. Install Tasker.
2. Create a new profile: Event → Intent caught.
3. In the action filter, specify: android.intent.action.VIEW.
4. Add the action to the task: Open the URL in Chrome.

3. Switch to Firefox with Chrome extensions

If the main goal is sync with your Google account and extensions, consider Firefox with uBlock Origin add-ons and Google Search Fix. It integrates better with MIUI and resets default settings less often.

⚠️ Attention: Installing custom firmware on the Redmi Note 9 requires unlocking the bootloader, resulting in a complete data reset (including internal memory). → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing the default browser to Xiaomi

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Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 s MIUI 12-14 The default Chrome browser designation often doesn’t work due to system limitations: ADB-team + manual confirmation of choice when opening links.