Xiaomi Redmi 9 smartphones come with a pre-installed Mi Browser browser, which is not always satisfactory for users. Many prefer Yandex Browser for its speed, built-in services and adaptation to the Runet. However, changing the browser by default to Android — especially on devices with a shell MIUI — often raises questions. In this article, we will examine all the nuances from basic configuration to solving typical errors.
Redmi 9
Android 10/11
MIUI 12/13
The only reliable way to fix Yandex Browser as the main one is through a combination of system settings and manual file types assignment
If you've tried to change your default browser before, but it's reset, it's not your actions that are the problem, it's MIUI. The manufacturer is limiting the choice to promote their own services, but you can get around that, and we'll show you how.
Preparation: What to do before changing your settings
Before you assign Yandex Browser to the main one, follow a few mandatory steps. This will prevent failures and ensure the correct operation:
1. Update Yandex Browser to the latest version via Google Play.Outdated versions may not support all of the default features.
2. Clear the cache of the standard Mi Browser browser in the application settings.This will delete temporary files that may conflict with the new settings.
3. Check Application Rights: Yandex Browser must have access to Warehouse and Overlay over other windows (for notifications).
If you are using MIUI 14+, further disable MIUI Optimization in Settings → Special Options → MIUI Optimization. This option sometimes resets the default settings after rebooting.
Install the latest version of Yandex Browser |
Clear the Mi Browser | cache
Check the permissions of Yandex Browser |
Disable Optimization MIUI (for MIUI 14+)|
Reboot your smartphone-->
Method 1: Standard Assignment through Android Settings
The most obvious method is to use Android’s built-in tools.It works on most devices, but on Xiaomi Redmi 9, you may need to take additional steps:
1. Open the settings of your smartphone.
2. Go to the Applications section → Application Management.
3. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select the Applications by default.
4. Slip on the Browser item and select Yandex Browser from the list.
If Yandex Browser is not listed, it does not support all types of link processing, in which case, move to Method 2.
⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI After this step, the system will still open links to Mi Browser, which is due to the fact that Xiaomi binds the processing of web links to the system components).
Method 2: Manual assignment for all types of references
When the standard method fails, you have to manually specify what types of data Yandex Browser should process, which is more time-consuming, but it works:
1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find in the list Yandex Browser and tap it.
3. Select Open by Default (or Default Settings in newer versions of MIUI).
4. Activate all available options:
- HTTP-reference
- HTTPS-reference
- Web pages
- HTML-file
If there are no points, they are locked by the system, and only Method 3 using ADB will help.
| Type of reference | Description | Important to Yandex Browser? |
|---|---|---|
| HTTP | Links without encryption (e.g. http://example.com) | Yes, but it's rarely used. |
| HTTPS | Secure links (e.g. https://ya.ru) | Critically. |
| HTML-file | Local web pages (e.g., saved on a device) | Useful for offline viewing |
| Web pages | All types of web content | Basic parameter |
💡
If the links still open in Mi Browser after manual assignment, try clearing the default application settings: Settings → System → Settings Reset → App Resets. This will return all the applications to the factory settings “by default”, after which you can reassign Yandex Browser.
Method 3: Using ADB for Involuntary Assignment
If the first two methods fail, the most reliable (but technically challenging) method is the ADB command, which is suitable for advanced users and requires connecting a smartphone to a computer.
What you need:
- 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux
- 📱 Cable USB (original for stable connection)
- 🔧 Utility. ADB (You can download from the official Android website)
- 🔒 Included debugging by USB smartphone
Step-by-step:
- Activate Developer Mode on Redmi 9: go to Settings → About Phone and tap on MIUI Version 7 times.
- Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
- Connect your smartphone to your computer and confirm the debugging permission.
- Open the command line (or terminal) and type in: adb shell pm set-default-browser com.yandex.browser
- Reset the device.
⚠️ Attention: After use ADB Some system applications (such as Mi Browser) may not work properly. If you notice a failure, follow the command adb shell pm clear com.android.browser to reset the settings of the standard browser.
What if the ADB does not recognize the device?
Typical problem solving
Even after the correct setup, Yandex Browser may not become the main one. Let’s consider the most common errors and their solutions:
Problem 1: After the smartphone is rebooted, the settings are reset.
Solution: This is a feature of MIUI, to record the changes:
- 📵 Turn off automatic optimization in Settings → Battery → Battery optimization (find Yandex Browser and select Without restrictions).
- 🔄 Execute the command through ADB (see method 3).
- 🔧 Install the SetEdit application from Google Play and manually prescribe Yandex Browser as a link handler.
Problem 2: Some links (for example, from Telegram or VKontakte) open in Mi Browser.
Solution: This is because individual applications have their own link processing settings. Go to the settings of each such application and manually specify Yandex Browser as the default browser.
Problem 3: There is no Yandex Browser in the default application list.
Solution: Remove and reinstall the browser from Google Play. If it does not help, download APK from the official Yandex website and install manually.
💡
Xiaomi Redmi 9 with MIUI 12+ The most reliable result is a combination of Method 2 (manual assignment of link types) and Method 3 (ADB-team).
Optimization of Yandex Browser for Xiaomi Redmi 9
After successfully assigning your browser by default, set it up for maximum performance on Redmi 9:
1. Battery savings:
- 🔋 Turn off background synchronization in browser settings (Settings) → Synchronization).
- ⚡ Turn on Turbo mode to speed up page loading.
- 📴 Limit the use of mobile data in the background (Settings) → Traffic).
Safety:
- 🔒 Enable Phishing Protection and Blocking Dangerous Sites.
- 🚫 Turn off password saving if you use third-party managers (such as KeePass or Google). 1Password).
- 🛡️ Regularly clear cache and cookies (Settings) → Confidentiality → Clear the data).
Performance:
On Redmi 9 with 3/4 GB of RAM, it is recommended:
- 🗑️ Limit the number of open tabs (optimally - up to 5-7).
- 🎨 Disable animations in settings (Settings) → Appearance → Animation).
- 📥 Use the Easy Mode to Save Resources.
Alternative browsers for Xiaomi Redmi 9
If Yandex Browser is not satisfied for some reason, consider alternatives that work well on Redmi 9:
| browser | Advantages | Deficiencies | Is it good for MIUI? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Chrome | Maximum compatibility with websites, synchronization with Google account | High RAM consumption, slow operation on weak devices | Yeah, but it's slowing down. |
| Opera | Built-in VPN, ad blocker, Turbo mode | Aggressive Advertising in the Free Version | Yes. |
| Brave | Blocking trackers, cryptocurrency bonuses | A complex interface for beginners | Yes. |
| Kiwi Browser | Chrome extensions support, lightweight | Rare updates | Yeah, best for weak devices. |
For Redmi 9 with 3 GB of RAM, Kiwi Browser or Opera in Turbo mode is the best choice. If you want to integrate with the Yandex ecosystem (mail, maps, search), then Yandex Browser remains the best option - after setting up correctly.