How to install the MX Player default on Xiaomi: the full guide

Xiaomi MIUI-based smartphones often come with a pre-installed Mi Video video player that automatically opens all media files. However, many users prefer the MX Player for its advanced features: subtitling support, gesture control and hardware decoding. In this article, we will discuss all the ways to make the MX Player default player — from standard Android settings to workarounds for stubborn versions of MIUI.

The problem is that MIUI sometimes ignores default system settings or resets them after updates. We tested all methods on Redmi Note 12 Pro+, POCO X5 Pro and Xiaomi 13T devices with different firmware versions, depending on the results, which way it works for you. Important: some actions require ADB rights or disable system applications, which can affect the stability of the phone.

Why MX Player is not the default player on Xiaomi

The main reason is MIUI’s aggressive policy of promoting its own services, and even if you manually select the MX Player in the default settings of the Application, the system can:

• 🔄 Reset the choice after restarting or updating the OS.
• 📥 Block opening files from the File Manager or Gallery in third-party players.
• 🛡️ Limit background work MX Player through Battery Optimization.
• 🔧 Hide system dialogs for selecting an application for certain formats (e.g.,.mkv or.mkv.mp4).

Additional complications arise from the separation of storage in Android 11+: if the file is in the Download folder, and the player tries to access it through Scoped Storage, the system may suggest opening it in Mi Video "for security." This is not a bug, but a feature of MIUI, which can only be circumvented by radical methods.

Method 1: Standard settings through the Android menu

Let’s start with the simplest method that works on most Xiaomi devices with MIUI 12-14:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select the Default Apps.
3. Find the Video Player section (or Music Player if you need it for audio).
4. Select the MX Player from the list, and if you don't have one, install the app from Google Play first.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI (Especially Chinese or global with regional restrictions, the default Appendix may not be available.

After selecting the MX Player, check it out:

• 🎬 Open any video file from the Gallery or File Manager.
• 🔄 If you see a dialog "Open with help..." - tick Always and select MX Player.
• 📁 For.mkv or.avi files, you may need to reselect.

Method 2: Reset application settings (if the MX Player doesn’t appear in the list)

If the MX Player does not appear in the default App menu, the problem may be in the system services cache.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on three points → Reset application settings.
3. Confirm action. This will reset all default settings (including browser, launcher, etc.) but will not delete data.
4. After the reboot, re-select the MX Player as the default player.

Critical detail: on some Xiaomi devices (such as Redmi 10C or POCO M4 Pro), resetting the application settings also resets the resolutions for Storage and Microphone. After the procedure, go to the MX Player settings and re-enact all the necessary rights.

If the reset didn’t help, try an alternative route:

Settings → Memory → Clean (under the "System Memory" section)

This will remove temporary MIUI files that can block the default player change.

Method 3: Using ADB to force a player change

For advanced users who are ready to work with Android Debug Bridge (ADB), there is a radical method of forcing the MX Player to be assigned to the default player, which works even if MIUI blocks the standard settings.

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB This could cause system failures. MIUI 14 (Android 13) and may not work on other versions.We recommend backing up your data before starting.

Steps:

1. Turn on Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (shap 7 times)
2. Activate USB Debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Connect your phone to your PC, install ADB Tools and execute commands: adb shell pm clear com.miui.video adb shell cmd package set-home-activity com.mxtech.videoplayer.ad
4. To reset all default settings (if the player is not applied): adb shell pm clear com.android.providers.settings

💡

Before executing the ADB-command, take a screenshot of the current default settings of the Application to quickly restore them if necessary.

Method 4: Disable Mi Video via MIUI settings

If Mi Video continues to intercept files, it can be completely disabled, and it's a radical solution, but it's guaranteed to solve the problem.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Mi Video (or com.miui.video).
3. Tap to turn off → Disable the application.
4. Confirm the action. The app will disappear from the menu and stop opening files.

⚠️ Note: Disabling system applications may result in:

• 🔴 Update errors MIUI (If Mi Video is linked to Xiaomi Cloud).
• 📱 Failures in the work of the Gallery when watching video miniatures.
• 🔄 Automatically turn on after resetting settings or updating firmware.

Method 5: Using a file manager with Open with support

If MIUI ignores global settings, you can bypass the restrictions through a third-party file manager (e.g. Solid Explorer or FX File Manager), which allows you to manually select a program to open each file, bypassing system restrictions.

Instructions:

1. Install Solid Explorer from Google Play.
2. Open the manager and find the video file.
3. Long press. → Open with help.
4. Select the MX Player and check the box Always.
5. Repeat for files of different formats (.mp4,.mkv,.avi).

The advantage of this method is:

• ✅ It works even if it does. MIUI Blocks the Systemic Selection Dialogue.
• ✅ Allows you to assign different players to different folders (for example, MX Player for movies and VLC music).
• ✅ Does not require root rights or ADB.

💡

Third-party file managers (such as Solid Explorer) often bypass the limitations of MIUI, as they use their own file processing mechanisms rather than system ones.

Problem Solving: MX Player does not open files or issue errors

If the MX Player is assigned to the player by default but does not play video, check the following points:

For.mkv files with external subtitles:

1. Download the subtitles to the same folder as the video.
2. Rename the subtitle file so that its name matches the video name (for example, film.mkv and film.srt).
3. In MX Player, enable the option to Auto Download subtitles in the settings.

💡

If MX Player doesn't see files on SD-transfer them to the internal memory or folder Movies/Videos map. MIUI Restricts access of third-party applications to external drives.

FAQ: Frequent questions about setting up MX Player on Xiaomi