Safari cannot be set as your default browser from within Safari itself
Safari is Apple's built-in browser, but it does not have a settings menu where you can make it your default. Instead, you change your default browser through your Mac's System Settings or your iPhone or iPad's Settings app. Once you do, links that open automatically — from emails, messages, or other apps — will open in Safari instead of whatever browser was set before.
The process takes about two minutes and works the same way whether you are switching from Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or another browser. You do not need to uninstall anything or restart your device.
Key Takeaways
- On a Mac, open System Settings, find the General tab, scroll to Default web browser, and select Safari from the dropdown menu.
- On iPhone or iPad, open Settings, scroll to Safari, tap Default Browser App, and choose Safari.
- After you change your default, any link you click in Mail, Messages, Notes, or other apps will open in Safari instead of your previous browser.
- You can change your default browser back at any time using the same steps — there is no lock-in or consequence to switching.
Changing your default browser on a Mac
Open System Settings by clicking the Apple menu in the top left corner and selecting System Settings. On older Macs running macOS Monterey or earlier, this was called System Preferences.
Click the General tab in the left sidebar. Scroll down until you see the Default web browser option. Click the dropdown menu next to it — it will show your current default browser, usually Chrome, Firefox, or Edge. Select Safari from the list and close System Settings. The change takes effect when ready.
If Safari does not appear in the dropdown, your Mac may not recognize it as installed. Restart your Mac and try again. If Safari still does not appear, check your Applications folder to confirm Safari is there. Safari comes pre-installed on all Macs, so it should always be present.
Changing your default browser on iPhone or iPad
Open the Settings app and scroll down until you see Safari. Tap it. Look for the option called Default Browser App — on some older iPad models running older versions of iPadOS, this may be labeled Default Browser instead.
Tap Default Browser App and select Safari from the list. The change takes effect when ready. Any link you tap in Mail, Messages, Notes, or web pages will now open in Safari.
If you do not see a Default Browser App option, your device is running an older version of iOS or iPadOS that does not support changing the default browser. You can update your device by going to Settings > General > Software Update.
What happens after you change your default
Once Safari is set as your default, links in other apps will open in Safari. This includes links in Mail, Messages, Notes, Reminders, Calendar, and third-party apps like Twitter or Reddit. Bookmarks you have saved in other browsers will not automatically move to Safari — you will need to import them separately if you want them in Safari.
Your browsing history, passwords, and saved websites in other browsers stay in those browsers. Changing your default does not move or delete anything. If you later switch back to Chrome or Firefox as your default, those browsers will still have all your old data.
Importing bookmarks and passwords from another browser into Safari
If you want to use Safari as your main browser, you may want to bring your bookmarks and saved passwords with you. On a Mac, open Safari, click File in the menu bar, and select Import From. Choose the browser you want to import from — Safari can import from Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. Select what you want to import (bookmarks, history, passwords, or all of them) and click Import.
On iPhone or iPad, there is no built-in import tool. Instead, you can use iCloud to sync bookmarks and passwords across your Apple devices if you have an iCloud account set up. Open Settings, tap your name at the top, select iCloud, and turn on Safari. Any bookmarks and passwords you save in Safari on one device will appear on your other devices.
If you want to move bookmarks from Chrome or Firefox on your iPhone, you will need to export them from that browser on a Mac or PC first, then import them into Safari on your Mac, and let iCloud sync them to your iPhone.
Switching back to a different default browser
You can change your default browser back to Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or any other browser at any time using the same steps. On a Mac, go to System Settings > General > Default web browser and select a different browser. On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Safari > Default Browser App and choose a different browser.
There is no penalty for switching back and forth. Your data in Safari — bookmarks, history, passwords — stays in Safari even if you switch to a different default. The same is true for any other browser: switching your default does not delete anything.
Why you might want Safari as your default
Safari is tightly integrated with Apple devices. It syncs bookmarks, passwords, and reading lists across your Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch through iCloud. If you use multiple Apple devices, this synchronization happens automatically without extra steps.
Safari also uses less battery on iPhone and iPad than Chrome does, because it uses Apple's WebKit engine rather than Chromium. If battery life matters to you, Safari is worth trying as your default for a week to see if you notice a difference.
Some people prefer Safari because it has fewer tracking features built in compared to Chrome. Safari blocks many trackers by default, while Chrome is made by Google, which collects data for advertising. Neither choice is wrong — it depends on what matters to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my default browser delete my data in Chrome or Firefox?
No. Changing your default browser does not touch any data in other browsers. Your bookmarks, history, passwords, and saved websites in Chrome or Firefox stay exactly where they are. You can switch back to Chrome or Firefox at any time and find everything still there.
Can I set different default browsers for different types of links?
No. You can only set one default browser for your entire device. All links from other apps will open in whichever browser you set as default. You can still manually open Chrome or Firefox whenever you want — changing the default just changes what happens when you tap a link in Mail or Messages.
What if Safari does not show up in the default browser dropdown on my Mac?
Restart your Mac and try again. Safari comes pre-installed on all Macs, so it should always be available. If it still does not appear after a restart, check your Applications folder to confirm Safari is there. You can also try opening Safari directly to make sure it launches without errors.
Do I need to uninstall my old browser to use Safari as my default?
No. You can keep Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or any other browser installed and just change which one is your default. Many people have multiple browsers installed and switch between them depending on what they are doing. Changing your default does not require uninstalling anything.
Will my passwords sync between Safari and Chrome if I change my default?
No. Passwords saved in Chrome stay in Chrome. Passwords saved in Safari stay in Safari. They do not automatically sync between browsers. If you want to move passwords from Chrome to Safari, you will need to export them from Chrome and import them into Safari manually, or use a password manager that works across multiple browsers.