How to Make a Default App on Xiaomi Redmi Note: The Complete 2026 Guide

Customizing the default apps on Xiaomi Redmi Note smartphones is a challenge that every user faces after buying a device or installing new software. Unlike pure Android, the MIUI shell has its own features: hidden menus, restrictions on changing system applications and non-obvious ways to access settings. This article will help you understand how to assign a browser, messenger, maps or any other service to the main one – both through standard tools and with ADB for advanced users.

Complicating the problem is that Xiaomi actively promotes its own applications (such as Mi Browser or Mi Music), automatically assigning them by default. Even after manually changing the settings, the system can reset the selection after updating or rebooting. We analyzed the behavior of different versions of MIUI (12 to 14) on Redmi Note 10/11/12/13 models and collected working solutions from basic to technically complex.

It's important to remember that some of the constraints are at the firmware level, like changing the default launcher or system call manager without super-user permissions, but browsers, maps, and instant messengers are not going to be a problem if you know where to look for the options.

Why Xiaomi Redmi Note Resets Apps by Default?

The main reason for automatic resetting is the MIUI shell policy.The system believes that the user should use Xiaomi branded services, so:

• 🔄 After major updates (e.g., with the MIUI 13 on MIUI 14) reset browser and email client settings.
• 📱 When you install new apps (such as Google Chrome or Yandex Maps), the system suggests making them the main ones, but after a while it can return Mi Browser or Mi Maps.
• 🔧 Some system applications (e.g. com.android.contacts for calls) are blocked from changing without any changes. ADB.

Critical feature: Redmi Note models with MIUI for the global market (EU or Global versions) are less likely to reset than Chinese firmware (CN) due to Google Mobile Services (GMS) requirements that limit the aggressive promotion of branded applications.

Another nuance is battery optimization, where if the default application is on the “frozen” list (Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization menu), the system can ignore it when performing certain actions (such as opening links), and the solution is to add such an application to the optimization exceptions.

Method 1: Configure with the standard MIUI menu

The easiest method is to use built-in shell tools. It is suitable for most applications: browsers, maps, instant messengers, music players, etc. The instructions are relevant for all Redmi Note models (from Note 8 Pro to Note 13 Pro+).

Algorithm of action:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to the Appendix section → Application management.
3. In the upper right corner, press three dots (⋮) and select the Applications by default.
4. In the list, find the category you want to change (for example, Browser, Maps or Phone).
5. Slip on the current app and select an alternative from the list of installed.

If the application you want isn’t on the list, make sure it:

• 📥 Installed and not removed (check in Settings) → Annexes → All applications).
• 🔓 Not blocked by the system (some applications, for example, APK-Files from third-party sources may be limited).
• 🔄 Updated to the latest version (older versions may not support the default function").

Install an alternative app (e.g. Chrome or Yandex Maps)

Check the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version

Turn off battery optimization for the selected application

Restart your phone after installing new software-->

Limitations of the method:

• ❌ You cannot change the launcher, call manager or SMS-plug-in ADB.
• ❌ On some firmware (CN) There is no option for voice assistants (e.g. Google Assistant).
• ❌ After updating MIUI settings may reset.

Method 2: Using ADB for Advanced Users

If standard settings do not allow you to change the default application (for example, for a launcher or call manager), you will need to connect to ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which works on all Redmi Note models, but requires debugging over USB and installing ADB on your computer.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on USB debugging: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version to activate Developer Mode. Go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers. Activate the USB Debugging Switch.

Connect your phone to your PC:

• Use the original USB-Type C cable (cheap cables may not support data transfer).
• On your phone, select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
• Confirm the debugging permission (a request will appear on the smartphone screen).
• Follow ADB commands: adb shell pm list package (shows a list of all installed packages) adb shell cmd role add-pkg-role <application package> android.app.role.DIALER (example for changing the call manager, where <application package> is the name of the package, for example, com.google.android.dialer for Google Phone).

List of popular roles for ADB:

Not all roles can be changed without root. For example, changing the system launcher to Redmi Note is often blocked even through ADB. In this case, only custom firmware (for example, LineageOS or Pixel Experience) will help.

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Before using ADB, back up your data through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset. Errors in commands can cause system failures.

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

If ADB seems complicated, you can use specialized apps from Google Play, which automate the process of changing apps by default, but have limitations:

• 🛠️ Default App Manager – allows you to manage roles without ADB, but requires the debugging on USB.
• 🔧 SetEdit – edits system settings, but does not work on all versions MIUI.
• 📱 App Cloner – creates copies of applications with the ability to assign them by default (useful for testing).

Examples of Default App Manager:

1. Install the utility from Google Play.
2. Open it and grant ADB permissions (the application will request a connection to the PC).
3. In the list, select a category (for example, Browser) and tap on the desired application.
4. Confirm the changes and restart the phone.

Warning: Some utilities (e.g. SetEdit) can cause MIUI errors if you change system settings without understanding the consequences.

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The utility side is convenient, but does not guarantee 100% results. On some firmware (for example, MIUI 14 for the Chinese market), they may not work due to Xiaomi restrictions.

Features for specific applications

Not all apps change the same way. Let's look at the nuances for popular categories:

Browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Yandex)

The Redmi Note defaults to Mi Browser, which cannot be removed but can be disabled:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Mi Browser.
2. Click Disable (not “Delete” as it is a system application).
3. In the Default Apps menu, select an alternative browser.

Maps (Google Maps, Yandex Maps, 2GIS)

For the default card change:

• 🗺️ Install an alternative app (e.g. Google Maps).
• 📍 Open any location in another application (such as in a browser) and select Open in...".
• ✅ In the window that appears, mark the tick Use by default.

Messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber)

For instant messengers, the default setting only works to open links (e.g., tg:// or wa.me).To assign Telegram to the primary:

1. Open any link to the chat (e.g. https://t.me/joinchat/...).
2. In the dialog box, select Telegram and mark Always.

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If links to cards or messengers open in the browser, clear the cache of the Settings application (Settings → Apps → Settings → Storage → Clear cache).

What to do if the settings are reset after the update?

The problem of resetting apps by default after the MIUI update is common among Redmi Note users.

• 🔄 Update overwrites system settings, including application roles.
• 📦 Some packets (e.g. com.miui.system) are reset to factory values.
• 🔒 Xiaomi intentionally returns its apps to comply with partner agreements (e.g. Google or local services).

Decisions:

1. Reverse the update: Go to Settings → The phone. → Update the system. Press three dots (⋮) and select Remove the Update (if available).
2. Use Tasker or MacroDroid: Create an automatic task that, after rebooting, reassigns the desired applications by default. MacroDroid Macro Example: Trigger: System boot Action: Run ADB command (pm set-default-package com.android.chrome) Restriction: Only if the current browser is Mi Browser

Install custom recovery (TWRP):

• Allows you to back up your settings and restore them after updates.
• It requires unlocking the bootloader.

Attention: Update rollbacks can cause the phone to malfunction. Before doing so, back up through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.

Method compatibility table for different Redmi Note models

Not all methods work on all devices, and here is a summary table for popular models:

All methods are available for the Redmi Note 8/9 models on MIUI 12, but it may be necessary to roll back to an earlier firmware version if bugs occur.

FAQ: Frequent questions