How to install the main browser on the Xiaomi phone

Smartphone owners in China often face intrusive behavior from a system that forcibly opens links in Mi Browser’s own app, ignoring your preferences, because the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS give priority to the manufacturer’s system services by default. To change this situation, a device must perform a number of specific settings to open web pages in Chrome, Yandex or any other preferred browser.

The process of installing a default application is not always intuitive due to localization and the structure of the security menu. System restrictions can hide the desired switches, requiring the user to be careful when navigating. In this guide, we will discuss all possible ways to change priorities, including hidden settings that are guaranteed to return you to control the device.

Regardless of which version of the operating system is installed on your gadget, the algorithm of actions will be similar, although the names of menu items may differ slightly. The key point is to disable system restrictions for third-party applications in the security section. Without this step, even an explicit choice of browser in the Android settings may not work correctly when clicking on links from messengers.

Features of the browsers in the shell MIUI and HyperOS

Xiaomi’s ecosystem is designed to keep users as much as possible inside its services. The system browser often has deeper access rights to device resources than third-party counterparts, allowing it to intercept requests to open links. This behavior is embedded at the firmware level and requires manual intervention to correct.

Users may notice that after an operating system update, settings are reset and links begin to reopen in Mi Browser. This is normal for proprietary shells that tend to return the user to factory settings. Understanding the logic of how these constraints work helps to find the right switches in the confusing settings menu more quickly.

⚠️ Note: Some regions may not have separate menu items for managing browsers, so it is recommended to change the region of the device to China or India for full access to the settings, and then return it back to the other region.

It is important to distinguish between default browser in the classical sense of Android and link opening service in MIUI terminology. If the first parameter is responsible for launching when you click on an icon or select an action, the second one regulates the behavior of the system when you move from other applications. Both parameters must be configured correctly to achieve the desired result.

The classic method through Android settings

The standard way to change the main application is available in any version of Android, but in Xiaomi shells it is often hidden deep in the menu. You need to go to Settings and find the App item. This is where all the key software management options are stored.

Then select the default App option. In the list that opens, look for the Browser option. When you click on it, you'll see a list of all browsers installed on the device. Select the one you want to use as your primary browser, like Chrome or DuckDuckGo.

However, if this method doesn't work, and the links continue to open in the system application, then the link interception mechanism is activated, in which case you need to move to a deeper setup through the security menu.

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Annexes → All applications.
• 🔍 Find your preferred browser (e.g. Google Chrome) in the list).
• ⚙️ Click on Open by default or Start by default.
• ✅ Activate the switch Open supported links.

After these steps are completed, the system should stop offering browser selection every time a link is clicked and will automatically use the selected option. If the application list is empty, try clearing the Settings app cache through the memory management menu.

Configure through the “Security” application

The most efficient way, which works 99% of the time on Xiaomi devices, is with the Security app, which controls the permissions and behavior of all installed programs. To begin, open the Security app on your desktop or in the Tools folder.

In the application interface, find the permissions section, which can be hidden under the three-dot button in the upper right corner, or be displayed in a separate menu at the bottom of the screen, and you need the Other permissions or Special Options section, where you have the advanced settings.

You can find Change System Settings or Change System Settings, and in the application list, find your primary browser and let it make changes, which is a critical step to bypassing MIUI system constraints.

It is also worth checking the Autorun section in the same Security app. Allow your browser to start automatically.This will help the system to switch to it faster if necessary, without waiting for manual activation by the user.

Management of notifications and background work

It is not enough to set a priority for the main browser to work consistently. Xiaomi’s Android system aggressively manages memory by closing background processes to save charge, which can lead to the browser opening longer than usual or resetting the session.

To prevent forced termination of the process, go to Settings → Battery and Performance (or Advanced Settings → Battery). Find your browser in the list and select No Limits mode. This will give the application full access to the CPU resources.

In addition, the Appendix menu → Application management → Your browser. → Battery, make sure you check the box against the No Limits item, and energy saving should not interfere with the main tool for surfing the Internet.

Also, be sure to check your notification settings. If your browser is important to you, turn on the notifications on the lock screen and in the status bar, which will allow the system to consider the application active and meaningful to the user.

Solving problems with opening links from applications

Often, everything works perfectly in the browser itself, but when you click on a link from Telegram, WhatsApp or Instagram, Mi Browser opens again. This means that the particular historical application has its own link settings. You need to go to the settings of the messenger itself.

Inside Telegram, for example, go to Settings → Data and Memory → Open Links. Here, select Open in your browser or a specific application if the list allows. Other messengers use the same logic: look for Privacy or General Settings.

⚠️ Note: Some applications, especially corporate or banking, may ignore system settings and force you to open links in your built-in WebView or system browser for security reasons.

If the problem persists in only one particular app, try clearing its cache. Go to Settings → Apps, find the problematic app (like Viber) and click Clear → Clear the cache.This will reset temporary files that may have memorized the old link opening path.

In extreme cases, you can use third-party link managers such as Link Sheet or Open Link With. These utilities intercept the request to open a URL and allow you to select an application manually, gradually accustoming the system to a new choice. Third-party launchers can also have their own link processing settings.

Using ADB for Advanced Users

For those who aren’t afraid of the command line, there’s a radical method through Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This method allows you to directly remove or disable the system browser, which is guaranteed to force the system to use any other installed option. USB.

Connect your phone to your PC in USB debugging mode (turns on Settings → About Phone → 7 times click on the MIUI version, then in Advanced Settings, enable USB Debugging). On your computer in the command line, enter a command to remove the system browser packets.

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.browser


adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.mi.global.browser

These commands will remove the standard browser and the global version of the Mi Browser for the current user. Once rebooted, the system, without finding a standard handler, will automatically assign any remaining browser to the primary, which is the most effective method, but requires caution when typing commands.

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Before using ADB, make sure to back up your data completely. Mistakes to delete system packages can cause the interface to function unstable.

If you decide to return everything as it was, use the command adb shell cmd package install-existing. package_name, By substituting the name of the remote packet, this will restore the system application without having to flash the device.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Full control over the choice of browser on Xiaomi is achieved only by a comprehensive setup: through the standard Android menu, through the Security app and, if necessary, through the security app. ADB-Removing System Restrictions.