How to change your default browser on Windows, Mac, iPhone or Android

By Device Basics

Your default browser is the app your device uses to open web links. To change it, install the browser you want, then select it in your device’s default-app settings. Choosing Google Chrome in those settings makes Chrome your default. (Google’s explanation)

Keep your current browser installed while you check the result. The steps below don’t require a factory reset, clearing browsing data or uninstalling anything.

Windows 11

1. Open Start → Settings → Apps → Default apps.
2. Find the browser you want under Set defaults for applications. For Chrome, type Chrome in the search box, then select Google Chrome.
3. At the top of the browser’s page, click Set default next to “Make [browser name] your default browser.”

Microsoft documents this route for Edge, and Google documents it for Chrome.

If a particular link or file still opens in another app, review that browser’s file-type and link-type associations on the same page. Change only the association you intend to change; you don’t need to assign every listed file type to your browser.

Windows 10

Open Start → Settings → Apps → Default apps. Under Web browser, click the current browser and choose the one you want, such as Google Chrome. (Google’s Windows 10 instructions)

Mac

For macOS Ventura 13 or later:

1. Install the browser you want to use.
2. Open the Apple menu → System Settings.
3. Select Desktop & Dock in the sidebar.
4. Scroll down to Default web browser and choose your browser, including Google Chrome if that’s your preference.

On earlier macOS versions, use Apple menu → System Preferences → General → Default web browser instead. (Apple’s Mac instructions)

iPhone or iPad

On current iOS and iPadOS versions:

1. Install your preferred browser.
2. Open Settings → Apps → Default Apps.
3. Tap Browser App.
4. Select the browser you want, such as Chrome, and complete any additional onscreen steps.

Apple identifies Browser App as the setting that controls which app opens webpage links. If a particular installed app isn’t available as a default, Apple recommends contacting its developer. (Apple’s default-app instructions)

If you don’t see Default Apps and want Chrome: open Chrome → three-dot menu → Settings → Default Browser → Go to Settings… → Default Browser App, then choose Chrome. Google says the default-browser option requires iOS 14 or later and recommends updating Chrome if the option is missing. (Google’s iPhone and iPad instructions)

Android phones and tablets

Start in your device’s Settings → Apps → Default apps, then select the browser category and choose your preferred browser. Google documents this settings route for Pixel phones and tablets. If your phone’s menus differ, try searching Settings for default apps. (Google’s Pixel instructions)

To make Chrome the default directly from Chrome:

1. Open Chrome.
2. Tap the three-dot menu → Make Chrome default.
3. Select the button next to Chrome.

You can also start from Chrome → three-dot menu → Settings → Default browser. (Google’s Android instructions)

Check that the change worked

Open a webpage link you trust from an email or document, rather than from inside a browser. Check which browser opens, then return to the default-app setting to confirm your selection if needed.

If only one app behaves differently, check that app’s link-opening settings before changing the system default again. If the setting is locked on a work or school device, ask the administrator rather than trying to bypass it.

Default browser and default search engine are different settings. Chrome is a browser; Google Search is a search engine. If you only want to change which service handles searches typed into Chrome’s address bar on a computer, use Chrome → three-dot menu → Settings → Search engine → Change, then select a search engine. (Google’s search-engine instructions)