Setting Chrome as your default browser on Windows

Open Chrome and look at the top right corner for three vertical dots (called the menu button). Click it, then select Settings from the dropdown. On the left side of the screen, click Default browser.

You will see a section labeled "Default browser" with a button underneath it. If Chrome is not yet your default, the button will say Make default. Click that button. Windows will ask you to confirm — a small window will pop up asking if you want to allow Chrome to make changes to your device. Click Yes or Allow, depending on what your version of Windows shows.

Chrome is now your default browser. Any link you click in email, documents, or other programs will open in Chrome instead of whatever browser was set before. You can verify this worked by going back to Settings and checking that the button now says "Chrome is your default browser" instead of offering a Make Default button.

Setting Chrome as your default browser on Mac

Click the Chrome menu at the top left of your screen and select Settings. On the left side, click Default browser. You will see a dropdown menu that currently shows your existing default browser — it might say Safari, Firefox, or another name.

Click the dropdown and select Google Chrome from the list. The change takes effect when ready. Unlike Windows, Mac does not ask for confirmation. Close the Settings tab and you are done.

On some older versions of Mac, you may see a button labeled "Make default" instead of a dropdown. If so, click that button and the system will set Chrome as your default without any additional steps.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows, open Chrome Settings, click Default browser on the left, then click the Make Default button and confirm when Windows asks.
  • On Mac, open Chrome Settings, click Default browser on the left, then select Google Chrome from the dropdown menu.
  • Once set, all links from email, documents, and web pages will open in Chrome automatically.
  • You can change your default browser back to a different one at any time using the same steps.
  • Setting Chrome as default does not remove your other browsers or affect your passwords and bookmarks.

What happens after you set Chrome as default

When Chrome becomes your default browser, it takes over for any link you click outside of a browser window. If you receive a link in an email, a text message, a PDF, or a document, clicking it will now open Chrome instead of whatever browser was handling those links before.

Setting a default browser does not uninstall your other browsers. Safari, Firefox, Edge, or whatever else you had installed will still be there. You can still open them manually and use them whenever you want. Default browser only controls what happens when you click a link from somewhere else on your computer.

The change is when ready and affects your entire system. You do not need to restart your computer or close any open programs for the change to take effect.

Changing your default browser back

If you decide later that you want a different browser to be your default, the process is identical. Open that browser's settings, find the Default browser section, and select it. Your previous default browser will no longer handle links automatically.

You can switch your default browser as often as you want. There is no limit to how many times you can change it, and changing it does not affect your bookmarks, passwords, or any other data stored in Chrome or your other browsers. Each browser keeps its own separate data regardless of which one is set as default.

If the Make Default button does not appear

On Windows, if you do not see a Make Default button, Chrome may already be your default browser. The Settings page will show text saying "Chrome is your default browser" instead. If you see this, no action is needed.

If you see a message that says you cannot change your default browser, your computer may have restrictions set by an administrator or organization. This sometimes happens on work computers or school devices. Contact your IT department or system administrator to request the change. They may need to adjust permissions before you can make Chrome your default.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will setting Chrome as default delete my other browsers?

No. Setting a default browser only controls which program opens links automatically. All your other browsers remain installed and usable. You can still open them manually whenever you want.

What if I use multiple browsers and want different defaults for different types of links?

Windows and Mac only allow one default browser at a time. You cannot set Chrome as default for some links and Firefox for others. However, you can manually choose which browser to use by right-clicking a link and selecting "Open with" on Windows, or by opening the browser you want and pasting the link into it.

Does setting Chrome as default affect my passwords and bookmarks?

No. Your passwords, bookmarks, history, and all other data in Chrome remain exactly as they are. Changing your default browser setting does not touch any of your stored information in any browser.

Can I set Chrome as default on my phone?

Yes, but the steps differ by phone type. On Android, open Chrome, go to Settings, tap Apps and notifications, then Default apps, and select Chrome as your browser. On iPhone, open Settings (the phone's main settings, not Chrome's), scroll down to Chrome, and tap Default Browser App, then select Chrome.

What if Chrome keeps reverting to not being my default?

This occasionally happens after Windows updates. straightforward repeat the steps to set Chrome as default again. If it keeps reverting when ready, try restarting your computer after setting Chrome as default, or check whether your antivirus software is interfering with the setting.