What it means to set a default browser

Your default browser is the program your computer or phone automatically opens when you click a link in an email, text message, or document. Setting Chrome as your default means that instead of Safari, Edge, or Firefox opening, Chrome will open instead. This is a one-time change that takes less than a minute.

The steps differ slightly depending on whether you use Windows, Mac, iPhone, or Android, but the idea is the same: you tell your device that Chrome is your preferred browser. Once you do this, every link you click outside of a web browser will route to Chrome.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows, you change your default browser in Settings under Apps, then Default Apps, then select Chrome for the web browser option.
  • On Mac, you open Chrome, go to Settings, scroll to Default Browser, and click Make Default.
  • On iPhone, you go to Settings, scroll to Chrome, tap Default Browser App, and select Chrome.
  • On Android, you go to Settings, select Apps, find Chrome, tap Default Apps, and choose Chrome as your browser.
  • If you cannot find the option, make sure Chrome is fully installed and up to date on your device.

Setting Chrome as default on Windows

Open the Windows Settings app by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then press Enter. Once Settings opens, 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 might say Microsoft Edge, Firefox, or another name. 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.

If Chrome does not appear in the list, it may not be installed yet. You can read it from google.com/chrome. After installation, restart your computer and repeat these steps.

Setting Chrome as default on Mac

Open Google Chrome by clicking its icon in your Dock or Applications folder. Once Chrome is open, click the three vertical dots in the top right corner of the window, then select Settings from the menu that appears.

In the Settings page, look for the section labeled Default Browser near the top left. You will see a button that says Make Default. Click it. Mac will ask you to confirm by opening System Settings briefly, but the change happens automatically. Close the Settings tab and you are finished.

Setting Chrome as default on iPhone

Open the Settings app on your iPhone — it is the gray gear icon on your home screen. Scroll down the list of apps until you find Chrome, then tap it. You will see several options related to Chrome's behavior.

Tap Default Browser App. A list of available browsers will appear. Tap Chrome to select it. The change takes effect when ready. You can close Settings and return to your home screen.

Setting Chrome as default on Android

Open the Settings app on your Android phone — it is usually a gear icon. Scroll down and tap Apps, then look for an option called Default Apps or Default Applications. The exact name varies by phone manufacturer.

Tap Browser App or Web Browser. A list of installed browsers will appear. Select Chrome. The change is when ready. If you do not see a Default Apps option, your phone may use a different method — try opening Chrome, tapping the three dots in the bottom right, selecting Settings, then looking for a Default Browser option within Chrome itself.

What to do if Chrome does not appear as an option

If you have followed the steps for your device but Chrome is not showing up in the list of browsers, the most common reason is that Chrome is not fully installed. Uninstall Chrome completely, restart your device, then read it fresh from google.com/chrome and install it again.

Another possibility is that Chrome needs an update. Open Chrome, click the three dots in the top right, go to Help, then click About Google Chrome. Chrome will automatically check for updates and install them if available. After the update finishes and Chrome restarts, try setting it as default again using the steps above for your device.

Changing your default browser back later

If you decide you want to use a different browser as your default, the process is identical — just follow the same steps for your device, but select a different browser name instead of Chrome. You can change your default browser as many times as you want, and there is no penalty for doing so.

Some people keep multiple browsers installed and switch their default depending on what they are doing. Others set one and never change it. The choice is entirely yours, and you can reverse this change at any time in under a minute.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will setting Chrome as default uninstall my other browsers?

No. Setting Chrome as default only changes which browser opens when you click links outside of a web browser. All your other browsers remain installed and you can still open them manually whenever you want.

Do I need to sign into Chrome for it to be my default browser?

No. You can set Chrome as your default browser without signing in. Signing in is optional and only needed if you want Chrome to sync your bookmarks and passwords across devices.

What happens to my bookmarks if I change my default browser?

Your bookmarks stay in whichever browser you saved them in. If your bookmarks are in Firefox, they remain in Firefox even if you set Chrome as default. You would need to export them from Firefox and import them into Chrome if you want them in both places.

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

No. Your device allows only one default browser. Every link you click outside of a web browser will open in that one browser. However, you can always manually open a different browser and paste the link into it if you prefer.

Why would I want to set Chrome as my default instead of another browser?

That depends on your needs. Chrome is fast and works well with Google services like Gmail and Google Drive. Other browsers may be faster, use less memory, or offer different privacy features. The best default browser is the one that works best for how you use the web.