Xiaomi smartphone owners often face aggressive policies from the MIUI and HyperOS ecosystem, which pushes its own services aggressively. However, for many users in Russia and the CIS, Yandex products: browser, search bar and voice assistant remain a priority. The standard Android system allows you to flexibly manage preferences, but in the Xiaomi shell, the path to these settings is sometimes hidden deep in the menu or blocked by system restrictions.
To make Yandex the main tool for interacting with the Internet, you need to consistently change several parameters in the "Default Applications" section. This will affect not only link opening, but also voice input and search in the system. The process requires care, since some items can be called differently depending on the version of Android and regional firmware.
This guide will help you fully transfer your smartphone to the use of Yandex services, ignoring the built-in solutions of Google and Xiaomi. We will analyze the setting of the browser, search engine, assistant and work with widgets on the desktop.
Setting up Yandex Browser as the main
The first and most important step is to assign Yandex Browser as the main application for processing web links. URL-If you don't, you'll ask for a choice or use Mi Browser every time you do that.
To start, make sure the app is already installed and updated to the latest version via GetApps or Google Play. Then go to system settings. The path can look like Settings → Applications → Application Management. In some versions of HyperOS, the menu is simply called Apps.
In the list that opens, look for "Default Apps." Click on it and select "Browser." In the list of available programs, check Yandex. Now all links will open automatically in the interface you want.
- 🌐 Open the settings and find the application management section.
- 🔍 Go to the Default Apps menu for global settings.
- ✅ Select Yandex from the list of available browsers.
- 🔄 Check the work by opening a link from Telegram or WhatsApp.
Sometimes the system may reset this setting after major firmware updates. If you notice that links are reopened in Mi Browser or Chrome, the procedure must be repeated. This is the normal shell behavior that requires manual user intervention.
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If the default application list doesn’t have a browser, try clearing the Settings app data by going to App Management → Settings → Memory → Clear all data. This won’t delete your photos or contacts.
Replace the search engine and widget on the desktop
Many users confuse the default browser and the search engine in the widget. Even if the browser is configured correctly, the desktop search widget may remain from Google or Xiaomi. To fix this, you need to remove the standard widget and replace it with a Yandex widget.
Hold your finger on an empty desktop space or pinch your two fingers to go into edit mode. Select "Vidgets." Find a Yandex widget (often called "Search" or "Yandex with Alice") in the list and drag it to the old one. The standard Google widget can be removed by dragging it into the cart or clicking the cross.
⚠️ Note: On some global firmware Xiaomi widget Google Search is built into the launcher and is not removed by standard methods, in this case, only installing a third-party launcher, such as Nova Launcher or Yandex Lancer, will help.
Once you have the widget installed, click on it to set it up. Inside the widget settings, you can often select a search engine. Make sure that Yandex is selected there. You can also turn on the "Search on the Lock Screen" feature in the Yandex app settings itself if you need it, although it may be consuming battery power.
| Parameter | Standard value | Recommended value | Where to change |
|---|---|---|---|
| browser | Mi Browser / Chrome | Yandex | Settings → Applications |
| Search engine in widget | Yandex | Widget settings | |
| Voice input | Google Assistant | Alice. | Phone settings / Alice |
| Default map | Google Maps | Yandex Maps | When calling an address |
It is important to understand that the widget is a separate interface element that is not always strictly tied to the system settings of search, so replacing the icon on the desktop is a must-have for a full transition to the Yandex ecosystem.
Setting up a voice assistant and assistant
Replacing Google Assistant with Alice is a more challenging task, as Android integrates Google’s voice assistant deeply. However, on Xiaomi smartphones, you can reassign the assistant call button.
Go to the app settings (profile icon or gear) and find the section associated with Alice, where it should be "Run Alice instead of Google Assistant" or "Appoint button" and the system will request permission to use special features or access the power button.
If the automatic setting didn’t work, you can use third-party utilities to reassign buttons, but this requires installing additional ones. APK-In most cases, it's easy enough to let Alice work in the background and not limit her battery in the energy saving settings. MIUI.
- 🎙️ Open the settings of Alice inside the Yandex application.
- ⚙️ Activate the switch to run instead of Google Assistant".
- 🔋 Turn off energy savings for Yandex application.
- 🗣️ Check the work with a long press of the power button (if supported).
It's worth noting that when you call voice control through a Bluetooth headset or in a car, Google can still activate, a restriction of Android protocols that is difficult to get around without root rights, but for everyday use from a smartphone, Alice will work correctly.
Why doesn't Alice understand commands with the screen off?
Resetting default settings for other applications
Sometimes you want maps to be opened in Yandex Maps instead of Google Maps, or files in Yandex Drive. Android allows you to configure this behavior on the fly. When you first open the address of the place from the message, the system will ask, "What to open?"
At this point, it is important to select the desired application (Yandex Maps) and click "Always." If you accidentally click "Google Maps" and forgot to tick "Always", you will have to reset manually. → Annexes → Application management.
Find the app that is currently opening by default (like Google Maps). Go to it and scroll down to "Open by default." Click Remove Default Settings or Reset Preferences.
⚠️ Note: The default reset button will only be active (not grey) if an application has already been selected for this type of action. If there is no button, then the system asks for a choice every time and there is nothing to reset.
When you reset the next time you start a link to a map or file, the system will prompt you to select the application again. Remember to tick the "Always" box to record the selection, and this applies not only to cards, but also to email clients, galleries and file managers.
Working with widgets and search bar Xiaomi
In newer versions of HyperOS and MIUI 14, the search bar can be embedded directly into the launcher rather than being a separate widget, often located at the bottom of the screen or in the top left corner, and it is not always possible to change it to Yandex by standard means.
If you have the option to delete the Xiaomi search bar (long tap → Delete), do so. Then add the Yandex widget. If the search bar is part of the launcher and doesn't get deleted, try changing its settings. Click on the magnifier or gear inside the Xiaomi search bar.
Inside the Xiaomi search bar settings, there might be a search engine option. If there's a choice, say Yandex. If there's no search option, then the firmware is hard at work on Google or Mi Search, and the only solution is to install an alternative launcher.
☑️ Checking the widget settings
Using a third-party launcher like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher gives you complete control of the search bar, so you can swipe up or click on the Home button to search Yandex, which is the most radical, but also the most effective customization method.
Typical problems and their solution
Despite the correct setup, users may encounter links opening in Xiaomi’s browser, often due to MIUI Optimization or aggressive energy saving.
Go to the battery settings and find Yandex. Set the power saving mode to "No restrictions." Also turn on auto-start. Without these permissions, the system can "kill" the Yandex process, and the links will open in the system browser as a fallback option.
Another problem is push notifications from system applications that suggest returning to Mi Browser, which can be disabled in the notification settings of a particular application or in the system menu Settings → Notifications and Status bar.
- 🔋 Check the power saving mode for all Yandex applications.
- 🚫 Disable notifications from Mi Browser and system services.
- 🔄 Reboot your smartphone after making all the changes.
- 📲 Update Yandex applications to the latest versions.
⚠️ Note: If after the reboot settings fly, it is possible that the phone has installed "cleaners" memory or antiviruses that forcibly close the background processes).
The default stability of the selected applications depends on how much permission you configure the system. Xiaomi strives to keep the user in its ecosystem, so control over background processes should be kept under constant supervision.
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The key to success is comprehensive configuration: it is not enough to just choose a browser, you also need to configure widgets, reset preferences for maps and allow the background operation of applications.