Xiaomi’s Redmi 9T line of smartphones offer users a powerful Android platform, but the MIUI shell often dictates its rules for working with the system. One of the most common questions that arises for owners of these devices is the management of standard actions. The system by default chooses its own services for calling, messaging and browsing the web, which is not always convenient for an experienced user.
Changing these settings allows you to personalize your device, making it more comfortable and familiar. You can assign any third-party browser, messenger or gallery as priority programs. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to force the desired application to install the default on your Xiaomi Redmi 9T, bypassing the standard interface restrictions.
Understanding the logic of MIUI and Android
The Android operating system is built on the principle of processing file types and actions. When you click on a link in a chat, the system looks for an application that can handle the http or https protocol. If there are more than one of these programs, there is a conflict of choice. The MIUI shell seeks to minimize the number of such requests by imposing its standard solutions, such as Mi Browser or Mi Video.
To manage this behavior, there is a special settings section in the system that is often hidden from the eyes of the average user. Understanding how the system algorithms allocate priorities will help you avoid confusion. In some cases, the system remembers your choice with the "Do Not Ask Again" tick, and you can only change this decision through a deep settings menu.
It is important to distinguish between "default application" and "default start." The first means that the action will always be performed by the selected program without any questions asked; the second is a temporary selection or factory reset. On Redmi 9T, these parameters are managed through a single configuration center.
⚠️ Note: When you reset your default application settings, all your previously made choices will be voided and the system will again start asking you about preferences each time you run a certain type of file.
User experience on Xiaomi depends a lot on the correct initial setup. Ignoring this stage can lead to links opening in an unnecessary browser and photos in a heavy standard viewer instead of a light gallery.
Where to find the default application settings
Finding the right menu in MIUI may not be obvious, because the logic of grouping items here is different from pure Android. To access priority management, you need to go to the main settings of the device. Usually the path is: Settings → Apps → App settings.
However, depending on the firmware version on your Redmi 9T, the menu structure may vary slightly. In newer versions of the shell, the item may be called "Application Management." Inside this section, you'll need to find a tab or button that is responsible for standard actions, often hidden in a three-dot menu in the upper right corner of the screen.
An alternative and faster way to get to the right section is to search by settings. At the top of the settings screen, there's a search bar where you just type in the default phrase. The system will suggest you go to the right subsection without wandering through the menu for long periods, which is especially useful if you don't want to remember complicated navigation paths.
In the list that opens, you'll see the categories of actions that you can choose your priority program for, which includes your browser, phone, SMS, camera, gallery, and other system functions, and this is where your smartphone's behavior is globalized.
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How to Change Your Default Browser to Redmi 9T
Changing your web browser is one of the most popular tasks, as the standard Mi Browser is often overloaded with advertising and news feeds. To install Chrome, Firefox or Yandex as your primary browser, go to the menu described in the previous section and select Brower.
In the list that opens, display all programs installed on the device, capable of opening web links. Choose the desired application. After that, all links from messengers, social networks and other programs will automatically open in the browser of your choice, which greatly speeds up the work and eliminates unnecessary steps.
If the list does not have the right browser, make sure it is installed correctly and has all the necessary permissions. Some antivirus or task managers may block the application, preventing the system from recognizing them as valid link handlers.
It’s also worth noting that some apps may have their own browser internal settings, such as messengers like Telegram or WhatsApp can open links in the built-in viewer, and to change that, you need to look for settings inside the messenger itself, not in the Android system.
| Type of action | Standard annex | Recommended replacement | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web browser | Mi Browser | Chrome / Firefox | High (opening links) |
| Phone (calls) | MIUI Dialer | Google Phone | Critical (incoming calls) |
| Messages (SMS) | MIUI Messaging | Google Messages | Average (receiving codes) |
| gallery | MIUI Gallery | Google Photos | Low (view photo) |
Why is Mi Browser difficult to remove?
Set up calls and messages
Replacing the standard caller and SMS app is a more delicate procedure, with many users opting for the Google Phone and Google Messages interface because of their cleanliness, spam protection and better synchronization with a Google account. Redmi 9T does this in a similar way to changing a browser.
When you first try to call or send a message after you install new apps, the system may ask for permission, and it's important to keep this point in mind and confirm the choice by ticking "Always." If you accidentally select "Just now," you'll have to reset your default settings again, as described below.
Special attention should be paid to access rights. Call apps require access to contacts, microphone and phone. Without these permissions, Google Phone will not be able to function correctly. Check them in Settings → Apps → All Apps → [Select App] → Permissions.
⚠️ Warning: Do not install untested applications for third-party calls.They can intercept your conversations or block important notifications from banks and delivery services.
In some regions, Xiaomi already has a set of Google apps pre-installed on its smartphones, so you don’t have to download anything, just activate them through the default selection menu, which ensures that the basic functions of the phone are as stable as possible.
Resetting default settings and problem solving
Sometimes you have a situation where the app you choose stops working correctly or you want to get it back to normal, and then you have to reset the default settings, and that action doesn't delete your data or the apps, it just clears the priority list.
To do this, go to Settings → Applications → All apps. Find the application that is currently the main one (such as the browser) and click on it. In the menu that opens, select the “Start by Default” option and click “Clean by Default” button.
After this operation, the next time you start the corresponding action (for example, opening a link), the system will again ask you which program to use, which is a great way to correct errors when the desired application simply “missing” from the list of available to choose from.
If the problem persists even after a reset, it may be the system cache or version conflict. Try updating all apps through Google Play or restarting the device. In rare cases, cleaning the cache of the Settings app itself helps.
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Periodic cleaning of the cache of applications that you use as the main ones (browser, messengers), helps to keep the performance of the Redmi 9T smartphone at a high level.
Specific settings for different file types
In addition to standard actions like calling, Android allows you to select applications to open specific file types, PDF-Documents can be opened in a browser, in a specialized reader or in an office suite, and management of these is also in a common system of priorities.
When you first open a file of a certain format (like.docx or.mkv), the system offers a choice. If you tick Always, that choice becomes permanent. To change it, you need to find the application that opens that file now in the settings and reset its default settings, as described in the previous section.
For multimedia files (video and music), the situation is similar. Xiaomi's standard player may not support all subtitles or audio codec formats.Installing a third-party player such as VLC or MX Player and assigning it by default will solve most playback problems.
It is important to understand that some system files can only be opened by certain components. Trying to assign a text editor to open system logs can lead to errors. Be careful of files whose purpose you do not understand.
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The flexibility of Android allows you to assign different apps to different tasks, turning your Redmi 9T into a unique tool that is tailored to your habits.