How to install Yandex Browser by default on Xiaomi smartphone: full instructions with pictures

Have you purchased a new Xiaomi smartphone and want to use Yandex Browser instead of the standard MIUI Browser? or have been using the device for a long time, but do not know how to make your favorite browser the main one? This article will help you understand all the nuances of the process - from installing the application to configuring it as the default browser.

The procedure seems simple, but Xiaomi owners often have difficulties due to the features of the MIUI shell. In some versions of the system, the path to settings is hidden, and in others, the browser simply does not appear in the list of available applications. We will analyze in detail all possible scenarios, including cases when Yandex Browser does not appear in the selection menu.

It is important to consider that on different Xiaomi models (for example, Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 or Xiaomi 13T) the interface may be slightly different, but the general principle remains the same. If you are faced with an unusual situation, at the end of the article there is an FAQ with answers to frequent questions.

Why Yandex Browser does not become the main one automatically

Many users are surprised that after installing Yandex Browser, it does not replace the standard browser. MIUI. The reason lies in the policy of Android and features MIUI:

• 🔄 Android does not allow you to automatically change the application by default – this is done manually through the settings so that the user consciously chooses the browser.
• 🛡️ MIUI It actively promotes its services, so the standard browser (com.android.browser) often takes priority in the system.
• 📱 On some Xiaomi models (especially budget ones like Redmi) A2 or POCO C55) The list of browsers in the settings may be limited.
• 🔧 If you installed Yandex Browser not from Google Play, but through APK, The system may not trust him or show him or her in the list of choices.

Another common problem is that after resetting or updating MIUI, all default settings are reset, which means that even if you previously set up Yandex Browser as the primary one, you may need to repeat the procedure after the update.

Fortunately, all of these obstacles are surmountable, and we'll look at two main ways next: through standard Android settings, and with extra steps for stubborn cases.

Method 1: Configure via the “Default Apps” menu

This is the most obvious and recommended method. It works on most Xiaomi devices running MIUI 12/13/14 and Android 10-14.

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the home screen or in the application menu).
2. Scroll down and select the App section.
3. Tap on Application Management (or Default Applications in some versions of MIUI).
4. Find and select the Browser (or Open Web Links).
5. In the list of available browsers, select Yandex Browser.

If Yandex Browser is not on the list, despite the fact that it is installed, try the following steps:

• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone – sometimes it helps the system update your app list.
• 📥 Remove and install the browser again (preferably from Google Play).
• 🔧 Check if browser permissions are disabled in Settings → Annexes → Yandex Browser → Permits.

Install Yandex Browser from the official source (Google Play)|Check for updates MIUI at the Settings → The phone.|Reboot your smartphone before changing your settings|Make sure your browser is not blocked in Settings → Battery and productivity-->

Some MIUI firmware (especially Chinese or custom) may not have the default App item, in which case move on to the second method.

Method 2: Manual assignment by opening a link

If the first method didn’t work, you can trick the system into suggesting a browser choice when you open a link, which is universal and works even on Xiaomi with heavily modified firmware.

Here's how to do it:

1. Open any application that has web links (such as Telegram, WhatsApp or Mail).
2. Find a message with an active link (for example, https://ya.ru) and tap it.
3. In the window that appears, select Yandex Browser and tick Always (or Use by default).
4. Confirm your choice by pressing OK.

If the browser selection window does not appear, then the default browser has already been assigned to the system and it must be reset first.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the default browser (usually MIUI Browser or Chrome).
3. Then, tap it and select Open by default (or Reset by default).
4. Confirm the reset and try again to open the link.

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If the links in the messages are inactive, copy any URL (for example, https://yandex.ru) And you paste it into the search bar on the home screen, and you click on the result, and you'll have the system select the browser.

This method works 90% of the time, but if it doesn’t work, move on to the next section with alternative solutions.

Alternative methods for stubborn cases

If none of the above methods worked, don't despair. Here are some more proven methods:

1.Use of ADB (for advanced users)

If you have access to the Android Debug Bridge (ADB), you can manually assign Yandex Browser by default.

adb shell cmd package set-home-activity com.yandex.browser/.BrowserActivity

Once you have completed the command, restart your smartphone. This method only works on unlocked bootloaders and may require superuser rights (root).

2 Installation through MIUI Optimization

Some MIUI firmware has a hidden optimization menu where you can reset your default settings to get there:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the combination: ##6484##.
2. In the menu that appears, select MIUI Optimization and turn it off.
3. Restart the device and try to reassign the default browser.

3.Reinstall MIUI Browser

Sometimes the standard MIUI browser gets stuck in the system as the default application.

1. Remove updates for MIUI Browser in Settings → Applications → MIUI Browser → Remove updates.
2. Turn it off (if you have an option).
3. Reboot your smartphone and assign Yandex Browser by default.

If MIUI Browser cannot be turned off (button is inactive), it is a system application and cannot be deleted, in which case only resetting the settings to factory settings will help (but this is a last resort).

MIUI Browser|Yandex Browser|Google Chrome|Another browser|I don't know which one I have-->

Problems and errors when changing the browser by default

Even after a successful browser change, Xiaomi users may face unexpected problems, and consider the most common ones and how to solve them.

If none of the solutions worked, check if your Xiaomi has custom firmware or MIUI beta installed. In such cases, the system behavior can be unpredictable, and the best way out is to wait for a stable update.

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On Xiaomi devices with global firmware (EEA), default browser choices may be limited due to EU requirements. In this case, only flashing to another version of MIUI will help.

How to check that Yandex Browser is now the main

After performing all the manipulations, it is important to make sure that Yandex Browser has become the main one.

• 🌐 Open any link from another application (for example, from Telegram or Gmail) and it should open in Yandex Browser.
• 🔍 Enter any request (e.g., “weather”) in the search bar on the home screen. If Yandex is used by default, the results will appear in its browser.
• ⚙️ Check the default settings: Settings → Annexes → Default applications → Browser, it should be Yandex Browser.
• 📱 Reboot your smartphone and check again – sometimes the settings are reset after a reboot.

If at least one of the items is not executed, then the setting was incorrect, and it is worth repeating the procedure or trying alternative methods from this article.

Also note the notifications: after changing the default browser, MIUI sometimes shows a pop-up prompting you to return the standard browser. If you see such a notification, ignore it or turn it off in the notification settings for MIUI Browser.

Additional settings Yandex Browser on Xiaomi

Now that Yandex Browser has been successfully assigned as the primary one, it is worth optimizing its work on Xiaomi. Here are some useful settings:

• 🔒 Sync with Yandex account: log in to your account to sync bookmarks, history and passwords between devices.
• 🚀 Turbo mode: turn on in the browser settings to speed up page loading on the slow Internet.
• 🛡️ Protection against surveillance: activate in Settings → Privacy to block trackers.
• 🌙 Dark theme: Enable it in the settings if you use a dark interface MIUI.
• 📱 Navigation gestures: set up swipes for easy control (for example, swipe left/right to switch between tabs).

Traffic Saving is especially useful, because it compresses data before downloading, which is true for Xiaomi users with limited Internet rates.

1. Open the Yandex Browser.
2. Slip on three dots in the lower right corner and select Settings.
3. Go to the Traffic Savings section and activate the switch.

We also recommend turning off auto-run for MIUI Browser so that it doesn’t waste resources in the background:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → MIUI Browser.
2. Select AutoRun and turn it off.
3. In the same menu, turn off background activity.

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If you use voice search frequently, set the default voice input in Yandex Browser. Go to Settings → Voice Search and follow the instructions.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Yandex Browser on Xiaomi