How to change the default application to Xiaomi: all ways for MIUI

Why Xiaomi is important to set up the default apps

Xiaomi’s MIUI-based smartphones out of the box offer users a set of branded apps: Mi Browser, Mi Gallery, Mi Music, and others. However, not everyone seems to be comfortable or functional, for example, many prefer Google Chrome over a standard browser, and Google Photos is chosen to view photos.

The problem is that MIUI aggressively imposes its default apps, even after installing alternative programs, which leads to links opening in an unwanted browser, photos opening in a slow gallery, and SMS sending through an inconvenient messenger. Fortunately, the system allows you to manually reassign standard applications — and today we will be deconstructing all the available ways to do this on Redmi, POCO and Mi devices.

It's important to understand that the process can vary depending on the version of MIUI (12, 13 or 14) and the model of the smartphone. For example, on a POCO F5 with pure Android, the path to settings will be shorter than on a Redmi Note 12 with a proprietary shell, we will take these nuances into account and show universal solutions.

Method 1: Changes to Android Settings

The most reliable and versatile method is to use standard Android settings, which works on all versions of MIUI and does not require superuser rights.

1. Open the Settings menu (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to the Appendix section → Application management.
3. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select the Default Apps.
4. Tap the category you want to change (such as Browser or SMS).
5. From the list of available programs, select the desired one (for example, Chrome instead of Mi Browser).

If the desired application is not listed, make sure that it is installed and supports this feature. SMS-the default application, as it is not designed to work with ordinary messages.

Appendix installed and updated|The application supports the desired function (browser for links, gallery for photos)|No active restrictions on "Special Opportunities"|Smartphone is not in power saving mode (can block background processes)-->

On some models (such as the Xiaomi 13 Pro), the path may be slightly different:

Settings → Applications → All Apps → [Select App] → Open by Default

Method 2: Quickly change through the context menu

Not everyone knows, but MIUI lets you change your default apps right from the contextual menu of files or links, a technique that works for browsers, galleries, and some other types of content.

Let's say you want photos to open in Google Photos instead of the standard gallery.

1. Find any image in the file manager.
2. Slip on it and hold your finger until the context menu appears.
3. Select the Open with help item.
4. Check the box against Always and select Google Photos.

Similarly, you can reassign the browser: open any link in the message or file manager, in the window that appears, select the desired browser and mark Always.

browser|gallery|SMS-messenger|Music player|Other-->

Note that this doesn't work for all types of content, for example, you can't change the call app or the alarm clock, you'll need to use the first method.

Method 3: Using ADB to reset default settings

If standard methods don’t work (for example, after the MIUI update, the settings went wrong), you can use ADB, the Android debugging tool, which is suitable for advanced users.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times to tap according to the version → return to → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 USB-plug-in.

Next, do it in the command line:

adb shell pm clear --user 0 com.android.providers.settings

This command will reset all the default application settings, and you can reassign them through the standard menu. Be careful: other personal settings (such as background data for individual applications) will also reset along with this.

Table: What apps can be changed by default on Xiaomi

Not all content types support changing the standard application, and here is a table with available categories and examples of alternative programs.

On some devices (such as the POCO X5 Pro), the call app cannot be changed, because it blocks this feature due to integration with Xiaomi services, as well as some system features such as an alarm clock or a calendar.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When changing apps by default, Xiaomi users often encounter common errors, and let’s look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

1.The appendix is not listed

If the desired program does not appear in the selection menu, check:

• 📥 Is the application installed (sometimes after updating it “flys off").
• 🔄 Does it support this type of content (e.g, VLC can't be SMS-messenger).
• 🛠️ Are there any restrictions on settings → Special facilities → Optimization of applications.

2.Settings are reset after rebooting

This is a typical problem for MIUI 12 and earlier.

• 🔄 Update the system to the latest version MIUI.
• 📵 Turn off the optimization function MIUI in battery settings for a problem application.
• 🛠️ Perform the reset through ADB (see method 3).

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If the default settings are lost after the MIUI update, try clearing the Settings app cache (Settings → Apps → All Apps → Settings → Clear the cache). This often helps restore the option menu to work.

3. You cannot change the call app

On most Xiaomi devices, the system app Phone is blocked for replacement.

• 📞 Use Google Phone as an alternative interface (it won’t be system-based, but it will duplicate features).
• 🔓 Get root access and manually replace it APK-file (risky!).
• 📱 Buy a smartphone with a clean Android (for example, POCO F5 global).

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On devices with MIUI for Russia (for example, Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G), some restrictions on changing applications by default are introduced specifically due to local legislation (for example, for SMS and calls).

Features for different versions of MIUI

The default application change process may vary depending on the firmware version. Let's look at the key differences for MIUI 12, 13 and 14.

MIUI 12 and older

On older versions, the path to settings is more confusing:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → [Select App] → Open by default

Also, there is a more common bug with resets after the reboot, the solution is to upgrade to MIUI 13/14 or use ADB.

MIUI 13

In this version, the interface is simpler:

Settings → Applications → Applications by default

Support for quick change via context menu (see Method 2) has been added, however, there is a restriction on changing the call app on some models (e.g. Xiaomi 12T).

MIUI 14 (and newer)

The latest version offers maximum flexibility:

• 🔍 Improved search by settings (you can simply type “default apps” in the search bar).
• 🔄 Automatic backup of settings through Xiaomi Cloud.
• ⚡ Support for dynamic icons for alternative applications.

MIUI 14 also introduced the Recommended Apps feature, which can automatically suggest changing the standard app if the detectet system is a more popular alternative (e.g. Chrome instead of Mi Browser).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

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If you frequently change apps by default, create a quick access shortcut: add the Settings shortcut widget to the home screen and select the default App option. This will save time!

Now you know all the ways to change the default apps on Xiaomi smartphones. If none of the methods worked, check the MIUI version and the device model — maybe the manufacturer has added additional restrictions. In most cases, there are no problems, and you can easily customize the phone to your needs.