Where to find the default browser setting
Your Mac's default browser is the one that opens when you click a link in email, Messages, or any other app. To change it, open System Settings (called System Preferences on older Macs) and go to the General tab on the left sidebar. Scroll down until you see Default web browser — it will show your current browser in a dropdown menu.
Click that dropdown and you will see every browser installed on your Mac. Select the one you want to use as your default, and the change takes effect when ready. You do not need to restart your Mac or close any open apps.
Key Takeaways
- Open System Settings, go to General, scroll to Default web browser, and choose from the dropdown menu.
- Your Mac must have the browser installed before it will appear in the list — downloading it from the App Store or the browser's own website both work.
- Changing your default browser does not uninstall your old one or affect bookmarks and passwords stored in other browsers.
- Individual apps can sometimes override your default and open links in their own built-in browser, but most respect your choice.
What happens when you change your default browser
When you select a new default browser, all links you click outside that browser will open in your new choice. This includes links in Mail, Messages, Slack, Discord, PDFs, and any other app on your Mac. Your old browser stays installed and keeps all its bookmarks, passwords, and history — changing the default does not touch any of that.
If you have multiple user accounts on your Mac, each account has its own default browser setting. Changing it for your account does not change it for anyone else who uses the computer.
If your browser does not appear in the dropdown
A browser only shows up in the default browser list after it is fully installed on your Mac. If you just downloaded it but have not opened it yet, open the browser once and let it finish setting up. Then go back to System Settings and check the dropdown again.
If the browser still does not appear, the installation may have failed. Try downloading it again from the official website — for example, go to google.com/chrome for Chrome, mozilla.org for Firefox, or microsoft.com/edge for Edge. Avoid downloading from third-party sites, as those versions sometimes do not install correctly.
When apps ignore your default browser choice
Most apps respect your default browser setting, but some do not. Certain email clients, messaging apps, and social media platforms have their own built-in web viewers that open links without leaving the app. You cannot change this behavior through System Settings — it is a choice the app maker made.
If an app consistently opens links in the wrong browser and you want to change that, check the app's own settings first. Some apps have a preference for which browser to use, or an option to open links in your system default instead of their built-in viewer. If the app has no such setting, you may need to use a different app or open links manually in your preferred browser.
Switching back to Safari or another browser
If you want to switch back to Safari (Apple's built-in browser) or change to a different browser later, the process is exactly the same: open System Settings, go to General, find Default web browser, and pick a new one from the dropdown. You can change your default browser as many times as you want with no penalty or waiting period.
Switching browsers does not affect your Mac's performance or storage. Each browser stores its own bookmarks and passwords separately, so if you switch away from Chrome and later switch back, your Chrome data will still be there.
Understanding browser profiles and multiple accounts
Some browsers let you create multiple profiles or accounts within the same browser — for example, a work profile and a personal profile in Chrome. Your Mac's default browser setting applies to the entire browser, not to individual profiles. When you click a link, it will open in your default browser using whichever profile or account that browser opens to by default.
If you need different browsers for different purposes, the cleanest approach is to set one as your system default and manually open the other when you need it. This avoids confusion about which browser will open when you click a link.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set different default browsers for different types of links?
No. macOS only lets you choose one default browser for all links. If you need one browser for work and another for personal use, you will need to manually open the second browser when you need it, or use browser profiles within the same browser to keep work and personal activity separate.
Will changing my default browser affect my passwords and bookmarks?
No. Each browser stores its own passwords, bookmarks, and history separately. Changing your default browser does not move or delete any of that data. Your old browser stays installed with everything intact, and you can switch back anytime.
What if I want Safari to be my default but also use Chrome sometimes?
Set Safari as your default in System Settings. You can still open Chrome whenever you want and use it normally — it just will not be the browser that opens automatically when you click a link. You can switch between them as often as you like.
Does changing my default browser slow down my Mac?
No. Your Mac's performance does not change based on which browser is set as default. Having multiple browsers installed uses some storage space, but changing which one is default has no effect on speed or performance.