Changing the default browser on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones is a challenge many users face after installing Yandex Browser. Despite the fact that MIUI offers its own Mi Browser browser, its functionality is often inferior to alternatives: there is no synchronization with Yandex.Mail, there is no built-in ad blocker from Yandex, and page loading speed can leave much to be desired. However, the process of assigning the browser by default to Redmi has its nuances – especially if you are using MIUI 14 or a newer version of the shell.
In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can make Yandex Browser the main one, from the standard method through Android settings to bypassing the limitations of MIUI, which sometimes block the default browser change. And you’ll learn why settings can be reset once you update your system, and how to avoid it. If you’ve tried changing your browser but nothing has worked, don’t close the page: there’s a section at the end of this article that addresses typical problems.
Before you start, make sure you have the latest version of Yandex Browser installed (you can download it from Google Play or the official Yandex website).This is important, as older versions may lack some of the features necessary for the correct operation by default.
Why is it difficult to change the default browser on Xiaomi Redmi?
MIUI is known for its aggressive approach to integrating its own services. Unlike pure Android, where changing the default browser takes a couple of clicks, Xiaomi Redmi can be complicated by the following factors:
🔹 Mi Browser binding: The default system uses Mi Browser to open links from other applications (e.g. Telegram or WhatsApp). Even if you assign Yandex Browser to the primary, some links may still open in a standard browser.
🔹 Limitations MIUI 14+: In the new versions of the shell, Xiaomi has added additional “security” mechanisms that reset the default browser settings after restarting or updating the system.
🔹 No explicit settings: On some Redmi models (e.g. Redmi Note 12 or Redmi) 10C) The default browser change option is hidden deep in the menu or is not at all in the usual form.
🔹 Conflict with “Security” MIUI": Xiaomi’s antivirus software sometimes blocks changes to system settings as “suspicious activity” and this can result in the browser being not saved.
To get around these limitations, you will need to not only change the settings of Android, but also make adjustments to the operation of MIUI. Next we will consider 3 working methods - from the simplest to the most reliable.
Method 1: Standard browser change through Android settings
This method is suitable for most Redmi models on MIUI 12-14 and does not require additional manipulation.
1. Open Settings (⚙️) on your smartphone.
2. Go to the Applications section → Application Management.
3.In the upper right corner, press three dots (⋮) and select the Applications by default.
Push on Browser.
5. In the list of available browsers, select Yandex Browser.
If the list does not include Yandex Browser, it means that it is not installed or installed incorrectly. Remove the application and install it again from the official source.
⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI After this step, links from messengers (Telegram, Viber) can still open in Mi Browser, which is because individual applications have their own settings for processing links, and to fix this, you will have to manually change the settings in each messenger (more about this in the next section).
Remove the Mi Browser cache in Settings → Applications → Mi Browser → Clear the cache
Update Yandex Browser to the latest version
Reboot your smartphone before changing your settings
Check that in Settings → Accounts and synchronization disabled by Mi Browser Synchronization-->
Method 2: Configure link opening in messengers
Even if you successfully assigned Yandex Browser to the default browser, some apps (like Telegram or WhatsApp) may ignore these settings and open links to Mi Browser.This is because messengers have their own URL processing mechanisms.
📌 For Telegram:
1. Open Telegram and go to Settings → Data and Memory.
2. Find the Open links item and select Yandex Browser.
3. If there is no such item, try to open any link in the chat, after which a pop-up with the choice of browser will appear. Check Always and select Yandex Browser.
📌 For WhatsApp:
1.On WhatsApp, click on three dots (⋮) → Settings → Data and memory.
2. Find the option to Open links to and specify Yandex Browser.
📌 For other applications:
Many apps (e.g. VK, Instagram, Facebook) have built-in browsers and do not allow you to change the link handler, in which case the only way out is to copy the link and paste it manually into the Yandex Browser.
⚠️ Note: If after changing the browser in messengers links still open in Mi Browser, try to clear the data of the messenger application (Settings) → Annexes → [Name of messenger] → Warehouse → Clear the data.This will reset the link processing settings, and the next time the link is opened, the system will again prompt you to choose the browser.
