How to make a VLC player by default on Xiaomi

Many Xiaomi smartphone owners face the situation when, after installing a third-party video player, the system continues to stubbornly run the standard Video or Mi Video app when trying to play a file. This is annoying, especially if you value the VLC media player for its ability to play any formats without converting. The standard MIUI interface (now HyperOS) has its own permission management features, which sometimes hides the default settings from the user's eyes.

The problem is solved quite simply, if you know exactly where to look in the settings of the system. Unlike pure Android, the shell Xiaomi can require additional actions to change the priorities of applications. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to force VLC as the main player of your device, and also consider the nuances of working with new versions of Android.

Before we get to the technical side, it’s worth noting that setting app priorities correctly not only saves time, but also eliminates unnecessary clicks every time a movie is launched. Process automation is a key principle of making your smartphone work well. Let’s look at how to make your Xiaomi work in the way that you’re comfortable with, rather than the way the default developers intended it to work.

Why the system doesn’t offer to choose an application right away

Often users wonder why, after installing VLC, the system doesn't ask how to open video files, because in Android, there's a concept of "default application" that's already assigned. If you accidentally hit "Always" for a standard player before, the system will no longer ask the question, considering the choice to be final.

In addition, in current versions of MIUI 14 and HyperOS, memory optimization algorithms can aggressively close background processes or ignore new installations if they are not properly integrated into the permission system.

⚠️ Note: If you have just installed VLC, But it doesn't appear on the selection list, so try rebooting your smartphone.

Also, consider that some video formats can be tightly tied to the system decoder, but VLC uses its own codecs, so it can circumvent most system limitations if given the right permissions.

Resetting application settings by default

The most reliable way to get the system to ask you again about player selection is to reset the current default settings. This action will not delete your files or application data, it will only clear the system’s “memory” about which application should open which file types.

To do this, you need to go to the settings section. The path may vary slightly depending on the version of the shell, but the logic remains the same. Find the App item, then select All Apps. Here, it is important to find the system application that is currently opening the video (usually "Video" or "Mi Video").

Once you find the standard video player in the list, click on it. In the menu that opens, look for the Default (or Open by Default) section, where you will see the Clear Default Settings button, and clicking on it will return the system to the "uncertainty" state.

Now that you run any video file through the file manager, Android will again display a dialog box asking, “What to open?” at which point, select VLC media player and be sure to click Always (or Default) to pin the result.

Configure file associations within the VLC

Sometimes it's not enough to just assign an application to the system; you also need to make sure that the player is ready to receive all kinds of video streams, and in the settings of the VLC itself, there are partitions that are responsible for integrating with the system.

Open the VLC app and go to Settings (cog icon). Scroll down to the Interface or Additional section. This may include System Integration or File Associations. Make sure all format types (MKV, MP4, AVI, MOV) are activated.

In some versions of the Android app, this feature can be hidden or run automatically.If you don't see explicit association settings, it means VLC relies on Android system priorities that we set up in the previous section.

Using File Managers to Start

The system’s behavior when running a video may depend on which file manager you use. Xiaomi’s standard Explorer and third-party solutions (like FX File Explorer or Total Commander) may handle file opening requests differently.

If you use a standard explorer, try holding your finger on the file for a long time when you first start the video file, then press three dots in the corner of the screen and select Open with Help. This is a forced selection menu call that ignores the default settings for the current session.

Third-party file managers often have their own default setting: Go to your file manager settings and find the section related to opening files, and you can explicitly specify that VLC should always be called for video formats.

⚠️ Note: When using third-party file managers on Xiaomi, be sure to give them permission to “Map on top of other windows” and full access to files, otherwise the player selection menu may not appear or be blocked by the security system.

This method is especially useful if system settings persist after updating the firmware, and the file manager acts as the controller who takes over.

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Use the VLC Quick Access widget on your desktop to run the latest files directly, bypassing system file managers and their possible conflicts.

Features of work in HyperOS and MIUI 14

New shells from Xiaomi, such as HyperOS and later versions of MIUI, implement stricter security and memory management policies, which can cause the system to periodically “forget” your choices or block the launch of third-party players in the background.

HyperOS has expanded privacy controls. Check security settings: go to Security → Privacy → Special permissions. Make sure that VLC has access to storage and, if required, to the local network (for streaming from PC).

Also worth checking is the battery settings. Go to Settings → Applications → VLC → Saving Charge. Select the No Limits option. This will prevent the player from shutting down if you roll it up or the screen goes out.

In some cases, resetting the rights helps. Delete the VLC, restart the phone, install the player again, and immediately select "Always" when you first start the video. A fresh install often gets higher priority in the file handler queue.

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In newer versions of MIUI and HyperOS, it is critical to set up auto-run and no battery limitations for VLC, otherwise the system will force the application to close, considering it to be a background process.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)