Make the Default App on Xiaomi: What It Means and How to Set Up

Introduction: Why you need applications by default

When you open a link, launch a map, or try to make a call over the Internet, Xiaomi automatically uses pre-selected apps, and these are the default apps, programs that the system considers essential for doing certain things, and without that setting, every time you click on a link, you would have to choose whether to open it in Chrome, Mi Browser, or another browser.

In MIUI, Xiaomi’s branded shell, default application settings have their own peculiarities, such as restrictions on changing some system applications (like Messages or Phone), as well as duplicate features of embedded services, and understanding the mechanism will help not only speed up work with a smartphone, but also avoid conflicts between programs.

In this article, we'll look at what it means to make a default app on Xiaomi, what types of apps you can configure, and why sometimes the system ignores your choices, and then we'll give you a step-by-step guide with versioning in mind. MIUI 12/13/14 Features of Redmi models, POCO Xiaomi.

What is a “default application” and how does it work?

The default application is the program that the operating system automatically selects to perform a specific action.

• 🌐 Browser – opens web links;
• 📧 Mail – Processes email addresses;
• 🗺️ Maps – shows routes by clicking on the address;
• 💬 Messenger – opens links to chats (WhatsApp, Telegram).

On Xiaomi, this mechanism works through Android App Links, a technology that links data types (such as http:// or tel:) to specific applications. However, there is a caveat in MIUI: some system applications (such as Mi Browser or Mi Video) can automatically return to their default status after updates or resets.

It's important to understand that setting the default doesn't mean other apps will become unavailable. You can still manually select an alternative program every time you do it, but if you want to get rid of the extra clicks, you have to prioritize.

What apps can be made by default on Xiaomi

The following categories of applications are available for setting in MIUI by default:

Separately, you should highlight messengers (such as WhatsApp or Telegram). These cannot be made “default” in the classical sense, but you can set up automatic link opening like https://wa.me/ or t.me/ in the desired application. Deep Links are used to do this, which are customized in the Settings menu → Application Management → Applications → [messenger name] → Open supported links.

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If, after changing the default browser, links still open in Mi Browser, clear the cache and data of this application in the settings. This will reset its priorities.

Step-by-step: how to make the application by default

The configuration process depends on the version of MIUI, but the overall scheme is the same.

1. Open the “Settings” section and go to the Apps section.
2. Select Application Management (in) MIUI 14 may be called the Applications by default).
3. Click on the category you want to change (such as Browser or Phone).
4. In the list of available apps, select the one you want. If you don't have one, install it from Google Play and repeat the steps.

For MIUI 12 and older, the path may be slightly different:

Settings → Applications → All Apps → [three dots in the top right corner] → Default Apps

If the desired application is not in the list, check:

Is the application installed on the device?

Does he have the right to process this type of file/link?

Does MIUI block the default shift for this category (e.g., Phone)?

Is the application updated to the latest version?-->

On some models (such as the POCO F3 or Xiaomi 11T), after selecting the application by default, a notification may appear: “This application may not support all features.”

Features of setting up on different Xiaomi models

Not all Xiaomi smartphones allow you to change apps freely by default.

• 📱 Redmi and POCO (Budget series: Most often block the change of applications Phone and Messages, but allow you to configure the browser, cards and mail.

For example, on the Redmi Note 10 Pro MIUI 13 When you try to change the Phone app to Google Phone, you'll see a message saying, "This feature is disabled by the device administrator." It's not a bug, it's a manufacturer's limitation. You can only get around it with the help of the device administrator. ADB-commands or obtaining root rights.

For models with MIUI for the global market (for example, Xiaomi 12 Pro Global), the restrictions are less than for the Chinese versions (MIUI China).If you use EU firmware (from Xiaomi.eu), you will get maximum freedom in settings, but you will lose some of the built-in services (for example, Mi Pay).

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On the Chinese versions of MIUI (without global firmware), it is almost impossible to change the default applications without additional manipulation. If critical, consider reflashing on MIUI Global or Xiaomi.eu.

Frequent Problems and How to Solve Them

Even after you set up the applications correctly, they may not work properly by default. Consider typical situations and solutions:

⚠️ Note: If after changing the default browser, links from Telegram or WhatsApp still open in Mi Browser, the problem is deep link settings. → Annexes → [messenger] → Open supported links and disable the option for Mi Browser.

Problem 1: The application does not appear in the default selection list.

Decision:

• Remove and install the application again.
• Check if it supports processing of the desired type of data (for example, not all browsers are able to open mailto: links).
• Update the app to the latest version.

Problem 2: Settings are reset after rebooting.

Solution: It's typical of MIUI. Try this:

• Disable battery optimization for the selected application (Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization).
• Use it. ADB-Default command for forced installation: adb shell cmd package set-home-activity com.android.chrome/com.google.android.apps.chrome.Main (Replace com.android.chrome with the desired application package).

Problem 3: System applications (Mi Browser, Mi Video) ignore settings.

Solution: Disable or freeze system applications using ADB or root access, for example, to disable Mi Browser, do:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.browser

⚠️ Warning: Disabling system applications may lead to unstable operation MIUI. Before that, create a backup copy of the data!

ADB-commands for forced change of applications by default

If the standard settings don’t work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a tool for debugging Android devices, which requires connecting your smartphone to your PC and enabling developer mode.

Here are the main teams:

To use ADB:

1. Turn on Developer Mode (7 times click on the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone).
2. Activate Debugging by USB in Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Connect your phone to your PC, install ADB Tools, and execute commands in the terminal.

Models with MIUI 14 may require additional confirmation on the phone when first connected via ADB.

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If you don’t want to use ADB, try Google Play’s Default App Manager, which makes it easier to manage default settings, but requires root rights for full functionality.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions