How to install the default browser in Xiaomi: setting up MIUI and HyperOS

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the intrusive behavior of an operating system that forcibly opens web pages in the built-in Mi or GetApps browser, ignoring user preferences. This happens even if you have long been using Chrome, Yandex or Firefox and are used to their synchronization and extensions. MIUI and the new HyperOS are designed to keep the user as much as possible within the manufacturer's ecosystem, creating the illusion of no choice.

Fortunately, deep Android settings are a mechanism to redefine this behavior and assign the desired application to the main link processing process.The process does not require root rights or complex debugging, but knowing the exact path to the menu is critical, since items can be hidden or renamed depending on the firmware version. In this article, we will break down all the nuances of the configuration, including bypassing restrictions for system links.

Some users mistakenly believe that it is easy to remove a standard application, but in Xiaomi smartphones, the system browser is often part of the shell core and cannot be removed by standard methods without losing warranty or stability.

Why Xiaomi imposes its browser and how it works

Xiaomi is actively developing its own services, and the browser is not just a means of viewing pages, but a gateway for news, advertising and analytics. When you click on a link in the messenger or mail, the system checks standard applications and, if the priority is not strictly set, can offer to open content in its product, this is especially true in regions where advertising integration into the MIUI shell is implemented most aggressively.

The mechanism of operation is based on processing URI-schemas (http, https) that are registered by each installed browser. In Android, there is a hierarchy: if the user clearly chose not to “always open in this application”, the system uses its preferences algorithms, where first-person products often have an increased weight. Understanding this logic helps to properly configure the device so that links open predictably.

In addition, there are so-called “deep links” that lead not just to a website, but to a specific page within the application (for example, a YouTube video or a product in the marketplace), the system shell sometimes intercepts them, redirecting them to the web version through its engine, which annoys users who prefer native applications, setting up by default helps minimize such interceptions.

⚠️ Note: In some versions of the firmware after a major update, the application settings may reset to factory values.

It is important to distinguish between two types of settings: the global choice of browser for the Internet and the choice of application for opening specific types of links. The first parameter is responsible for which program will run when you click on the Internet shortcut or when you call from a voice assistant.

Preparation for changing application settings

Before you start changing system priorities, you need to make sure that the alternative browser is already installed and fully ready to go. Download the desired application from the official Google Play store or GetApps, perform the initial setup, log in to your account and make sure that it works correctly.

It’s also worth checking for updates to the MIUI or HyperOS operating system itself. In newer versions of the interface, menu items may be different from older builds. If you have a very old version of Android, some modern link management features may not be available or work differently.

It is recommended to clear the cache of the old system browser in advance to avoid conflicts when switching. This is not necessary, but helps the system to quickly rebuild the associations of files and links. To do this, go to the settings, find the browser application and select Clear data.

Instructions: browser selection in the settings menu

The main method of changing priorities is in the standard Android settings menu, which in the shells of Xiaomi has its own navigation features. You need to go to the application management section, where the key parameter is hidden. The algorithm of actions is the same for most current firmware versions, whether MIUI 12, 13, 14 or the new HyperOS.

First, open the Settings app and scroll through the list to the App. In some versions of the interface, this section may be called All Apps or have a four-square icon. Inside you are interested in the Application Management subsection, which displays the full list of installed software.

Next, find in the list or through a search (magnifying icon) the application you want to make the main one (such as Chrome). Click on it to open the application information page. Here you will need to find the Open by default or Run by default. If it is active, click on the Use by default button or Open supported links.

In the list of link types that opens (http, https), select Open in this application or Always Open in this application. The system can warn that this will change the current settings - confirm the action. After that, all web links will be forced to open through the engine of your choice.

If the "Open by default" option is blocked or unavailable, it may mean that the application does not have the necessary permissions or it is not registered as a link handler in the system.

Configure depending on the version of MIUI and HyperOS

Xiaomi’s shell interface is constantly changing, and the paths to settings may vary. Owners of devices with MIUI 12-13 often have to look for settings in the Additional section within the application menu, there may be a separate browser item where you can select your preferred application from the list.

In the more recent versions, including MIUI 14 and HyperOS, the logic has become closer to pure Android. It's set up here, and sometimes it's easier to search by settings. Click on the magnifying glass at the top of the settings screen and type in "default browser" or "default apps." The system will suggest the desired partition.

Special attention should be paid to devices with the Chinese version of firmware (CN ROM), which can be completely in Chinese, and the standard browser is replaced by DU Browser or analogue, in which case it is more difficult to visually navigate: look for the gear icon in the application menu or use a translator from screenshots.

It is important to understand that new versions of HyperOS have more stringent security policies that may require additional confirmation when changing a standard application, which is designed to protect against malicious software that attempts to intercept traffic control.

Problem Solving: If the settings are not saved

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where after a smartphone reboot or application update, the settings are reset and links are opened again in the Mi system browser. This can be caused by aggressive battery optimization, which "kills" background processes or resets priorities to save energy.

To avoid this, find your browser in the application list, go to Activity Control (or Charge Saving) and select No Limits mode. It is also recommended to uncheck the Cleanup in the background if this option is available in your firmware version.

Another reason may be a conflict with an antivirus or third-party optimizer that has the right to change system settings. Try temporarily disabling such programs and check if browser selection is retained.

⚠️ Note: If you use third-party launchers (desktop shells), they may have their own link opening settings that overlap the system ones.

Using ADB for Advanced Users

For those who aren’t afraid of the command line, there’s a more reliable way to install the browser via USB debugging (ADB), which allows you to force the link handler to be set, ignoring some of the shell’s limitations: you’ll need a computer, a USB cable, and enabled debugging on your smartphone.

First, find out the exact name of your browser package (e.g. com.android.chrome for Chrome or com.yandex.browser for Yandex Browser). Then connect the phone to your PC and execute a command to clean up the current default installations, and then specify new ones.

adb shell pm set-home-activity --package com.android.chrome

This method is especially useful if the GUI is bugged or hidden by the manufacturer, but beware: the wrong package name can cause links to stop opening altogether until you fix the bug.

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Use the Activity Launcher app from the Play Market to find the exact Package Name of any installed application if you can’t find it in the code.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)