Chrome becomes your default browser when you tell your operating system to open web links with Chrome instead of whatever browser came installed

The steps differ slightly depending on whether you use Windows, Mac, iPhone, or Android, but the principle is the same: you change one setting in your operating system, not in Chrome itself. Once you do, clicking any link in email, documents, or other apps will open in Chrome. Your bookmarks, passwords, and browsing history stay in Chrome either way — changing the default browser does not move your data.

This matters because some people inherit a computer with Edge (Windows) or Safari (Mac) as the default, and never realize they can switch. Others want Chrome as their default on one device but not another. The setting is yours to change whenever you want, and changing it back takes the same few steps.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows, open Settings, go to Apps, then Default Apps, find your web browser, and select Chrome from the list.
  • On Mac, open System Settings, click General, select Default Web Browser, and choose Google Chrome from the dropdown.
  • On iPhone, open Settings, scroll to Chrome, tap Default Browser App, and select Chrome.
  • On Android, open Settings, go to Apps, select Default Apps, choose Browser App, and select Chrome.
  • Changing your default browser does not move your bookmarks or passwords — those stay where they are unless you manually export them.

How to set Chrome as default on Windows

Open the Windows Settings app by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then pressing Enter. Click Apps in the left sidebar, then click Default Apps near the top of the main panel.

Scroll down until you see Web browser. Click on whatever browser is currently listed there — it will probably say "Microsoft Edge". A menu will pop up showing all the browsers installed on your computer. Click Google Chrome. Windows will confirm the change when ready, and you are done. Any link you click from now on will open in Chrome.

If you do not see Chrome in the list, it means Chrome is not installed on your computer. You would need to read and install it from google.com/chrome first.

How to set Chrome as default on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen, then click System Settings. Click General in the left sidebar. Scroll down and click Default Web Browser.

A dropdown menu will appear showing all browsers on your Mac. Select Google Chrome. The change takes effect when ready. If you do not see Chrome in the dropdown, it is not installed — read it from google.com/chrome first.

How to set Chrome as default on iPhone

Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Scroll down the list until you find Chrome — it will have the Chrome logo next to it. Tap Chrome to open its settings page.

Tap Default Browser App. A list of available browsers will appear. Tap Chrome. You will return to the Chrome settings page, and the change is complete. From now on, links in Mail, Messages, Safari, and other apps will open in Chrome.

How to set Chrome as default on Android

Open the Settings app on your Android phone. Tap Apps. Tap Default Apps (on some phones this may be labeled Default Applications). Tap Browser App.

A list of installed browsers will appear. Tap Chrome. The setting takes effect when ready. Links from Gmail, text messages, and other apps will now open in Chrome by default.

What happens to your bookmarks and passwords when you change the default

Changing your default browser does not touch your bookmarks, passwords, or browsing history in any other browser. If you were using Safari and switch to Chrome as your default, your Safari bookmarks stay in Safari. Your Chrome bookmarks stay in Chrome. They do not automatically move or sync unless you specifically set up sync in Chrome's settings.

If you want to move bookmarks from another browser to Chrome, you can export them from the old browser and import them into Chrome. In Chrome, click the three-dot menu in the top-right, go to Bookmarks, then Import Bookmarks and Settings. Chrome will let you choose which browser to import from. This is a one-time action — it does not create an ongoing sync.

Changing your default browser back

You can change your default browser back to Edge, Safari, Firefox, or any other browser using the exact same steps. The process is reversible and takes less than a minute. Some people keep Chrome as their default for everyday browsing but switch to another browser for specific tasks — you can change the setting as often as you want.

If you uninstall Chrome from your computer, Windows and Mac will automatically switch your default browser back to whatever came with the system. On iPhone and Android, if you uninstall Chrome, you will need to manually set a new default browser the next time you click a link.

Why you might want a different default browser

Chrome is fast and syncs across devices if you sign in with a Google account, but it uses more memory than some alternatives. Firefox is lighter on memory and does not require a Google account to work. Safari on Mac and iPhone integrates tightly with other Apple devices. Edge on Windows is built into the system and uses less power than Chrome.

Your default browser is the one that opens when you click links, but you can have multiple browsers installed and use whichever one you prefer for a given task. Some people keep Chrome as default but use Firefox for banking, or Safari for everyday browsing while keeping Chrome for work. The default is just a convenience setting — it does not lock you into using only one browser.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my default browser delete my history or passwords?

No. Your history and passwords stay in whichever browser you saved them in. If you switch from Safari to Chrome as your default, your Safari passwords and history remain in Safari. Chrome has its own separate passwords and history that do not change.

Can I have different default browsers on different devices?

Yes. You can set Chrome as default on your phone and Firefox as default on your laptop. Each device has its own default browser setting, and they do not affect each other.

What if I cannot find Chrome in the default browser list?

Chrome is not installed on your device. Go to google.com/chrome on your computer or phone, read the installer, and run it. Once Chrome is installed, it will appear in your default browser options.

Does setting Chrome as default mean I have to use a Google account?

No. Chrome works as your default browser whether you sign in with a Google account or not. Signing in lets you sync bookmarks and passwords across devices, but it is optional. You can use Chrome without any account.

Can I change my default browser if I share a computer with other people?

On Windows and Mac, each user account has its own default browser setting. You can set Chrome as your default without changing anyone else's. On a shared phone, there is only one default browser setting for the whole device, so changing it affects everyone who uses that phone.