Smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi i POCO work on a proprietary shell MIUI, which often imposes its own applications on users - including a browser Mi Browser. Even if you have installed Google Chrome, Firefox or Opera, the system may open links in a standard browser by default. This is not only annoying, but also affects the speed of operation, privacy and ease of synchronization with other devices.

In this article we will look at three official methods changing the default browser to Xiaomi (relevant for MIUI 12-14 and Android 10-14), as well as We'll tell you how to bypass typical system limitations. You'll learn why settings sometimes reset after an update, how to check your current default browser, and what to do if the app you want doesn't appear in the list. Let us separately dwell on the nuances for models with a lightweight version of MIUI for the European market (MIUI EU).

Why Xiaomi imposes its browser and is it possible to remove it

Branded Mi Browser integrated into MIUI at the system level. Xiaomi motivates this:

  • 🔒 Security: preliminary check of links to malware (function Mi Browser Guard).
  • 📶 Traffic optimization: data compression to save mobile data.
  • 🔄 Synchronization with an account Mi Account (bookmarks, history).

However, many users prefer alternatives due to:

  • 🚀 Performance: Chrome or Firefox often work faster on weaker devices (for example, Redmi 9A).
  • 🛡️ Privacy: Mi Browser collects data about sites visited (details in note below).
  • 🔗 Synchronization with Google account or other ecosystems.
⚠️ Attention: Completely delete Mi Browser without root access impossible - this is a system application. But it can disable (more on this in the section on optimization).

According to research Citizen Lab (2021), Mi Browser transmits to servers Xiaomi and Alibaba data about visited sites, even in incognito mode. If privacy is critical for you, we recommend using Firefox Focus or Brave with telemetry collection disabled.

📊 Which browser are you using on? Xiaomi?
Mi Browser (standard)
Google Chrome
Mozilla Firefox
Opera or Yandex
Other (write in the comments)

Method 1: Changing the browser through Android settings (main method)

This is universal a method that works on most devices Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO With Android 10 and newer. The instructions are relevant for MIUI 12–14, but the interface may vary slightly depending on the model.

Steps:

  1. Open Settings (gear icon on the main screen).
  2. Go to section Applications → Manage applications.
  3. Click on the three dots (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Default applications.
  4. Tap on the item Browser.
  5. In the list, select the desired application (for example, Chrome or Firefox).

If your browser is not in the list:

  • 🔍 Make sure that the application is installed (download it from Google Play).
  • 🔄 Restart phone - sometimes the list is not updated immediately.
  • 📥 Update the application to the latest version (in Mi Browser this is not required).

Install an alternative browser (Chrome, Firefox, etc.)

Update it to the latest version

Restart your smartphone

Check for MIUI updates-->

⚠️ Attention: On some models (for example, Redmi Note 10 Pro c MIUI 13.0.6) item Default applications may be hidden behind an additional menu. If you don’t find it, try the path: Settings → Applications → All applications → ⋮ → Reset application settings to default.

If the first method did not work (for example, due to a bug in the firmware), try changing the browser directly when opening the link. This method is suitable for Android 11 and newer.

Instructions:

  1. Open any application where there is clickable links (for example, Telegram, WhatsApp or Gmail).
  2. Click on any link (for example, https://google.com).
  3. In the window that appears, select Always (or Only once, if you want to test).
  4. Tap on the desired browser in the list.

If the selection window does not appear:

  • 🔧 Check if the settings have been reset to default (see section below).
  • 📌 Make sure that the link opens as HTTP/HTTPSand not as text.
  • 🔄 Try another link (for example, from YouTube or Twitter).

On some firmware Xiaomi This method only works once - after rebooting the device, the settings may be reset. In this case, use Method 1 or Method 3.

Method 3: Reset all settings to default (if nothing helps)

If the default browser does not change or is reset after a reboot, try resetting all application settings. This will not delete your data, but will return all bindings to factory settings.

How to do:

  1. Open Settings → Applications → Manage applications.
  2. Click on the three dots (⋮) in the upper right corner.
  3. Select Reset application settings.
  4. Confirm the action (you may need to enter a password or graphic key).

After reset:

  • 🔄 Reboot the phone.
  • 🌐 Repeat Method 1 or Method 2 to select a browser.
  • 📥 Check if the settings of other applications have been reset (for example, Galery or Music).
⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI for the European market (MIUI EU) after the reset, you may receive a permission request for Google Play ServicesAllow access, otherwise some applications will stop working correctly.
💡

If after the reset the browser resets to Mi Browser again, check if you have the application installed "Security" from Xiaomi. In its settings there is a "Protection by default" option that can block changes.

Table: Compatibility of methods with MIUI and Android versions

Method MIUI 12 (Android 10) MIUI 13 (Android 11-12) MIUI 14 (Android 13-14) Notes
Method 1
(Android Settings)		 ✅ Works ✅ Works ✅ Works On some models, the path to the settings may differ.
Method 2
(By opening a link)		 ❌ Not always ✅ Works ✅ Works On Android 10, the selection window may not show.
Method 3
(Reset settings)		 ✅ Works ✅ Works ✅ It works After resetting, you need to re-configure all applications to default.
Disable Mi Browser ⚠️ Partially ✅ Possible ✅ Possible Requires disabling via Settings → Applications → Mi Browser → Disable.