Why does MIUI ignore default browser settings?
Method 3: Using ADB to force a browser change (for power users)
If the standard methods do not work, you can resort to ADB-This method requires connecting the smartphone to the computer, but it is guaranteed to work even on the most stubborn versions. MIUI.
🔹 What's the matter:
✅ Computer with installed drivers for Xiaomi (you can download from the official website).
✅ Utility. ADB (download).
✅ Included debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times, then return to Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
🔹 Step-by-step instruction:
1. Connect Redmi to your computer via USB and select File Transfer mode.
2. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB.
3. Enter a command to check the connection:
adb devicesIf the device is detected, execute the command to change the default browser:
adb shell cmd package set-home-activity com.yandex.browser/com.yandex.browser.BrowserActivity4. Reboot the smartphone.
⚠️ Attention: After update MIUI To avoid this, create a task in a scheduler (Automate or Tasker) that will automatically perform this task. ADB-post-reset.
adb shell cmd package clear-defaults com.android.browserThen repeat the command for Yandex Browser.-->
Table: Compatibility of methods with different versions of MIUI
| Method | MIUI 12 | MIUI 13 | MIUI 14 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard change in settings | ✅ It's working. | ✅ It's working. | ⚠️ Partially (may be dropped) | Some models (Redmi Note 11) require a restart. |
| Setup in messengers | ✅ It's working. | ✅ It's working. | ✅ It's working. | Does not affect the built-in browsers of applications (for example, Instagram) |
| ADB-team | ✅ It's working. | ✅ It's working. | ✅ It's working. | Requires enabled debugging over USB and PC |
| Resetting MIUI settings | ❌ It doesn't help. | ❌ It doesn't help. | ⚠️ It can help if the problem is in the cache | Removes all data on the smartphone |
If none of the methods worked, you may have modified firmware installed on your device (such as a custom or regional version of MIUI for China), in which case the only way out is to flash the global version of MIUI or use Yandex Browser manually, without a default destination.
💡
The most reliable method — ADB-It works even where the standard settings are ignored. MIUI. However, after major system updates, it may be necessary to re-execute the command.
Typical errors and their solutions
When changing the default browser to Xiaomi Redmi, users often face the following problems:
🔸 Error: “This application cannot be installed by default"
🔹 Reason: Yandex Browser is installed not as a system application, but as a user application (for example, downloaded from the Internet). APK).
🔹 Solution: Delete the current version and install the browser from Google Play. If the Play Market is not available, download the official version. APK from Yandex.
🔸 Error: Settings reset after rebooting
🔹 Reason: com.miui.systemAdSolution resets settings.
🔹 Solution: Use ADB-command (method 3) or disable battery optimization for Yandex Browser (Settings) → Annexes → Yandex Browser → Battery → No restrictions).
🔸 Error: Links from some apps still open in Mi Browser
🔹 Reason: The app has its own settings for link processing (e.g. Facebook or TikTok).
🔹 Solution: Manually change the settings in each application (as described in method 2) or use Yandex Browser as the main one for copying links.
🔸 Error: No "Browser" item in the default application settings
🔹 Reason: On some firmware MIUI (Especially Chinese, this is a hidden item.
🔹 Solution: Use ADB-commands (method 3) or install App Chooser – application for forced browser selection.
Important: On devices with MIUI 14 and later, after changing the browser, the default notification “Browser changed by default. Return Mi Browser?” may appear. This notification can be disabled by blocking it in the notification settings for the Security application (Settings → Notifications → System applications → Security).
How to check that Yandex Browser has become the default browser?
To make sure that the settings are applied correctly, follow the following steps:
1. Open any application with a link (such as Telegram or Gmail).
2. Click on any link (e.g. https://ya.ru).
3. If the link opened in Yandex Browser - everything is configured correctly.
4. If a window with a choice of browser appeared - tick Always and select Yandex Browser.
You can also check the current default settings:
1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Default Apps.
2. The browser item must display Yandex Browser.
If after checking it turned out that the settings were not saved, repeat the process of changing the browser or use it. ADB-teams (method 3).