How to change the selection for opening links on Android

The situation when, when you click on a web address in a messenger or document, a browser that is not the one you are used to using is automatically launched, is familiar to many smartphone owners. The operating system Android by default seeks to optimize the user experience by offering to select the main application for certain actions, but often this choice becomes erroneous or imposed by the manufacturer. For example, instead Google Chrome the built-in shell browser may open, which causes discomfort when surfing.

Fortunately, the mechanism for working with default applications in the system is quite flexible and allows you to manually reconfigure priorities. You don't need to be a programming expert or root to fix this setting. It is enough to know where exactly the desired menu item is hidden, since the location of the options can vary significantly depending on the version of the operating system and the device model.

In this article we will analyze universal methods of resetting settings that work on most modern gadgets, and also consider specific cases for popular browsers. Understanding the operating logic intents (system requests to open files or links) will help you take full control of your smartphone. Let's look at the main ways to solve this common problem.

Resetting application settings through the system menu

The most reliable and proven way to change the application for opening links is to force reset the settings of the browser that is now opening automatically. The logic of the system is simple: as long as the app has a "default" status, it will not ask your opinion when you launch the link. You need to deprive it of this status.

First, go to the main settings of your device. Find the section usually called Applications or Applications and notifications. In some shells, for example MIUI or OneUI, you may need to click the "All applications" button to see the full list of installed software. Find in the list the browser that is currently intercepting links (for example, Samsung Internet or the standard Xiaomi browser).

After entering the application card, find the item Open by default or Launch by default. This is where information is stored about what actions the application considers its priorities. If you see an active "Open supported links" button or a list of domains there, then the interceptor has been found.

• 📱 Click on the item "Open by default" for a detailed view.
• 🗑️ Select an option "Delete default settings" or "Clear default values."
• 🔄 Try opening any link from the messenger - the system should offer a choice again.

⚠️ Attention: After performing the reset, the system will not immediately ask you to select a new application. The first launch of the link may be empty or open to a blank page. Just click on the link again after a few seconds, and the selection dialog box will appear again.

It is important to understand that the term default application in the context of Android means not just a shortcut on the desktop, but a system handler for certain file types and protocols. When you reset these settings, you do not remove the browser itself, but only erase its auto-launch privilege for web addresses.

Customize the selection on every click

After you have reset your previous browser, the next time you click on a link, the system should show a dialog box asking "What open?" At this point, it is critical to correctly interpret the proposed options so as not to reinforce the wrong choice again.

At the bottom of the screen you will see a list of available browsers. Often there are not only full-fledged browsers, but also social networking or instant messenger applications that can open links in built-in mode. Don't confuse them. Select the one you need browser, for example Firefox or Opera.

There will be a switch or checkbox under the list of applications. It may be called "Always", "Remember selection" or "Use as default". If you want the system to ask you every time what to open the link with (which is useful for testing or specific tasks), this item should be left disabled. If you want to fix the choice, turn it on.

There is a nuance associated with Android App Links. Modern versions of the system try to guess your desire to open the link immediately in the application (for example, a link to YouTube will open in the YouTube application, and not in the browser). If the dialog box does not appear, this function may have worked.

To force the selection menu to appear, try long pressing on the link (tap and hold your finger). The context menu that appears often has an "Open in..." or "Open Link" option, which overrides the default settings and brings up the system application selector.

Managing file and link associations in Android 12 and later

Starting with version Android 12, Google has significantly redesigned the link management mechanism, introducing stricter controls above Android App Links. Now, managing which links are opened in applications and which in the browser has been moved to a separate, deeper level of settings, accessible not only through the app card, but also through global parameters.

New versions of the interface have the ability to fine-tune domains. You can allow an application to open links only from certain sites, blocking all others. This improves security and prevents situations where a third-party application intercepts passwords or verification codes by masquerading as a browser.

To access these settings, go to Settings → Applications → Default applications. Here you will see the "Open Links" section. By clicking on it, you will be taken to a list of all applications that claim to open web addresses. Here you can manually switch toggle switches for each application.

Settings parameter	Description of action	Influence on system
Open supported links	Allows the application to intercept links without asking	High (automatic launch)
Always ask	System ignores priority and shows choice	Medium (requires user action)
Do not open	Complete ban on the application intercepting links	Low (links will go to the browser by default)

Particular attention should be paid to this point Supported web addresses inside the settings of a specific application. By clicking on it, you will see a list of domains (for example, youtube.com, instagram.com). You can selectively disable certain domains so that links from them open in the browser and not in the native application.

