Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face intrusive behavior from the standard Mi Browser. MIUI or its new version HyperOS insists on using this tool to open links, despite the user having more familiar alternatives like Chrome or Yandex.Browser. This situation can be annoying, especially when after each firmware update, the settings are reset and web pages are reopened in an unwanted application.
Fortunately, Android has a flexible default application management system that makes it easy to reassign priorities. Turning off Xiaomi’s browser is easy if you know where the switches are hidden in the system menu. In this article, we’ll look at all the available methods, from simply changing priorities to completely hiding the system component through special features.
It is important to understand that completely remove the standard browser without using root rights or ADB-You can't get commands because it's part of the system package, but you can make it impossible for everyday tasks to use by making the system ignore it when processing web links. This will not only increase the comfort of using a smartphone, but also protect against unwanted advertising, which is sometimes found in the news feeds of standard applications.
Why the system insists on using the Mi Browser
Xiaomi’s standard browser is not just a surfing program, but a deeply integrated system module. The developers of MIUI and HyperOS design the system to maximize user interaction with the company’s ecosystem. Mi Browser often acts as the default link handler immediately after the device is first turned on or reset, which is because the application is optimized for working with branded services and can offer features that are not available to third-party counterparts within the ecosystem.
There is also commercial interest. The browser is a channel for distributing ads and affiliate offers. That is why the system can periodically "forget" your choice of another browser or insistently suggest returning the default settings after a major firmware update. System priorities in Android are arranged so that if an application has processing rights for certain types of files or links and it is marked as a system, it will claim to be the main one until the user explicitly prohibits this.
⚠️ Note: After major Android updates or MIUI/HyperOS (For example, switching from Android 13 on 14) default application settings may reset. In this situation, the browser selection procedure will have to be repeated again.
Another reason for intrusion is the smart opening mechanism. If you click on a link from a messenger or social network, the system analyzes which application is best suited for displaying content. Because the Mi Browser has broad resolutions and deep integrations, the algorithm often chooses it, ignoring the Chrome or Firefox you installed. Understanding this logic helps you more effectively fight for control of your device.
Setting Priorities for Opening Links in Android
The most effective and safest way to change system behavior is to manually set priorities in the application menu, which requires no superuser rights and works on all current versions of MIUI and HyperOS. The essence of the method is to explicitly indicate to the system which application should open HTTP and HTTPS links.
To start, go to your smartphone settings. Find the Apps (or All Apps) section and select Settings (usually the gear icon in the upper right corner or the "three dots" menu). In the list that opens, find the default App. Here you are interested in the Browser category. When you click on it, you will see a list of all installed browsers. Choose the one you want to use as the primary browser, such as Google Chrome.
☑️ Checking browser settings
However, just selecting a browser is not enough. You need to prevent the standard Xiaomi browser from intercepting links. To do this, go back to the list of all applications, search the Mi Browser list (may be called the "Browser" or have an icon with a globe and the letter M). Go inside and find the "Open by default" (or "Default Launch") In this menu you will see the "Open Supported Links" switch. It must be disabled.
After you do this, the system will stop offering you a choice when you click on a link in messengers or notes, and will immediately open pages in your browser of choice. If the system still sometimes asks which browser to use, check whether the “Always” box on the old choice is worth checking, in which case you need to clear the cache and data of the browser that you no longer want to use as the main one.
| Action. | Where to find out. | The result |
|---|---|---|
| Change of the main browser | Settings → Applications → Default Applications → Browser | Links are opened in the selected application |
| Prohibition of auto-start links | Info about the application → Open by default → Switch | The application stops intercepting links |
| Cleaning up default settings | Info about the application → At the bottom of the button “Delete default settings” | Resetting all associations for a particular application |
| Removal of updates | Info about the application → Three points → Remove updates | Return to the factory version without unnecessary functionality |
What if there is no "Default App" clause?
Limitation of operation and hiding of the system browser
If standard prioritization methods don’t work, or you want to limit the background activity of an unwanted application as much as possible, you can use access restriction features. Android has a mechanism to deny an application access to the network or completely stop it from working, although for system components the latter option may be temporarily available.
