Owners of Poco X3 and Poco X3 NFC smartphones often face intrusive behavior by the MIUI operating system, which seeks to return the user to standard solutions. After another firmware update or reset, the device can start opening links to Mi Browser again, ignoring your preferences, this is especially annoying if you are used to the functionality of Google Chrome, Yandex or Firefox.
The process of changing the priority web surfing application is not complicated, but it is hidden deeper in the shell from Xiaomi than in pure Android. The security and optimization system of MIUI requires several sequential actions to capture the user's choice. In this material, we will analyze all the nuances of the configuration, including hidden menus and solving typical errors.
Don't ignore this question, because the right browser choices affect page loading speed, battery consumption, and, importantly, your privacy. Standard solutions often collect excess telemetry. Let's figure out how to take back control of your gadget.
Why the system resets browser selection
Many users notice a strange pattern: after installing the desired application and choosing its main one, after a while, the system again suggests choosing a program to open links. This is not a bug, but a feature of the MIUI framework. Aggressive memory optimization can "kill" background processes, resetting file associations.
In addition, in some regions, Xiaomi firmware contains hidden priorities for the company’s own services.
⚠️ Note: If you live in a region where there are strict restrictions on preinstalled software, the system may force you to return the Mi Browser after each major security update.
To avoid constant reconfiguration, you need to not only select an application, but also prevent the system from closing it. URL-messenger addresses.
Preparation for the installation of an alternative observer
Before you change your system settings, make sure that the alternative software is properly installed and updated. In the Google Play or GetApps store, check for the latest versions. Older versions may not support new security protocols, which will lead to errors when trying to make them mainstream.
It is also recommended to clear the cache of the old browser if you have used the standard solution before.Accumulated temporary files may conflict with new association settings.Go to the storage settings and clean up to ensure a clean start configuration.
☑️ Preparation of the device
It’s important to understand that on the 6.67-inch Poco X3 and 120Hz refresh rate, different rendering engines work differently. Some lightweight browsers may not be using the full power of the Snapdragon 732G processor, so the choice should be made.
Main method: configuration through the system menu
The most reliable way to capture a choice is to use deep system settings. Don't just pop up the first time you start, because in MIUI, it often disappears too quickly or doesn't remember the choice the first time. We need a guaranteed result.
Go to the main settings menu of your Poco X3. Scroll down to the bottom and find the App item. In some versions of the shell, it may be called Applications and Notifications, and that's where the control center for all installed programs is located.
From the menu that opens, select the default App section. The system may require you to enter an unlock password or fingerprint to confirm access to system settings. This is an Android security measure to prevent malware from being installed as a system inadvertently.
You can find the Browser item in the list. You can click on it, and you'll see a list of all the browsers you've installed. You can choose the browser you want. Changes are effective instantly, without having to reboot the device. Now all the links from the messengers and documents will be opened in the app you select.
What if the "Browser" item is not on the list?
Alternative way through application management
If the standard path is not working or the menu is not available, you can use direct control of a particular application, which allows you to set priority on the back side, by forcibly assigning rights to a particular executable file.
Open the settings and go back to the Apps section, but this time select All Apps. Find the browser you want to make the primary browser (like Chrome or Firefox) in the list. Click on it to open the app card.
At the bottom of the app card screen, find the default or default button. If it's gray and inactive, it means the system is not yet allowing changes. Click on it and select Open Supported Links. Set the switch to Always Ask or select Open in this app immediately.
After that, when you click on any link, the system will know that you have preferences.
⚠️ Warning: When you select the Always Ask option, your smartphone will offer you a choice every time, which may be inconvenient.
Comparison of popular browsers for Poco X3
The choice of the main surfing tool depends on your needs: speed, traffic savings or privacy. Poco X3 has a powerful "hardware", so heavy browsers will run on it quickly, but can consume more charge.
Let’s look at the key features of popular solutions available in the Android ecosystem:
- 🚀 Google Chrome: Perfect sync with Google account, but high RAM consumption.
- ⚡ Yandex Browser: Excellent optimization for mobile networks and built-in turbo mode, popular in the CIS.
- 🛡️ Mozilla Firefox: Better privacy protection and extension support, but may be slower than native solutions.
- 🎨 Opera: Built-in ad blocker and traffic saving, which is relevant for limited rates.
For owners of the Poco X3 Pro, with its high performance, the difference in page rendering speed between browsers will be minimal, but the difference in energy efficiency can be noticeable with prolonged use.
Below is a comparative table of the main parameters for ease of choice:
| browser | Engine. | Synchronization | Blocking ads |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chrome | Blink | Google Account | Expansion is required |
| Firefox | Gecko | Firefox Account | Built-in (base) |
| Opera | Blink | Opera Account | Built-in. |
| Brave | Blink | Brave Sync | Built-in (aggressive) |
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Use the “Lite” or “Traffic Saving” mode in browsers if you are often in the zone of uncertain signal reception to speed up the loading of pages on Poco X3.
Solution: the browser does not become default
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the system ignores the settings: you choose a browser, but the links still open in Mi Browser or, worse, in an empty window with an error. This is a common problem in MIUI 12 and MIUI 13.
The first thing you need to do is check for system updates. MIME-Types are often patched with security patches. Go to Settings → About the phone and click on the logo version of the system.
If the update didn’t work, try resetting the browser candidate itself. Go to Apps → All Apps → [Your browser] → Memory and click Clear.
⚠️ Attention: Cleaning up browser data will delete saved passwords, history and bookmarks if they are not synced to the cloud!
Also, check if the application is disabled in the background. In the battery settings, find your browser and set the Unlimited mode, which will prevent the process responsible for processing links from "sleeping down."
💡
If nothing helps, remove Security updates via ADB or temporarily disable Mi Browser from the app menu if the MIUI version allows you to do so.
Optimization of the selected browser
After successfully installing the main browser, it’s worth configuring it for maximum efficiency on your device. Poco X3 features a high hertz screen, and many modern browsers are able to adapt the content refresh rate for smooth scrolling.
Enable hardware acceleration in your browser settings. This uses the Adreno 618 GPU, which will greatly speed up the rendering of heavy graphics and video. The path to customization is usually in the System → Performance section within the application itself.
Don't forget to set up sync. This will allow you to migrate all bookmarks and passwords from your old device or computer. Cross-platform is a key factor in the convenience of the modern Internet. Enter your credentials only in official applications, beware of phishing sites.
Clean the cache regularly, but don't delete the data. Cash speeds up the loading of frequently visited sites, making surfing more responsive. However, if the storage is crowded, the speed may drop.