If your model Xiaomi works on Android Go (for example, Redmi A1), some menu items may be missing. In this case, use Method 2 or install launcher from a third-party developer (for example, Nova Launcher), which allows you to flexibly configure default applications.

Additional settings: how to optimize the browser's performance on Xiaomi

Just changing the default browser is not enough - for it to work quickly and not drain the battery, configure it correctly.

For Google Chrome:

  • 🔋 Disable Background synchronization in the browser settings (saves battery).
  • 🗑️ Clear the cache once a week: Chrome Settings → Privacy → Clear data.
  • 🛡️ Enable Phishing protection (but disable it if you notice lags).

For Mozilla Firefox:

  • 🦊 Install the extension uBlock Origin to block ads.
  • 📁 Transfer the cache to the memory card: Settings → Advanced → Downloads folder.
  • 🔄 Enable Compression traffic to save mobile data.

For Mi Browser (if you still use it):

  • 🚫 Disable Personalized recommendations in the settings.
  • 🔒 Deny access to Geodata i Contacts.
  • 📊 Disable Mi Browser Guard (if link checking is not needed).
How to speed up loading pages on weak Xiaomi (Redmi 9, 8A, etc.)

1. Enable Lite Mode in your browser - it disables heavy scripts.

2. Use DNS from Google (8.8.8.8) or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1).

3. Disable video autoplay in site settings.

4. Install an ad blocker (for example, Blokada) to block ads at the system level.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Problem 1: After updating MIUI, the browser is reset to the standard one.

Solution: This is a known bug XiaomiAfter updating the firmware:

  1. Reset the settings to default (Method 3).
  2. Install the browser again (even if it is already installed).
  3. Re-select the browser through the settings.

Problem 2: The list does not contain the required browser (for example, Kiwi Browser or Brave).

Solution:

  • 📌 Make sure that the browser supports processing INTENTlinks (check the description in Google Play).
  • 🔧 Try installing the browser manually via APKfile (for example, from the site APKMirror).
  • 📱 Use launcher with customization support (for example, Nova Launcher).

Problem 3: Links from some applications (for example, Instagram) are opened only in Mi Browser.

Solution: This is a limitation of the application itself. Try:

  • 🔗 Copy the link and paste it manually into the desired one browser.
  • 📥 Use the version of the application from Google Playrather than APK.
  • 🛠️ Install a modified version of the application (for example, Instagram Lite).
💡

If none of the methods helped, check if you have parental control software or corporate policies installed (for example, through Microsoft Intune). They can block changes to default settings.

Is it possible to completely remove Mi Browser without root access?

No, completely remove it Mi Browser without root is impossible, since this is a system application. However, you can:

  • Disable it: Settings → Applications → Mi Browser → Disable.
  • Hide icon from the main screen (long press → Hide from screen).
  • Use launcher, which hides system applications (for example, POCO Launcher).

⚠️ After disabling, some MIUI functions (for example, checking links in messages) may work incorrect.

Why does the browser reset to Mi Browser again after a reboot?

This happens due to:

  • Errors in the firmware (often found on MIUI 12.5).
  • Background updates Mi Browser (they can reset settings).
  • Conflict with the application Security (Security) from Xiaomi.

Solution:

  1. Disable automatic updating Mi Browser in Google Play.
  2. Freeze the application Security via ADB (requires a PC).
  3. Install an alternative launcher (for example, Nova Launcher).
How to make links from Telegram open in Chrome?

To do this:

  1. Open Telegram and go to Settings → Data and memory.
  2. Click Clear settings for opening links.
  3. Return to the chat and click on any link.
  4. In the window that appears, select Chrome and check Always.

If the window does not appear, check if you have a modified version Telegram (for example, Telegram X).

Will the phone work faster if you disable Mi Browser?

Yes, but the effect depends on the model:

  • On weak devices (Redmi 8A, 9C) the performance increase may reach 5–10% by freeing up RAM.
  • On flagships (Xiaomi 13, POCO F5) the difference will be minimal.

The main gain is in the speed of opening links and the absence of background activity Mi Browser, which consumes up to 30–50 MB of RAM even when minimized.

Is it possible to use browsers that support extensions (for example, Kiwi Browser) on Xiaomi?

Yes, but with reservations:

  • 🔧 Kiwi Browser, Firefox and Brave support extensions, but they may work unstable on MIUI due to WebView limitations.
  • 📱 On Android 10 and later, extensions only work in browsers based on Chromium (for example, Kiwi).
  • 🔋 Extensions increase battery consumption by 10–15%.

Recommendation: For maximum stability, use Firefox Nightly or Brave Beta —they are optimized for Android.