How to Make Chrome Your Default Browser

What it means to set Chrome as your default browser

When you set Chrome as your default browser, any link you click outside of a program — in an email, a text message, a document, or a search result — opens in Chrome instead of whatever browser you have now. Your computer remembers this choice and uses it automatically until you change it again.

The steps differ slightly depending on whether you use Windows, Mac, or Linux, but the idea is the same: you tell your operating system that Chrome is the program you want handling web links. You do not need to uninstall your other browser, and you can change this back at any time.

Key Takeaways

On Windows, open Chrome, go to Settings, select Default browser, and click Make default.
On Mac, open Chrome, go to Settings, select Default browser, and click Make default.
On Linux, right-click a link, select Open With, choose Chrome, and check the box to remember your choice.
Once set, all links from outside programs will open in Chrome until you change this setting again.
You can reverse this at any time by following the same steps and choosing a different browser instead.

Setting Chrome as default on Windows

Open Chrome by clicking its icon on your desktop or in your taskbar. Once the browser window appears, look at the top right corner where you will see three vertical dots stacked on top of each other. Click those dots to open a menu.

From the menu, select Settings. A new tab will open showing Chrome's settings page. On the left side, you will see a list of options. Click the one that says Default browser. On the right side of the screen, you will see a button labeled Make default. Click it.

Windows will ask you to confirm this choice. A small window may appear asking if you want to allow Chrome to make changes to your device. Click Yes or Allow. After that, Chrome is now your default browser. You can close the settings tab and return to browsing.

Setting Chrome as default on Mac

Open Chrome by clicking its icon in your Dock or Applications folder. Once the browser window appears, look at the top right corner where you will see three vertical dots. Click those dots to open a menu.

Mac will ask you to confirm this choice. A small window may appear asking if you want to allow Chrome to make changes to your device. Click Allow. After that, Chrome is now your default browser. You can close the settings tab and return to browsing.

Setting Chrome as default on Linux

Linux does not have a single settings panel for default browsers the way Windows and Mac do. Instead, you set your default by telling the system which program to use when you open a link.

Right-click any link on a web page or in a document. A small menu will appear with options. Look for one that says Open With or Open Link With. Click it. A list of programs will appear, including Chrome if it is installed. Click Chrome to open that link in Chrome.

After you click Chrome, look for a checkbox that says Remember my choice or Make this the default. Check that box. From now on, links will open in Chrome by default. If you do not see this checkbox, you may need to open your system settings and look for Default Applications or Preferred Applications, then select Chrome for Web Links.

What to do if you do not see the Make default button

If you follow the steps above but the Make default button is grayed out or missing, Chrome may already be your default browser. Check by clicking the Default browser option again — it will tell you whether Chrome is already set.

If the button is still not there and Chrome is not already the default, your system may require administrator permission to change this setting. On Windows, try right-clicking the Chrome icon and selecting Run as administrator, then repeat the steps above. On Mac, you may need to unlock System Preferences by clicking the lock icon in the bottom left and entering your password.

Changing your default browser back to something else

If you decide you want a different browser to be your default, the process is identical. Open that browser, go to Settings, find Default browser, and click Make default. Your system will switch to the new browser when ready.

You can change your default browser as many times as you want. There is no limit to how often you can switch, and changing it does not delete or damage any of your browsers. All of them will remain on your computer and work normally.

Why links might still open in the old browser

Sometimes after you set Chrome as default, a link still opens in your old browser. This usually happens because the link came from a program that has its own built-in browser — like Outlook, Slack, or Microsoft Teams. These programs sometimes ignore your system default and open links in their own browser instead.

If this happens, you have two choices. You can copy the link, open Chrome manually, and paste it into the address bar. Or you can check the settings inside that program to see if it has its own option to use your system default browser. Many programs have added this option in recent years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to uninstall my other browser to make Chrome the default?

No. Setting Chrome as default does not affect your other browsers. They stay on your computer and work normally. You can still open them manually whenever you want. Setting a default only controls what happens when you click a link from outside a browser.

Will changing my default browser delete my bookmarks or history?

No. Your bookmarks, history, and saved passwords stay in each browser where you created them. Changing which browser is default does not touch any of that data. If you switch back to your old browser later, all your information will still be there.

Can I set different default browsers for different types of links?

Not through the standard settings. Your operating system allows only one default browser for all web links. However, some programs like email clients have their own settings where you can choose which browser to use for links inside that program.

What if Chrome is not showing up in my Open With menu on Linux?

Chrome may not be installed, or it may be installed in a location your system does not recognize. Try opening Chrome manually first to confirm it is on your computer. If it opens, try right-clicking a link again and looking for a Browse option that lets you navigate to Chrome's location directly.

Does setting a default browser use more computer resources?

No. Setting a default browser does not change how much memory or processing power your computer uses. It only tells your system which program to launch when you click a link. The browser itself uses the same resources whether it is default or not.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.