Why might the list of domains be empty?

If the list of supported web addresses is empty, this means that the application has not declared to the system its ability to handle specific URLs, or the developer has not added the appropriate filters to the application manifest. In this case, control occurs only through the general settings “Open supported links.”

Specifics of working with Chrome, Samsung Internet and other browsers

Different browsers may behave differently when trying to become the main ones. For example, Google Chrome often aggressively offers to become the default browser every time you update or first launch. At the same time, Samsung Internet on devices of the Korean brand it can be deeply integrated into the system and require additional actions to completely disable link interception.

Inside the browsers themselves there are also settings that may conflict with the system ones. Go to your preferred browser settings, scroll down to the "Privacy" or "Sites" section and look for the option related to opening links. Make sure that the “Open links in this application” checkbox is unchecked if you want the system to make the choice.

If you use alternative launchers or specialized shells (for example, Nova Launcher in conjunction with custom ROMALs), the interception mechanisms may work differently. In such cases, it is recommended to check the settings of the search widgets or global search, which often have their own rules for processing URLs.

• 🌐 In Chrome: Settings → Applications → Open links.
• 🔒 In Firefox: Settings → General → Make Firefox the default browser.
• ⚙️ In Samsung Internet: Settings → Applications → Default setting.

It is worth noting that some “light” versions of browsers (Lite versions) may not have full support for all types of intents, which leads to errors when opening complex links with authorization parameters. In such cases, it is better to use the full version of the application.

⚠️ Attention: The settings interface may differ depending on the smartphone manufacturer (Xiaomi, Huawei, Samsung). If you cannot find the described items, use the search inside the settings menu by entering the phrase “default” or “default apps”.

Using ADB commands for advanced users

For those who are not afraid of the command line and have access to a computer, there is a more powerful tool - Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This method allows you to reset package preferences even in cases where the system interface is blocked or does not work correctly.

First, you need to enable USB debugging mode in the "For Developers" menu on your phone and connect it to your PC. After installing ADB drivers and utilities on your computer, open a command prompt or terminal. You'll need to enter a command that clears package preferences for a specific application.

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

However, a more general approach is to reset all application preferences at once. This will return the system to the "post-purchase" state, causing it to re-ask you to select an app for each type of action. The command looks like this:

adb shell pm reset-preferred-apps

Using ADB gives you complete control, but requires caution. Incorrect use of commands can lead to system instability. Always check the syntax of commands before entering them.

Solving problems when the selection is not saved

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where, despite all the manipulations, the system stubbornly continues to open links in an unnecessary browser. This may be caused by the presence of malware, deep system limitations of the manufacturer, or a profile conflict.

First of all, check whether the “problematic” browser is a system one and cannot be removed. On many smartphones from Chinese manufacturers, pre-installed browsers have elevated privileges. In this case, the only solution may be to install an alternative launcher or use a third-party link manager.

The system cache may also be the cause. Try clearing the service cache Android System or Media Storage, although this is a drastic measure. A safer option is to restart your device in Safe Mode. If the problem disappears in Safe Mode, then a third-party application you recently installed is to blame.

If nothing helps, you can use switch apps from the store Google Playsuch as "Better Open With". They intercept the system request and provide their own, more flexible selection interface, allowing you to remember the selection for specific domains, and not for all links at once.

How to reset the settings for opening links for only one site?

Unfortunately, standard Android tools cannot set the rule “always open youtube.com in Chrome, and vk.com in Firefox.” The system operates at the application level, not the domain level. However, in Android 12+ you can prevent the application from opening links at all, and then they will open in the browser by default. For flexible management, third-party manager applications are needed.

Why did the browser selection get lost after an Android update?

With major system updates (for example, the transition from Android 11 to 12), internal security mechanisms and intent processing often change. The system resets some user preferences to apply new security policies, which results in the need to re-select default applications.

Is it possible to remove the stock Android browser?

A regular user cannot remove the system browser without root access, since it is part of the system partition. However, you can disable it in the application settings, which will hide its icon and prevent it from launching, but the files will remain in the device memory.

What to do if the selection dialog does not appear at all?

This means that for this type of link the default application is already hard-coded and the confirmation request is hidden. You must manually go into the settings of this application and click “Remove default settings”, as described at the beginning of the article, to force the appearance of the selection window.