Modern Xiaomi smartphones come with a pre-installed suite of software that often uses Google Chrome or the proprietary MIUI Browser as the default page browser. However, many users prefer the Yandex ecosystem for its convenient features, such as the built-in voice assistant Alice, Turbo traffic saving mode and synchronization with the desktop version.
The process of changing the priority application in the shells of MIUI and the new HyperOS has its own nuances, different from standard Android. Xiaomi security system may hide some options or require additional confirmations when changing the system associations of files. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to install Yandex Browser as the main tool for opening links.
The following steps do not require superuser rights or complex debugging via a computer, but are performed directly on the device through the standard settings menu, and it is important to follow the sequence of steps carefully so that the system remembers your choices correctly.
Preparing the device for changing the browser
Before you start changing system settings, you need to make sure that the Yandex Browser itself is properly installed and updated to the latest version. Often users try to assign the application to the main one, forgetting that old processes may be hanging in the background, blocking new associations.
Make sure you have an official browser version downloaded from Google Play or GetApps. Third-party modifications may not have the necessary system signatures for the declared default browser status. It’s also worth checking for a stable Internet connection, as the application can load start pages or synchronize data when it first starts.
💡
Before changing the settings, go to the app menu, find the current browser and click Stop to reset its active cached processes.
While deep access to contacts or microphones is not required to operate as a primary application, basic data storage and network access rights must be granted, without which Android could ignore attempts to prioritize the application.
Standard Method Through Android Settings
The most correct and stable way to change priorities is through the operating system settings menu, which is guaranteed to work on all current versions of Android, including the basic settings of Xiaomi. The algorithm of actions may vary slightly depending on the version of the shell, but the logic remains the same.
You need to go to the settings section that manages applications. In modern versions of MIUI and HyperOS, the path can look like Settings → Applications → All applications. However, we are interested in the system level of action management, not just the list of installed software. Here we find the item "Default Apps".
☑️ Checking before setting up
In the menu that opens, you'll see a list of categories: phone, messages, launcher, and of course browser. By clicking on "Browser," the system will suggest a list of all browsers installed. Select Yandex from the list. The system can alert you to a change in device behavior — this is the standard Android security notice.
Once selected, the system will stop asking how to open the link and automatically launch the selected option. If this does not happen, the cache of the previous choice may have been stored in memory, in which case the default settings for the old browser will be forced to clear, as described in the next section.
Resetting the settings of the previous browser
Sometimes, when you try to open a link from a messenger or social network, the smartphone ignores the new settings and continues to run Chrome or another browser, which means that the system has a hard-fixed previous choice with the "always" flag. To fix this, you need to reset the default settings for the old application.
Go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find the browser that is currently opening instead of Yandex (like Chrome) in the list. Go to it (app information) and find the “Default Launch” or “Open by Default” button. Click on it and select “Delete default settings” or “Clear default values.”
⚠️ Warning: Don’t confuse cleaning your default settings with completely clearing your app data. If you choose Clear Data, you’ll lose your history, passwords, and bookmarks in this browser.
Once you reset, try to open any link from another application (e.g. Telegram or SMS), this time the system should show the "What to open?" selection box, where you can select Yandex Browser and click the "Always" button, which force you to register new associations in the registry.
If the reset button is inactive (gray), the application has no set priorities and the problem lies deeper, perhaps in the limitations of the MIUI shell itself or in the launch system cache.
Features of configuration in MIUI and HyperOS
Xiaomi shells are known for their aggressive energy saving methods and unique menu structure. In some regions (such as global firmware for Europe or Russia), the menu may differ from the Chinese version. In HyperOS, settings search has become more convenient thanks to an improved search algorithm inside the settings menu.
Sometimes the direct path through Default Apps is hidden or moved, so you can search by settings, click on the magnifying glass at the top of the settings screen and type in the default or default apps request, and the system will suggest you go to the desired section without wandering through the menu for long periods.
An important feature of MIUI is the Security feature. The Security app (green shield icon) also has a Permissions section where you can control application access. Make sure Yandex doesn't have a background activity restriction that would block it from running when you click on a link.
It is also worth noting that some versions of Xiaomi firmware include a function called "Second Space Mode" or "App Cloning." If you cloned a browser, the system may be confused as to which application (main or clone) to run, in which case it is recommended to use only the main instance of the application for system links.
Solving Link Opening Problems
Even after all the settings, there can be situations where links are opened incorrectly or in an “empty” window, often because a particular source application (such as Instagram or Viber) has its own built-in browsers (WebView) and ignores system settings.
To get an app to open links in an external browser, you need to go to its settings. Find the source of the link (for example, Telegram) in the list of applications, go to "Other permissions" or "Open links." There you need to activate the "Open supported links" switch and select "In this application" (meaning external browser) or remove the ticks from internal handlers.
| Problem. | Probable cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Links open in Chrome | The “Always” option for Chrome is saved | Reset the default settings for Chrome |
| No browser choice | System failure or MIUI blocking | Use search in settings or safe mode |
| Links don't open at all | Lack of Internet Protocol | Check DNS settings and dates/time |
| The internal browser of the application opens | Settings of the source application itself | Change the link settings in the source app |
Another common problem is the conflicting versions of Android System WebView. This system component is responsible for displaying web content within apps. If it is outdated or not working properly, clicking on links can fail. Update this component through the Google Play Store.
What do you do if nothing helps?
Setting up Yandex Browser after installation
Once Yandex Browser is the main one, it is recommended to make its initial setup for maximum comfort. Go to the settings menu of the browser itself (three bars → Settings). Here it is worth enabling synchronization with your Yandex ID account to access your bookmarks and passwords from your computer.
Be sure to check your file download settings. Android can ask permission to download every time by default. In the browser settings, you can set a folder to download and allow certain types of files to be downloaded automatically, which is especially convenient for users who often work with documents.
It's also worth activating Turbo mode if you're a frequent mobile Internet user in areas with unstable coverage, which compresses traffic on Yandex servers, speeding up page loading, and in a limited traffic environment, it can save you money.
💡
The right setup of synchronization and Turbo mode makes the browser a powerful tool to work with, rather than just a page viewer.