The first step is to stop accessing the Internet. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps → Mi Browser. Find Traffic Control (or Data Use). Here you can uncheck the "Wi-Fi" and "Mobile Data" boxes. After that, the browser will not be able to physically load pages even if some link accidentally opens in it. This is an effective way to "detach" the application without deleting it.
The second method, more radical but effective for older versions of MIUI, is to remove updates. System applications are often updated through GetApps or Google Play, acquiring new features and ad modules. If you find a Remove Updates button (three dots in the corner) in the app information menu, click it. This will roll back the browser to the factory version, which often has stripped down functionality and weighs less.
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To completely hide the browser icon from the desktop without removing the application, you can use the Hide Apps function. Click the empty space on the desktop, select Settings → Hide Apps and add Mi Browser there.
It is worth noting that in the latest versions of HyperOS, the ability to stop system processes may be limited. The Stop button may be inactive (gray), in which case you should not try to use third-party task killers, since the MIUI system itself aggressively manages memory and can restart a critical system process, which will lead to the opposite effect - increased battery consumption.
⚠️ Note: Do not attempt to delete the system browser through ADB Or root rights, if you're not sure what you're doing. MIUI Removal of the com.android.browser component may result in unstable system operation or firmware update errors.
Use of third-party launchers and tools
For users who want to gain full control over the interface and behavior of the system, installing a third-party launcher is a great solution. The standard MIUI shell tightly regulates the operation of applications, but launchers such as Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher allow you to reassign the actions of buttons and gestures.
For example, you can set the launcher so that when you click on the Internet icon or perform a certain gesture, your preferred browser opens, bypassing the system settings of Xiaomi. In addition, many launchers allow you to hide application icons from the menu, which visually removes the Xiaomi browser from view, even if it technically remains in the system.
There are also dedicated controller apps that allow you to manage permissions in more detail than standard Android settings. Apps like Bouncer (paid) or App Ops (requires additional settings through ADB) allow you to give temporary permissions or completely block certain actions of the application, such as “Start on boot” or “Mail over other windows”.
Using ADB (Android Debug Bridge) is an advanced method for power users. By connecting your smartphone to your computer, you can execute a command that hides the app for the user (pm disable-user command).This doesn't remove the app physically, but makes it invisible and inactive until you decide to turn it back on with the pm enable command.
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Third-party launchers are the best way to visually and functionally isolate Xiaomi system applications without disrupting the integrity of the operating system.
Update issues and their impact on settings
One of the main reasons users keep asking how to remove Xiaomi’s browser is because of automatic updates. When you update MIUI or HyperOS, the system often migrates settings, whereby the default application priorities can be reset to factory values, a behavior that developers have designed to ensure compatibility, but for the user it means reconfiguring.
In addition, the Mi Browser browser itself can be updated independently of the system through the GetApps store. In new versions of the application, developers can change the application manifesto by adding new types of supported links or changing the priorities of handlers. This can lead to the fact that even after your manual setup, the system will again begin to offer to open links in the Mi Browser.
To minimize the risks, it is recommended to disable auto-update for the browser itself. Go to GetApps (Xiaomi app store), find Mi Browser, go to the application page and disable auto-update. This will fix the version you have already configured or limited, and prevent new scripts from changing the behavior of the system.
Notifications are also worth paying attention to. Often the browser tries to regain its status as a primary through intrusive notifications or widgets on the desktop. If you see a News or Tape widget from Xiaomi on the desktop, remove it. These widgets often use the standard browser engine to render content and may implicitly activate it.
Alternative solutions and replacement of functionality
Getting rid of the standard browser requires a quality replacement. Fortunately, the Google Play store offers a lot of great options that often run faster and safer than Xiaomi’s standard solution. Google Chrome provides better sync with a Google account, which is critical for many users. Microsoft Edge is great for those who use Windows PCs and want to sync tabs.
For privacy-conscious users, Brave or DuckDuckGo Browser are a great choice. They have built-in ad blockers and trackers, making them significantly cleaner and lighter than the overloaded Mi Browser. Mozilla Firefox offers a high degree of customization and extension support, making the mobile browser a powerful tool.
If your goal is to just read articles or watch videos without too much noise, try using Lite browsers or text browsers. They consume less RAM, which is especially true for the budget models of Redmi and POCO, where every megabyte of RAM counts.